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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Craft brewers cast wary eye to mega-brewer merger ... Police, Realtors warn of rental scam ... Ashland doctor aids Syrian refugees ... Craft brewers cast wary eye to mega-brewer merger ... Police, Realtors warn of rental scam ... Ashland doctor aids Syrian refugees ... AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL Pitch Perfect Comment By Kris Henry Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 11, 2015 at 8:44 PM Updated Aug 12, 2015 at 12:33 PM By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 11, 2015 at 8:44 PM Updated Aug 12, 2015 at 12:33 PM --> CODY COGGINS WHO: A 6-foot-2, 185-pound pitcher/first baseman for the Medford Mustangs. WHAT: Coggins improved to 10-0 by earning the win in last Sunday’s Northwest Reg... » Read more X CODY COGGINS WHO: A 6-foot-2, 185-pound pitcher/first baseman for the Medford Mustangs. WHAT: Coggins improved to 10-0 by earning the win in last Sunday’s Northwest Regional championship, allowing two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts in the eight-inning victory. Coggins lowered his ERA to 0.74 with two wins and one save in the regional. UP NEXT: American Legion World Series, Thursday-Tuesday, Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. » Social News Medford Mustangs manager Nate Mayben is quick to point out that he has the luxury of calling upon five capable starting pitchers against any form of competition. That said, it’s understandable if one of those starters is a little more near and dear to his heart. It’s also not overstepping to consider that pitcher the ace of the staff this summer, even though no one involved with the team would ever go that far. Still, it’s been something special when Cascade Christian High graduate Cody Coggins has taken the mound for the Mustangs, and the results certainly support the notion that the 19-year-old right-hander has anchored one of the best pitching staffs in program history. Coggins improved to 10-0 in 11 starts by pitching Medford to a 12-2, eight-inning victory over Gillette (Wyo.) in last Sunday’s American Legion Northwest Regional Tournament. Coggins allowed two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts to help lower his season ERA to 0.74, finishing with two wins and one save at the regional. “You can’t ask for a guy to give you more than that,” said Mayben, who is also Coggins’ head coach at Cascade Christian. “He’s definitely led the way through the season and has been consistent.” In 14⅔ innings at the regional in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Coggins allowed nine hits, two runs — one earned — with 16 strikeouts, three walks and a 0.61 ERA. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound standout entered the regional with a 0.79 ERA after allowing only 29 hits in 53 innings. “It was awesome to be able to be up on the mound and have the guys believe in me, definitely,” Coggins said of last Sunday’s win. “I’m happy to be a part of this team and contribute anyway possible, whether it’s starting, closing or middle relief. I’m happy our team has the opportunity we do now (at the American Legion World Series), not just myself but everybody because we’ve all worked so hard for this.” After helping guide the Challengers to runner-up in the Class 3A state championship, Coggins was primarily used out of the bullpen last summer in his first turn with the Mustangs, posting a 3-1 record with four saves and a 2.36 ERA. “I think last year was big for my confidence,” he said. “When I made the Mustangs, first of all I was obviously nervous with all the 6A guys and that I was getting to compete against the best in the state. Just seeing I was able to successfully compete against them I think set a good foundation for success on the mound after that, definitely.” Coggins earned first-team all-state acclaim as a senior pitcher this past spring after going 11-2 with a 1.21 ERA for Cascade Christian. He posted an impressive 133 strikeouts against 19 walks in 75⅓ innings, and also batted .521 with 30 RBIs and 37 runs for a squad that fell one win shy of a repeat appearance in the 3A state title game. All that success simply has rolled over into the summer, showing that the level a pitcher is at doesn’t necessarily dictate his talent. “Just because he’s a 3A kid doesn’t mean he’s not good,” said Mayben. “We run into some pretty good pitchers at the 3A level. The thing is, you’re just not going to have three or four guys like that, you’re only going to maybe have one and only going to run into four or five hitters in a lineup that can maybe hit instead of nine like you do here.” “Cody has been able to make the transition from the 3A level to the Mustangs level because he’s good, and it’s as simple as that,” added Mayben. “He has a really good future ahead of him on the mound.” What separates Coggins, according to Mayben, is his competitive composure and a steady arsenal of pitches he can use to challenge hitters. “Mechanically he’s just sound,” said Mayben. “He doesn’t have a lot of weird action in his motion and he stays pretty calm. He has four pitches he can throw for strikes, and when you can do that you’re going to be very successful.“ “Another thing about Cody is he has that mentality that you wish you could have an entire team full of,” added the coach. “He just hates to lose. He wants to compete all the time, he’s never afraid to go out there and he wants to pitch against the best.” Coggins will get more chances this week as the Mustangs look to secure their first World Series crown. Medford, which owns 13 state titles, clinched its fifth regional championship last week and twice finished as the national runner-up (1997 and 2009). “It’s been a good ride,” said Coggins. “I think after last year coming up short in that regional championship, it fueled some fires on the team. I know my teammates definitely sold out trying to get here and I know I did, too. To be able to get that this year, it was worth the wait.” For now, Coggins is putting aside another key element to his summer: making a college choice. He earned a full scholarship to play at Simpson University but has also been offered some aid to become a walk-on at the University of Oregon. “I’ve got a lot of things on my plate right now,” he said with a laugh, “but I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on going and winning a national championship. Either option is a great opportunity for me.” Coggins has no delusions over quieting every bat he sees — although he’s confident in his and his team’s ability to overcome any adversity. “I know eventually I’ll reach that level where somebody is going to hit me hard,” he said. “Until I reach that, I’m going to be confident and expect to win with the defense and offense I’ve had behind me. It’s just been awesome all the support I’ve received.” And this week’s outlook for the Mustangs? “I think the mindset of the team heading into the World Series is, if we made it this far, we might as well go ahead and win it all,” said Coggins. “I know we’re going to give it our all.” Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry By Kris Henry Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 11, 2015 at 8:44 PM Updated Aug 12, 2015 at 12:33 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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