Oregon Tech baseball enters 2026 coming off a historic 39-16 season and the program’s first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance. Second-year head coach Ricky Walker—promoted from interim after guiding last year’s breakthrough campaign—oversees a roster that lost 18 seniors, including three Cascade Conference Players or Pitchers of the Year, but added 25 new players through the transfer portal and recruiting. Despite the massive turnover, Walker emphasizes this is a reload, not a rebuild. The Hustlin’ Owls return experienced arms, add proven transfers, and aim for a fifth-straight 30-win season in the always-competitive CCC.
Offensive Departures
Oregon Tech says goodbye to a senior class that rewrote the record books. Two-time All-American Tyler Horner (.399, 21 2B, 4 3B, 13 HR, 66 RBI) departs as the program’s all-time leader in multiple categories. Two-time All-CCC shortstop Patrick Barry (.392, 19 2B, 5 3B, 41 RBI) and four-year utility starter Matthew Ortiz (.385, 16 2B, 3 3B, 52 RBI) also exit. Three-time All-CCC right fielder Julien Jones (.358, 17 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 55 RBI) led the team in home runs. Four-year starting left fielder Ka’ala Tam (.318, 15 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 50 RBI), center fielder Dane Bradshaw (.233, 21 RBI), and three-year starting second baseman Korrey Siracusa (.335, 24 RBI) round out the departures. Keanu Mizuta (.297, 13 2B, 5 HR, 31 RBI), Ty Blakely (.203, 19 RBI), and Garrett Smith (.253, 11 2B, 4 HR, 18 RBI) also exhausted their eligibility.
Returning Hitters
The Owls bring back limited but productive offensive pieces from 2025. Logan Macy (.296, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 25 RBI) returns after starting all season at third base and moves to shortstop as the field general. Michael O’Daniel (.185, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI) ranked Top-5 in the CCC with 20 stolen bases and 38 runs scored while splitting center field duties. Jacob Cook (.130, 1 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI) adds power depth with 20 runs and 10 stolen bases. Ryan McCabe (.500, 1 RBI in 6 G) returns behind the plate after two years backing up Horner and Blakely. Redshirt juniors Chase Southern, Trevin Paulson, and Hunter Hough provide depth. Redshirt freshmen Paul Zaragoza, Andrew Moore, and Jake Wells round out the returning group.
Incoming Hitters
Walker added 25 new players to reload the roster. Andrew Sharp (Central Washington; .325 career AVG, 60 RBI) brings veteran presence behind the plate and at first base. Logan Pontecorvo (San Diego State) adds power from the catching position. Nick Gimino (Cal Poly) and freshman Zach Morris battle for the second base job. Cal Pickhardt (Everett CC; NWAC Gold Glove winner) locks down third base with elite defense. Quinn Mickelson (Blue Mountain CC; .301 AVG, 14 RBI), Dylan Edwards (Western Oregon; .277 career AVG), and JoJo Roman (Delta CC) compete for outfield spots alongside two-time All-Tri-River Conference selection Aiden Corkery. Freshman Nik Halouchits brings elite defensive skills behind the plate. Logan Williams (Blue Mountain CC) and freshman Dylan Le add infield depth. Freshmen Jayden Pacariem and Bradley Ciro round out the position additions.
Pitching Departures
The staff loses two Cascade Conference Pitchers of the Year. 2025 CCC Pitcher of the Year Tim Williams (3.24 ERA, 86 IP, 8-1, 67 K) and 2024 CCC Pitcher of the Year Bronson Chapple (3.27 ERA, 41.1 IP, 4-2, 43 K) both graduated. Alex Rodriguez (3.03 ERA, 32.2 IP, 3-0), Drake Aboud (3.00 ERA, 9 IP), Riley Cronin (4.68 ERA, 25 IP, 2-2, 5 SV), and Brian McClelland (11.77 ERA, 13 IP) also depart. Isaac Hill (7.18 ERA, 52.2 IP, 4-3) and Jaden Domingsel (5.79 ERA, 4.2 IP) round out the exits.
Returning Pitchers
Carson Glavich (4.76 ERA, 64.1 IP, 7-2, 45 K) leads the returners after 13 starts and moves from Day 2 to the Day 1 starter role. Landon Cheney (7.23 ERA, 56 IP, 5-1, 45 K) brings a 9-1 career record across 14 career starts and 108 innings. Redshirt junior Noah Loew (2.57 ERA, 21 IP, 2-0, 16 K, 1 SV) made eight appearances in 2025 and earned a rotation spot after limiting Top-25 British Columbia to two runs in six innings. Caleb Randolph (1.21 ERA, 22.1 IP, 1-0, 23 K) led the staff in ERA across 14 appearances. Kaden Melzer (6.37 ERA, 29.2 IP, 3-3, 27 K, 4 SV) recorded four saves including two in the postseason. Redshirt freshmen Ryker Altizer (7.20 ERA, 5 IP) and Marcos Ulloa-Ford (27.00 ERA, 1 IP) made significant strides in year one. Returners Hayden Van Acker, Thomas Smith, and Matthew Peterman provide bullpen depth.
Incoming Pitchers
Walker stayed transfer-heavy to replace departed aces. Josh Mejia (Lower Columbia CC; 38 K in 25 IP) and Crew Howell (Treasure Valley CC; nearly 1 K/IP over two seasons) battle for the fourth rotation spot. Collin Hysell (Treasure Valley CC; 52 K in 46 IP) joins Melzer and Randolph as a late-inning weapon. Left-handers Aiden Lundquist (Colorado NW CC) and Aiden Corkery provide depth alongside Van Acker. Right-handers Enrique Perez (Porterville CC) and Aiden McAuliffe (Umpqua CC) add experienced arms. Freshmen Ezra Oster, Luke Wheeling, and Landon Norris compete for innings.
Outlook
The 2026 Oregon Tech baseball season centers on sustaining excellence under second-year head coach Ricky Walker. Despite losing 18 seniors, the Owls reloaded with 25 additions and return key arms in Glavich, Cheney, and Loew. The offense must replace historic production but features experienced transfers and returners with speed. Walker targets a fifth-straight 30-win season, fifth postseason appearance in six seasons, and second-straight NAIA Tournament bid. The schedule begins with a three-game series at Ottawa (AZ). Check out our Oregon Tech Schedule Preview here.
