Pierce College Blogs

Raider sensation Elliot Morris was drafted in the 4th round of the MLB draft.

Raider pitching sensation, Elliot Morris, was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 4th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.  “I’m so happy to be picked. It’s the perfect team,” Morris said in a telephone interview, minutes after learning the Angels drafted him. “It’s awesome.  I ran to my mom and we hugged. She was watching, too,” Morris said with a smile in his voice. “My mom started crying. I was just super-excited.”  Elliot was taken as the 127th overall pick in the draft, the highest selection in Pierce College history.  He was listed by Baseball America as the #224 best prospect in the nation.

The news was a relief, considering the draft started Thursday. “You’re just watching, watching and waiting,” he said. “It’s so great.”  Morris is just the fifth Pierce player ever drafted, and the first since Raider Hall of Famer, Mario Lyons, was picked in 1989.

In his two seasons with the Raiders, Morris helped lead the team to two West Division Titles (2012 & 2013), and the 2013 NWAACC Championship.  Elliot posted a 1.76 ERA this season, in 66.1 innings and rung up an NWAACC high 95 strikeouts.  He was named as a West Division First Team All-Star, and was also selected to the 2013 NWAACC Al-Conference First Team.  The Tacoma Athletic Commission recently recognized Morris as Pierce College’s Athlete of the Year for 2013.

SCOUTING REPORT (from MLB.com): “Morris missed his freshman season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011. He pitched just 24 innings last year and eased back into pitching this season, but seemed to have regained his best stuff by the end of the spring.  Morris throws in the low-90s and has touched 96 mph. He also throws a changeup and curveball, though both need more work.  Morris benefitted from all the talent in Washington this year and rose to the occasion with all the extra scouts in the stands. He is committed to Lewis-Clark State, an NAIA school in Idaho. ”

Ericka Hobson
Softball
#8, 2nd Base
Age: 19
Hometown: Port Orchard, WA
Nickname: Hobs

Hidden Talent: I am a competitive cheerleader.

Pre-Game Ritual: I have to have a bow in my hair and have to have my nails done. Coach even has nail polish in the med kit.

Favorite Food: Chicken Fettuccini.

If you could have one superhero power what would it be and why?: Intense speed so I can steal all the bases.

Plans after Pierce: I want to go to a tech school to be an ultrasound technician.

Coach E says: “From May 17th through our elimination from the NWAACC Championship Tournament, Ericka Hobson hit .416. Her efforts included a game tying hit in the 3-2 comeback win against Highline at Cirque Park a big homerun at the playoffs against CBC and she went 2 for 4 against Highline at the playoffs and got the game winning hit in that game. Ericka went 9-14 (.642) at the playoffs with a homerun, 6 RBI and scored 3 runs herself.”

Michael Sherwin
Baseball
#27, Catcher
Age: 20
Hometown: Auburn, WA
Nickname: Mike, Schwin, Two-Sev!

Hidden Talent: I love to cook. I learned how to cook during my first semester of college and ran with it ever since. I also enjoy long boarding, playing basketball, and dabbling in photography.

Pre-Game Ritual: I always have a red bull before going in the bullpen to get my starter ready. Other than that, I try to maintain the same routine that we’ve established as a team since day one. Our coaches give us the tools in order to be successful. I’ve bought into the process and it has paid off.

Favorite Food: I love grilling. So if I get the chance to, I take advantage of it. Grilling steaks are my favorite.

If you could have one superhero power what would it be and why? I would love to be able to fly. No particular reason, it just sounds fun to do. Who wouldn’t want to be Superman?

Plans after Pierce: My plan is to attend Western Oregon University and continue my baseball career, while majoring in business, with a minor in journalism.

Coach Davis says: “Mike Sherwin battled through injury and was team leader throughout the season. He has been a huge part of our team this year and was recently named as a Western Region First Team All Star.”

The 2013 season came to an end on a bit of a disappointing note, as the Raiders lost the title game of the NWAACC Championship Tournament, 4-1 to Everett CC.  The final game of the tournament, originally scheduled for Monday (5/27), was postponed to Friday due to heavy rain and an extended forecast of questionable weather.

Freshman standout Sam Shadle was tapped by head coach Kevin Davis to pitch the Raiders to the 2013 title.  Shadle started the game very strong through the first two innings, giving up a lone single, while striking out the side in the second.  Two errors by the Raider infield allowed the Trojans’ first run of the game — unearned.  The top of the 4th inning was the Raiders’ undoing.  With 2 outs and a runner on first (single), Shadle gave up a walk, followed by back-to-back doubles, scoring the Trojans’ final 3 runs.

