EUGENE, Ore. – A senior-laden roster will look to build off the success of an incredible post-season and conference tournament championship, as the 2025 Bushnell Baseball team has their sights set on accomplishing even more in the program's fourth year.
 
First-year Head Coach Jamie Womack couldn't be more excited for the team to springboard their late-season success into an entire campaign that could vault them even higher up the Cascade Conference ladder. He said, "We have a big contingency of seniors, many who have been here since the very beginning and are our first freshman-to-senior group. They have weathered an 11-37 season all the way to winning a conference tournament last year, so they are hungry to see some of that success in the regular season. What they have done putting in the work this fall and meshing with the new guys we brought in, has given us a really strong leadership core that will propel us to what should be a good year."
 
The trajectory makes sense for a program that more than doubled the win total from the 2022 inaugural campaign to a 23-25 record in 2023. Things only improved last season as the Beacons posted their first winning season at 29-26, and took fourth-place in the CCC to qualify for their first trip to the conference tournament. There, the Beacons went 3-0 with a pair of wins over No. 5-ranked conference champion LC State to win the CCC tournament and qualify for the NAIA National Championship.
 
A return to the conference tournament is now just the first step of what the team hopes they can accomplish moving forward. "I would say we are cautiously optimistic," said Womack. "We returned a lot of key pieces, brought in some guys who are going to help us right away and we feel really good about where we are at."
 
INFIELD
 
When asked to pinpoint the strengths of the 2025 Beacons, Coach Womack's first inclination is to highlight the defensive-minded infield that the Beacons have developed. He said, "We have had really good defensive infielders and every guy that is going to see significant time is a returner that has played extensively. With another year of development under their belts, we feel good about the offensive output we are going to be able to produce as well."
 
Leading the bunch is four-year senior shortstop Reece Carganilla, Bushnell's all-time leader for assists who ranks second on the team all-time for games played, at-bats, hits, and stolen bases. First base is occupied by senior Cade Crist who in just two season ranks second all-time for home runs (23) and RBI (71).  Senior Ethan Stacy and sophomore Chase Nye round out the infield at second and third respectively.
 
Returning depth comes in the form of seniors Liam Kerr, Jake Stoner, and Jameson Hussey. All of whom will have specific and important roles. Coach Womack said, "Liam will factor in plenty. When we can get him healthy, Jake will be a consistent defensive presence and he is a big piece of the strong character of this team. Jameson will continue to be the first guy off the bench as a pinch hitter and will backup Cade at first."
 
One of the key newcomers that has a chance to make a strong impact in his freshman year is Nigel Fahland (Sherwood, Ore.). The All-League and Second-Team All-State player from Sherwood High has made a number of head-turning plays at shortstop in fall and spring scrimmages and is one of the building blocks for the next generation of Beacons.
 
Coach Womack said, "Nigel really impressed us this fall, especially defensively, and has really elevated himself since coming back from winter break. He is forcing himself into a situation where we have to get him some time and in-game experience because he is going to play a key role in the future of this program. He is our first guy off the bench this year if anything should happen."
 
Another addition to the infield is freshman Eryx Awaya (Honolulu, Hawaii). Redshirting this season will be freshman Ka'iwi Winchester (Mililani, Hawaii), freshman Eli Crist (Springfield, Ore.) and sophomore Danny Womack (Eugene, Ore./Lubbock Christian University). Crist is the brother of senior Cade while Womack is the brother of head coach Jamie.
 
OUTFIELD
 
While the infield is stacked to the gills with three and four-year seniors, the outfield has a more balanced look this season, with veteran stalwarts, and high impact newcomers.
 
Albert Jennings locks down right field. The senior made a huge impact for the Beacons in his first season, earning First-Team All-CCC honors and Gold Glove plaudits. He hit .321 and had 26 extra-base hits with 44 RBI.
 
Four-year senior Jacob Richardson gets the nod in center field to start the season. Womack said, "Jacob has made the biggest jump this year. He has grown immensely defensively and offensively, and has made our outfield situation complicated in the best possible way."
 
Currently injured but expected to see plenty of action upon his return will be senior Will Hudler (Overland Park, Kansas). The son of former major leaguer Rex Hudler transfers in from NCAA Division II Belmont Abbey College for his final campaign. "Will might be one of the best defensive center fielders I have ever worked with," said Coach Womack. "He has also shown more offensively than we expected this year, and he quite simply should be one of the best center fielders at our level."
 
Left field has developed into the most competitive spot on the field this season for the Beacons with four-year seniors Dylan Carson and CJ Smith pushing for time along with junior transfer Davis Grawey (Sacramento, Calif./Long Beach City College).
 
Coach Womack said, "All three guys have done a really good job and all three complement each other. Dylan has the ability to change the game with one swing of the bat. Davis provides the speed and small game aspect and CJ Smith has just hit everything this year and has found his way to an expanded role."
 
