Saints get closer to the NWAC tournament

Ever since 2006 when head coach Bryan Donohue took over the Saints program, he has envisioned winning an NWAC title, especially since he didn’t win one himself as an award-winning Saints outfielder patrolling Oslund Field.

Now, with a four-game road sweep of the Southwestern Oregon Lakers last weekend, Mt. Hood has claimed the Southern Region title for the tenth time in the past 12 years, and inched closer to its ultimate goal this year of bringing a championship banner to the Yoshida Event Center.

The Saints will enter the NWAC tournament in Longview, Wash., at Lower Columbia’s historic David Story Field as the No. 1 seed from the South, and will play the winner of the Western Region’s No. 2 seed – either Pierce, Columbia Basin or Edmonds community colleges, in the first round.

(The Advocate wrote last week the tournament field was 16 teams; actually the four regional winners earn automatic bids while four more teams play in a cross-regional playoff, to determine a tournament field of eight.)

Mt. Hood’s first game is slated for Thursday, May 26 at 4:35 p.m.

“We had a huge job to do and we handled that” in Coos Bay last weekend, said the skipper, who was also just announced as the NWAC Coach of the Year. “It’s hard enough to win a league title. We have had so many good teams in the past. This was probably the most challenging league championship that I have won as a player or coach.

“We had so many ups and downs but we’re playing clean ball right now and I like where we are at heading into the tourney,” he said.

Sophomore designed hitter and University of Utah transfer Bowen Ogata is excited for the opportunity to play in the NWAC tourney, especially alongside close friend and Saints sophomore infielder, University of Washington transfer JT Williams. Both players are from Boise, Idaho, and grew up playing baseball together.

“It feels great to be (South) champs. We had some shaky games this year, but we’re playing great lately,” said Ogata. “It’s awesome to share this moment with (Williams) and the rest of my team.”

The Saints are eying Mt. Hood baseball’s first NWAC championship title since 2000. They fell in tourney title game against the host, Lower Columbia, one year ago.

Donohue has been a part of three NWAC championship series and has always come up just short, once as a player in 2005 and twice as a coach, in 2012 and 2015. He feels as though this team can “get over the hump,” however.

“This team is, and was, built better than last year’s team in the tourney,” he said. “We have more depth, especially on the bump. Last year we basically had four starting pitchers and one relief pitcher. That’s not the case anymore. And we’re hitting the ball real well right now.”

He added, “It’s sometimes hard to really put a championship mentality on every single game you play, but I have seen this team flip a switch when we absolutely had to.”

Donohue is hoping to be a part of the dogpile at the finish, at last.

“It’s a pretty awesome thing to be a part of if we handle our business,” said the coach. “You think about it all of the time. Ever since Day One that has been our goal, to win a title.”

Donohue confirmed sophomore ace Seth Rayburn (6-2, 2.38 ERA) will take to the mound in game one Thursday. Rayburn is coming off his best start of the season last Friday against the Lakers, pitching a complete nine-inning game, allowing only one unearned run and striking out a season-best 11 batters.

“Seth will be good,” said Donohue. “It’s kind of funny – because he lost both starts last year in the tournament. So, he’s going to play with an extra chip on his shoulder. Every time he goes out there, our team has a bunch of confidence in him. Even if we get off to slow starts, he finds a way to win at some point.”

Rayburn said he likes his chances, especially with the way the team has been clicking both on and off the field.

“I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to pitch in this tournament again,” said Rayburn. “Last year has to be used as a lesson learned in order to get the job done this year. For me to handle my business on the bump, I need to stay really focused on setting the tone early.”