Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing 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 #6 ranked Central Catholic Rams. 

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High School: Central Catholic Rams   
Head Coach: Justin Barchus
Division: 6A
League/Conference: Mt. Hood
2025 Record (Finish): 22-4
2025 Playoff Finish: 6A state quarterfinals

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 3
No. of Returning Pitchers: 3
Key Players Lost: Aidan Rice, Logan Anzellotti, Wyatt Brown, Lance McKey, Toussaint Kaptur, Matsen Saruwatari

TEAM OUTLOOK

Starting Pitching: Grady Olson, Sam Smith, Nolan Horner, Cole Migaki

Bullpen: Jake Wight, Will Emerson, Luke Lucas, Jaheim Washington

Top Seniors: Spencer Ames, Jake Wight, Nolan Horner

Top Juniors: Jake Pachmayr, Grady Olson, Servando Lopez, Luke Hanna

Underclassmen to watch: '28 Sam Smith, '28 Luke Lucas, '28 Blake Anzellotti, '28 Will Emerson, '29 Cole Migaki, '29 Jacksen Dunn

Areas to watch: Offensive experience

Team Strengths: Athleticism/speed, pitching

Coaches Outlook: “We lose a ton of experience that was a huge part in rebuilding the culture and expectations of Central Catholic Baseball over the past few years, but we're extremely excited about the young group we're going to have this spring. We have a group that's going to be built around the pitching staff, which we feel is the most talented and deepest we've had in a while here. We have some extremely talented players that are going to be young and inexperienced, and how fast they're able to adapt to their impact roles will decide how far this team goes this spring. We will most likely start anywhere from 6-8 underclassmen, which should set us up for a pretty exciting 2-3 year run. That being said, our sights are on the present, as we have the same goals this year as we had with last year's group." - Justin Barchus, Head Coach 

Overall Summary

Central Catholic enters the 2026 season as a team we're especially bullish on, thanks in large part to their underclass talent. The Rams are led by two-way phenom OF/LHP Sam Smith, the top-ranked player in Oregon's 2028 class. Smith was exceptional both on the mound and atop the lineup in his freshman season, offering 6.4 60 speed, gap to gap power and a mid-80's fastball. Smith figures to be in POTY conversations for the next several years. Elsewhere, junior RHP Grady Olson returns after a breakout 2025, posting a sub-1 ERA in 25 varsity innings. Senior LHP Nolan Horner has a chance to step up in a big way as a low-80's strike thrower to fortify the rotation. Another key storyline to monitor will be the arrival of impact freshman Cole Migaki. The two-way player was fantastic in looks at Junior Future Games last summer and PNW Preseason All-State this February, and slots in as the third ranked freshman in the state. Migaki has already run his fastball into the mid 80's on the mound with projection as a left sided infielder as well. The lineup loses several key bats from last season, and will be an area to monitor for the Rams. Junior Jake Pachmayr provides stability and experience from the catcher position. In the outfield, junior Servando Lopez could see a larger role after impressing at a recent Prep Baseball event, while sophomore Blake Anzellotti could be a difference maker as well. Head coach Justin Barchus has loaded the Central Catholic schedule this spring, including tough games against Jesuit, Clackamas and Lake Oswego. Expect the Rams to be among the best teams in the state this year.

Find more information on the 2026 Central Catholic program below:

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

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