My hometown of Longview, WA is a baseball town. We are passionate in supporting local baseball and for me it is amazing to see the local programs, high school and summer travel ball, continue the tradition of producing talented players who move on to the college level.
It really is an honor to cover these teams, even if one of these teams is the bitter rival of the high school I went to. I attended R.A. Long High School, cross town rival of Mark Morris, but despite that I’m excited for what Mark Morris is going to do with a new head coach in Brock Myklebust. The future is bright with Mark Morris baseball and baseball in our entire community.
Coaches
Varsity Head Coach – Brock Myklebust
Varsity Assistant – Mitchell Margaris
Varsity Pitching Coach – Josh Johnson
JV Head Coach -Sam Barbee
How did your players handle losing the 2020 season?
They were bummed. We had seven seniors who didn’t get the chance to finish out their Monarch career. We had high expectations going into the 2020 season. A lot of young guys were going to get significant varsity innings. However though, most of our players got the opportunity to play Summer and/or Fall baseball, which was nice.
2021 Class Key Players
Jamison Watson – RHP/OF – Watson was the primary varsity catcher his sophomore year and would have been his junior season as well. He has since transitioned to the mound and outfield. He will be in our starting rotation and get a lot of innings. He’s a three-sport athlete who signed to play baseball next season at Centralia College.
Tristan Warden – RHP/INF – Warden started as a sophomore for the varsity team on the mound and at 3rd base. He will contribute a lot of innings on the mound this season. Warden has worked very hard over the 2020 year to get his body in better baseball shape, and it’s paying off. He has signed to play baseball next season at Treasure Valley Community College.
2022 Class Key Players
Corbin Jensen – SS – Jensen is a player who the 2020 Covid year hurt the worst, in terms of missed opportunity to develop at the varsity level. He would have stepped in as a sophomore and started at shortstop for the varsity team last year. Corbin had the opportunity to play both Summer and Fall baseball with the Lower Columbia Legion program where he took giant strides forward. He will be the primary shortstop and be a consistent bat in the top of our lineup.
Jaden Anderson – RHP – Anderson is a 6’4 RHP who throws with a lot of velocity. He also had the opportunity to play Summer baseball where he was dominate with a 0.86 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 16.33 innings of work. He has a very high ceiling and will be in the starting rotation.
2023 Class Key Players
Stephen Hammergren – RHP/OF – Hammergren would have been the starting CF last season as a freshman on varsity, hit in the top half our lineup, and get innings on the mound. The Monarchs will rely on him to be a big part of the pitching staff this season and provide a big bat in the top half of the lineup.
2021 Expectations
“We will have a lot of new players on the varsity team, so player development and learning to play the game at the varsity level will be our immediate goal. As I’m sure it’s the same across the board, our ultimate team goal is to win a league and district championship. We don’t have a player in our program who has played in a playoff game as a Monarch, we are going to work to change that this season.” Head Coach Brock Myklebust