The Raiders managed just 4 hits on the game, and scored their lone run of the game in their half of the 5th inning.  Deven Kaaiwela stroked a one-out single, and advanced to 3rd base on d’Aundray Van Slyke’s double.  Kaaiwela scored two pitches later on a wild pitch.

Shadle threw six innings for Pierce, striking out 5, while walking just 1.  He did give up the 4 Everett runs – 3 of them earned.  Darrien Moran pitched a near flawless 7th and 8th innings, giving up one hit, and Elliot Morris took over in the 9th, retiring all 3 batters.  Shadle took the loss on the day, as the Raiders watched Everett spoil Pierce’s dreams of a repeat of their 2012 NWAACC Championship.

Despite taking the loss in the title game, Sam Shadle was named to the All-Tournament Team, along with Isaac Kim and d’Aundray Van Slyke.

Pierce’s second place finish marks only the third time the program has placed at the NWAACC Tournament, and is their second highest finish ever.  The Raiders finish the season with a record of 30-15, marking the third straight year the team has compiled 30 or more wins.

Read Head Coach Kevin Davis’s reflections on the season and his hopes for next year in The Puyallup Herald’s June 12 story.

In what at first looked to be a rain-shortened NWAACC Tournament, the championship game will now take place on Friday, May 31, making for an 8 day extravaganza — and, the Raiders will be playing for the opportunity to win back-to-back titles!

Following a disappointing loss to Yakima Valley (6-2) on Saturday, the second day of tournament play, the Raiders rebounded in their Sunday morning, loser out match-up against West Division foe, Tacoma CC, for a 3-1 win.  Raider pitching standout Elliot Morris strugggled a bit in Saturday’s game against Yakima Valley — the #2 seed from the East Division — and the Raider offense was stagnant through the first 8 innings.  Wes Hoskins finally got Pierce on the board with a one out solo HR in the top of the 9th inning.  The Raiders plated another run in the inning but left two stranded in what was almost a last minute comeback.  Hoskins and d’Aundray Van Slyke each had two hits on the game.  Morris took the loss, going 6 2/3 innings, allowing 6 runs (4 earned), while tallying 8 strikeouts and allowing 6 walks.  The loss dropped the Raiders into the loser-out bracket of the tournament, with a chance to play back for the title.

Sunday’s revised schedule put the Raiders in need of 2 wins on the day, in order to stay alive in the tournament.   The 9:05 a.m. game saw the Raiders take on the crosstown rival Titans of TCC, in their first step of the loser out bracket.  Freshman starter Sam Shadle was all, and more, that Head Coach Kevin Davis could ask for.  Shadle scattered five hits over his complete game gem, allowing just one run, while striking out 4 and giving up 4 walks.  The Raiders scored all the runs they would need in their half of the second inning on a 1-out double by Brett Oyer, scoring Van Slyke and Kim.  Pierce added an insurance run in the 4th, when DJ Elmer scored on an infield error that allowed Jeff Nelson to reach base safely.  From there, it was the Sam Shadle show, as he closed out the 3-1 win in stellar fashion, throwing just 106 pitches over nine innings.

Multiple rain delays over the course of the day, delayed the start of Pierce’s 6:05 p.m. game of the day to 8:00 p.m.  The game was a re-match of Saturday’s loss to Yakima Valley, who lost to Everett in the final winner’s bracket contest in the previous game.  Coach Davis gave the ball to sophomore Austin Weber, used mostly in middle relief all season.  Weber threw five complete innings, allowing just 2 unearned runs, both coming in the third inning on a misplayed sacrifice bunt attempt by the Titans.  Isaac Kim tied the game in the bottom of the 5th with a 2 run double to leftcenter field, scoring DH Brett Johnson and RF d’Aundray Van Slyke.  The Raiders took the lead two batters later when Kim scored on a fielder’s choice by Jeff Nelson.  Pierce added their final two runs in the 6th inning, making the score 5-2, and relief pitcher Josh McCoy came on and slammed the door on the Yaks’ season, throwing 4 innings of no-hit shutout ball, to pick up the save.

Saturday’s two wins advance the Raiders to the championship game, against Everett CC.  That match-up has been postponed to this Friday, May 31, due to current and forecasted weather conditions for the greater Longview area over the next few days.  On Friday, the Raiders must beat the Trojans twice in order to bring home their second straight NWAACC Championship.  The first game on Friday is scheduled to start at 5 p.m., with a second “if needed” game to start shortly after  the first game.  The rain delay will allow Coach Davis to have his pitching staff back at full force, as Moran, Morris, and Shadle will all have their normal required rest between appearances.

