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PREP BASEBALL Cascade picks Martin to replace Mayben Comment By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Dec. 2, 2015 at 5:32 PM Updated Dec 2, 2015 at 11:23 PM By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Dec. 2, 2015 at 5:32 PM Updated Dec 2, 2015 at 11:23 PM » Social News With Cascade Christian High School baseball coach Nate Mayben intent on focusing his attentions on a much younger age group, Challengers Athletic Director Dave Fennell announced the hiring of David Martin on Wednesday to take over one of the state’s top Class 3A programs over the past few years. Mayben guided the Challengers to a runner-up finish in the 2014 state tournament and the semifinal round in 2015 and, along the way, went back to school to earn his elementary teacher license while working as IT manager at CCHS and Grace Christian schools. Mayben was given the opportunity to work full-time as a fifth-grade teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary and gladly accepted it after guiding the Medford Mustangs to the American Legion World Series in August. Mayben said stepping down at Cascade Christian was strictly a move that involved concentrating on being a teacher. “It’s my first time teaching at the elementary school level so I’m going to focus on that for a few years before I get back into high school stuff, if I ever do go back,” Mayben said Wednesday. In two seasons with the Challengers after serving as an assistant coach at North Medford, Mayben compiled a 47-10 overall record and won consecutive Southern Cascade League titles with 12-0 campaigns. “I appreciate everything they did for me,” Mayben said of his time at Cascade. “My time there with the kids was outstanding and the relationships I built with the administration and athletic staff and other coaches and all the other teachers there was outstanding. I couldn’t have asked for a better two years.” In Martin, the Challengers get someone with extensive knowledge of the program and its inner-workings. Martin has coached summer baseball for Cascade Christian and is the founder of the Cascade Youth Baseball program, which is a feeder program for Grace Christian baseball players who plan on attending CCHS. The oldest of his four children with wife Sandy, Tim, played on Cascade Christian’s state championship team under John Bruce as a junior in 2012. “He’s great with kids and the kids really like him and want to play for him, and that’s important,” said Fennell of Martin. “He doesn’t have the same pedigree that Nate has but I think he’s going to be very successful with where Nate brought the program and where the program needs to go.” “I’m excited for him,” added Fennell. “He really wants it and has a passion and drive for coaching.” Martin definitely earned the stamp of approval from Mayben, who also played and coached at Corban University. “I think Dave’s a great guy for the job and I’m excited to see what he’s going to do,” said Mayben. “He’s been working with all the youth programs for the last couple years and knows the program well and what he needs to do at the lower levels to keep it growing. I think that the program is in really good hands with Dave.” Martin said a big bonus to taking over the head coaching position at Cascade was that most of the assistant coaches, including former head coach Paul Sha, have agreed to remain on the staff. “It’ll be nice,” Martin said of his transition. “I know a good percentage of the guys on the team and what they can do, and we’re maintaining about half the guys that were coaches last year to help that transition be really smooth.” Martin said the hope, as always, will be to prepare the Challengers for another run at a conference championship in the spring and potentially beyond, but he realizes the process isn’t nearly as easy as Mayben made it look, especially considering the loss of several standout seniors from a year ago. “Stepping in for Nate Mayben has got its challenges,” Martin said. “He did an amazing job in the few years that he was coaching. He took some teams pretty deep in the playoffs that no one thought was going to happen. Those are some big shoes to fill and with losing a big percent of starters from last year’s crew, this year is kind of going to be a rebuilding year because of it. But we have a good core of seniors who have played in the program so with their leadership, I think we’re all just excited for a new season to start.” As for losing Mayben, Fennell said the move is bittersweet but one that he completely supports. “It was hard because he was doing such a great job with the kids and just with who he is as a person,” said the AD, “but he has our blessing. He’s given us some good years and done some real good things.” “I’m just so happy for Nate because I know the pace he was going at and he’s got a young family and he’s got to do what’s best for him and his family,” added Fennell. 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 Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Dec. 2, 2015 at 5:32 PM Updated Dec 2, 2015 at 11:23 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Schedules & Events --> Recent Scores --> Prep Notebook Kris Henry Challengers make it back on top in softball Winning the Southern Cascade League title seemed like a pretty bold goal this spring considering the recent history of the Cascade Christian... Varsity 541 Photos South Medford vs. North Medford Phoenix vs. Marshfield Ashland vs. Mountain View North vs Fortuna Coach K Summer Competition at SOU U19 Memorial Day Challenge » More Photo Galleries Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Contact Us | Advertise | © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.