Oregon Varsity Baseball Field Guide – Page 3 – Tailored Strategies for Oregon High School Varsity Baseball Fields

Cleveland High School

Cleveland High School is a part of the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL). The PIL is a vibrant, urban-based conference with a wide range of field types and conditions. The league includes Grant, Cleveland, Ida B. Wells, Lincoln, McDaniel, Roosevelt, Jefferson, and Franklin. It is known for both historic rivalries and diverse field challenges—often dictated by space, infrastructure, and neighborhood layout.

Field Location: 2500 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202

Left Field 317 ft.

Right Field 260 ft.

Center Field 345 ft.

Backstop N/A

Strategy: Defend the Short Porch

Right field is a launch pad—shift defense toward right and anticipate elevated fly balls.
Outfielders must learn how to handle balls off or through tree branches (trees overhang RF and right-center).
2B and RF should coordinate on deep flares or bloops near the foul line.
Pitchers should avoid letting left-handed hitters get their hands extended—keep pitches in or up.

Offensive Game Plan

Left-handed hitters should look to lift the ball to right early in counts.
Encourage aggressive swings and opposite-field approaches.
Situational hitting is key—fly balls to right field can move runners or turn into extra bases.
Base runners must remain alert to unpredictable bounces or tree deflections.

Here’s how Cleveland compares to other fields in their conference:

To see how Cleveland compares to other fields in the Portland Interscholastic League, download the Field Guide today.

Purchase the PIL Field Guide

6A Portland Interscholastic League

Grant High School

Grant High School is a part of the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL). The PIL is a vibrant, urban-based conference with a wide range of field types and conditions. The league includes Grant, Cleveland, Ida B. Wells, Lincoln, McDaniel, Roosevelt, Jefferson, and Franklin. It is known for both historic rivalries and diverse field challenges—often dictated by space, infrastructure, and neighborhood layout.

Field Location: 2245 NE 36th Ave, Portland, OR 97212

Left Field 284 ft.

Right Field 307 ft.

Center Field 319 ft.

Backstop 20 ft.

Strategy: Quick Reaction

Small outfield dimensions and turf surface mean balls move fast—play outfielders shallow and ready to charge.
Defensive reads must be immediate; balls can shoot through gaps or hop off the turf unpredictably.
Infielders should work low and quick—anticipate clean hops and adjust to speedy grounders.
Pitchers should keep the ball down to avoid dangerous fly balls and rely on inducing ground ball outs.

Offensive Game Plan

Utilize team speed: lay down bunts, drag bunts, and use slap hits to apply pressure.
Run aggressively—bounces are true and fast, increasing chances to take extra bases.
Target the gaps with line drives; once the ball reaches the outfield, it can roll deep.

Here’s how Grant compares to other fields in their conference:

To see how Grant compares to other fields in the Portland Interscholastic League, download the Field Guide today.

Purchase the PIL Field Guide

6A Central Valley Conference

West Salem High School

West Salem High School is a part of the Central Valley Conference (CVC). The CVC is home to some of the most competitive high school baseball programs in Oregon. Known for its strong mix of athleticism, tradition, and community support, the CVC features four primary schools: West Salem, McNary, Sprague, and South Salem. Each field presents unique strategic challenges that require adaptable coaching and player awareness.

Field Location: 1776 Titan Dr NW, Salem, OR 97304

Left Field 323 ft.

Right Field 320 ft.

Center Field 383 ft.

Backstop 52 ft.

Strategy: Balanced Approach

Field plays true — versatile players and adaptable game plans shine here.
Deep backstop allows for aggressive stealing and pressure baserunning.
Middle infielders must be quick on turns; expect more opportunities on double plays.
Pitchers should use off-speed effectively to keep hitters off balance.

Offensive Game Plan

Focus on contact hitting and exploiting defensive shifts.
Use the gaps to stretch singles into doubles.
Baserunners should be aggressive on dirtball reads and passed balls.
Use hit-and-run tactics to disrupt defensive rhythm.

Here’s how West Salem compares to other fields in their conference:

To see how West Salem compares to other fields in the Central Valley Conference, download the Field Guide today.

