UW: Jacob Lamb
LOOKING BACK
When Chaffey began preparing for the 2009 season, the most critical issue was to get everyone back healthy since both Nick Palewicz and Collin Monagle, who have played since age 16, missed their summer seasons due to injuries and Chris Johnson got hurt in school ball and was not able to pitch all summer. Michael Conforto and Dylan Davis, both 16 year olds, started for Chaffey and ended up making the most impact on the team that any 16 year olds have ever made. Chaffey was 52 and 13 going into the Babe Ruth World Series in Moses Lake and finished the season with a 53 and 17 record winning the NW Regional Tournament at the UW to advance into the Babe Ruth World Series. Chaffey won the Brandy Pugh Tournament hosted by Lakeside Legion a record fourth time since its inception.
All of the graduating 18 year old seniors from last year’s team have moved on to college to continue their education and play ball. At the end of our season, James Robbins signed with the Detroit Tigers and immediately had an impact in the rookie league and was invited to Instruction League. Chase Anselment, Jacob Lamb, Nick Palewicz and Collin Monagle are all attending the University of Washington and playing ball for the Huskies. After sitting out all of his senior summer of baseball, Chris Johnson is attending and pitching for the University of Portland. Zach Aaker and Emmitt Niland are both attending Bellevue Community College and playing ball. Gavin Hite, who was our most consistent pitcher last summer, is attending Eastern Oregon and playing as a dual player. Bryan Morse is catching for Skagit Community College.
LOOKING AHEAD
The 2010 season returns its entire starting outfield with Michael Conforto, Chris Guinn and Dylan Davis. Evan Hudson and Dylan Davis will anchor the pitching staff for Chaffey this upcoming season. Chaffey will be opening up the season with the Yakima Beetles on Memorial Day Weekend followed by a double header with the Moses Lake Riverdawgs on Memorial Day.
INFIELDERS
Chaffey will be starting Mitchell Gunsolus and Seth Heck in the middle infield with Dylan LaVelle and Kasey Bielec at 3rd base. Mitchell, a two season starting short stop at Inglemoor High School, will bring his quickness and left handed bat into the top of our lineup. Seth has been a starting short stop at Kamiak High School since he was a freshman and has the ability to play any of the three infield positions on the diamond and also hit in the top of the lineup. Kasey, with athletic ability to back up in the middle of the infield, is expected to move over to third base and anchor down the corner of the diamond and hit in the middle of the lineup, where he can use his power. Dylan, with one of the strongest arms on team, will be penciled in as a starting pitcher but has the athletic ability to play multiple infield positions to keep his bat in the lineup. As a 15 year old last summer, Dylan had the chance to start in several games for Chaffey and play 3rd base.
Austin Jones, an outstanding left handed power hitter, will take James Robbins’ place at first and will also do some catching to take advantage of his size and arm strength. Obe Taylor and JoJo Howie, both having played varsity baseball for their High Schools at first base, have the ability to swing in and out at 1st base along with pitching. Brad Faulk as a junior in High School will bring the most potential power in the lineup and can swing as a first baseman or a DH to keep his bat in the lineup. Brad will also be playing 1st base for Puyallup High School this spring.
CATCHERS
With a great deal of flexibility behind the plate, Cody Reed, who has caught for Monroe High School the past two seasons, can also move to 3rd or the outfield as a very versatile player. Chance Laboda , in his first year with Chaffey, will be catching for Blanchet this spring with great size and arm strength. In the past, Zach Abbruzza has had the athletic ability to be a starting pitcher and infielder for Redmond High School but will also start to do some catching behind the plate. Zach has committed to play for Gonzaga University and will work in behind the plate and also as a closer. Robbie Ingram as a junior brings the most experience and ability as a catcher and will be one of the best hitters on the ball club hitting in the middle of the order; Robbie attends Puyallup High School where he will also be catching.
OUTFIELDERS
Chris Guinn, returning to Chaffey for his third season this summer, has played three years of varsity baseball at Kamiak High School as an infielder but moved to the outfield the past two summers playing all three outfield positions. Chris continues to improve both defensively and as a hitter and will be hitting in the top of the lineup again this summer. In the past two summers Chris has consistently hit over .300 at the plate.
Michael Conforto will be returning to the Chaffey program as our centerfield, having started last summer as a 16 year old and who led the team in homeruns and extra base hits from the left side of the plate. Michael has shown the athletic ability to play short-stop at Redmond High School and move to the outfield in the summer.
Dylan Davis is returning as a starting outfielder and pitcher having started last summer in both positions as a 16 year old. Dylan capped the summer off by beating the Portland Baseball Academy to move Chaffey into the championship game of the Babe Ruth Regional Tournament. Immediately following the game Dylan boarded a plan for China where he played on the 16 and under USA Baseball team in the Junior Olympics. His team went on to win Gold Medal for the United States.
