PORTLAND, Ore. --- Four high school baseball players have committed to the University of Portland baseball program, announced head coach Chris Sperry. Nick Armenta (OF, Clovis, Calif.), Chris Johnson (RHP, Edmonds, Wash.), Benjamin Ruff (IF/RHP, Fife, Wash.) and Chet Thompson (OF, Gig Harbor, Wash.) have each signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Pilots next fall.
“We were successful in signing the top four kids we went after and we knocked out some significant recruiting needs with our 2009 class,” Sperry said. “Overall, these kids are a strong group of athletes who bring with them a competitive spirit that we’re seeking. We expect them all to make an impact and grow within our program. We feel fortunate in the success we’ve had this fall and we’re proud to welcome not only some players, but some great families as well, to the University of Portland.”
Nick Armenta is an outfielder entering his senior season at Clovis East High School. The three-year letterwinner hit .339 as a junior last spring with 22 runs, 13 RBI’s and 10 stolen bases. He helped lead the Timberwolves to the playoffs and a 25-7 overall record. During Clovis’ three-game post-season run, Armenta went 6-for-10 with four runs, two RBI’s, two swiped bases and a pair of doubles. He earned All-Tri-River Athletic Conference recognition and was named All-Valley following his junior campaign.
“Nick played in a very good program at Clovis East and for a very good coach,” said Sperry. “He has demonstrated a strong arm and good speed, and his body has a ton of room to grow. He’s a very strong defender and he should become a very productive offensive player as he grows stronger. Nick is a great person and he’ll give everything he has to his collegiate career.”
Chris Johnson will earn his fourth varsity letter this spring at Meadowdale High School. The right-handed pitcher led the Mavericks in wins as a junior last season, going 5-1 on the hill. He also led the team in strikeouts and posted an earned run average of 0.68. Johnson, who was named the WESCO South Player of the Week and the Enterprise Newspaper Athlete of the Week, helped lead Meadowdale to two straight district and regional championships. The Mavericks also finished fourth in the Washington State 3A playoffs two years in a row. During the 3A quarterfinal game last spring, Johnson held fifth-ranked Seattle Prep scoreless on four hits and a walk during seven innings of work. He also struck out 11.
“Chris is a tall right-hander that we believe can pitch effectively because of his competitiveness,” Sperry said. “He has an excellent change-up and we’ve had his fastball in the 84-87 MPH range. His delivery and his body suggest he’ll improve on his velocity over time and hopefully develop into a starter for us at some point down the road. He’s a great fit academically and we like his make-up a lot.”
Benjamin Ruff earned three letters as an infielder and a right-handed pitcher at Puyallup High School. Now a senior at Fife High School, Ruff landed on the 2008 Washington 4A All-State Second Team following his junior year with the Vikings. He hit .448 at the plate last spring with four home runs, 32 RBI’s, 10 doubles and a triple. He was also named first team all-area and landed on the All-South Puget Sound League First Team, South Division. On the hill, Ruff went 4-1 with a 1.66 ERA during his junior campaign. He helped the Vikings reach the state playoffs in 2006 and 2008 and garnered all-league honorable mention as a sophomore in 2007. A member of the 2007 NW Junior Olympic Team, Ruff once belted two home runs in a game.
“We’ve had Benny in camp since he was in grade school, so I personally know him better than any of our recruits,” noted Sperry. “For me, it’s a special thrill when we sign someone from our camps, especially when they’ve grown up in our environment. Benny is a very outgoing person who possesses two qualities that I’m looking for: confidence and competitiveness. He has a very strong arm, can play anywhere on the field, shows instincts, and backs down from no one. He’s a bulldog on the mound and he wants to win. He reminds me most of Eric Hull, who was a two-way player for us in 2001-02. They have similar body types and they both know they can beat you.”
Chet Thompson, an outfielder, is a three-year letterwinner entering his senior season at Gig Harbor High School. Thompson was named First Team All-Narrows League the past two seasons and helped lead the Tides to the District Playoffs in 2006. As a junior last spring, Thompson hit .363, knocked in 16 runs, scored 24 times, had two stolen bases and belted two home runs. Thompson had similar numbers as a sophomore, hitting .385 with 15 RBI’s, 16 runs, 12 stolen bases and one home run. In the field, he didn’t make an error during his sophomore and junior campaigns. During a game last spring, Thompson was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
“Chet really piqued our interest during the latter part of the summer,” Sperry said. “He knows something about competition and the hard work and teamwork that goes into winning. He’s got a great frame on which to build, a very good left-handed swing and the speed to play in the outfield. I think once he transitions from a multi-sport athlete in high school to a collegiate athlete who focuses on one sport, his development will skyrocket. Chet will put his mark on the Pilots baseball program.”
