Chad Nading from East High in Anhorage signed to play for the Beavers today. Congrats Chad, and I am not looking foward to facing you this summer .

The Beavers should be good again. They also added a very strong sophomore pitcher, son of a friend of mine, who was HS Player of the year in Oregon two years ago.

Omaha bound again?

My son is a Ducks fan. During the Beaver's run to Omaha last spring, said to me....

"Dad, for the first time ever, I would actually consider going to OSU."

It'll be fun this next year to see if they can keep their program rising. I'll be following it pretty closely since my friend's kid will be one of their starters.

He's probably talking about RHP Mike Stutes...was at Santa Clara last year. From what I've heard, he's a stud.

Yes, Mike Stutes it is. His year at Santa Clara was pretty rocky. As soon as he got there the pitching coach left, and the new guy tried to change his mechanics.

Velocity went from 91-2 to the mid 80's. Then he got cleated in a play at the plate, tore a swath of flesh off the back of his glove hand. Luckily no tendon damage.

They did give him release after arguing about it for a few weeks late last spring, so now he's at OSU, where he should be in the rotation of a pretty darn good pitching staff.

His velocity is mid 90's now, says his dad. (Who is a no-nonsense baseball guy, and doesn't exaggerate things.)

It'll be fun to be able to see him play more this year.

It will be tough for him to break into the starting rotation this year. They use a three man rotation with Dallas Buck [one of the top rated pitchers in the U.S.], Jonah Nickerson [played on the Junior Olympic team}, and a solid lefty Anton Maxwell.

Anton is from Chad's school, East. I think Chad will be used in the bullpen for now.

I thought nick nading was at a juco in AZ

JDsDad:
Yes it is a very good pitching rotation, but I think Stutes has a real good shot at breaking into it.

Great thing about the pitching staff is that so many of them are local guys.

Where does you son play HS ball? And what position?

My son is in the eighth grade he's a middle infielder and will play for South Albany. Where does your son go to school? He's a freshman, right? Did he play Senior Federal last year? Maybe they've played against each other before.

We're fortunate to be able to go to most of OSU's games. It looks like they are going to be good for a long time. They signed a great bunch of kids for 2007.

JD:
yes, my kid is a freshman this year. Played Senior fed last two years on Lake Oswego team. Don't think we played your team last year. We may have played Albany on 2004, but your boy would have been 12 that year.

quote:

Originally posted by Ed:
I thought nick nading was at a juco in AZ

Nick is one year older than Chad, Chad is a senior in high school this year. Nick is a good friend of mine and I am glad he is out of the Alaska high school league