Wes Hoskins’ sweet swing earned the Raiders’ firstbaseman the NWAACC’s All-Conference MVP Award

Wes Hoskins led a list of Raider standouts on the list of NWAACC All-Confernce award winners, and West Division All-Stars.  The sweet swinging first baseman from Johannesburg, South Africa, became the first Raider ever named as the NWAACC’s All-Conference Most Valuable Player.  Hoskins, who finished the regular season hitting an eye-popping .427, was honored by NWAACC coaches as the conference’s top player for 2013.  The award follows Hoskins’ selection as the MVP of the West Division earlier this week.  Kevin Davis, was named the West Division’s Coach of the Year in his first year as the head coach of the Raiders program.

NWAACC All-Conference All-Stars: Wes Hoskin – Most Valuable Player
First Team – Darrien Moran (P) and Elliot Morris (P)
Second Team – Sam Shadle (P)

NWAACC West Division All-Stars: Wes Hoskins – Most Valuable Player
First Team – Darrien Moran (P), Elliot Morris (P), Sam Shadle (P), Michael Sherwin (C)
Second Team – Brett Oyer (INF), Jeff Nelson (OF)
Coach of the Year – Kevin Davis
West Division Gold Glove Team: DJ Elmer (INF), Isaac Kim (OF)

NWAACC All-Academic Team: Kyle Pegram

Starting pitcher Darrien Moran picked up the win in the Raiders opening day victory against Linn-Benton

The Pierce College Raiders opened defense of their 2012 NWAACC Championship with a Day One victory over Linn-Benton Community College, 7-2.  The 3-time West Division Champion Raiders road the stellar pitching of freshman Darrien Moran (8-1 on the regular season) for the win against the Roadrunners to advance in the winners bracket. LBCC took and early 2-1 lead into the 4th inning, before the Raiders bats came to life.  d’Aundray Van Slyke led off the Raiders’ 4th with a double, and one out later scored on an RBI sacrifice flyout by Isaac Kim.  Brett Oyer followed with a single to left, and Jeff Nelson reached on an error LBCC’s shortstop.  Wes Hoskins’ single was misplayed by the leftfielder allowing Oyer and Nelson to score, giving the Raiders a 4-2 lead.  In the 5th inning Van Slyke hit a 2 run HR to extend the lead to 6-2, and the Raiders pushed across one more in the bottom of the 8th for the final margin of 7-2.  Josh McCoy came on in the 9th, in relief of Moran to close things out for the Raiders win.  Offensively, the Raiders were led by Hoskins, Kim, Nelson, and Van Slyke, who each had 2 hits on the day.  Moran gave up just 2 earned runs over 8 innings, picking up 3 K’s and no BB’s.

RF d’Aundray Van Slyke watches his 5th inning blast clear the centerfield wall

Pierce will take on Yakima Valley on Saturday at 4:35 p.m.  The NWAACC Tournament, originally scheduled to start on Thursday, had the entire first day’s scheduled postponed to Friday, as a result of heavy rains that made David Story Field unplayable.  The tournament schedule is ba

ck on track, and should finish up with the champion to be determined Monday afternoon.

On the heals of a sixth West Division Title in the past seven years, and an eighth consecutive trip to the NWAACC Championship Tournament, members of the Raider Softball team were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments on the field and in the classroom.

Nine Raiders were voted by the West Division coaches as All-Stars for the 2013 season.  Six Raiders were picked as First Team All-Stars; sophomore standouts Ashley Bezdicek (UTL), Hailey Haukeli (OF), Jorden Steele (INF),  and Lunden Young (P), led the way for Pierce.  Freshmen Brittanie Halquist (OF) and Sam Kimble (DP) were also First Team selections.  Sophomores Kassidy Rauch (OF) and Kelsey Trautmann (OF), and freshman Ericka Hobson (INF), were tabbed as Second Team All-Stars.

Head Coach Mark Edmonston was voted West Division Coach of the Year.  It was his third selection in his six years as the Raiders head coach.

Off the field, the Raiders distinguished themselves in the classroom as well.  Six Raider sophomores were selected to the NWAACC All-Academic Team.  This award recognizes those sophomore student-athletes who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.25, or better, over their two years of athletic participation.  Ashley Bezdicek, Kayla Peters, Kassidy Rauch, Tessa Sams, Jorden Steele, and Lunden Young.  In addition, four Raiders have been selected to receive the NWAACC Academic Leadership Award.  This award recognizes those sophomore student-athletes who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50, or better, over their two year.  This year’s Academic Leadership Award recipients are, Ashley Bezdicek, Kayla Peters, Tessa Sams, and Lunden Young.

