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New coach enjoys work with Canby | Story by: Alex Tam | Date Published to Web: 7/16/2008 | With the resignation of former coach Bob Hammitt, the Canby baseball program immediately had to find a replacement for the Cougars’ American Legion AAA summer team.The team brought in George Fox University graduate Kevin Kopple, who coaches the Bruins’ junior varsity squad. Kopple, who was offered the summer coaching job just a few weeks before the season started, said it’s been a learning experience since he saw just one game of Canby’s during the spring high school season. “It’s been good, though,” Kopple said. “I’ve learned a lot from the kids, and I hope they’re learning a lot about baseball and it’s been good. We’ve lived on the fly sometimes and how to plan but it’s been OK so far.” Through last week, Kopple has led the Cougars to an 8-17 overall record, including 3-3 in league play this summer in a tough AAA Legion division with opponents featuring players in college. “With the schedule we’ve played and getting guys out of position, it’s been good in that aspect where kids have been put in uncomfortable situations and had to adjust to it,” Kopple said. “And overall, it’s been pretty successful with the group and the leaders trying to develop leadership who didn’t have to be them last year.” Kopple said one aspect that he has been impressed with is the commitment the players have shown on the field, as well as off the field including field maintenance and the professionalism they have shown. “Their attention to detail has been pretty good,” he said. “And this park is a testament to that — how well managed it is and how well it’s kept up. The little things they do and their focus on the little things have been great and surprising.” Kopple’s tenure, however, will not last into next spring after Canby hired last year’s varsity assistant coach, Grant Boustead, to guide the program. Boustead, a 2001 graduate of Dallas High School, has been coaching a lower lever American Legion team this summer. Kopple will resume his duties with George Fox after this summer. Although hearing a new voice in the program for the players has been different, Kopple said he has enjoyed being with the team. “It hasn’t been difficult,” he said. “It’s a great group of kids and they’re pretty good about baseball and pretty well-taught when it comes to that aspect and situation.”
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STATE CHAMPIONS Jr. State Div II | Story by: Alex Tam | Date Published to Web: 7/30/2008 | When Canby’s Adam Bell struck out the final hitter in the championship game on Sunday, coach Paul Jaques had an overwhelming feeling of relief over him. After seeing several teams make late comebacks throughout the four-day Junior State Division II baseball tournament, Jaques admitted he did not feel comfortable until the final out was recorded. However, on Sunday afternoon, the Cougars prevailed to win the Junior State Division II championship with an 8-3 victory over West Salem at Canby High School. “Any team could come back, especially this team because they’ve shown that they can score runs in bunches,” Jaques said. “So when Adam Bell struck out the last batter, it was relief, followed quickly by excitement and just joy. The kids grew so much all year.” Canby’s Junior State team consisted primarily of incoming sophomores to the high school and one incoming junior. The Cougars finished the season 21-14 overall, and won 21 of their final 32 games after starting the season 0-3 and struggling. “We weren’t playing very well and they grew up steadily,” Jaques said of the start of the season. “They just happened to peak at the perfect time. Going into this tournament, they were playing their best baseball.” Canby received a standout performance from Justin Purdy, who was named the team’s tournament most valuable player after batting .600 (9 of 15) with three doubles, five RBIs and two stolen bases. On the mound, he earned two victories in 7 2/3 innings pitched. In the championship game, Purdy received the win after pitching four shutout innings, scattering four hits and walking just two. At the plate, he was 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Taylor Hein was 2 for 2 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. Brandon Harms and Ryan Grant each had two RBIs, and Jared Bucklein went 2 for 3. Colton Wright pitched two innings in relief, and what became characteristic of the small ball Canby team, laid down two sacrifice bunts. Canby had five sacrifices — three sacrifice bunts and two sacrifice flies — which Jaques said was the turning point of the game. “That really was the key to winning the game,” said Jaques, who finished his collegiate baseball career at Concordia University this spring. “Because once you push the first couple runs across playing small ball then your hitters get more confident and the line drives start to come.” Jaques, who graduated from Canby High School in 2004, has coached the Junior State Division II team the last three seasons. He helped Canby win its previous Junior State championship nearly seven years ago. Canby had to win three games to reach the championship game. In the first round, the Cougars defeated South Salem, 9-7. In the second round, they defeated Thurston, 10-1, and in the semifinals, they narrowly beat Roseburg, 13-10. Jaques said winning the championship should provide a lot of confidence for the players heading into next spring’s high school season. “Just having the confidence that you won something challenging and difficult that you overcame to beat four very good teams really gives you confidence,” he said. “Not only in yourself but in the guys around you. The good thing about these tournaments is you face the best pitchers of every team usually so they got exposed to some good pitching.” Seventeen players made up Canby’s roster, which included Purdy, Hein, Harms, Grant, Bucklein, Wright, Bell, Rustin Nelson, Shaun Higgins, Justin Leuck, Andy Mikkelsen, Ryan Guay, Cody Hoffman, Dakota Dillion, Trevor Guay, AJ Ballard and Tyler Howerton. The team was coached by Jaques and new Canby High School varsity baseball coach Grant Boustead. Notes: Bucklein earned the team’s most improved player award after batting .333 with seven doubles, one triple and 15 RBIs this summer. ... The Cougar Pride Award went to Howerton for his on- and off-the-field contributions toward the success of the program. ... Other season stats this summer included Bell (team-leading .440 average, one home run and 28 RBIs), Purdy (.431 average), Grant (.383 average, home home run and 26 RBIs), Howerton (.371 average), Hein (.361 average, eight doubles and one home run), Ryan Guay (.361 average) and Harms (.351 average, 18 stolen bases, 21 RBIs and only three strikeouts in 106 plate appearances).