For Smith, his four-year journey has been defined by his ability to be a consummate team player and vital role player. After playing just three games as a freshman, he scored 18 runs as a courtesy runner in 2023 and made the most of his single at-bat in 2024, hitting a two-run homer against Linfield.
 
It is Smith's off-field contributions, however, that go unmatched over the course of the program's history.
 
"If I had a son, I would want him to be just like CJ," said Womack. "He is one of the best examples of what Bushnell is and what it means to be a Tri-Athlete Beacon. He is resilient and has fought through a lot to get where he is. Nothing has come easy and he has worked his tail off. He is the definition of earned-not-given. The team voted him as our inaugural "Number Zero" which is the most selfless player and he earned it unanimously from 50 teammates. That speaks volumes about what he means to this program."
 
The loaded Beacon outfield will also benefit from the play of additional players including junior Caleb Richter and freshman Aiden Takuma (Honolulu, Hawaii). Takuma's high school teammate Zach Won also joins the Beacons and will take a redshirt in his initial season.
 
DESIGNATED HITTER
 
Nobody on the team has had a bigger impact with his bat than four-year senior Jordan Wilson. After the first three seasons he is the Beacons career leader in 12 offensive categories and he set multiple single-season records as a junior including 70 hits, 46 RBI and 15 home runs. He was the only Beacon to play in all 55 games last season, and he earned First-Team All-CCC honors for his efforts.
 
"Jordan is a model of resilience," said Womack. "On-field he has been a focal point of our offensive success for multiple years and will be again this season. His impact in the locker room, however, is one that can't be ignored. He is not a man of many words but he is a strong friend and leader on this team. His impact on the program will extend long beyond his time here and reach far past his place in the record books."
 
CATCHERS
 
For the first three years of the Bushnell baseball program, one constant was the presence of Kyle Casperson as half of the catching platoon for nearly every double-header. Now that Casperson has graduated, a group of four Beacon catchers are all expected to play and have an impact on the field this season.
 
Coach Womack said, "We gave our catchers the layout that with Kyle gone it was a wide-open race to earn time. Every single one of them have elevated themselves in ways that we have asked them to when they came in in the fall."
 
Three veterans are in the mix with senior Brandon Reed and juniors Nate Stevens and Max Richards all returning. Reed has been with Bushnell since the beginning, and boasts a school-record 29 runner caught stealing over the past three seasons. Stevens and Richards played in 17 and 12 games respectively during their first campaign last season but should see that increase in 2025.
 
Joining the platoon this season is senior Kolby Amaral (Grass Valley, Calif.), an NAIA transfer from Waldorf University where he hit over .300 with 23 extra base hits including nine home runs, earning Second-Team All-GPAC honors.
 
"Our catchers complement each other in different ways," added Womack. "Guys like Nate and Max are more offensive, Brandon is more defensive and Kolby coming in as a newcomer has shown pretty good talent on both sides of the ball and has firmly got himself into the mix too. We are excited to play with that. There is a strong reality that all four of them see significant time this spring."
 
The group of catchers also includes a fifth member, freshman Hoko Gaspar (Kapolei, Hawaii), who will red-shirt in his initial season at Bushnell.
 
STARTING PITCHERS
 
The Bushnell pitching staff is 24 deep, giving the Beacons an incredible amount of variety and options, and giving first-year pitching coach Cody Anderson and graduate assistant Colby Knutzen plenty to accomplish.
 
"Coach Anderson has been an incredible addition to the coaching staff," said Womack. "What he and Colby have been able to do is amazing. We have seen more development from fall to spring than we ever have."
 
The starting rotation for the Beacons will include a number of experienced seniors, but will be led by sophomore Austin Wolfe, who may have had the best development year-over-year. Wolfe has been invited to play this summer for the Battle Creek, Michigan Battle Jacks in the NCAA DI-heavy Northwoods League, a testament to his abilities and trajectory.
 
Womack said, "Austin continues to improve and develop, and has earned his way into the number one spot. Playing in the Northwoods League this coming summer is a huge deal, but before he gets there we are excited to be along for the ride as he leads his team onto the field this spring."
 
Four-year senior Ethan Sachs returns to the rotation as well. The Beacon's all-time leader for innings pitched and strikeouts missed a large portion of the 2024 season due to injury. Coach Womack said, "Ethan has fought to get back into the rotation this year and he is starting to look like himself again. We are excited for him to get going and put a good ending to his career as one of the most impactful pitchers we have had in a Beacon uniform."
 
Senior Max Chapman is back for his final campaign after the former Michigan State pitcher started eight games and led the team with 50.1 innings pitched as a junior. "Max had a phenomenal off-season, a great fall and a great winter," said Womack. "He has worked really hard with Coach Anderson and is a completely different pitcher than he was last year. He has shown more life with his stuff and been more competitive in the zone and has proven that he deserves to be back in the starting rotation."
 
