Over the last several weeks, leading up to opening day, we've published our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season. Team previews touch on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Oregon Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Team Previews are generated through a mixture of coaches' responses gathered through our perennial coaches questionnaires, as well as insight from Prep Baseball Staff. Stay tuned the next several weeks for the unveiling of Team Previews and the complete Power 25.

Today, we spotlight the #1 ranked South Salem Saxons. 

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High School: South Salem Saxons   
Head Coach: Max Price
Division: 6A
League/Conference: Central Valley
2025 Record (Finish): 29-1
2025 Playoff Finish: 6A state quarterfinals

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Key Players Lost: Luke Erwin, Noah Scharer, Gavin Price

TEAM OUTLOOK

Starting Pitching: Harrison Buckingham, Kellen Bowman

Bullpen: Blake Kansky, Drake Fredinburg, Wyatt Timmerman, Ben Otjen

Top Seniors: Sawyer Nelson, Teagan Scott, Logan Scott

Top Juniors: Harrison Buckingham, Kellen Bowman, Ben Greer, Jimmy Ordaz Jr.

Underclassmen to watch: '28 Wyatt Timmerman, '28 Ben Otjen

Areas to watch: Pitching depth

Team Strengths: Top-end talent, team power, offensive ability

Coaches Outlook: “We know we won't be 27-0 heading into the playoffs again - last year was such a wild season. But we do know that our schedule is full of great competition, including some extremely talented arms, so I'm confident that it will help prepare our guys for another deep playoff run." - Max Price, Head Coach

Overall Summary

South Salem earns the top spot in our Preseason Power 25 Rankings after a remarkable 29-1 season in 2025. The Saxons bring back their top-end talent on both sides of the baseball, headlined by a pair of POTY contenders on the position player side. Senior INF and LMU commit Sawyer Nelson returns after one of the best high school seasons in recent memory last spring. Nelson slashed .543/.639/.1.109 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI, an offensive season that in many years would have won POTY. The lefty bat was dominant into the summer and has continued to gain traction as an MLB Draft caliber prospect, highlighted by his invite to the prestigious Prep Baseball Super 60 event this winter. Senior backstop and Oregon State commit Teagan Scott is the other half of the dynamic duo, with a remarkable offensive season in his own right last spring. Scott hit .447 with 7 home runs and 21 total extra base hits, on top of playing one of the best catcher positions defensively in the state. The Saxon's talent also shines on the mound. Junior RHP and Oregon State commit Harrison Buckingham is the top-ranked arm in Oregon's '27 class, featuring an electric fastball into the low 90's at his best. Buckingham was exceptional at Prep Baseball's Future Games last summer. Junior RHP and Portland Commit Kellen Bowman is another highly skilled arm who fills up the zone with a fastball in the mid to upper 80's. Bowman also provides quality depth in the lineup as a middle of the order bat offensively. Elsewhere in the lineup, several talented players look poised to make a bigger impact. Ben Greer is a junior outfielder who hit .349 last spring and provides some needed experience in the outfield. Junior infielder Jimmy Ordaz is a plus glove and can provide speed atop the lineup. Senior utility player Logan Scott could see a bigger role as well. Head Coach Max Price is circling games against Clackamas, Grant, West Linn and Wilsonville as intriguing matchups this spring. Look for South Salem to lean on their elite talent and repeat their success from 2025.

Find more information on the 2026 South Salem program below:

+ Follow them on IG/X: @ssaxonsbaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Oregon Preseason Power 25 homepage

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