The no brainers are Churchill and North Eugene.  They'll be going to the playoffs in that order.

1. Churchill.  Franke's decision to toss his kilt and pick up a lance should put Churchill over the top.  The Lancer's lose Travis Larsen at catcher, Kent at short and Matt Irsfeld in the outfield.  But the Lancer's will build their team around a super solid pitching staff -- Jared Thompson is back after a first team all league pitching season (2nd All-State), Schu is back, Drew Irsfeld is back and then toss in the Jacob Franke transfer.  Bringing back a pitching staff doesn't necessarily mean a title, but Coach Hoberg has mastered the relief pitcher position.  That's rare in high school ball, where every pitcher's Dad wants his kid to start - or else.  Infielder Josh Hogan (HM all-state) and Andrew Schumacher both had 12 rbi's in league last year.  Better take the Lancer's down in the first round of league play.  I don't think they'll be losing much after the first round.

2. North Eugene.  These guys could put together an infield which could be all first teamers. Start with Andrew Stiltner (2B) and Shawn Peterson (SS).  There's Power in Peterson - he smashed six pre-league homers. Toss in Steven Humble behind the plate.   Danny Winterstein (2nd team all-state) will double in the outfield and on the mound.   Best of all for the Highlanders is Killer Jon Keller (3rd team all-state) on the mound.  There should be a ton of good pitchers in the league this year.  I already mentioned Thompson from Churchill.  Thompson, Keller and South's Ward will be worth going out of your way to see.  Peterson started six games last year, so the Highlanders return two starters who started in 12 of their 13 wins last year.  Add the talented infield and they are a lock for first or second.

3. Sheldon.  I just have to say who is back.  Micah McJunkin, Corey Moran, Alex Besaw, Adam Powell,  Tyler Martell and Brandon Hayes were all stars.  Add in returnee Tyler Manley.  If you know Sheldon's bloodline, you know we are talking decades of Irish baseball tradition. Besaw and Moran had a great pre-season on the mound. McJunkin's bat will need to stay hot through league as there should be a lot of close calls.

4. South Eugene.  Tough call here because I am putting almost all of it on the arm of one man - Michael Ward.  Ward is the second highest ranked MWL  player in Oregon in Baseball Northwest's rankings for the class of 06.  (Churchill's Jared Thompson is our league's highest ranked player).  South's D should be okay with Carpenter returning at 2nd and Wilson-Traisman at 3rd, both were all league.  The Axemen return a hitter in Jack Carpenter, but hitting is where South has been week the past few years.  Fortunately,  Ben Kiesse and Sam Holman dingered in pre league games, so the Axemen know they always be a swing away in close games.  I'm calling South at fourth based on Ward picking up a lot of low scoring wins (six or seven) and South pulling off three other wins.

5.  Thurston.  Thurston finishes the pre-season with a oh so close, 4-1 9 inning loss to the defending state champions.  That's a good sign.  The Colts suffered on both O and D last year.  But I think their defensive game was poor more because of fielding rather than pitching.  Several players are back, including a couple of pitchers.  The Colts should be much more solid fielder's.  Dan Straily and Grant Willis return on the mound.  Jordan Gross and Willis were great sticks. Soph Darrell Hunter and senior Chad Alber will have to come through at the plate.  Andrew Harris and Chris Cassell launched the ball out of the park in pre-league. 

6. Lebanon.  The rest of the league should pay Lebanon's pitching coach to put on traveling seminars because the Warriors always have great pitchers.  Maybe payment should be that each team has to trade a hitter.  What else is there to say about Lebanon?  Great pitching, looking for hitting.  Junior Mike Greene returns on the mound and he started all four of Lebanon's wins last year. Lebanon can start their bats with some good returning hitters, Kyle Dziedic, Nathan Hiebert and Brent Trask.  They are going to pull up at least one really good JV pitcher, so if they find hitters, they are in the hunt for the last playoff spot.  Lebanon, Thurston and South are look similar, great pitching, solid D, but all are looking for some bats.

7. Marshfield.  Injuries have sprung major leaks in the pirate ship.  The captain has reached out to the golf team to try and plug some holes.  Sophomore John Parrish traded his clubs for a bat.  He may be able to help the Pirates at the plate and on the mound.  Senior Ricky Rexine returns on the hill and should be one of the better pitchers in the league.  Flamethrower Shane Rose, a junior, also returns.  These two and sophomore Jesse McClintock will have to pitch the Pirates back to the playoffs as power hitters Matt Duryea and Bobby McClintock graduated in the last two years and the Pirates didn't make any long ball noise in preseason.  Sophomores McClintock and Fred Kuehn return from their freshman playoff starts. 

8. Willamette.  A recent history of being long ball hitters but lacking in pitching may change this year.  The Wolverines have two consecutive shutouts against Valley teams going into league play.  Jerrred Hughes, Travis Woodke and Chad Metzel return as all-stars.  Metzel hit two out in preseason.  Grant Dahlgren returns on the mound.  If Willamette pitching comes through, they will be the surprise team of the season.

9. Springfield.  Can three transfers catapult the Millers into playoff contention?   The Millers have been all over the board during the pre league games.  Some great defensive gems, some bad ones, some great offensive displays, some meager ones.  The Millers need the pitching staff to be strong early in league play while the young offense gets the bats going. Nate Hiestand, Spencer Lind, Jay Scott and Alfonso Carillo are among the returners for the Milers.

I think this is going to be a great year to watch MWL baseball.  Tons of great pitching, lots and lots of experienced infielders and outfielders.  Should be some great gems to see!

Don't agree, have comments, corrections or news?  Please email me at mwlnow@yahoo.com .  I am Gary Haliski.  Unfortunately, I have a full time job this year, so reporters from other schools are more important than ever.

 I live in Coos Bay and can be found shooting photos at Pirate baseball games.  My two sons went to Sheldon.  One will graduate from the U of O this year and has interned for ESPN and the athletic department. My other son graduates from OSU spring term with something cum laude - I have forgotten my Latin.  I just know he has a high GPA in biology. One of my stepsons is a junior at WSU (the quarterback) and my other stepson swam at Tennessee and swam in the Olympic Trials. My wife and I have been blessed with wonderful experiences through sports, and have learned that athletics are a wonderful, but a small part of life.  Here's to a great baseball season for all players, teams and coaches.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." Steve Prefontaine