Monday, January 13, Portland, Ore. – This past Sunday, January 12, catching gurus Adley and Randy Rutschman hosted a no cost, winter catching clinic at University of Portland for Portland Interscholastic League baseball players and coaches.
Adley currently is the starting catcher for the Baltimore Orioles and was selected to play in the 2023 and 2024 MLB All-Star Games. He was the Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2022.
After starring at Oregon State, where he led the Beavers to a National Championship in 2018, Adley was the #1 pick of the 2019 MLB Draft.
His dad Randy, a longtime educator, starred at catcher at McMinnville High School and Linfield College (now University) and would later coach for George Fox University and with the Aloha Knights (now Corvallis).
Helping with instruction were Sunset High School assistant coach Kevin Lovings, his son Isaac, and Albina Baseball/Softball Extra Innings General Manager Gerald Bolden.
Kevin played his baseball at Wilson High School (now Ida B. Wells) in the PIL. His son Isaac recently wrapped his collegiate career at Utah Valley State and played Independent Professional baseball last summer at Billings. Bolden, an Aloha Knights alumnus, shined in baseball at Benson Tech and would later coach at Jefferson High School and at his alma mater, Benson. After playing at Canada JC in Redwood City, Gerald played two seasons of Indy ball (1996-1997). Kevin, Isaac and Gerald all excelled at catcher and are extraordinary teachers.
Twenty-six PIL catchers turned out for a special day of mentoring and drill work, nearly three hours in length, with representation from Benson Tech, Cleveland, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, Ida B. Wells, McDaniel, Lincoln and Roosevelt High Schools.
Also attending were several PIL coaches, former George Fox skipper Marty Hunter and Hopscotch Foundation CEO Dave Gunderson.
“Our whole community was buzzing about our catchers getting to attend the catching clinic with Adley. Seeing Adley, and all the best catching minds in the Northwest in one building with the PIL catchers was special,” said Lincoln head baseball coach CJ Watson.
“It’s something those young men will remember for the rest of their lives. Adley’s baseball accomplishments speak for themselves but hearing him talk about his values and discipline was amazing. He is someone young baseball players can look up to in all aspects of life.”
Randy, a Knights Baseball Club board member and alumnus, and his son Adley set-up and managed this special event as part of their continuing effort and commitment to growing the game in underserved areas like inner-city Portland.
While a student at Sherwood High School, Adley would catch bullpens for the Knights at Goss Stadium. He would later get his first taste of competitive college baseball for Corvallis in 2016.
All those involved are thankful for University of Portland and their coaching staff for hosting, as catchers started their training on Joe Etzel Field and finished an interactive day of instruction in the Andy Pienovi indoor practice facility.
Knights Baseball Club is proud to partner with the Rutschman family to better its communities and support the PIL’s baseball programs and the needs of youth programs that feed the PIL.
The intention is to reduce the barriers of participation, generate interest, bring community together and teach key winning attitudes like respect, discipline and accountability.
“The clinic that was put on by Adley and his pops was a great thing for the kids of the PIL,” said Jefferson head baseball coach Tank Richmond. “All the drills we can apply on the baseball field this upcoming spring. The instruction was outstanding. We appreciate all the support for the kids in our area.”
The event finished with a Q&A with Adley. He wrapped by answering a question from Knights’ alum/board member and current Jefferson assistant baseball coach Tony Fair. Adley’s response below was an exclamation to a great day of teaching and fellowship.
“For me, baseball was something I enjoyed doing and I was still able to hang out with my friends. But surround yourself with the right friends who have good influence on you.
“You’re not going to have to sacrifice your good friends who want the same thing for you that you do. If you say hey, I gotta go work out, I can’t do this, they’re going to be like, alright, awesome. I think there is like a balance, I didn’t really feel like I had to give up a ton in my life even though baseball made up a majority of it. But surround yourself with good people.”