Creswell, Sports Zone

Wins, losses, tragedy mark Bulldogs sports

After 15-year-old freshman pitching phenom Gio Mediati drowned in June, hundreds of family members, teammates, friends and community members came together at the CHS baseball field to share memories and celebrate his life. Gini Davis/The Chronicle

No overview of Creswell athletics in 2019 could be complete – or even properly begun – without honoring the bright light that was Gio Mediati. The freshman pitched more varsity baseball innings than anyone but senior Dean Howard, was named Second Team All-League as a pitcher, and was expected to start on the mound for the Bulldogs in 2020. But the 15-year-old passed away in a drowning accident on June 13 and is lovingly missed by his family, friends and teammates, and so many others.
This review is dedicated to him.
In 2019, two Bulldog teams captured district titles; five teams and 15 individuals competed at state and four competed at regionals; five athletes garnered top league/district honors and one team broke a district and state record; longtime volleyball coach Anna Baltrusch surpassed the 500-career-wins mark and is 16th in all-time wins among Oregon 1A-6A volleyball coaches; and two other coaches garnered Coach of the Year nods.
Here is a season-by-season recap of these achievements:
FALL
• The volleyball team was 3A state runner-up, junior outside hitter Breanna Dapron earned first team all-tournament and first team all-league honors. Head coach Anna Baltrusch recorded her 500th career victory and is ranked 16th in all-time career wins among Oregon 1A-6A coaches.
• The boys cross-country team placed second at the Special District 4 championships, earning a bid to 3A state. Brandon Moehlmann placed second in the boys 5k to earn all-district honors; Josiah Lee placed fifth to also make all-district.
• Middle linebacker Caleb Wilson was named 2A Central Valley Conference co-defensive player of the year and second team as a running back. He and senior quarterback Dallton Dewey – a top performer in several categories – led a dramatic turnaround for the Bulldogs in 2019; the Dawgs finished third in 2A Special District 3 after being winless in 2018. Dewey was named first team all-league as a defensive back, second team as a punter and honorable mention as a quarterback.
• Boys soccer goalie Jayden Pratt was named 3A/2A/1A Special District 3 goalkeeper of the year. Rogelio Legorreta and Grant Marshall joined Pratt on the league’s first team.
WINTER
• The boys basketball team secured an at-large bid to 3A state but lost its state playoff game to 3rd-ranked Dayton. Tayler Forsman and Tyler Frieze were first team all-league.
• Alex Metteer (120 pounds) and Rogelio Legorreta (195) represented the team at state after placing second in their weight classes at the 3A Special District 2 championships.
• Five equestrian team members competed in 10 events at state and three events at regionals – and the team of Ashley Anderson, Levi Bones and Grace Haga broke district and state timed-event records in team penning with a lightning-fast 28.37 seconds.
The team of Anderson, Levi Bones, Haga and Jane Marquess were district gold medalists in freestyle fours (drill team), placed second at state and third at regionals. Bones (gold medalist) placed second at state in breakaway roping and fifth at regionals. Haga (bronze medalist) placed fourth at state in barrels and fifth at regionals.
• The competition cheer team competed at 3A/2A/1A state but did not win a trophy.
SPRING
• For track and field, Gauge Smith was named male track athlete of the year, coach Jonathan Ferguson was named coach of the year, the Creswell boys team won the district title, and eight Bulldogs qualified for state during the 3A Special District 4 championships.
Smith was district champion in the 400 meters and placed second at the 3A state championships. He placed second at districts in the 100m, 200m and 300m intermediate hurdles; at state, he placed fourth in the 100m, fifth in the 200m and seventh in the 300m hurdles. Nick Bronson was district champion in the 110m high hurdles and 300m intermediate hurdles.
• Softball advanced to 3A state but lost the playoff game to second-ranked Dayton. Outfielder Aubrie Hatch was named first team all league and second team all state, pitcher Destiney Black won first team all league and all-state honorable mention, and Coach Brett Giles was named Mountain Valley Conference co-coach of the year.

Instagram

 

View this profile on Instagram

 

The Chronicle (@thechronicle1909) • Instagram photos and videos