TYLER LINCH AND JORDAN DONOHOE: MHCC’S BELOVED BASEBALL PLAYERS

Twenty-year old Tyler Linch, who plays second and third base on MHCC’s baseball team, was born and raised here in Gresham. He’s No. 2 on the team roster.

Linch graduated last term and finished his Associates of Science degree, but he’s finishing up more classes this Spring Term, as well.

“This was going to be my third season on the team (and) second season playing as I redshirted my first year at MHCC,” he said.

Just eight games into the season (with 4 wins, 4 losses) before official Northwest Athletic Conference play even began, the Saints found out that spring sports were coming to a halt this year, due to COVID-19.

“We found out about the middle of March that things were going to be stopped because we were going to Edmonds (just north of Seattle) for a series that got canceled,” Linch said.

During a team meeting, head coach Bryan Donohue then announced “there is a good chance we don’t have a season anymore,” he said. Within a few days, the NWAC made that decision final.

Linch attended Gresham High School before becoming a Saint, and played baseball all four years there.

“It’s been amazing; it’s been something I’ve loved for as long as I can remember. It’s helped shape me into the person I am today and taught me a lot of different things,” he said. “My mom has told me I would play catch with her at my older brother’s games before I was even old enough to be on a team.”

Linch said his favorite thing about his sport “is coming up in the big spots and coming through for the team” at the plate, or elsewhere.

His top memory playing with MHCC was going to Longview last year and playing in the NWAC championship tournament. A great memory from high school baseball was going to Orlando, Florida, for spring break and playing in a tournament there his senior year.

One of his favorite parts of being on the team at MHCC is how the Saints are like a second family to him, Linch said.

“I chose MHCC to be close to home and be apart of a good winning tradition,” he said.

Now, Linch plans to continue his academic and athletic career next year at Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota. He committed to play there, early last week.

In the future, he hopes to either continue in baseball or start his journey as a physical therapist. He decided going into this year that he wanted to go into physical therapy because his personal experience with his own therapist was really helpful during recovery from surgery last June: He tore his labrum in his left shoulder diving into home plate, in May 2019.

Aside from baseball, Linch lists his favorite food as teriyaki chicken, and he enjoys listening to rap music, hanging out with friends and going on adventures.

Jordan Donohoe

Jordan Donohoe, 20 years old, also plays third plate and wears No. 6 for the Saints.

He attended Union High School in east Vancouver, Washington, and played baseball all four years there.

For Donohoe, this was his second and sophomore year at MHCC, but he also redshirted: Next year will be his third and last year with the Saints.

There’s no doubt the sport has had a significant impact on his life.

“Baseball has been apart of my life since I can remember. My whole life has basically revolved around the game,” Donohoe said.

“I chose Mt. Hood because it was a good opportunity for me to continue playing baseball along with being close to home so my family could continue to watch me,” he said.

His favorite experience with the team, just like that of Linch, was going to the NWAC championship tournament last year (the Saints won one game, and lost two).

Although he’s not sure where he’ll be attending school after MHCC, Donohoe’s goals for baseball in the future involve transferring and playing at a four year university. He hopes to eventually teach in high school, and on the baseball field, as well.

“In 5-10 years I hope to be working as a teacher and coaching to the best of my abilities,” he said.