Caleb Babcock capped a standout senior season by earning Oregon West Conference Pitcher of the Year honors, leading a strong contingent of Philomath players on the league’s all-conference team.
Babcock was one of seven Warriors recognized, with the group spanning first team, second team and honorable mention selections following Philomath’s 14-13 season that included a second-place finish in the OWC standings.
The senior left-hander was dominant on the mound, going 6-3 with a save, a 3.16 ERA and a 1.157 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) across 10 starts and 11 appearances. He struck out 91 batters against just 14 walks and held opposing hitters to a .219 batting average. When he wasn’t pitching, Babcock patrolled center field — and produced at the plate as well, hitting .419 with a .573 on-base percentage, .662 slugging percentage, two home runs, 25 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and a team-high 22 walks over 27 games.
Joining Babcock on the first team was junior infielder AJ Altishin, who matched Babcock’s .419 average while putting together one of the most productive offensive seasons in the program. Altishin finished with four home runs, 36 RBIs, a .528 on-base percentage and a .674 slugging percentage, adding 10 stolen bases and 17 walks over 27 games at the plate.
Altishin logged most of his innings at third but also saw time at first base, right field, second base, shortstop and pitcher.
Babcock and Altishin anchored a Philomath offense that helped the Warriors finish 10-5 in conference play. Stayton won the OWC title at 11-4, with Philomath edging Cascade — also 10-5 — for the runner-up spot on the strength of a 2-1 head-to-head record against the Cougars. Philomath advanced to the Class 4A playoffs before falling early this week to Marist Catholic 7-6 in the first round.
On the second team, sophomore Jayce Iverson earned recognition as an infielder after hitting .373 in his first full varsity season. Iverson played at third base most of the time but also saw time at second. Senior Wylie Griffith was named a second-team infielder for his contributions at second base — he hit .256 and also pitched, going 3-4 with a 4.13 ERA — while junior outfielder Rustan Woosley earned second-team honors after hitting .358 and logging most of his time in right field.
Sophomore shortstop Sammy Hernandez (.337) and junior first baseman CK Kvidt (.262) rounded out Philomath’s contingent with honorable mention selections.
Stayton’s Mason Silbernagel earned Player of the Year honors, while Cascade’s Justin Tow was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Cougars to a third-place finish in the conference.
OREGON WEST ALL-CONFERENCE
Player of the Year — Mason Silbernagel, Stayton
Pitcher of the Year — Caleb Babcock, Philomath
Coach of the Year — Justin Tow, Cascade
FIRST TEAM
Pitchers — Caleb Babcock, Sr., Philomath; Slade Hudson, Sr., Cascade.
Infielders — Collin Fierro, Jr., Newport; AJ Altishin, Jr., Philomath; Mason Silbernagel, Sr., Stayton; Hans Kamm, Jr., Cascade.
Outfielders — Jacob Born, Fr., Cascade; Damon Lawrence, So., Sweet Home; Colton Connally, Sr., Stayton.
Catcher — Ryland Thiessen, Jr., Stayton.
First Base — Travis Conklin, Jr., Stayton.
Best of the Rest — Oliver Hunt, Sr., Stayton.
SECOND TEAM
Pitchers — Liam Brown, So., Stayton; Ryder Hockema, Sr., Newport.
Infielders — Jayce Iverson, So., Philomath; Kyle Zajic, Jr., Sweet Home; Luke Rosa, Sr., Sweet Home; Wylie Griffith, Sr., Philomath.
Outfielders — Owen Mitzel, Sr., Stayton; Rustan Woosley, Jr., Philomath; Riley Jones, Sr., North Marion.
Catcher — Wyatt Metcalf, So., Cascade.
First Base — Conner Northern, So., Sweet Home.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitchers — Jacoby Cruz, Sr., Stayton.
Infielders — Sammy Hernandez, So., Philomath; Matt Colton, Jr., Newport; Colton Younce, So., North Marion; Ethan Hendricks, Sr., Cascade, Kyler Bondesen, So., Sweet Home.
Outfielders — Caden Bitikofer, Jr., Cascade.
Catchers — Ivan Wagner, Jr., Newport; Miguel Flores, Jr., North Marion.
First Base — CK Kvidt, Jr., Philomath; Cole Laninga, Sr., North Marion.