Thurston`s Straily Signs With Western Oregon

Star pitcher inks national letter of intent with baseball Wolves.

MONMOUTH - Thurston High School star pitcher Dan Straily has signed a national letter of intent to attend Western Oregon University next fall.

Straily, a 6-1, 185-pound right-hander, is the second prep player to sign with the Wolves program during this school year. Last fall, West Salem`s Mike Cusick committed to WOU during the early signing period. Cusick was just named the Valley League Pitcher of the Year last week.

Straily went 7-3 for a Thurston team that finished 9-14 on the season. He had an ERA of 2.48 and gave up only 43 hits in 62 innings of work. He fanned 65 batters and walked only 18. He also had one save.

“Daniel is a hard worker, and has improved as much in a two-year period as any player that I have ever had,“ said Colts coach Chris Verneer. “He has been our leader on the mound and at the plate. He is a real pleasure to coach.“

Straily, who played first base or right field when he wasn`t pitching, hit .343 on the year with 20 RBI and seven doubles.

“We look for Dan to come in and compete for some innings as a freshman,“ said Western Oregon head coach Jeremiah Robbins. “He has good command of his fastball, and he has a slider that will be one of his better out pitches as he matures.“

Western Oregon finished third last week at the NCAA Division II west region tournament, capping the season at 40-16 overall. The Wolves have won six straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, and have advanced to the NCAA tournament in three of the past four seasons. Robbins, a former Douglas High School head coach, will begin his second season as the WOU leader in 2007.

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