Mid-Columbia baseball players you’ll wish you could have seen this spring

When the coronavirus outbreak occurred, it shut down life as we know it.

Spring sports were canceled for the high schools. But that doesn’t mean we can’t give those players some late recognition.

I’ll be doing that for each spring sport over the next few weeks, and today we’re starting with baseball.

This region has a rich history of baseball talent, and this year would have been no different.

Lem Elway, a retired coach from Anacortes and Black Hills, has run a coaches poll for the last 20 years. And he still put one out this year, even though very few, if any, games were played statewide.

He had Southridge and Kamiakin ranked 1-2 in the Class 3A poll.

This team below reflects that. Both teams had plenty of talent coming into this season.

Another thing that jumps out: Whitworth University has done a good job of snaring a number of athletes on this list. You’ll see the Pirates grabbed at least three of these guys for their baseball team, and another two for their football squad.

But as Kennewick baseball coach Lenny Ayres said, “I think it would have looked a lot different if we’d have played this year.”

I believe he’s right. We can’t take into account those sophomores and freshmen who would have been elevated to the varsity for the first time. Nor the juniors and seniors who might have been set for a breakout season.

But because games weren’t played, we have nothing to go on but the past.

Still, this is a pretty good team.

Here it is, in alphabetical order:

• Ryan Arredondo, pitcher, senior, Warden – The hard-throwing right-hander was ready to play at Big Bend Community College. But the University of the Pacific stepped in and signed him to an offer.
  
  
• Dylan Ashbeck, outfield, senior, Walla Walla – He’s a three-sport standout for the Blue Devils, outstanding as a receiver in football and as a guard in basketball too. Football, in fact, is where his future lies. He’ll be playing for Whitworth this fall.
• Owen Bintorio, infield, senior, Pasco – Was a hard-hitting third baseman last season as a junior for the Bulldogs. Hard enough that Mid-Columbia Conference coaches named him to the first-team all-star squad.
• Daniel Charron, outfield, senior, Chiawana – Was an MCC honorable mention selection last season, and he’ll be playing next spring for Spokane Community College.
• Cooper Christensen, outfield, junior, Royal – Last spring, as a sophomore, he was first-team All-SCAC East. But his bigger future lies on the football field for the Knights.
• Riley Cissne, catcher, senior, Chiawana – Another three-sport star. Star linebacker. State-caliber wrestler. Last year as a junior, he was named the MCC’s Player of the Year by the conference coaches. Just firmed up his college plans; he’ll be playing baseball at Whitworth.
• Joshua Garza, infield, senior, Othello – Solid player who holds that Huskies infield together. Was a first-team All-CWAC player as a junior.
• Simeon Howard, outfield, sophomore, Kennewick – Opened some eyes last season as a freshman, where he ended up becoming a second-team All-MCC player. Helped lead summer legion Kennewick Outlaws to the Northwest Regionals last summer.
• Jeremiah Kennell, utility, senior, Kamiakin – A shortstop by trade, he’ll move on this fall to Whitworth University in Spokane, where he’ll play for the Pirates baseball team.
• Jackson Lind, catcher, junior, Kennewick – Handled the Lions pitching staff very well last season as a sophomore, and continued on into the summer with the Kennewick Outlaws en route to the American Legion Northwest Regionals. Has verbally committed to Seattle University already.
• Trenton Love, infield, senior, Richland – He didn’t make the MCC all-star team as a junior, but he’s shown enough that Central Washington University asked him to play for the Wildcats next spring.
• Logan Mercado, pitcher, senior, Tri-Cities Prep – The Jags’ ace was so good that he verbally committed a few years back to play for the University of Oregon. He made it official by signing this school year.
• Aidan Morrison, utility, senior, Southridge – The Suns’ leadoff hitter for the previous two seasons was always good at setting the table for the big hitters. Headed to Whitworth to play baseball.
• Cooper Page, pitcher, junior, Southridge – Made a big enough impression as a sophomore to be named second-team All-MCC in 2019.
• Isaac Rheinschmidt, pitcher, senior, Kiona-Benton – The big right-hander will be playing next season at Columbia Basin College. Is a standout basketball player, being named first-team All-SCAC East this winter.
• Kelen Rutz, infield, senior, Kamiakin – Yakima Valley Community College jumped on getting this second baseman fast, signing him last November. Was also a standout wide receiver for the football team.
• Jack Sanders, infielder, senior, Southridge – Was named All-MCC his sophomore and junior seasons. Last season he was a first-teamer at first base. Hasn’t committed yet.
• Luke Stutesman, pitcher, senior, Hanford – His main position for the Falcons has been at catcher. But he so impressed the MCC coaches last season as a pitcher, that he was named first-team all-conference.
• Tanner Sullins, DH, senior, Kamiakin – Good hitter for the Braves as a junior last season. Maybe a better hitter in football, which is what he’ll play this fall for Whitworth University.

Honorable mention

Scott Artzer, jr., Richland; Bryce Bean, sr., Tri-Cities Prep; Eden Blanco, sr., Chiawana; Ryan Chase, so., DeSales; Nathan Garza, Jr., jr., Othello; David Grewe, jr., Tri-Cities Prep; Cameron Kallsen, so., Richland; Taz Milton, sr., Southridge; Angel Morales, sr., Grandview; Dalton Percifield, sr., Columbia-Burbank; Kevin Reyes, jr., Royal; Ashton Sawyer, jr., Southridge; Kaleb Stevenson, sr., Kennewick; Casey Swanson, jr., Walla Walla; Elijah Tanner, jr., Kennewick; Niko Wiltz, sr., Kamiakin; JC Worsham, sr., Royal.