2025 Oregon High School Team Preview - #18 Central Catholic
March 4, 2025
Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2025 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 #18 ranked Central Catholic Rams.
High School: Central Catholic Rams 
Head Coach: Justin Barchus
Division: 6A
League/Conference: Mt. Hood
2024 Record (Finish): 18-10
2024 Playoff Finish: 6A state round of 16
ROSTER PREVIEW
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Key Players Lost: Cade Gehlen, Spencer Marron, Cam Ames, Gavin Dunn
TEAM OUTLOOK
Starting Pitching: Logan Anzellotti, Lance McKey
Bullpen: Cole Thomas, Jake Wight, Sam Smith, Will Charbonneau, Chandler Kennedy, Grady Olson, Nolan Horner
Top Seniors: Aidan Rice, Lance McKey, Logan Anzellotti, Wyatt Brown, Ryan Davis, Touki Kaptur
Top Juniors: Cole Thomas, Jake Wight, Spencer Ames, Nolan Horner
Underclassmen to watch: '27 Jake Pachmayr, '27 Servando Lopez, '27 Grady Olson, '28 Sam Smith
‘28 OF Sam Smith (OR) moving well at the dish with advanced operation from left side.
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 17, 2025
Quality mover w/ quick hands that work barrel short-to-long. Firm contact throughout working middle.
N2K. @PrepBaseballOR || @PBR_DanJurik pic.twitter.com/iEFzj6KL9u
Areas to watch: Pitching inexperience
Team Strengths: Defense, athleticism, speed
Coaches Outlook: “We bring back a wealth of experience and look to combine that with some very talented newcomers to improve upon our results from last season. A tough preseason schedule and playing in the best version of the Mt. Hood Conference in the last 5-6 years should allow us to test the depth and competitiveness of our program. It's going to be fun to watch the kids earn their opportunities early in the spring, as we have many roles still up for grabs. Overall I'm excited to be back out on the field for one last run with our group of 13 seniors!” – Justin Barchus, Head Coach
Overall Summary
Central Catholic enters the 2025 season with several varsity returners combined with some incoming young talent. The Rams should once again feature a quality lineup this season, led at the top by senior infielder and Portland commit Aidan Rice. Outfielder and fellow senior Lance McKey should take on a larger role offensively and complete his run as a four-year varsity starter. First baseman Wyatt Brown hit cleanup for Central Catholic for much of last season and is a power bat to watch. Several underclassman have a chance to come in and make an immediate impact, headlined by freshman outfielder and left-handed pitcher Sam Smith. Smith is the number one ranked freshman in the state entering this season, and features a mature, advanced game for his age. Pitching may be a bit of an area to watch for the Rams. Senior arm Logan Anzellotti will be an important part of the pitching staff, fully healthy after a partial injury last spring. Central Catholic does have several options in terms of pitching depth, which should create an intruiging competion there. Head coach Justin Barchus is circling matchups with Jesuit, Canby, Lake Oswego, and Barlow as important games this spring for the Rams. Central Catholic looks to once again compete in a tough Mt. Hood conference this season.
Find more information on the 2025 Central Catholic program below:
+ Follow them on X: @CCRamsBsB
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Oregon Preseason Power 25 homepage