Huskies face tall test to begin 2015

North Marion opens up the 2015 season against the Sandy Pioneers who are coming off of a state championship at the 5A level - the school's first baseball title. The Huskies 2014 season included a semifinal appearance where they traveled to Sisters and lost to the eventual 4A runner-up. First pitch is set for 5:00pm Tuesday from Bob Brack Stadium on the campus of North Marion, after the original opener was postponed on Monday.

RECAPPING NORTH MARION'S 2014

The Huskies are coming off of their deepest playoff run since 2005, making an appearance in the semifinal round for the tenth time. However, North Marion couldn't improve on the program's 1-8 record in semifinal games, falling to top-seeded Sisters and ace Joey Morgan. Prior to the season-ending loss in Central Oregon, the Huskies were dominate in consecutive playoff victories over Hidden Valley and La Grande. North Marion trampled the Mustangs and Tigers by a combined score of 23-8. The Huskies earned the No. 1 seed in the Tri-Valley Conference for the program's 17th conference championship, after North Marion emerged victorious from a four-way tie atop the league standings with Gladstone, La Salle, and Estacada.

RECAPPING SANDY'S 2014

After getting off to a 1-3 start in conference play, the Pioneers finished out 2014 winning 16 of their final 17 games to win the program's first state title. The 5A championship game paired up two unsuspecting clubs in No. 9 Sandy and No. 14 Hood River Valley with the Pioneers coming out on top 8-3 after failing to make the playoffs in 2013. En route to the program's first title game appearance, Sandy topped No. 8 Madison, No. 16 Marist, and No. 5 Sherwood after losing twice to the Bowmen in league play.

COMMON OPPONENTS IN 2014

Between the two clubs in the 2014 season, common opponents included Wilsonville and Barlow. Sandy matched up with Wilsonville twice, defeating the Wildcats 12-2 and 6-5 in mid-May. North Marion defeated Wilsonville 12-2 in their one game on March 20. At the conclusion of both club's regular seasons, Sandy and North Marion played Barlow in back-to-back games with the Pioneers losing 8-4 and the Huskies losing 2-0.

SCOUTING NORTH MARION IN 2015

Key Losses

North Marion has big shoes to fill following last year's final four appearance, losing first baseman Tristan Wampole, second baseman and pitcher Brock Breshears, and shortstop Kyle Williamson. Wampole batted .342 for the Huskies in 2014 and was selected honorable mention all-state. Breshears finished with an 8-4 record on the mound for the Huskies and boasted a 0.58 ERA in Tri-Valley Conference play. Williamson leaves as one of the most decorated Huskies of all time, batting .542 as a senior in conference play as well as being named back-to-back conference player of the year and back-to-back first-team all state.

Key Returners

From the 2014 club, North Marion returns six of nine all-conference selections, headlined in the offensive department by Josiah Ramon who recorded a .324 batting average. Other returning all-conference selections include Emry Patterson (INF), Colin Barrow (OF), Jordan Kendall (P), Nat Barrell (C), and Shane McKillip (OF). On the mound, North Marion returns Kendall, Patterson, and Hunter Beachy, all of whom posted ERAs under 2.35 a year ago. The Huskies will be in search of a No. 2 starter on the mound behind Jordan Kendall. Beachy started three games last year while Patterson started one. Other returners include Dylan Doubrava (started 27 games last year, infield) and Conner Lader (started two games last year, outfield).

SCOUTING SANDY IN 2015

Key Losses

Roster turnover for the Pioneers heading into 2015 is enormous, as Sandy lost 10 of 17 players from their state championship roster due to graduation. Among the losses are first team all-state outfielder Nick Martin and second team pitcher Carson Dwyre. Other all-conference losses include Bryce Tilton (2nd Team Infielder), Sam Kalar (2nd Team Outfielder), Darin Lort (HM Pitcher), Cody Welty (HM Catcher), and Mitch Lovely (HM Infielder).

Key Returners

Sandy returns one player who garnered all-conference recognition in 2014. Designated hitter Kyle Stipe is a senior this season who was named a first teamer in the Northwest Oregon Conference.

NORTH MARION OPENING DAYS

Bob Brack Stadium will be the home of North Marion's Opening Day for the fourth straight season and ninth time in the last ten years. The Huskies have won games on opening days in three consecutive seasons:

• 2014 - Home vs. Scappoose - W 2-0

• 2013 - Home vs. Wilsonville (5A) - W 2-1

• 2012 - Home vs. Roosevelt - W 7-6

NORTH MARION - SANDY: A NEW MATCHUP

The Huskies and Pioneers will meet for the first time in over ten years.

THE BRACK INFLUENCE

Randy Brack returns for his 29th year as the Huskies’ skipper, his third stint after coaching from 1979-1981, 1984-2000, and 2009-present. Randy was a 1972 graduate of North Marion and was a part of the 1971 State Championship team as a junior. Randy’s son, Ty, rejoins the Huskies for his fifth season as a varsity assistant. North Marion teams under the direction of Randy Brack have posted winning records in 25 of 28 seasons.

WELCOME TO THE OREGON WEST

The North Marion Huskies bid farewell to the Tri-Valley Conference in 2014, closing out their membership in the conference with back-to-back league championships. The Huskies will join former Capital Conference members Cascade and Stayton along with Newport, Philomath, and Yamhill-Carlton. In terms of average OSAA ranking, last year's Oregon West Conference ranked No. 1 among all 4A leagues while the Tri-Valley Conference was a close second.

CONTINUE THAT POSTSEASON RUN

North Marion has now advanced to postseason play in 11 consecutive seasons and will look to continue that streak into 2015.

North Marion High School in Aurora, Ore. is a proud member of the OSAA 4A Oregon West Conference. Follow North Marion Baseball on Twitter @nmbaseball.

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