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42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, January 24, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Opportunities Moving to Southern Oregon? MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 18, 2004 Cycle ends in ‘slam’ for Chiefs slugger Prep Notebook By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Rogue River High slugger Matt Frederick didn’t just hit for the cycle in a game against Illinois Valley on Saturday. The senior third baseman hit for the progressive cycle — belting, in order, a single, double, triple and home run during the Chieftains’ 13-2 victory in the second game of a Skyline Conference doubleheader. If that weren’t enough, Frederick’s climactic homer — a mammoth blast that Rogue River coach John White believes traveled nearly 500 feet — was a grand slam. "That’s the longest ball I’ve ever seen hit by a high school kid," White says. Interestingly, the 6-foot, 205-pound Frederick had to work for his clear-the-bases clout. With no fence at the Illinois Valley ballpark, the Cougars were able to make a play at the plate on Frederick, who beat the tag. Advertisement "I was going to send him home no matter what," White says. "He didn’t know (that he was on the verge of hitting for the cycle), but I sure did." Frederick is batting .450, or 100 points less than a year ago when he garnered second-team, all-state accolades. White says teams this season are giving Frederick the Barry Bonds treatment, pitching around him whenever possible. "They couldn’t really do that (Saturday) because all our guys were hitting the ball hard," White says. "But their outfielders were standing back there about 350 feet when Matt came to the plate and he still hit the ball over their heads twice." A lack of foot speed has kept Frederick from being a Division 1 prospect. He’ll likely end up at Shasta Community College in Redding, Calif., White says, noting that former Phoenix High standout Travis Dunlap went the junior college route and is now playing at the University of Kansas. "I think Matt has the same type of power that Dunlap had," White says. The Illinois Valley outfielders would attest to that. BRETT ELLIS HAS SIGNED to play basketball at Pacific University in Forest Grove. Ellis, who led Phoenix High to its first Skyline Conference boys hoop title in 12 years last season, will receive about 50 percent of the cost to attend Pacific, or roughly $14,000 annually. The Division III school doesn’t give athletic scholarships per se; Ellis earned his way via his 3.67 grade point average at Phoenix. Ellis averaged 15.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals for the Pirates, who posted a 22-3 record and lost to eventual state runner-up Junction City in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs. "I’m real excited because I’ve got a good chance of playing right away," the 5-foot-11 Ellis says. "They don’t want me to redshirt." Pacific, which posted an 11-14 record last season, will lose starting point Erin Gram to graduation. Gram led the Northwest Conference in assists and steals while averaging 12.2 points per game. FRESHMAN BASEBALL might be coming back to North and South Medford high schools. The two programs, a victim of last year’s budget cuts, have been added to the athletic budget proposal for the 2004-2005 school year, North Medford High athletic director Mike Kay said. The proposal must still be approved by the school board. "We’re hoping (freshman baseball) is one of the things that’s brought back," Kay said. "We thought there might be an organization out there that could fill the gap, but it hasn’t worked out." This season, freshmen who failed to make the junior varsity squads at the two schools were cut. Coaches were put in a quandary when having to choose between sophomore players on the bubble who had more skill and freshmen who had more potential. "Studies show that kids who play sports have higher GPAs and stay out of trouble more than those who don’t play," Kay said. "And it’s really important to get those freshmen kids connected." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? 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