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Canby seeking offense after loss to Apollos
Cougars fall to 2-2 in the preseason following an 8-1 loss to Sunset at home on Thursday
By Alex Tam 03-26-08
It’s been a rough go offensively for the Canby baseball team early in the preseason.
While the Cougars have been trying to make up for the loss of five all-league first-teamers to graduation, including the Pacific Conference Player of the Year, they have shown flashes of stellar play. On Thursday, however, the offense could not muster enough key hits en route to an 8-1 loss to Sunset at Canby High School.
“That’s baseball,” coach Bob Hammitt said. “Sometimes, hitting is contagious and we just can’t seem to get it going right now. I think there’s a lot of kids that are better hitters than they’ve shown so far this first four games. And I guess that’s our job together — to figure out how to get it going a little better.”
Canby (2-2 overall) had base runners in five of the seven innings and had several runners in scoring position throughout the game, but ended up leaving them on base.
Canby’s Will Koenig had the team’s lone RBI in the fourth inning on a bases-loaded groundout that scored Jamie McCaffrey.
Hammitt said it’s been hard to tell why the offense is struggling. Canby is batting .189 as a team (18 of 95) and averaging 3.0 runs per game after scoring 7.3 runs per game last season.
The team’s leading hitter is junior Josh Roth, who is batting .429 with four RBIs, three runs and two doubles.
“It’s early in the year and some guys — at any level of baseball — it takes them a number of at-bats to feel like they’re in a groove and, other than Roth, we don’t really have anybody that’s swinging it right now so hopefully we can get out of that. McCaffrey has had some good at-bats but we have some guys that are a lot better hitters than they’ve shown so far.”
Canby starter Bryson Rutz lasted three innings and allowed five runs, including a two-run home run to Sunset’s Kevin Taylor in the third. Brian Widing came in relief to pitch 2 1/3 innings, allowing two runs with one strikeout.
Roth finished the game with 1 2/3 innings, allowing one run.
“We’re young, we have a lot of new guys,” Hammitt said. “We’re working through some things and we’re still experimenting with some different lineups and getting some guys in to show us what they can do, so I’m not concerned. I think it’s still the same thing – we’ve got some kids that play real hard and enjoy playing, we’ll be OK.”
One of the positives, however, has been the team’s defense leading up to Thursday’s game. While it was a concern before the season started, Hammitt said he’s been happy with it despite a few errors against Sunset.
“We’ve played good defense up until (Thursday),” he said. “We didn’t have an error and we had a couple (Thursday). I think they’ve been real competitive and they’ve been real mentally tough. The weather hasn’t been real much fun and the kids have been real tough in practice and games in getting after it.”
The Cougars will continue to see tough teams in the preseason with a doubleheader on the road against Roseburg on Monday, and a doubleheader on the road against Sheldon on Tuesday. Both begin at noon.
“It’s still early,” Hammitt said. “We’re playing some good teams. We’re getting everyone’s No. 1 (pitcher) playing West Linn and Westview – a couple Metro League teams … but we’ll get it going.”
2007 Speed kills: Copenhagen named player of the year
Canby’s centerfielder earns league’s top player award after leading Cougars in several offensive categories
By Alex Tam Canby’s centerfielder earns league’s top player award after leading Cougars in several offensive categories Eric Copenhagen received a phone call from Canby coach Bob Hammitt last Tuesday night, telling him he had some good news.
The senior centerfielder would be named the Pacific Conference’s Player of the Year in a season that saw the Cougars win the league championship after going 17-7 overall and 12-3 in league.
“I said, wow, I can’t believe this,” Copenhagen said. “It’s unbelievable. It’s a great honor for me because there’s so many other great players in this league, especially from my own team, so it’s a real honor.”
Copenhagen has been the fuel to Canby’s league-leading offense at 7.5 runs per game as he holds a team-best .449 batting average for the season with 31 hits in 69 at-bats. He has scored a team-high 39 runs, has 16 RBIs and more impressively, has stolen 25 of 26 base attempts (.962).
Other first-teamers for Canby were pitcher Derek Johnson, shortstop Taylor Hunter, pitcher Isaiah Crittendon, outfielder Trent Jones and pitcher Josh Roth.
Johnson was one of several Cougars to credit Copenhagen for helping their offense go.
“It’s just amazing how important he is,” Johnson said. “He can get hits when guys pitch to him and if they don’t pitch to him, they walk him and it’s basically a double because he can steal second base. As a pitcher, having him in centerfield, it’s just ridiculous. He’ll score runs and then he’ll save you at least two runs a game almost with plays in the outfield.”
Johnson, a senior, went 4-3 this season with a 2.80 ERA, striking out 31 and allowing 35 runs in 60 innings pitched. Offensively, the first baseman hit .313 (26 of 83) with 22 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
Johnson said the team has three good starting pitchers with him, Roth and Isaiah Crittendon. Roth is 5-1 this season with a 2.33 ERA and a team-leading 35 strikeouts in just 42 innings pitched. Crittendon, a left-hander, was 7-2 with a 2.75 ERA, striking out 30 in 56 innings.
