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The 2026 OSAA baseball season is complete and the Salem-Keizer area saw teams and players across all classifications excel on the diamond.
With state championship season over, it's time to decide who the top player in the area was this spring. Athletes with state titles, all-state recognition and conference player of the year accolades all hail from the area — but only one can come out on top.
Here are the Statesman Journal's nominees for Salem-Keizer area baseball player of the year, brought to you by Maps Credit Union.
Vote for your favorite at statesmanjournal.com. The poll will close at noon Sunday, June 15.
Buckingham was an ace on the mound for a Saxons squad that went 19-9 and won a Central Valley Conference championship. Buckingham, a junior, was named CVC's pitcher of the year and was one of the hardest throwers in Oregon. He's an Oregon State commit who still has a lot of high school ball to play as he develops a next-level pitching repertoire.
Collier was the first base glove on a Foxes team that earned a third-place finish in a loaded Mid-Willamette Valley Conference. Silverton finished the season 18-11 overall with a 5A state quarterfinals appearance, and Collier was recognized as an all-conference first-team player for his contributions.
Eaton, a junior, was a core member of a Rams team that finished the season with a 19-8 record and third-place finish in 2A/1A's Special District 3. Eaton and the Rams made it to the second round of the playoffs and he was named to the all-state first team roster as a designated hitter.
Girod was a Swiss Army knife at the heart of the Panthers' 5A state championship campaign. The junior played across the infield and on the mound and was a pest in the batter's box. On the mound, Girod closed the season with a 0.87 earned-run average — one of just seven pitchers in Oregon to register that mark with 70 or more innings pitched. The Oregon Ducks commit struck out a 5A-best 112 batters and was consistently one of the best utility players around.
Kline played an integral role in Kennedy's 2A/1A state championship campaign this spring. The senior outfielder sent in 42 RBIs in the regular season, the third-most across all classifications, and was the five-hole batter in Oregon's second-most lucrative offense. In the state championship game, Kline delivered a hit and a RBI and scored twice. Kline earned first-team all-state recognition for his play this spring.
WATCH: Kennedy's Landon Kline hits a grand slam in win over St. Paul
Lute, a senior, was at the heart of an Eagles' season that ended in a loss in the 2A/1A state championship. Lute's stats jumped off the page offensively this spring, raking in a state-best 60 RBIs in the regular season, batting .500 at the plate and stealing 34 bases, among the most in Oregon. Lute led an offense that finished atop all classifications in runs (379) and he was named Class 2A/1A state player of the year for his contributions.
Mendazona capped off his junior season in one of the most storybook ways possible. In the 5A state championship game, Mendazona threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts to help lead the Panthers to a 7-0 win over Thurston. The TCU commit boasts a state-best .573 batting average from the regular season and hit a 5A-best eight home runs, all while being one of the top defensive catchers in Oregon.
WATCH: Central D1 baseball commits talk spring season
Nelson closes his senior season as one of the best two-way players in Oregon from the Central Valley Conference-champion Saxons. Nelson, a shortstop and Loyola Marymount commit, hit nine home runs and stole 37 bases, both top-two marks statewide. Nelson earned first-team all-Central Valley Conference honors and was one of the best infield gloves in the Valley.
Panuke was the Trojans' ace on the mound for a senior season that resulted in a 2A/1A state championship. Panuke, who played first base as well, threw from the stripe in the state final and struck out six batters in a five-inning shutout. Panuke earned a first-team all-state bid from first base and was a key piece in the Trojans' third state championship in five years.
Scott wrapped up a career among the best in Oregon with a state-leading 11 home runs and 6A second-best 35 RBIs. Scott, who's committed to Oregon State, was a defensive juggernaut behind the plate with 12 pickoffs and was among the best hitters in Oregon, batting .568 in the regular season. Scott was named Central Valley Conference's player of the year, Prep Baseball's Oregon Player of the Year and he won a Beacon Award for baseball in the Salem-Keizer area.
SIlbernagel fronted a spring season in Stayton that resulted in an Oregon West Conference championship and 22-6 overall record. SIlbernagel and the Eagles made an appearance in the 4A state quarterfinals. The senior captain played in the infield and for his contributions was named Oregon West Conference player of the year.
Wort, a junior, was a two-way juggernaut on a Cavaliers team that finished 19-7 overall with a 3A second-round playoff appearance. Wort collected a 3A-best 42 RBIs and from the mound struck out 100 batters across the regular season. Wort was named 3A Special District 3 player of the year for his contributions from the plate, mound and infield.
Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Who should be Maps Salem-area baseball player of the year? Vote now!
Continue reading...
With state championship season over, it's time to decide who the top player in the area was this spring. Athletes with state titles, all-state recognition and conference player of the year accolades all hail from the area — but only one can come out on top.
Here are the Statesman Journal's nominees for Salem-Keizer area baseball player of the year, brought to you by Maps Credit Union.
