Local baseball and softball standouts honored by the Cowapa League

It was a banner spring in Columbia County, with the baseball and softball teams from both Scappoose and St. Helens making their way to the OSAA 4A state playoffs, capped by the Indians baseball team winning a second consecutive state championship.

As a result of that success, 28 different local area athletes were honored as part of the Cowapa League’s all-league baseball and softball teams recently announced.

Heading that list—at least on the baseball side—were Scappoose senior Grayson Grover and junior Max Nowlin who shared the league’s Player of the Year honor. Both helped lead the Indians to a 25-5 overall record, undefeated league record, and four playoff wins en route to the state title.

Grover hit .391 with 33 RBI and 26 runs-scored, while accumulating a 6-1 record and 1.17 ERA on the mound

Nowlin hit .468 with 12 doubles, 22 RBI and 24 runs-scored, with a .620 slugging percentage and .523 on-base percentage.

Joining Grover and Nowlin on the list of all-leaguers were teammates; junior infielder and pitcher Joe Fagan; junior infielder and pitcher Quinton Olson who bit .405 with a home run, 12 doubles and 22 RBI; senior catcher and infielder Eli Harrah who hit .383 with 21 stolen bases; and junior catcher and infielder Riley DuBois who hit .324 with 26 RBI.

Additionally, seniors Leland Boswell and Colton Sprenger earned honorable mention, while Scappoose head coach Cameron Webb was the league’s Co-Coach of the Year with St. Helens’ Matt Lokken.

Sprenger was the OSAA 4A Championship Game MVP, going 2-for-3 with a single and double.

Webb seemed to appreciate what he had in all of his players following this year’s state championship win, in addition to his all-leaguers.

“I’m so happy for these guys; they deserve it,” Webb said. “It’s a group of humble, hard working, selfless kids. Every one of them. For them to be able to hang their hat on this, I feel so happy for them.”

St. Helens too represented on the list of honorees, boasting five all-leaguers and two honorable mention.

Lions senior Connor Weiss was the league’s Pitcher of the Year, and was a key contributor to a St. Helens team that was 15-9-1 overall and advanced to the state playoffs where they fell to No. 5-seeded Pendleton/Nixyaawii, 4-2, in the opening round.

Weiss was joined on the all-league team by senior outfielder Nate Nowak; senior catcher and pitcher Braden Ellis; senior outfielder and pitcher Skyler Bjornstrom; and junior catcher and infielder Zackary Edwards.

Additionally, sophomore infielder and pitcher Javon Holder, along with freshman infielder and pitcher Sawyer Scales earned honorable mention.

On the softball side of things, Scappoose and St. Helens combined to put nine players on the all-league team, along with four more who earned honorable mention.

The Lions — who finished second to Astoria in the league standings—put five girls on the all-league team, including senior Pitcher of the Year Ava Eib who was also honored as a utility player.

Eib was a force both in the circle and at the plate for a St. Helens team that finished 20-5 overall and advanced to the state quarterfinals where they lost a 2-1 game to neighboring Scappoose.

Joining Eib on the all-league team were sophomore shortstop Addy Ellis; sophomore third baseman Madelyn Hancock; junior outfielder Maddy Lahey; and freshman outfielder and pitcher Eme Curaming.

Lion seniors Emmy Carver and Aidan Moore also earned honorable mention.

Scappoose put four on the all-league list, with two others earning honorable mention.

The Indians officially ended the season with an 11-17 overall record, but did so after being forced to forfeit their first 12 games as the result of unknowingly using an ineligible player. Unfazed, however, Scappoose went on to win eight of their final 11 regular season games before winning a state play-in game, along with two playoff games prior to a state semifinal defeat to Pendleton.

The list of Indian honorees — who are all underclassmen — includes junior utility player Ashlynn Komp; sophomore pitcher and infielder Saige Casey; sophomore catcher Ava Freeman; and freshman infielder Sophia Bloyd.

Additionally, junior infielder Aliza Brainerd and senior pitcher and infielder Madison White earned honorable mention.