Purchase the CVC Field Guide

6A Central Valley Conference

Sprague High School

Sprague High School is a part of the Central Valley Conference (CVC). The CVC is home to some of the most competitive high school baseball programs in Oregon. Known for its strong mix of athleticism, tradition, and community support, the CVC features four primary schools: West Salem, McNary, Sprague, and South Salem. Each field presents unique strategic challenges that require adaptable coaching and player awareness.

Field Location: 2373 Kuebler Blvd, Salem, OR 97302

Left Field 317 ft.

Right Field 286 ft.

Center Field 347 ft.

Backstop 48 ft.

Strategy: Protect Right Field

Right field is a launch zone — avoid pitching inside to left-handed power hitters.
Right fielder must play deep and be quick to cut off balls down the line.
Shift defense toward right against strong pull hitters.
Emphasize throwing strikes early and inducing ground balls.

Offensive Game Plan

Right-handed hitters should work on inside pitches and pulling the ball.
Use squeeze plays and bunt-for-hit situations to take advantage of defensive pressure.
Power hitters should target right field with elevation.
Force errors with high contact and speed pressure.

Here’s how Sprague compares to other fields in their conference:

To see how Sprague compares to other fields in the Central Valley Conference, download the Field Guide today.

Purchase the CVC Field Guide

6A Central Valley Conference

South Salem High School

South Salem High School is a part of the Central Valley Conference (CVC). The CVC is home to some of the most competitive high school baseball programs in Oregon. Known for its strong mix of athleticism, tradition, and community support, the CVC features four primary schools: West Salem, McNary, Sprague, and South Salem. Each field presents unique strategic challenges that require adaptable coaching and player awareness.

Field Location: 1150 Hoyt St SE, Salem, OR 97302

Left Field 294 ft.

Right Field 288 ft.

Center Field 323 ft.

Backstop 36 ft.

Strategy: Contain Chaos

One of the smallest parks — keep the ball down to avoid extra-base hits.
Infielders must be ready for fast bounces and quick plays.
Outfielders should play shallow; even weak contact can be dangerous.
With a short backstop, communication between pitcher and catcher is vital — few wild pitch opportunities.

Offensive Game Plan

Aggressive mentality at the plate — short porch means big reward for solid contact.
Capitalize on chaos: infield hits, bloopers, and misplays are frequent.
Push the pace with stolen bases, drag bunts, and squeeze plays.
Work pitch counts and capitalize on mistakes early in counts.

Here’s how South Salem compares to other fields in their conference:

To see how South Salem compares to other fields in the Central Valley Conference, download the Field Guide today.

Purchase the CVC Field Guide

6A Central Valley Conference

McNary High School

McNary High School is a part of the Central Valley Conference (CVC). The CVC is home to some of the most competitive high school baseball programs in Oregon. Known for its strong mix of athleticism, tradition, and community support, the CVC features four primary schools: West Salem, McNary, Sprague, and South Salem. Each field presents unique strategic challenges that require adaptable coaching and player awareness.

Field Location: 595 Chemawa Rd N, Keizer, OR 97303

Left Field 320 ft.

Right Field 332 ft.

Center Field 390 ft.

Backstop 49 ft.

Strategy: Pitching & Defense Focus

Emphasize fly ball outs with a deep outfield — pitchers should work up in the zone when ahead in counts.
Position outfielders deeper, especially in center and right, to prevent doubles and triples.
Teach pitchers to induce fly balls and keep the ball away from pull-side hitters.
Catchers must be alert and mobile with the deeper backstop — potential to throw out more runners on aggressive secondary leads.
Defensive communication is key due to the expanse of the outfield.

Offensive Game Plan

Be patient at the plate — the deep park requires stringing together hits.
Emphasize line drives, gap-to-gap hitting, and speed on the bases.
Left-handed hitters can aim for the right field corner; base runners should be prepared for aggressive reads.
Bunt for base hits when infielders are positioned deep.

Here’s how McNary compares to other fields in their conference:

To see how McNary compares to other fields in the Central Valley Conference, download the Field Guide today.

Purchase the CVC Field Guide