Three Sisters ballplayers represent Northwest

Three athletes from Sisters have been chosen to represent the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and Alaska) at the 2012 USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) to be held later this month for the 16U team, and early September for the 14U team, in Cary, North Carolina.

Joey Morgan, a 15-year-old entering his junior year at Sisters High School) and Justin Harrer, 15 and entering his sophomore year at Sisters High School) will be playing on Team Northwest Baseball's 16U team, and Ryan Funk, 13 and entering the eighth grade at Sisters Middle School, will be playing on the 14U team.

All three are automatically qualified as candidates for next year's USA Baseball National Team in their age category, which would include playing against teams from around the world.

Morgan was the starting varsity catcher his freshman year and was named First Team All-League and Third Team All-State as a catcher. In 2011 he was selected by Baseball Northwest to play in Arizona on the 14U USA Baseball Tournament team representing Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Also, in 2011 he played in Orlando for O'Brien Baseball (out of Seattle), at the USSSA Elite 32 tournament. He finished his 2011 season at the Senior Northwest Championships with Baseball Northwest in Centralia, Washington, representing the state of Oregon.

In 2012, he completed his sophomore year with a .487 batting average in league play, led the team in RBI and was named First Team All-League and First Team All-State as a catcher (the only sophomore on the ballot).

He also won the Golden Glove award, given by his teammates.

Morgan said, "I will again be traveling to the Senior Northwest Championship Tournament in Centralia, Washington, after I complete a series in Marietta, Georgia where I've been given a great opportunity to participate in the Perfect Game World Series playing for Team Northwest 15U. I was also invited to play in a 16U tournament in the Dominican Republic with the University of Kansas baseball program, unfortunately due to other commitments I was unable to attend."

Justin Harrer, raised in Hawaii, is a multi-sport athlete. In the past two years, Harrer has competed in football, varsity soccer, basketball, skiing, volleyball (sand and court), track and field, golf, biking and surfing.

Harrer has been selected for All-Stars in Hawaii and in Oregon, where he has played club ball for the past two years.

A varsity starter in soccer and baseball during his freshman year at Sisters High School, Harrer completed a perfect season with the Outlaws, advancing to the state quarterfinals. By season's end he had a .426 average with two home runs, led the Outlaws in stolen bases, and received All-League honors as a freshman.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength," he said.

Funk was the starting catcher for the Outlaws 13U and for Oregon Select 13U (a travel ball team in which he played tournaments from Washington to California). He ended his seventh-grade year with a .559 batting average for Oregon Select and .553 for the Sisters Outlaws. Funk, a catcher, short stop, and pitcher, led the Outlaws in RBI and had two home runs on the season. He was selected for the Babe Ruth Central Oregon All-Stars who played in the state finals in LaGrande, July 12-15. The team took second place after losing in the final matchup.

In the past week, Funk was sent invitations to attend Baseball Northwest's Second Annual Junior NW Championship Tournament in Centralia, Washington representing Oregon and he was also one of 18 14U players chosen from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska to represent the Northwest on the team heading to Cary, North Carolina.

"This is my first year trying to make the national team," says Funk. "If I don't make it, I won't be upset because there are a lot of great players out there - but it won't be because I didn't try."

Each has expenses over $2,000 to cover costs of travel, lodging, and equipment. Accounts are being set up at Bank of the Cascades for each player if community members wish to make a donation. For more information on how to sponsor the players please visit: www.FollowingTheFunk.com and www.FollowJoeyMorgan.com.

To learn more about the teams listed above visit www.TeamNorthwestBaseball.com, www.Baseball Northwest.com and www.USABaseball.com.