PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Pilots Baseball signed 12 recruits from the Class of 2024 this signing period, head coach Geoff Loomis announced on Friday. The class features a mix of local talent and impressive two-way athletes to bolster Portland's roster for next season.
 
"I'd like to personally welcome these future Pilots and their families to The Bluff," Loomis said. "It's an impressive class to announce. We have an experienced squad in 2024, so this class is a large one. I'm confident these 12 talented high school athletes will help us continue our tradition of excellence in the classroom and on the diamond."
 
Ben Allen – Catcher – Keizer, Ore.

 

Ben Allen leads off the 2024 class for Portland. From McNary High School, Allen has captained the Celtics each of the last two years. He was named his team's defensive player of the year the last two seasons and was a first team All-Central Valley Conference selection. He is also a two-year letterman in football. For club ball, Allen spent 2023 with the Benz Boys and has also played for Salem Elite and the North Valley Cubs.
 
Coach Loomis on Allen:
 
"Ben is one of the best backstops in the state of Oregon and in the PNW. Exceptional arm strength that he pairs with a deep understanding of the game. A multi-sport athlete, Ben brings a physical presence behind the dish and at the plate. Everything you look for in a catcher."
 
Jake Allen – Outfield – Keizer, Ore.
 


Jake Allen also comes from McNary High School in Keizer as a multi-sport athlete. Last year, he earned second team All-Central Valley Conference honors as both a pitcher and an outfielder and was named the team's Pitcher of the Year. Allen also earned Academic All-League and All-State honors each of the last three seasons.
 
Coach Loomis on Allen:
 
"Jake is a multi-sport athlete who showcases excellent speed and athleticism. Jake has a knack for making the big play. Jake's bat has continued to improve year-to-year and we think that progression continues. Jake plays the game the way it's meant to be played."
 
Connor Cox – RHP – Toutle, Wash.


 
Cox joins the Pilots after a stellar career with the Toutle Lake Fighting Ducks in Washington. He was the Central 2B League MVP last season as well as the Washington 2B Player of the Year. He led the league in batting average at .478 and posted a 7-1 record with a 1.2 ERA in 2023 as well. He helped lead the Fighting Ducks to a league championship in 2021 and followed that up with a second-place finish in state in 2022 and a fourth-place finish in 2023.
 
Coach Loomis on Cox:
 
"Connor has been the definition of consistency throughout his high school career. Having gone deep into multiple state title playoff runs, Connor is a proven winner. A confident competitor with a blue-collar work ethic is Connor's calling card. Young man knows how to pitch."
 
Quin Dufort – LHP/OF – Portland, Ore.


 
A local product attending Ida B. Wells High School, Dufort has been a stellar four-year varsity player for the Guardians. He was the PIL Pitcher of the Year in 2022 as well as a second team all-state pitcher and was a first team all-league selection at both pitcher and outfielder in 2023. He led the PIL in batting average last season at .458 and is currently in the top five for his school in strikeouts at 168 career K's.
 
Coach Loomis on Dufort:
 
"Quin is a left-handed two-way athlete from Portland. Quin has the potential to make an impact on both sides of the baseball. In 2022, Quin posted a 6-0 record with 91 strikeouts and a 0.65 ERA in 53.2 innings. He was named PIL Pitcher of the Year and earned a 2nd Team All-State selection."
 
Cade Gehlen – OF – Camas, Wash.


 
Gehlen comes to the Pilots after an accomplished career at Central Catholic in Portland. Gehlen was a first team All-Mt. Hood Conference selection each of the last three seasons and the Mt. Hood Conference Rookie of the Year in 2021. He was also a first team all-conference selection each of the last two seasons for Central Catholic Football, having won state championships in 2021 and 2023.
 
Coach Loomis on Gehlen:
 
"A multi-sport athlete, Cade possesses a toughness and athleticism that will serve him well here at Portland. Cade is a table-setter with speed and can cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Cade is a high achiever who has a strong work ethic and the skills to match."
 
Coleman Hollabaugh – OF/RHP – Normandy Park, Wash.


 
Hollabaugh is a 6-1 two-way player out of Washington who has excelled both at the plate and on the mound. He's a two-time first team All-NPSL selection at DH and last season was a second team selection as both a DH and a pitcher. He's also been stellar for the Benz Boys Baseball Club, having set the single season hit record with 52 hits this past summer while also going 4-0 on the mound with a .689 ERA.
 
Coach Loomis on Hollabaugh:
 
"Coleman possesses potentially the best lefthanded raw power in the state of Washington. Coleman is another two-way player and can run his fastball up to 93 MPH. A tough, coachable young man that has a no-nonsense demeanor and is a great fit for our program."
 
