Senior-to-be helped Jesuit High win the 6A Championship in June
L-R: Theron Abel, Mick Abel, Dagny Abel
For immediate release
PORTLAND, Oregon (July 29) -- A superlative junior campaign with Jesuit High has yielded one more piece of baseball hardware for Mick Abel.
Abel, who pitched the Crusaders to a 6A Championship this spring, was named the Oregon Sports Awards’ 2019 Prep Baseball Player of the Year on Monday. The award comes on the heels of Abel receiving his state championship ring, as well as Gatorade Oregon Baseball Player of the Year and 6A/Metro League Pitcher of the Year honors.
The 6-5, 185-pound right-hander was chosen by the Oregon Sports Awards’ voting panel over finalists Christian Cooney (Central Catholic) and Jacob Dobmeier (Newport). He is the first Crusader to win the award, which was incepted in 2012.
Sport Oregon and NBC Sports Northwest presented Abel with his award during “The Noe Show” with Brian Noe on Monday. Click here to access a highlight reel of Abel’s time on the air and to view all 2019 prep, amateur and professional award announcements.
Sport Oregon, which manages the Oregon Sports Awards, and NBC Sports Northwest have partnered to announce all award winners on live television throughout July. Award announcements began on July 8 and conclude on Wednesday.
Tuesday and Wednesday’s afternoon Oregon Sports Awards announcements can also be heard live on KPOJ Rip City Radio 620.
Abel is the highest-rated prep baseball player Oregon has produced since former Metro League standouts Jace Fry (Southridge) and Carson Kelly (Westview) were each selected in the first 9 rounds of the 2011 and 2012 MLB Drafts, respectively.
He competed in USA Baseball’s inaugural Prospect Development Pipeline League for three weeks in June and was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 2 overall player to come out of the showcase. Abel struck out the side in the showcase’s all-star game in Cleveland and gave up just one run and four hits against 11 strikeouts over eight innings.
Perfect Game USA ranks Abel as the No. 5 overall class of 2020 prospect. He gave a verbal commitment to Oregon State in 2017 and reaffirmed his pledge on “The Noe Show.”
He is slated to try out for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team in August. Should Abel make the final 20-man roster, he’ll compete in the 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cup in South Korea from Aug. 30- Sept. 8.
Abel has also played in showcase games and tournaments with Perfect Game USA and Area Code this summer. He has pitched on the club scene for the West Linn-based Gunderson Pitching Academy as well.
Abel cemented himself as the most dominant arm in Oregon this spring. He finished the season 10-0 with a 1.26 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched. Abel was 2-0 in postseason play and tossed eight innings in the Crusaders’ 2-1, 13-inning win over rival Central Catholic in the state championship.
He started on the hill in three of the top-ranked Crusaders’ five playoff wins.
Abel allowed a combined 13 runs and 41 hits and walked 21 batters in regular and postseason play.
Abel is an infielder on days he does not pitch. This spring, he hit .271 with 16 hits and 15 RBI in 59 plate appearances. Abel hit 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 1 triple and scored 13 runs.
He also received votes to receive the 6A/5A Johnny Carpenter Prep Boys Athlete of the Year award, which was presented to Benson High sprinter Micah Williams on July 10.
Award criteria and past winners
Presenting sponsor: HP
State Champion Sponsors: NBC Sports Northwest Nike Pamplin Media Group Portland Thorns Portland Timbers Portland Trail Blazers Providence Heath and Services Washington Trust Bank
About Sport Oregon
Sport Oregon’s mission is to drive economic growth and enhance Oregon’s quality of life through sports. Our non-profit organization has served as the state’s sports economic development arm for more than two decades, injecting more than $350 million into Oregon’s economy through sports tourism.
Supported by more than 150 annual members, Sport Oregon works relentlessly to enhance the state’s economy and quality of life by attracting sports events and franchises. Sport Oregon’s major achievements include securing the NCAA Basketball Tournament, Davis Cup World Final, multiple U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Women’s World Cup Soccer and the Dew Tour. Sport Oregon was recognized as “Sports Commission of the Year” in 2010 by the National Association of Sports Commissions. View a complete list of Past Events and Future Events.
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