“We know that one of the guys can pick us up later in the game and what not,” Johnson said. “We’ve all done that for each other and picked each other up, so it’s nice to have that complete bullpen feel where you don’t have to go out there and do everything yourself. None of us have had to.”
Hunter, a senior, batted .305 from the No. 3 and cleanup spot in the lineup, with 21 RBIs, 22 runs scored, while stealing nine bases from the shortstop position. Hunter said while every season is enjoyable, this year has been extra special because it’s his last year and they won the league title.
“That’s how you’re known through your high school career is what you do during your senior year and I’ve been fortunate enough to win league in two sports (baseball and football) and Derek for three,” Hunter said. “It’s really something special to hold onto.”
Jones, who was recently inserted into the No. 3 hole in the lineup, finished with the team’s second highest batting average at .375, while knocking in a team-high 28 RBIs, scoring 24 runs, along with six stolen bases in seven attempts.
“It’s been a fun season by far,” Jones said. “I feel like we all mesh well together. If someone has a bad game, the other guys will step up.”
Canby also had three honorable mentions – second baseman Cole Morgan, third baseman Danny Clifford and catcher Tate Koenig, who took over for Kyle Richardson, who got injured midway through the season.
Morgan was a defensive standout with just one error this season, while scoring 10 runs. Clifford started every game, and had a .275 average with 17 RBIs and 10 runs scored. Koenig played 12 games, batted .250 with 10 RBIs and seven runs scored.
After a first-round bye in the 6A state playoffs, the Cougars host Central Catholic on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Canby High School.
“We’re just going to take it one game at a time,” Jones said. “And we’re looking forward to it.”
Canby Herald, May 15th Canby wraps up second title in three years
Cougars easily sweep Newberg before state tournament begins
By Alex Tam
Throughout every season, Canby coach Bob Hammitt expects a level of commitment from his players toward the success of his program.
Whether it’s continually stressing the right way of playing baseball or making sacrifices for the program on and off the field, it’s times like these that cause Hammitt to run the program the way it is. On Friday, Canby wrapped up the league season with a 9-2 victory over Newberg at home, which gave the Cougars their second conference title over the last three seasons and the fifth since 1997.
“I’m happy for our kids,” Hammitt said. “They worked really hard and I think it’s rewarding as a coach when you see people do the right things and make sacrifices and approach practices and games the right way and have success. That’s a good feeling that the kids really had to work to earn this.”
The success breeds from the positive relationships between coaches and players as Canby (17-7 overall, 12-3 Pacific) won its final five league games and won all five three-game series against Pacific Conference opponents.
“It’s been real fun,” Hammitt said. “People don’t know from a coaching perspective, I enjoy going to practice with these kids day after day after day and it’s a good group of kids. We’ve got a real tight relationship between myself and the two assistant coaches and the players. It’s a tight-knit group.”
On Friday, Canby’s Josh Roth continued to show why he’s the team’s ERA leader among starting pitchers after going six innings, allowing one unearned run off four hits, striking out five and walking none.
Offensively, Derek Johnson went 3 for 3 with three doubles, Eric Copenhagen went 3 for 4, and Trent Jones went 2 for 4 with four RBIs.
Jones, a rightfielder, has recently been inserted into the No. 3 slot in the lineup and has turned into one of Canby’s most reliable hitters and run producers. Hammitt said Jones has consistently improved every game and is getting better all the time, and will be looked upon to produce in the playoffs.
“He seems to have a knack of knocking in runs,” Hammitt said. “He struggled in the preseason a little bit early offensively because we couldn’t get men on base and I think with Eric being on base so much, Trent’s a guy that can step up and knock them in for us.”
The Cougars will make their 14th straight playoff appearance, taking the No. 1 seed from the conference and will have a first-round bye. Canby will face the winner of the first-round matchup between Central Catholic (10-15, 8-9) – the No. 5 seed from the Mt. Hood Conference – and Redmond (16-9, 11-6) – the No. 2 seed from the Central Valley Conference. The game takes place Friday at Redmond.
Canby’s second-round game will be Tuesday, May 24, at Canby High School.
“We want our kids to feel like they have a chance to be successful in the playoffs,” Hammitt said. “And although we’re happy to have won the league, we feel there’s more things, more goals that we’d like to accomplish.”
On May 9, Canby beat Newberg, 10-5, and on May 7, it beat Newberg at home, 9-5. Canby Herald, May 9th Canby sitting in driver’s seat for conference title
Cougars win fourth straight series after beating Tigard on Friday, now one game ahead in league standings
By Alex Tam
TIGARD — It was the series both teams pinned as one they looked forward to all season long.
After Canby lost the opening game of the three-game series, it came back to win the final two capped by Friday’s 11-8 victory over Tigard at Tigard High School. The win marked the Cougars’ fourth straight series win, giving them the inside track to the Pacific Conference title with one series left against Newberg this week.
“We haven’t gotten (the title) yet, but it feels really good right now,” said centerfielder Eric Copenhagen, who had three RBIs and scored one run on Friday.
