Jonathan Salas to play third base in Arizona Classic

Jonathan P. Salas will play at third base for Team Idaho in the upcoming Arizona Senior Fall Classic Baseball Tournament to be held on Oct. 16-19 at the Peoria Sports Complex in Phoenix.

Salas is excited to play for the first time in this annual event, one of the most highly anticipated high school events for both professional and college scouts.

He was selected to represent Idaho State, along with three other teammates at Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho.Salas played for the Dandan Jets, Sluggers, and Blue Jays in the Saipan Little League. In the U.S. Mainland, he suited up for Timberline Jr. Varsity High School and Varsity and Boise Gems Legion League.

He also played two times in the Jr. League World Series (Taylor, Michigan) and 2007 Sr. League in Bangor, Maine.

The 17-year-old, who also occasionally pitches, attended junior high at Kagman and is now a senior at Timberline High School.

Her mother Cathy was very thankful of his son’s inclusion saying Jonathan went to the try out with a lot of confidence.

She said he was quite surprised but also privileged to have made the Team Idaho roster for the Arizona Classic.

“He has so much passion for the sport since his Little League years and continues to work and practice hard,” she said.

Some 250 college and major league scouts are expected to show up for the event.

Handling the team, which is managed by Idaho Baseball Inc., are two experienced coaches, Aaron Sutton, assistant coach at Treasure Valley Community College; and Jeff Reifman, assistant coach at Boise High School and former participant of the Fall Classic.

It would be the 10th consecutive year that Team Idaho is competing in the event.

Salas and the Gems competed in the 2008 “AA” American Legion State Tournament, which ran from Aug. 1 to 5 at the Halliwell Park-Bill Derham Field in Pocatello, Idaho.

Salas emerged as the second best hitter of the Gems. He went 46-for-97 at bat for a batting average of .474. Salas had the most triples with six. He also made five doubles, one homer, 22 bases on ball, and had eight stolen bases.

He pitched for the Gems only once and was the winning pitcher. He pitched 9.1 innings, walked eight, struck out four, and gave up only six runs. Salas had a 4.62 ERA.