Name: Ryan Orr
School: Tumwater High School
Class of 2022
GPA: 3.85
Summer team: New Level College Prep
Positions: RHP/2B
Throw: Right
Hit: Right
1. What are some areas of your game that you have been focusing on lately to improve upon?
I am a Right-Handed Pitcher and committed in April of 2020 to Washington State University. Lately I have been working really hard with my pitching coach Geoff Brown to improve the consistency of my curveball and change-up. I have been told that having a good curveball and change-up coming out of high school will allow me to pitch sooner in college. During my high school season for Tumwater I was able to improve these pitches a lot and allowed me to really excel.
2. What are some goals and dreams you hope to reach in the next couple of years?
For this season my main goal is to work as hard as I can and hopefully make the Area Code games. This would be a dream come true.
For my last season of High School baseball next year I am hoping to be able to compete for a state championship. We have a really strong pitching staff returning and if some of our younger guys can come up and play the field we have a really good chance. I’m confident that our Head Coach Lyle Overbay will get us ready to compete for a title. I am also really focused on training as much as I can and being able to pitch at Washington State my freshman year. Playing at Washington State is a dream come true and I hope to be able to be a part of bringing Washington State back to the top of the Pac 12 in baseball. I feel Head Coach Brian Green really has the program going in the right direction and that is motivating me to get better and better so I can be a part of it. Several players I have played with over the years are also committed. It is going to be a great experience to compete in the PAC 12.
3. How long have you been playing baseball and what got you started in the game?
I have been playing baseball for over 12 years. My parents love baseball and just started playing with me and I loved it and wanted to play on a team as soon as I could. I started when I was just 5 years old. Each year I played I moved up in the level of play. When I was 9 I played for the Black Hill All Stars and we travelled all over and won a state championship in USSSA Baseball and a Regional Championship in Cal Ripken Baseball. This was my first taste of higher level baseball and it motivated me to play at a higher level. For the next several years I have been playing on select teams and traveling across the Pacific Northwest and the country to play. Last year during Covid we had to travel extensively to keep playing. I love the feeling of playing and competing with my team mates and hope to keep it going as long as I can.
4. What are some of your favorite things about the game of baseball?
The best thing about baseball is the teammates and competing with them. Playing with a team is like a band of brothers and we do a lot together, and its a great feeling when we accomplish things together. When I pitch I love being one on one with the hitter and the feeling of wanting to beat the hitter. But more importantly I love having my team mates behind me and trusting them to be there. It makes all the difference in the world having those guys there behind you supporting you, that is one of the best feelings that comes from baseball.
I also love watching the pros and college guys play and the atmosphere and energy in really good games.
5. Who in your life has helped push you to be your best on the field?
My parents have always been my inspiration, they have supported anything I want to do. My dad has always spent the time to help train me and make me better and my mom is always there to help me with anything I need. They always go to my games, travel with me and are very supportive in allowing me to travel all over the country to play. I know it takes a lot of money and time and I really appreciate everything they have done. I have also had some outstanding coaches that have taught me to work hard and be accountable. Through these people I have lived by working hard and never being satisfied with where you are at. There is always improvement that can be accomplished by working hard. Coach Marc Wiese once told me that “what happens when no one is looking will be the difference maker” I took that to heart and I really work hard on my own, lifting, throwing, studying pitching, and anything to get better outside of practices and games.
6. Additional Thoughts
It has been a great feeling to get back on the field this High School Season even though it was shorter than normal. We lost last year and I know it was really hard on guys who are trying to get recruited. I really hope we get back to normal and all the players in the pacific northwest can play again as much as they can. I hope the college coaches will get out and see everyone and see the work a lot of the guys I know have put in.
Being back was great and I got to play with some great seniors this year that I will really miss. We got to play in some really big games and the highlight of our season was beating W.F. West who had a long league winning streak that we snapped. That was my biggest and best outing of the season and it was such a great feeling to accomplish that. I really hope we get back to normal and all the players in the pacific northwest can play again as much as they can.