The Cougars (14-7 overall, 9-3 Pacific) have pounded opponents offensively, averaging 17.3 runs per game in their last three wins, which included scoring 21 runs last Wednesday against Tigard and 20 against McMinnville two weeks ago.
It’s helped Canby become the conference’s highest scoring team (7.3 runs per game) – just ahead of Tigard (6.9). On Friday, Canby chased out Tigard starting pitcher K.C. Wiser, who surrendered seven runs in 1 1/3 innings. Wiser, who the Cougars knew had been battling arm troubles this season, walked his final four batters before being taken out.
“He was struggling out there and we just made him work and earn it,” Copenhagen said. “And he couldn’t find the zone.”
Both teams’ starting pitchers, however, struggled following a near 20-minute rain delay as Canby’s Isaiah Crittendon lasted just 1 1/3 innings after allowing three runs. When Tigard cut Canby’s lead to 7-3, the Cougars’ Bryson Rutz came in and allowed one run in two innings that coach Bob Hammitt said was a big turning point.
“Bryson did a great job of stopping the flow and changing the momentum of the game back to our side,” Hammitt said. “He showed a lot of poise for someone who doesn’t have a ton of experience.”
Derek Johnson and Taylor Hunter pitched the final 3 1/3 innings to close the game out as they combined to allow four runs.
Offensively, the team’s success coincides with Hammitt’s juggling of the lineup. Rightfielder Trent Jones has moved from the No. 2 to No. 3 slot, which moves down Hunter to cleanup and Johnson to the No. 5 slot. Danny Clifford, who previously was in the No. 5 hole, is now hitting eighth to provide Canby with better balance throughout the lineup.
“We’ve been trying to experiment with it, trying to get it to where it clicks and we feel pretty confident with the lineup we’ve got going right now,” Hammitt said. “But some of the guys at the bottom of the order are doing an outstanding job.”
But the players believe it all starts with Copenhagen, who bats leadoff and is the team’s top hitter in batting average.
“When he gets on, it gives all of us a little energy boost — a confidence that says hey if he gets on, we can do something because he can steal bases and he really gets it going for us,” Hunter said.
On Friday, Cole Morgan and Clifford each had two RBIs, and Crittendon, Jones and Josh Roth each had one RBI.
Entering the final week of the season, Canby is one game ahead of Tualatin (12-8, 8-4) and two games ahead of Tigard (16-6, 7-5). The Cougars, though, hold the tiebreaker over both teams for the No. 1 seed in the conference if there is a first-place tie.
“It’s in our hands to lose but we know we have to come out and we know we have to play hard against Newberg,” Hunter said. “We can’t say we have it in the bag.”
This week, Canby hosts Newberg on Monday and Friday, and plays at Newberg on Wednesday. Game times are 5 p.m.
The Cougars will most likely face Newberg’s best pitcher, Levi Fletcher, twice. The senior last pitched a two-hit shutout over Forest Grove on Wednesday, May 2, in a 3-0 victory.
“It’s a giant leap hopefully toward a league championship,” Hammitt said. “We’ve got work to do (this) week. Newberg has got an outstanding pitcher, Levi Fletcher, so nothing’s over.”
MacMinnville News Register 04-26-07 Cougars score early and often in win over Mac By BRIAN GJURGEVICH
If hitting's contagious, then the rest of the Pacific Conference might like to breathe the air in McMinnville High School's visiting dugout.
Derek Johnson was 6 for 6 with four RBIs and No. 7 Canby racked up 22 hits in a 20-0 throttling of McMinnville on Wednesday, the Grizzlies' fifth loss in six games.
The Cougars (12-5, 7-1) had at least three hits and two runs each inning and held the Grizzlies (7-12, 3-5) to three hits and only two runners in scoring position all afternoon, a malady Mac coach Darren Bland said is something he needs his team to find the remedy for.
"We haven't scored in 21 innings," Bland said. "And you can't win games if you don't score."
Every batter reached base and five Cougars had multiple hits in Canby's seventh win in eight games after finishing the preseason with four losses in their last five. After netting just two hits in the series opener at Canby, the Cougars started off quick, scoring three in the first and three more again in the second, with two runs scoring via RBI singles by Johnson.
"If guys go up there in front of me and get hits, it's easy to feed off the momentum," Johnson said, noting he'd struggled at the plate lately and relied on his teammates to pick him up. "This definitely gives us confidence, but we know it's tough to go out and get a sweep. We know these guys are a good ball club, they might of just had an off-night."
The Cougars scored twice more in the third when pitcher Josh Roth knocked in his third run of the game with a two-RBI double into shallow left-center. They added four more in the fourth with a 2-RBI double by DH Isaiah Crittendon and RBI singles by Danny Clifford and Cole Morgan and would score eight more over the final three innings on two more RBI doubles by Johnson, two RBI-singles by pinch-hitter Daniel Olsen and a 2-RBI double from Trent James.
"It was our lucky day today," said Canby coach Bob Hammitt. "We feel like we're pretty evenly matched with McMinnville, it's just sort of one of those things that happens in baseball. When you start hitting, it's contagious — we got some timely hits and the kids did a good job fighting off pitches with two strikes."
Mac senior centerfielder Ryan Briggs, who along with juniors Keenan Draper and Evan Norris managed the Grizzlies' sole singles, called the loss "embarassing."
