Lake Oswego baseball adopting 'next man up' mantra

Readiness has been the hallmark of Lake Oswego baseball’s success this spring.

With players stepping into starting roles at a moment’s notice, the team has embraced the age-old mantra of ‘next man up.’

“We’ve had kids in-and-out sick, we’ve been having pink eye, we had a kid with poison oak,” Lakers head coach Jake Anders said. “So this team is proving to be really gritty ... I wouldn’t say there’s any superstars.”

In other words, Lake Oswego’s captivating storyline extends beyond its final scores this spring.

At 14-6 on the season, the Lakers have navigated a tumultuous path, both on and off the field. Ranked No. 12 in the 6A classification by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), and standing third in the Three Rivers League, their journey has been marked by true grit this spring.

Anders, a steady hand at the helm, has seen his group weather a storm of unexpected challenges first-hand.

In a recent nail-biting 8-7 victory over Tigard on April 19, the Lakers showcased their resilience, erasing a 5-0 deficit to win 8-7 on the road and pick up a series victory.

“Our league is the toughest league to play day-in and day-out,” Anders said. “Every team that you play, if you’re not ready at that moment, they’re there and you can get beat. That’s baseball; you have to be ready for the next moment. That’s something we preach to our kids and I think they’ve done a good job of buying into it.”

In the win, junior pitcher Rylan McClaskey unexpectedly took the mound in the bottom of the first and shut the Tigers down, allowing just two runs in more than six innings pitched.

According to Anders, McClaskey’s performance was a microcosm of what has been an improvisational year as a whole for Lake Oswego.

“We have ten seniors back and half of them were starters from last year,” Anders said. “They’re a pretty tight group, but what we’ve been preaching every single day ... if you’re not playing and starting, you have to absolutely be ready.”

So, in a season marked by unpredictability, the Lakers have been forced to thrive on the depth of their roster. Every player, from the seasoned veterans to the newer contributors like McClaskey, has been called upon to contribute.

“We haven’t had our starting nine for one game the whole season,” Anders said. “While a lot of people look at that as a really negative situation, it allows for other players to develop and for guys to have confidence in themselves when they’re in the game.”

Naturally, a culture of inclusivity and unity is central to Lake Oswego’s ethos. Whether you’re a Division-One prospect or the 16th man on the roster, you are valued for your contributions as a Laker.

“These are the 16 guys we’re playing, and we try to treat every guy exactly the same,” Anders said. “Just because you’re a role player doesn’t mean you’re any less important.”

The Lakers will be in action again on Tuesday, April 30, as they host Tualatin in the first game of a three-game series. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.