As newcomers this year, Cody Reed, Jack Meggs and Anthony Blackie will be rotating into the outfield this summer. Cody a two year varsity player at Monroe High School is an outstanding hitter and can play multiple positions defensively as needed – behind the plate or move to 3rd. Anthony played varsity at Lake Stevens last spring primarily as a pitcher but can be an outstanding outfielder or back up in the infield when not on the mound. Jack Meggs will be dual rostered between the Bandits and Chaffey, Jack at 15 years old has outstanding instincts for the game and will be an outstanding center field type player and also pitch from left side.
PITCHERS
Evan Hudson and Dylan Davis will anchor down the core of Chaffey’s pitching staff this summer. Evan has the strongest arm on the team and as a senior at Bothell High School as a three year starter. Dylan as a junior at Redmond High School started on the mound and right field. Both are very competitive with a strong arms and Dylan is also a position player. Evan is also a Division I football player and is weighing options of being able to play both next fall.
From the left side of the mound we welcome Max Engelbrekt, JoJo Howie, Connor Campbell and Obe Taylor as newcomers to Chaffey this summer. JoJo, Connor and Obe have all practiced the past couple years with Chaffey during the winter work outs. Max will be a junior at Blanchet High School and penciled in as a starting pitcher and also playing 1st base. JoJo will be in his third year as a starting pitcher at Bellevue Christian and also playing 1st base. Connor is playing at Juanita High School as a pitcher and also moving into the outfield. Obe will be playing his second varsity season with Inglemoor High School where he was their number one pitcher and also played first base.
Zach Abbruzza, in his first full year with Chaffey has the athletic ability to play multiple positions defensively on the field and also as starting pitcher or in relief. Zach attends Redmond High School and is a two year starter as third baseman and starting pitcher; Zach will be attending Gonzaga University after his senior year.
Dylan LaVelle and Anthony Blackie as outstanding 16 year old athletes have the athletic ability to not only pitch but, play multiple positions defensively. Both Dylan and Anthony worked out with Chaffey in the past to provide them a good springboard into what they are able to do. Dylan and Anthony are sophomores at Lake Stevens High School and last spring both pitched on the varsity as freshmen. Dylan was also starting 3rd baseman and received All League Honors.
THE SCHEDULE
The 2010 season will open up our season playing a four game series against the Yakima Beetles at the Husky Ball Park over the Memorial Day weekend followed by the Moses Lake Riverdawgs on Memorial Day.
The start of the season will bring the Washington Brewers, Honda of Bellevue, Bankers, Seattle Stars, and Seattle Rainiers to the UW Husky Ball Park. The weekend of June 5th Chaffey will be hosting the Langley Blaze and the Colorado Lighting at Husky Ball Park.
Chaffey will play the Portland Baseball Academy on the 11th and 13th of June at Husky Ball Park, and a double header at Everett Memorial on the 12th against the Everett Laces, then come back to play Lakeside Legion and RIPS at the UW.
Chaffey will then travel into Yakima to participate in the Bob Garretson Invitational wood bat tournament. The following two weeks will bring the Federal Way Buzz, Capital Legion, Lux Homes, Poulsbo RV and the Vancouver Cardinals to Husky Ball Park.
Chaffey will travel to Reno, Nevada to play in the Josh Anderson Memorial Tournament held at the University Reno field, with the Boise Gems, Medford Mustangs, Centralia Fullers, Chico Nuts, Danville Hoots, Medford Mustangs, Napa Riverdawgs, Oklahoma Travelers, Santa Clara Red Sox, Petaluma Leghorns, Yakima Legion, the New Zealand National Team, and the Host Team, the Reno Knights.
When Chaffey returns, they will play in the 33rd annual Brandy Pugh Summer Classic held at Bellevue Community College and Bannerwood Ballpark. Last summer, Chaffey won the tournament, one in which we have participated for over 25 years. Lakeside Recovery will host the top teams in Washington with Longview Legion, Twin City Titans, Kennewick Bandits, Taylor Baseball, Lakeside Recovery, Vancouver Cardinals, Baden Baseball, Spokane Dodgers and Bankers Baseball. Chaffey has won the tournament four times since the inception of the tournament.
The week following Brandy Pugh, Chaffey will play host to Poulsbo RV and Lakeside Legion with the Lafayette Generals coming into town to play over the weekend at the University of Washington.
Baden Baseball is hosting a year end tournament in late July at the Husky Ball Park with Baden, Taylor, Chaffey, Spokane Dodgers, NW Stars and two teams from California to close out the regular season.