"We need to score," Briggs said. "We haven't scored in three games, so we need to get something going. It's pretty disappointing that we can't put anything together."
Bland said the Cougars made adjustments at the plate and highlighted the "big drop" between what No. 1 starter Jeff Sublet could do at his best and what the rest of his staff could do on an off-day.
"They just hit the ball really well," Bland said, noting the Cougar pitchers were comfortable throwing strikes with such a big lead, while his pitchers were feeling the pressure of the mounting runs. "We're not the type of team who can hit their way back into many games. We need our lead-off hitters to get on and give ourselves a chance."
The Grizzlies hope to rebound Friday when they travel to Canby to try and steal one from the Cougars, something Johnson said the Cougars aren't about to let happen lying down.
"We'll celebrate tonight," Johnson said. "But we're going to come back Friday and re-focus up."
The first pitch is set for 5 p.m.
Crittendon helps Canby continue flair for dramatics this season
Cougars win series over Forest Grove with 3-2 victory on Friday at home Photo (Right) By Alex Tam Canby’s Will Koenig (right) hugs teammate Isaiah Crittendon after Crittendon had a game-winning hit in Friday’s 3-2 victory that scored Koenig.  By Alex Tam
Canby’s Isaiah Crittendon was looking for a fastball.
He got a fastball.
With a tied game and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the senior laced a hit to left field that scored Will Koenig to give the Cougars a dramatic 3-2 victory over Forest Grove at Canby High School. The win gave Canby the series, taking two of three over the Vikings.
“I was just trying to get a hard hit,” Crittendon said. “But I finally got a break because the second baseman robbed me once — good play by him — and I just tried to get a hit and keep it in play so that our leadoff hitter could come up and get a hit.”
Crittendon said it’s those types of situations and moments for why he plays baseball.
“It felt great, oh yeah,” he said.
Canby coach Bob Hammitt said he wasn’t surprised as he’s seen Crittendon improve his hitting recently.
“He’s a much better hitter than he was a month ago and he’s had real good swings,” Hammitt said. “He took a good (batting practice Friday), so to a lot of people with Isaiah in the box in the end, they thought it was a good chance to make something happen.”
Crittendon not only saved the Cougars offensively, but did it on the mound as well. After starting pitcher Derek Johnson allowed two hits to begin the seventh, Crittendon came in relief and surrendered a single to load the bases with one out.
The lefty then struck out the following two batters to get out of the inning. His final strikeout came against Forest Grove cleanup hitter Kyle Swaja, who hit a game-winning home run in the Vikings’ 3-2 win on Monday, April 16 over Canby.
“That’s a clutch performance,” Hammitt said of his pitcher.
Crittendon said he just followed the advice of his coaches, who told him to throw strikes.
“I just got the call and kept throwing strikes,” he said.
The week also saw the emergence of backup catcher Will Koenig, who played the last two games of the series. Starter Kyle Richardson tore a ligament in his ankle in the first game against Forest Grove after jamming his foot at first base.
“Kyle’s a really tough kid,” Hammitt said. “If there’s anybody in this town that will come back from an injury, it’s going to be Kyle Richardson.”
The coaching staff, though, left impressed with Koenig’s play after he started the two-out, seventh-inning rally on Friday with a single.
“He’s done a good job,” Hammitt said. “We always knew that Will’s a good player. Nobody’s surprised and we’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”
The Cougars also beat Forest Grove on Wednesday, April 18, 13-6 at Forest Grove High School.
This week, Canby (10-5 overall, 5-1 Pacific) plays a three-game series with McMinnville (7-10, 3-3) with home games on Monday and Friday, and a road game on Wednesday. Game times are 5 p.m.
“We feel like it’s a game-by-game, series-by-series deal and we’re not getting ahead of ourselves, but (Friday) was a big win,” Hammitt said. “It wins your second series and the idea is to win every series and be in a good spot at the end.”
Canby Herald April 20th, 2007 Canby completes sweep in dramatic fashion
Cougars get two runs at top of ninth inning to prevail on Friday Photo By Alex Tam Canby’s Cole Morgan (22) and Taylor Hunter helped the Cougars sweep  Tualatin in a three-game series last week, capped by a 4-3 victory on Friday at Tualatin High School.
By Alex Tam
TUALATIN — Words like slump, funk and playing tight can now be thrown out when used to describing the Canby baseball team.
After limping into Pacific Conference play last week, the Cougars are surging after sweeping Tualatin in three games, capped by a 4-3 victory on Friday at Tualatin High School in nine innings.
“I think our kids have been outstanding,” coach Bob Hammitt said. “All three of those games presented adversity in some fashion.”
Canby took a 4-2 lead in the ninth behind Danny Olsen’s RBI single that scored Eric Copenhagen, and Josh Roth’s RBI single that scored Olsen.
The drama, however, didn’t end there. Canby’s defense committed three straight errors to begin the bottom of the ninth inning, helping Tualatin close the deficit to 4-3. The Cougars’ Derek Johnson then closed the game out with three straight strikeouts.
“That was pretty awesome on Derek’s part,” Hammitt said. “He showed a lot of character and I think a lot of the team feeds off the leadership from these seniors.”
Johnson pitched the final four innings, allowing one unearned run, no hits, no walks and striking out six.
