Santana Reyes didn’t get a whole bunch of passes thrown his way playing receiver at North Salem High School.
But now he’s going to get the chance to get a bunch.
The 5-foot-7 senior committed to play football at Linfield as part of a signing ceremony Friday at North Salem that involved six Viking seniors.
“I feel like it just branches out my opportunity,” said Reyes, an honorable mention all-Greater Valley Conference receiver as a senior. “I get to go against competition that I’ve never seen before. Just the ability to go there and work hard every day really means a lot to me.
“It really means a lot to me that I can bring back what I’ve done from North Salem and branch that out to Linfield.”
The signing ceremony at North Salem has become an annual tradition and has grown over the past few years.
“I think it really speaks well about our school,” said senior Cole Hamilton. “They support us. They go out of their way to show who’s going to colleges. Even not if you’re going for athletics, during lunch you sign like you’re going to this school for academics. “They like to show off who’s going to colleges for our school, which I think is a big deal because not everybody gets to go to college, and so I think it’s important that they showcase us pretty much. I enjoyed that. I enjoyed being a part of it.”
Hamilton was one of three players who signed to play baseball in college.
He signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Western Oregon where he will play catcher and follow his brother, Austin, a former shortstop at the college.
Infielder Noah Boatwright signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Chemeketa.
Pitcher Cameron Jolly signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Linn-Benton Community College.
Jessica Braun committed to play golf at Pacific.
Senior Alicia Maciel signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Chemeketa.
“I think it’s a pretty big deal for me personally, like it’s a really big personal achievement because I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport and just to be able to have the opportunity
All-star baseball
Six local players were selected to play in The Reser’s Oregon All-Star Series June 18 and 19 at Goss Stadium in Corvallis.
West Salem pitcher Matt Lester, Dallas pitcher Tucker Weaver, North Salem catcher Cole Hamilton, South Salem shortstop Gabe Matthews, West Salem shortstop Andy Armstrong and West Salem outfielder Simran Dhote were chosen to play on the South team.
The series of games feature the top seniors from 6A and 5A high schools in the state.
Awards
South Salem junior Evina Westbrook was named one of the Play It Forward Award athletes of the month.
She helps coach a girls team at the Salem Hoop and the Inner City Players Lil Ladies club team in Portland, and has organized opportunities for her team to engage with Oregon State’s women’s basketball team.
She spends an average of 16 to 20 hours a month helping young girls develop in basketball.
Camps
Western Mennonite will host a series of sports camps during the summer.
A baseball camp for hitting and fielding for those Grades 5-12 runs Aug.8-11.
Soccer camps for elementary, middle school and high school boys and girls runs Aug.8-11.
Volleyball camps for those Grades 3-6 and Grades 7-12 run Aug. 8-11.
Basketball camps for elementary and middle school boys and girls run June 13-14, a camp for middle school boys and girls runs June 20-22 and a camp for high school boys and girls runs June 27-29.
For more information, contact Sheila Fahndrich at 503-363-2000 or at sfahndrich@westernmennoniteschool.org.
Basketball: South Salem’s boys team holds a camp for children ages 8-14 from 9 a.m.-noon June 20-23.
The camp, which will be run by South Salem’s coaching staff and players, features fundamental skills and drills, team play and competition and contests.
The cost is $75 per camper.
For more information contact Tyler Allen at coachtylerallen@gmail.com or 503-580-3363.
Basketball: South Salem’s girls team is hosting its Saxon Girls Basketball Hoop Camp June 20-23.
The camp for girls in Grades 3-9 runs from 1-4 p.m. each day. The cost is $70, which includes a t-shirt.
The camp will emphasize basketball fundamentals, the mental aspects of the game and individual and team competition.
For more information contact South Salem coach Nick McWilliams at 503-399-3252 or 503-689-3920.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
A group of six seniors at North Salem High School take part in a signing ceremony on Friday, May 27, 2016.