PORTLAND, Ore. --- Catcher Dutton Elske (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lakeridge HS), who was named the Oregon 6A State Player of the Year after batting .565 as a senior this spring, has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Portland Pilots baseball program, announced head coach Geoff Loomis.
 
Elske was also a three-time selection to the All-Three Rivers League First Team and he was chosen to play in the Oregon 6A/5A All-Star Series.
 
"Dutton comes to the Pilots after a very successful senior season," Loomis said. "He has the intangibles we look for in a catcher. He's also a hard worker, he receives, blocks and throws, and he has the leadership traits that we think will allow him to build trust with the pitching staff."
 
Elske was the league player of the year last season and he helped the Lancers to the second round of the state playoffs. He belted four homers during his senior campaign and tallied 12 doubles, two triples and 31 RBI's, while boasting a slugging percentage of .921 and an OPS of 1.578.
 
He earned second-team all-state as a junior in 2015 after garnering honorable all-state as a sophomore. He previously nabbed all-league honorable mention during his freshman season at Lakeridge.