Senior teammate Isaiah Crittendon started the game, going five innings, allowing two runs off six hits and walking one.
Hammitt credited the team’s success to the players’ experience in other sports. Several of the players were a big part of the football team’s state playoff run in the fall, and others competed in the state wrestling championships and state basketball tournament.
“A lot of our kids showed they’ve been in tough situations before and when you think about a lot of these kids — not just in baseball — but in other sports, they feed off that experience,” Hammitt said. “A kid like Derek Johnson, who played in the state football semifinals and wrestled in the state wrestling tournament, I don’t think a lot scares him anymore.”
Canby took an early 2-0 lead on Johnson’s sacrifice fly RBI and Danny Clifford’s RBI single. Tualatin cut the deficit to 2-1 on John Grill’s RBI double, and then tied the game on Mitchell Lambson’s RBI in the fourth.
What’s more impressive for Canby (8-4 overall, 3-0 Pacific) is how it won each game of the series differently. In the first game, the Cougars overcame Lambson, one the league’s top pitchers, who struck out 14, allowed six hits and walked just one in Canby’s 5-4 win.
In the second game, the Cougars battled the wind, rain and cold, and a 30-minute rain delay to demolish Tualatin, 10-2.
This week, Canby plays a three-game series with Forest Grove (3-10, 1-2) with home games on Monday and Friday, and a road game on Wednesday. Game times are 5 p.m.
Last season, the two teams split two meetings with victories coming on their respective home fields.
Canby Herald Tuesday April 9th, 2007 No concerns yet amid ‘funk’
Canby looks to get back on track after fourth loss in past five games
By Alex Tam 
Canby’s Danny Clifford (5) and the Cougars begin Pacific Conference play this week with three games against Tualatin, which began Monday on the road. Canby is 7-4 overall this season. (picture left)
Canby shortstop Taylor Hunter called his team’s recent performance as simply playing a little tight on the field.
Coach Bob Hammitt explained it’s just a small funk right now.
Whatever the problem is right now, the Cougars are not concerned after losing their second straight game and four of their last five following Thursday’s 11-8 loss to Beaverton at home.
“It’s preseason, so once league comes around, then we’ll need to worry about stuff,” Hunter said. “As of right now, we’ll just regroup as it goes and come out and get it going for league.”
In the last two losses, Canby has held leads against Aloha and Beaverton, but have seen both opponents post five-run innings that have hurt the team’s confidence.
“For the most part, it’s kind of mental stuff that we just have to flush out because our pitchers are doing great, we’re playing good defense,” Hunter said. “We’re hitting with a few guys in a slump right now, but everything works itself out. It’s a new game everyday.”
Canby opens conference play this week in the new weekly series format, which pits each Pacific Conference team against one another three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“It definitely changes the game because after the first game, you really get to know the other team,” Hunter said. “You get to know the individuals, so you can learn to pitch around guys. We’re actually looking forward to that part of league.”
Canby began league play on Monday, facing Tualatin at Tualatin High School. The Cougars will be at home against the Timberwolves on Wednesday before finishing the series at Tualatin on Friday. Game times are 5 p.m.
“I think the important thing right now is how we’re going to respond to it,” Hammitt said. “Things are not going great for us right now, but I believe in the character of these kids. That they’re going to take a breathe and step up and get better, so we’re going to be all right.”
Hammitt said what will probably pull the team through is its experience playing with each other and having success over the years.
“Especially this senior group, we’ve had blips on the road and I have complete confidence that they’re going to turn it around sooner rather than later,” Hammitt said.
Last season against Tualatin, the Cougars scored a pair of 1-0 victories in two meetings.
“What we’re going to do is have a good practice and have a good talk about that it’s preseason and we really want to look forward to league,” Hunter said. “We’re just going to take a step back and look things over and learn from these experiences.”
Oregonian Friday, April 06, 2007 Cranking up the speed
If Canby reaches the playoffs for the 13th year in a row, it will be because of the pressure the Cougars put on the basepaths JERRY ULMER
One of the reasons Canby has made the baseball playoffs for 12 years in a row is its the ability to adjust on the fly.
After graduating four starters from last year's Pacific-9 Conference runner-up -- including their best hitter in Jefre Johnson and a dominant relief pitcher in Brian Harmston -- the Cougars are reinventing themselves again.
"We're a little more speed-based," coach Bob Hammitt said. "We're going to play the speed game a little more. Rather than lay back and get somebody to hit a big ball, we're going to try to do some things to put pressure on people." Canby has set a high standard. In the last five seasons, the Cougars have averaged 19.6 wins and won two Pac-9 titles. Last year, they were 18-7, 12-4 in the conference and lost in the Class 4A playoff round of 32.
The players have an expectation of winning. And Hammitt, in his third year, senses it again this season.
"I think most of the kids feel like we should be better than last year, if things go right for us," Hammitt said. "We have a chance to be an outstanding defensive team and score more runs than we did last year."
Senior shortstop Taylor Hunter, a first-team all-conference selection last year when he batted .365, sets the tone. The son of former Canby coach and current George Fox University assistant Marty Hunter is in his third varsity season.
"Growing up a coach's son, he knows the game better than most people at his level," Hammitt said of the 5-foot-10 Hunter, who quarterbacked the Cougars' football team to the Class 6A semifinals. "He's not a big guy, but he's very athletic, very quick. I think a lot of his success in football has carried over to the baseball field."
