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 #3 ranked South Salem Saxons. 

 

High School: South Salem Saxons    
Head Coach: Max Price
Division: 6A
League/Conference: Central Valley
2024 Record (Finish): 25-4
2024 Playoff Finish: 6A state semifinalists

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Key Players Lost: Carter Nelson

TEAM OUTLOOK

Starting Pitching: Harrison Buckingham, Luke Erwin, Kellen Bowman

Bullpen: Kevin Semm, Noah Scharer, Ben Hennan

Top Seniors: Gavin Price, Noah Scharer, Jackson Buckingham, Josh Feik, Kevin Semm, Luke Erwin

Top Juniors: Teagan Scott, Sawyer Nelson

Underclassmen to watch: '27 Harrison Buckingham, '27 Kellen Bowman, '27 Ben Greer

Areas to watch: Pitching

Team Strengths: Bats, top-end talent

Coaches Outlook: “We only graduated one player from our 2024 team, although losing Brady Greer (1B/2025) to a football injury this past fall has certainly had a rippling effect. It's a huge loss, but we're confident in the guys we have available to step up and patch that role. After losing at home in the 6A semifinals last year, our guys certainly expect a lot out of themselves and each other. We're looking forward to what should be a fun, competitive season against some really high quality teams. As a coach, you hope for teams full of guys that are fun to be around, and this group absolutely fills that bucket.” – Max Price, Head Coach

Overall Summary

South Salem enters the spring as one of the true powerhouses in the state and a legitamate contender for a 6A state title. The Saxons boast high level talent and depth on both sides of the baseball. They're headlined by junior catcher and Oregon State commit Teagan Scott. The top ranked '26 in the state has a mature game, with plus plus defensive and leadership skills behind the dish. Fellow junior and LMU commit Sawyer Nelson is another standout talent, with a smooth shortstop glive and lefty bat. Nelson is a Futures Game alum that is the fourth ranked player in his state class. The infield will be solidified by a pair of uncommitted seniors in Josh Feik and Kevin Semm. Both are reigning 1st team all-league players with great defensive games and bat-to-ball skills. Another senior to circle is OF and Louisiana-Monroe commit Gavin Price, who led the state in home runs a year ago. Senior Jackson Buckingham is another power bat to watch. The pitching will be the big separator for the Saxons this spring, and they have one of the most exciting arms in the state headlining the staff in '27 RHP Harrison Buckingham. The lean righty improves with every look and has already run his fastball into the low 90's. Sophomore RHP Kellen Bowman is another high-upside arm that impressed in preseason looks and should take on a bigger role on the mound. Senior LHP Luke Erwin is a returing arm that secured 1st team all-league honors last spring. South Salem has intruiging home games against McNary, Westview and Sprague to highlight their schedule. Look for the Saxons to be serious title contenders this season.

Find more information on the 2025 South Salem program below:

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

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