Summer Sports Zone July 9

Pleasant Hill native Miller at home with Drifters;
Molony, Saunders prepare for MLB Draft this weekend

Top Stories, Recaps & More

By Steve Mims FOR THE CHRONICLE

Molony, Saunders await calls

Two former Thurston teammates could both be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft this weekend. Maddox Molony was a senior and Grady Saunders a freshman when they helped the…

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By Steve Mims FOR THE CHRONICLE

Closing act: Miller finds his role on and off field

SPRINGFIELD – Andrew Miller is spending the summer reconnecting with old friends. The Springfield Drifters pitcher spent the first 12 years of his life in Pleasant Hill before moving to…

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By Chronicle News Service

Springfield sweeps Berries; host Knights

SPRINGFIELD – Drifters pitchers Tristan Ledbetter, Blake Stavros, and Cooper Mullens combined to secure a 2-1 victory over the Berries. It was the team’s first win since June 23.…

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In Case You Missed It

Peaks and valleys, mountains and rivers: Texas native Layhew among Owls flocking to Springfield Drifters

LJ Layhew, left, is a source of counsel for the Drifters pitching staff. The catcher from Rice, a Houston native, is rehabbing nagging injuries from his freshman season.
ADON ECCLES / THE CHRONICLE

SPRINGFIELD – When J.J. Altobelli recommended LJ Layhew spend his summer in Springfield, the Rice catcher searched a map.

“The first thing I had to do was look up where it was at,” Layhew said. “I’ve never been anywhere near the Northwest before.”

Layhew is a Houston native who only had to move a few miles to enroll at Rice last season. After an injury-filled redshirt freshman season, Layhew is healthy and back on the field for the Drifters this summer.

“Before this season started, the last time I was in a real game was July 2025, so almost a full year,” Layhew said. “It is definitely exciting to be out on the field again.”

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