Senior Eric Copenhagen, who stole 24 bases in 27 attempts and tied Hunter for the team lead in runs with 22 last season, gives the team speed in center field and in the leadoff spot.
"I think he has the potential to be a real impact player," Hammitt said. "He's probably one of the fastest leadoff hitters in the state. He's a game-changer." Perhaps the biggest key is how senior pitcher/first baseman Derek Johnson bounces back after suffering a slight tear in his rotator cuff last summer. The right-handed Johnson, 7-3 with a 2.92 ERA in a team-high 60 innings in 2006, keeps hitters off balance with good command and an ability to change speeds. He's also an important run-producer in the cleanup spot.
Senior left-hander Isaiah Crittendon (4-1, 2.29 ERA), a second-team all-conference player in 2006, and two other left-handers -- sophomore Josh Roth and junior Bryson Rutz -- complement Johnson.
To challenge in the Class 6A Pacific Conference, the Cougars need steady performances from three sophomore starters -- third baseman Danny Clifford, second baseman Cole Morgan and catcher Kyle Richardson. Hammitt said he considers Tigard, the Pac-9 champion last year, as the early favorite.
"I think we have a chance," Hammitt said. "Top to bottom, our league is going to be very strong. In my three years here, I think it'll be the best year for the league."
Canby Herald/Tuesday April 5th 2007 A week worth of fun, work for Cougars
Canby wins one of four games at last week’s tournament in Arizona
By Alex Tam 
As much as Canby coach Bob Hammitt wanted to see his team improve during last week’s Arizona trip, he admitted he wanted his players to enjoy it as much as possible. While the Cougars played four games in four days at the Eagle Invitational in Phoenix, they also got to see baseball’s best. The Canby team went to an Arizona State University baseball game, and attended two Major League Baseball spring training games. One of those MLB games featured the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Chicago Cubs. The players and coaches got to sit behind Cubs manager Lou Piniella and Canby’s Craig Plummer collected a broken bat from Chicago’s Derrek Lee. “It’s nice to do some of those things that Arizona allows you to do,” Hammitt said. “Our kids got to know each other a little better. The older kids really took care of the younger kids and got to know them a little better.” At the tournament, the Cougars finished 1-2-1, which included a 2-2 tie to Lewis-Palmer High School of Colorado on Monday, March 26. Canby lost to Chatfield High School and Fairview High School — two Colorado schools — and its lone victory came against Quartz Hill High School in California. “It’s tough to go 1,000 miles away and play when you’re 16, 17,” Hammitt said. “It’s a real growth experience, and I think they learned a lot from it. We’ll be a better team because of this trip and that’s really all that matters.”
Canby 2, Quartz Hill 1
Canby’s Teddy Hein and Trent Jones each had an RBI to help the Cougars to a 2-1 win on Thursday. Kyle Kuykendall and Cole Morgan scored the team’s lone runs.
Fairview 3, Canby 2
Canby held a one-run lead at the top of the seventh inning before Fairview scored two runs to win 3-2 on Wednesday, March 25. Danny Clifford had two RBI for Canby.
Canby 2, Lewis-Palmer 2
The Cougars spoiled a strong performance from starter Derek Johnson, who went seven innings, allowing two runs off five hits and striking out four. The game was called with a tied score, 2-2, after reaching the maximum time limit. Taylor Hunter and Isaiah Crittendon each had an RBI for Canby. Eric Copenhagen and Kyle Richardson each scored.
Chatfield 10, Canby 6
The Cougars held an early 4-1 lead before Chatfield scored eight runs in the fifth inning to take control and win 10-6 on Tuesday, March 26. Crittendon went four innings, allowing five runs off nine hits. Brian Widing went 2-1/3 innings, allowing one earned run off five hits. Copenhagen, Hunter, Richardson, Trent Jones and Daniel Olsen each had an RBI. This week, Canby plays Aloha at Aloha High School on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. The Cougars then play at the Sunset Jamboree on Saturday.
Canby Herald/Tuesday, March 27 2007
Crittendon shuts down Westview as Canby’s offense explodes
Story by: Alex Tam Date Published to Web: 3/21/2007
Canby’s Isaiah Crittendon sat on the bench for the first few innings of Friday’s game, not knowing whether he was going to come in to pitch or be saved for Monday against reigning state champion Wilson.
However, with the Cougars’ Josh Roth and Bryson Rutz allowing five runs combined by the third inning, coach Bob Hammitt had no choice but to turn to Crittendon.
The senior then shut down Westview, allowing just one run in 3-1/3 innings to help Canby to a 11-6 victory over the Wildcats on Friday at Canby High School. Derek Johnson pitched a perfect seventh inning to close the game.
“It looked like they were tough,” Crittendon said. “They were getting big hits just like us at the times that they needed it. We just needed to stay tough and throw the ball well.”
The senior allowed just three hits in his three-plus innings. He credited his defense for helping shut down Westview’s offense.
“I just wanted to get the ball in the strike zone because I have a great defense behind me,” Crittendon said. “Eric Copenhagen, Taylor Hunter made great plays for me and I felt like if I just put the ball in play, we’d get outs.”
Hammitt said it’s a testament to how hard his left-hander has worked the past two years to be a dependable pitcher whether it’s as a starter or out of the bullpen.