- Harrison Buckingham, South Salem
- James Collier, Silverton
- Owen Eaton, Regis
- JT Girod, Central
- Landon Kline, Kennedy
- Miles Lute, Crosshill Christian
- Joe Mendazona, Central
- Sawyer Nelson, South Salem
- Brody Panuke, Kennedy
- Teagan Scott, South Salem
- Mason Silbernagel, Stayton
- Henry Wort, Blanchet Catholic
Vote for your favorite at statesmanjournal.com. The poll will close at noon Sunday, June 15.
You must be registered for see images attach
Harrison Buckingham, South Salem
Buckingham was an ace on the mound for a Saxons squad that went 19-9 and won a Central Valley Conference championship. Buckingham, a junior, was named CVC's pitcher of the year and was one of the hardest throwers in Oregon. He's an Oregon State commit who still has a lot of high school ball to play as he develops a next-level pitching repertoire.
You must be registered for see images attach
James Collier, Silverton
Collier was the first base glove on a Foxes team that earned a third-place finish in a loaded Mid-Willamette Valley Conference. Silverton finished the season 18-11 overall with a 5A state quarterfinals appearance, and Collier was recognized as an all-conference first-team player for his contributions.
Owen Eaton, Regis
Eaton, a junior, was a core member of a Rams team that finished the season with a 19-8 record and third-place finish in 2A/1A's Special District 3. Eaton and the Rams made it to the second round of the playoffs and he was named to the all-state first team roster as a designated hitter.
You must be registered for see images attach
JT Girod, Central
Girod was a Swiss Army knife at the heart of the Panthers' 5A state championship campaign. The junior played across the infield and on the mound and was a pest in the batter's box. On the mound, Girod closed the season with a 0.87 earned-run average — one of just seven pitchers in Oregon to register that mark with 70 or more innings pitched. The Oregon Ducks commit struck out a 5A-best 112 batters and was consistently one of the best utility players around.
You must be registered for see images attach
Landon Kline, Kennedy
Kline played an integral role in Kennedy's 2A/1A state championship campaign this spring. The senior outfielder sent in 42 RBIs in the regular season, the third-most across all classifications, and was the five-hole batter in Oregon's second-most lucrative offense. In the state championship game, Kline delivered a hit and a RBI and scored twice. Kline earned first-team all-state recognition for his play this spring.
WATCH: Kennedy's Landon Kline hits a grand slam in win over St. Paul
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Miles Lute, Crosshill Christian
Lute, a senior, was at the heart of an Eagles' season that ended in a loss in the 2A/1A state championship. Lute's stats jumped off the page offensively this spring, raking in a state-best 60 RBIs in the regular season, batting .500 at the plate and stealing 34 bases, among the most in Oregon. Lute led an offense that finished atop all classifications in runs (379) and he was named Class 2A/1A state player of the year for his contributions.
You must be registered for see images attach
Joe Mendazona, Central
Mendazona capped off his junior season in one of the most storybook ways possible. In the 5A state championship game, Mendazona threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts to help lead the Panthers to a 7-0 win over Thurston. The TCU commit boasts a state-best .573 batting average from the regular season and hit a 5A-best eight home runs, all while being one of the top defensive catchers in Oregon.
WATCH: Central D1 baseball commits talk spring season
You must be registered for see images attach
Sawyer Nelson, South Salem
Nelson closes his senior season as one of the best two-way players in Oregon from the Central Valley Conference-champion Saxons. Nelson, a shortstop and Loyola Marymount commit, hit nine home runs and stole 37 bases, both top-two marks statewide. Nelson earned first-team all-Central Valley Conference honors and was one of the best infield gloves in the Valley.
You must be registered for see images attach
Brody Panuke, Kennedy
Panuke was the Trojans' ace on the mound for a senior season that resulted in a 2A/1A state championship. Panuke, who played first base as well, threw from the stripe in the state final and struck out six batters in a five-inning shutout. Panuke earned a first-team all-state bid from first base and was a key piece in the Trojans' third state championship in five years.
Teagan Scott, South Salem
Scott wrapped up a career among the best in Oregon with a state-leading 11 home runs and 6A second-best 35 RBIs. Scott, who's committed to Oregon State, was a defensive juggernaut behind the plate with 12 pickoffs and was among the best hitters in Oregon, batting .568 in the regular season. Scott was named Central Valley Conference's player of the year, Prep Baseball's Oregon Player of the Year and he won a Beacon Award for baseball in the Salem-Keizer area.
You must be registered for see images attach
Mason Silbernagel, Stayton
SIlbernagel fronted a spring season in Stayton that resulted in an Oregon West Conference championship and 22-6 overall record. SIlbernagel and the Eagles made an appearance in the 4A state quarterfinals. The senior captain played in the infield and for his contributions was named Oregon West Conference player of the year.
Henry Wort, Blanchet Catholic
Wort, a junior, was a two-way juggernaut on a Cavaliers team that finished 19-7 overall with a 3A second-round playoff appearance. Wort collected a 3A-best 42 RBIs and from the mound struck out 100 batters across the regular season. Wort was named 3A Special District 3 player of the year for his contributions from the plate, mound and infield.
Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Who should be Maps Salem-area baseball player of the year? Vote now!
Continue reading...