Aaron Louis – OF/LHP – San Francisco, Calif.


 
A two-way athlete out of San Francisco, Aaron Louis shined last season for Sacred Heart Cathedral Prepatory. For the Fighting Irish, he was a second team All-WCAL selection after recording 27 hits on the year. He's also excelled for Zoots Baseball Club, where he batted .329 over the past summer.
 
Coach Loomis on Louis:
 
"Aaron will be a lefthanded two-way talent for us. Athletic with a ton of potential. From the San Francisco area, Aaron attended our prospect camp and it was an easy decision to make him a Pilot. Exceptional bat-to-ball skills and a competitive drive on the mound."
 
Ethan Matsuoka – Infielder – Tualatin, Ore.

 

Another local product from Tualatin, Matsuoka comes to Portland coming off a year that saw him earn first team All-Three Rivers League honors. He hit a crucial grand slam in the playoffs against Sunset High School and has helped the Timberwolves advance past the second round each of the last two years.
 
Coach Loomis on Matsuoka:
 
"An early riser amongst his peers, Ethan jumped on the scene showcasing his ability to hit with power to all fields. A versatile infielder, Ethan can play both corner spots effectively. Brings great energy to the field daily and guys around him feed off that."
 
Nolan Miller – OF/INF/LHP – Eugene, Ore.


 
A versatile player coming out of Eugene, Miller is another southpaw that shines on both sides of the ball. He was a first team All-Southwest Conference selection in 2022 and a second team player in 2021. In the latter season, he helped Sheldon High School win two playoff games against Central Catholic and McMinville, and in the former season was named a second team All-State outfielder.
 
Coach Loomis on Miller: 
 
"Nolan will bring his two-way talents to The Bluff after having an exceptional career at Sheldon High school. Nolan has a natural swing and can drive the ball to all fields. With a mature approach at the plate and a relentless competitive streak on the mound, Nolan has a chance to make an immediate impact."
 
Frankie Rutigliano – INF – Medford, Ore.


 
From North Medford HS, Frankie Ruigliano is a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection that has been stellar in the infield. He was a first team all-state selection after leading North Medford to state semifinals. He batted a team-high .402 at the plate last season as well. Rutigliano has performed well in club ball as well, winning the Triple A Legion State Championship in 2022 with the Medford Mustangs and spending this past summer with the Benz Boys.
 
Coach Loomis on Rutigliano: 
 
"Frankie is one of the surest fielders in the state of Oregon. A true shortstop with exceptional baseball instincts, Frankie is a leader amongst his peers, someone who elevates the people around him. Frankie is a rare athlete that has a high-floor and high-ceiling potential."
 
Treyton Swygart – RHP/INF – Middleton, Idaho


 
An outstanding high school prospect out of Idaho, Swygart has been a first-team all-conference player each of the last two years for Middleton High School and was a second team all-conference pitcher this past year. He earned all-state honors each of the past two seasons, including making first team for 2023. He helped the Vikings win a district championship last year after reaching base 21 at bats in a row and hitting a walk-off homer in the championship series, and he also posted a 7-0 record on the mound.
 
Coach Loomis on Swygart:
 
"Trey comes from an excellent high school program in Middleton, Idaho. Trey is a two-way talent showcasing a sweet lefthanded stroke, good feet in the infield, and a power arm on the mound. Trey can flat out do it all. Loves to play the game and it shows in his drive to be a great player."
 
Nolan Umlandt – RHP/INF – Tualatin, Ore.

 

Rounding out the Class of 2024 is right-hander Nolan Umlandt. The four-year varsity player starred for Sherwood High School, earning first team all-league honors in the conference each of the last two seasons as both a pitcher and a shortstop. He led Sherwood to the best record in OSAA 6A baseball last year at 24-4 and has helped them when league titles each of the last to seasons. Last year, he posted a 10-0 record with a .778 ERA, giving up just six earned runs while striking out 99 batters. He also batted .457 on the year.
 
Coach Loomis on Umlandt:
 
"Nolan is a right-handed pitcher and another local prospect coming from Sherwood High School. Nolan has proven himself time and again at every level and was a top pitcher in the state of Oregon in 2023, earning 1^st Team All-State honors. Nolan relentlessly attacks hitters."
 
The Pilots are coming off a stellar year that saw them go 31-23 overall and 17-10 in WCC play, finishing second in the conference for the second year in a row. They advanced to the WCC Tournament Championship for the first time in program history.

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