“When things didn’t seem to be going well for us on the mound, that was great to see a senior step up and take the ball,” Hammitt said.
Canby’s offense was just as good, scoring in all but one inning of the game. Third baseman Danny Clifford went 3 for 4 with three RBI and a double. Danny Olsen had a solo home run in the fourth inning, and Hunter, Johnson and Copenhagen each had an RBI.
Catcher Kyle Richardson went 2 for 2 with two runs scored, two walks and a double.
“We’ve just got a lot of our guys contributing right now, which is nice,” Hammitt said. “It’s just not falling on one guy or two like a lot of high school baseball teams. We get production from a lot of different guys.”
With several players contributing, Hammitt admitted it was fun again to write the names of his returning players on his lineup card earlier in the day.
“Before school today, when I was writing up my lineup card, I kind of got goosebumps getting to write Eric Copenhagen’s name in there again because it’s so exciting to watch him play,” Hammitt said. “We’re very lucky to have some really good defensive players. … We’ve got guys who can make plays and that’s exciting to watch.”
Canby (2-0 overall) also defeated Centennial, 5-3, in the season opener on Monday, March 12 at Centennial High School.
This week, Canby hosted last season’s 4A state champion Wilson on Monday. The Cougars travel to Gresham on Wednesday and host David Douglas Friday. Game times are 4 p.m. Canby Herald/Tuesday, March 27
Leadership, team unity to spark Cougars
Story by: Alex Tam Date Published to Web: 3/14/2007
An accomplished and talented senior class is expected to lead Canby this season.
After finishing second in the Pac-9 Conference last year, the Cougars (18-7 overall, 12-4 Pac-9 in 2006) have a wealth of upperclassmen led by pitcher Derek Johnson, shortstop Taylor Hunter and centerfielder Eric Copenhagen. Canby qualified for the state tournament last season, but fell to Grant in the second round, 8-6.
“We hope to do a little better,” Johnson said. “Obviously, we played a close game against Grant, but coming into this season, we just want to improve on last season and maybe try to get a league championship for our senior year.”
Johnson returns as the pitching staff’s ace after going 7-3 last season with a 2.92 ERA, and pitching a team-high 60 innings. He was an all-league first-team member in the Pac-9, and also an all-state honorable mention as a junior.
Most of his offseason, however, was spent recovering and rehabbing from a torn rotator cuff suffered from throwing a little too much and posture issues. Johnson said he’s optimistic that it won’t be a lingering problem.
“We’ll see how it goes,” he said. “It’s not a problem at all right now, so I’m ready to go start the season.”
The Cougars look to fill a huge void at catcher left by Derek’s brother, Jefre Johnson, who was an all-state first team member and led Canby in nearly every offensive category: average (.462), doubles (11), slugging percentage (.718) and RBI (25). He is currently playing for the University of Redlands in California.
Canby coach Bob Hammitt said the team is looking at sophomore Kyle Richardson — a standout wrestler, who finished second at state at 119 pounds this past winter — to fill the position.
“We like Kyle Richardson a lot and once again, he’s a multiple-sport guy,” Hammitt said. “He’s an outstanding defensive catcher, especially for a sophomore. He blocks balls really well.”
Hunter, a senior, returns as Canby’s starting shortstop and was an all-league first-teamer and all-state honorable mention. He hit .365 last season, scored a team-high 22 runs and is expected be one of Canby’s top hitters at the No. 3 slot in the lineup.
“We were kind of shocked, getting knocked out by Grant in the first round, especially on our home field,” Hunter said. “So we’re definitely looking to go farther in the playoffs and just play hard and see what happens.”
Hunter said one of the bigger differences this season will be the senior leadership from this year’s class, and getting everyone working toward a common goal.
“We just had too many guys on different pages,” Hunter said of last year. “Some of the senior class, they were just into the other things. … We’re really a lot closer.”
Copenhagen will again bat leadoff for Canby. The senior is a threat every time he gets on base after totaling 24 stolen bases last season. He will also be the leader in the outfield at centerfield in what is expected to be a strong defensive unit.
“We have a great outfield, so they’re going to be able to track down a bunch of flyballs that maybe our pitchers will give up,” Hunter said. “I think our defense is our strongest point right now.”
Left field is still a spot up for grabs, and at first base, Derek Johnson and Isaiah Crittendon will hold the position. Crittendon also pitched last season, going 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA.
Craig Plummer and Danny Clifford will battle at third base, and Trent Jones will play right field.
With the reclassification to six classes, Canby will compete in the Pacific Conference without previous league foes Dallas, Silverton and Woodburn. Another change is the weekly three-game series setup as teams will compete against one another three times per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
In previous seasons in the Pac-9, teams competed against three different opponents per week.
“I’ve had a lot of question marks myself, so I don’t know what to expect,” said Hammitt, who was in favor of the new system. “The biggest difference will be the tendencies you’ll see with teams and playing them back to back to back. It’ll be a lot more like college baseball and you get a feel for that team after those three days, where in the old way, you would play a team and not play them for another three weeks. It could be a totally different team with somebody returning from injury or something.”
Canby’s first game was Monday at Centennial, and hosts Westview on Friday at 4 p.m. at Canby High School. League play begins Monday, April 9 against Tualatin on the road.
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