CONGRATULATIONS to this year’s Raider Softball team for their outstanding accomplishments both on and off the field!!

3-PEAT!!! 2013 West Division Champions!

The Raider Baseball squad continued their remarkable run of the 2013 season, with a doubleheader sweep of the Clark Penguins on Friday (5/10), to bring home the program’s 3rd consecutive NWAACC West Division Title!   The Raiders rode the bats of Wes Hoskins, Jeff Nelson, and d’Aundray Van Slyke, and the arm of Darrien Moran to pick up the win in game 1 of the day.  Hoskins, who leads the NWAACC in hitting (.432), went 2 for 4, with a solo HR and drove in 2 runs; Hoskins went 3 for 5, scoring 2 runs; and Van Slyke went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple.  Moran continued to add to his eye-popping stats, going 7 1/3 innings, while striking out 11 and giving up no walks, to pick up his 8th win on the year, and improving to a perfect 6-0 in West Division play.  Moran finished the regular season with a 1.65 ERA.Game 2 was a nail-biter, as Clark went toe to toe with Raiders, pushing the game into extra innings, before Pierce pulled off a magical 7-6 win to capture the West Division crown.  After the Raiders tied the game at 4 apiece at the end of the 7th inning, Clark scored 2 runs in the top of the 8th, and looked to have the momentum on their side, taking a 6-4 lead.  DJ Elmer led off the Raiders’ 8th with a double.  Isaac Kim followed with a single advancing Elmer to third.  Brett Oyer’s single scored Elmer and put Kim on third.  Kim scored on a failed pick off attempt by Clark’s pitcher.  Oyer moved to thirdbase on an infield groundout by Nelson, but couldn’t score on an infield single by Kyle Pegram.  With one out Michael Sherwin executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to drive home Oyer for the walk-off win.   Austin Weber picked up the win in relief, evening his record to 1-1 on the season. The Raiders have earned an automatic berth into the NWAACC Championship Tournament, as the #1 seed from the West.  They will open the tournament on Thursday, May 22, in the opening game of the 5-day affair, starting at 9:35 a.m.  The tournament will be held at Storey Field on the campus of Lower Columbia College, in Longview.  You can follow the Raiders in their quest to defend their 2012 NWAACC Championships at, www.nwaacc.org

2013 West Division Champions!!!

The Raider Softball team closed out the 2013 regular season with a pair of doubleheader sweeps to capture this year’s NWAACC West Division Title!  This marks the softball program’s sixth West Division Title in the past seven years.  The Raiders finished the regular season with a record of 18-2 (26-17 overall), and closed the season riding a 15 game winning streak.On Thursday (5/9), the Raiders took two hard fought games from Highline CC, winning the opener 6-5 while holding off a 7th inning rally by the Thunderbirds who had the bases loaded with 2 outs.  A highlight film catch in deep right-center field by Kassidy Rauch ended Highline’s threat and put another win on the Raider’s record.  Jorden Steele was the hitting start for the Raiders, going 4-4 and driving in 3 runs.  Pitcher Lunden Young went the distance to pick up her staff leading 14th win on the season.  Game 2 was another nail-biter, as the Raiders were held scoreless through the first 6 innings, and trailed Highline 2-0 going into their final at bat.  In the bottom of the 7th, the Raiders pushed across 3 runs on just one hit to take home the win and complete the season sweep over Highline.  Hailey Haukeli went 2 for 3 on the day, and Jorden Steele drove home the winning runs with a 2-run single to end the day.  Kierston Perry went the distance on the bump to pick up the win.On Friday (5/10), the Raiders played host the Chokers of Grays Harbor needing one win to secure the West Division crown.  The Raiders jumped on the Chokers early, scoring 5 in their half of the second inning, on home runs by sophomores Lunden Young and Ashley Bezdicek.  Young was solid from the bump again, giving up just 3 runs while striking out 5, to pick up the 7-3 win.  Jorden Steele went 2 for 4 on the day, driving in 2 runs.  In the season finale, the Raiders used the power game one more time, on a 3-run HR by Jorden Steele in the 4th inning, and held off a late Choker rally to secure an 8-6 victory.  Brittanie Halquist, Hailey Haukeli, Tessa Sams, and Steele each had 2 hits on the day, and Kierston Perry picked up the win, evening her season record at 7-7.The Raiders advance to the NWAACC Conference Championship Tournament, to be held this weekend in Portland, OR.  Pierce opens tournament play on Friday against Spokane CC.  First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., at Delta Park.  You can follow all of the tournament action at, www.nwaacc.org