Kai Keamo is another four-year guy and a stalwart in the rotation having started a team-high nine games last season. He is Bushnell's all-time leader for strikeouts with 113 in 112 innings and had 47 K's in 43.2 innings last year. Coach Womack said, "Kai continues to have some of the most electric stuff on the team. He has continued to get better and developed and grown in a lot of ways with Coach Anderson and will pitch a lot of innings for us.
 
The newest starting option for the Beacons are juniors Braden Proud (Orangevale, Calif.) and Loretto Siniscalchi (Burnaby, B.C.). Proud transfers from Division II Menlo College. Womack said, "Braden was banged up last season, but has come in and worked his butt off and has show an ability to mix different pitches consistently for strikes. He has a competitive mindset and is not easy rattle on the mound which is important attribute for a starter."
 
Siniscalchi is a former Canadian Junior National Team member, and played in the Little League World Series where he set the series record for the hardest pitch thrown. The junior transfer from Yavapai College in Arizona is expected to eat up a lot of innings for the Beacons this season.
 
Coach Womack said, "Loretto brings a broad and unique history to our team and he feels like he is finally  putting everything together and is in a situation where he can go out and compete with his best stuff. We have a lot of options for what type of role he will play, but we know wherever we put him he is going to pitch well. He has a fire about him and he's one of the nicest people you will ever meet.
 
BULLPEN
 
Bushnell boasts a total of 13 newcomers to the pitching staff. While not everyone is expected to provide long innings immediately, a few have stood out that will provide an instant impact out of the bullpen.
 
Tyler Biddinger (Newport, Ore.) transfers from Chemeketa and is described as having a bulldog mentality and is someone who is going to turn heads in the CCC and beyond. "Tyler is a competitive guy and feels like he has something to prove," said Coach Womack. "He wants to throw it down your throat the second he gets out there and he is all gas, no breaks. We are excited to have him."
 
Junior Jacob Wood (Kearns, Utah) was a two-way guy for Lane Community College but is transitioning to being a pitcher-only for the Beacons. "Jacob is another guy who has made some really big jumps with Coach Anderson. He has a really good fastball and has mixed in a really good slider. We are excited to see his development as he just really hasn't pitched that much yet. His stuff is noteworthy and he'll earn some time.
 
Tanner Won (Honolulu, Hawaii) is a junior transfer from Hartnell College who averaged nearly one strikeout per inning as a sophomore. "Tanner is a tough at-bat," said Womack. "The way his release is, it makes it difficult for batters to get comfortable in the box. He's a silent assassin type of guy, who isn't going to show much emotion, but he is going to compete every day."
 
Collin Medeiros (Fairfield, Calif.), a transfer from Santa Rosa College, is a submarine style pitcher. Coach Womack said, "Collin has a funky delivery but it just works. In inter-squads all year he has provided quick innings and guys felt like they were on time and he would roll them over. He keeps you guessing."
 
The 2025 Beacons also welcome Elijah Breault (Aloha, Ore.), Marques Brown (Bellingham, Wash.), Jase Fujikawa (Honolulu, Hawaii), Dylan Ha (Oregon City, Ore.), Kekama Robello (Hilo, Hawaii), and Ethan Unruh (Bothell, Wash.) to the pitching staff.
 
Plenty of Beacons also return to the mound this season, led by craft lefties Alec Gums and Trevor Hammond. Both seniors are in their third season with the program. Gums made 15 appearances out the pen last season while Hammond led all players with 18, along with a team-best 3.90 ERA among pitchers with at least 30 innings of work.
 
Coach Womack said, "Alec and Trevor are the heartbeat of our pitching staff. They have pitched in very high leverage games both in the conference tournament and the national tournament last season. A big part of both of them coming back this year was that they didn't feel we finished where we should have and they are hungry to end their careers on a high note as we build on what we did last year.
 
SCHEDULE
 
Bushnell opens the 2025 campaign at home for the first time playing four-game series' with Simpson University (California) and Saint Martin's University (Washington) over the next two weeks.
 
With the addition of Warner Pacific University to the conference for baseball, a new unbalanced schedule has emerged and the conference expands from 24 games to a 37-game slate. Bushnell will get the Knights for seven of those games, but not before starting the conference schedule at home on February 21-22 against Oregon Tech.
 
Five teams will qualify for the CCC post-season tournament and four CCC schools earned spots in the NAIA national tournament last year, so the Beacons have a very clear baseline goal for this year. Coach Womack sees that as the jumping off point for the team.

"The Cascade Collegiate Conference doesn't get the credit it deserves," he said. "We have really good baseball up here with multiple teams that are senior-heavy and can compete at the national level. It is very competitive and if we have any weekends where we aren't playing with our best focus, we could struggle. The big thing for us this year is treating everything we do as a competition, so we are always ready, and always 'on.'
 
"Last year we were only .500 but we got hot at the end of the year. We won three straight at the conference tournament, but the weekend before we got swept, and the weekend after we went 0-2 at the national tournament. We need to string together 55 strong games. We talk about having faceless opponents and worrying about what we can control. If we do that we should be in the mix in this conference."