2 Tri-Cities ballplayers ranked ‘top prospects’ to be drafted into Major League Baseball

Two local players are on the latest Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects list just published by MLB Pipeline.

Kamiakin graduate Payton Graham is ranked 48th. Graham is a right-handed pitcher for Gonzaga University, and the junior could end up being a starter this spring for the Bulldogs.

Last summer, while pitching in a limited role in the college summer Northwoods League, Graham topped out at 98 mph on the radar gun.

And Kennewick High grad Danny Dickinson is ranked at No. 55.

Dickinson spent his first two college seasons playing at Utah Valley State University, but this past summer the infielder transferred to Louisiana State University, where he is expected to play shortstop.

Also, baseball podcaster Noah Bieniek recently released his top nine college baseball base stealer threats. Dickinson is listed at No. 6.

Outfielder Steven Meier is ranked No. 7.

Meier is a Southridge High grad who spent two seasons at Columbia Basin College before signing and playing in 2023 with Old Dominion University. After a strong season there, Meier entered the transfer portal and came out with an offer from D-1 school Troy University in Alabama.

Professional basketball

Walla Walla High School grad Mikayla Ferenz continues to excel on the basketball court.

The former Blue Devils standout was also a great player at the University of Idaho.

Now 28 years old, Ferenz has played professionally in both Luxembourg and Australia.

She currently plays for Amicale Steinsel in Luxembourg’s top women’s league, and she recently was named player of the week for both Weeks 5 and 6.

Amicale Steinsel has floundered a bit with a 5-6 record, but that’s not Ferenz’s fault.

She currently leads her team in the following categories: scoring average (22.8 points), rebounds (10.3), assists (3.5), steals (1.4), and blocked shots (0.6).

College volleyball

Richland High graduate Marin Mackey completed her final season of women’s college volleyball by being named a second-team NAIA All-American on Dec. 17.

The senior outside hitter for Southern Oregon University played two seasons for the Raiders after the previous two seasons at Bellevue College.

She was a two-time first-team all-star for the Cascade Collegiate Conference and helped SOU to a two-year record of 60-11.

Mackey had 12 double-doubles this season, in which SOU went 32-4, won the CCC regular-season title, and was tournament champion. The Raiders made it to the NAIA to the semifinal round before being eliminated.

NWAC cross country

Pasco High grad Adam Leahy was recently named the Northwest Athletic Conference’s Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Leahy is the head coach at Green River Community College, and his Gators men’s team placed second in the team championships last month. Spokane finished first.

NWAC basketball

The bulk of non-conference play ends this coming weekend for community college teams, and then the East Region wars begin.

For Columbia Basin College, both the men’s and women’s teams have been idle with the last few weeks off without play.

In fact, CBC doesn’t play again until Jan. 8, when Treasure Valley visits in a men’s-women’s doubleheader to open NWAC East play.

The idea, of course, is to finish in the top four in the East Region standings to qualify for the postseason tournaments — which are once again at CBC in March.

NWAC EAST MEN

Spokane 0-0 East, 13-2 overall

CBC 0-0, 9-3

Walla Walla 0-0, 9-3

Yakima Valley 0-0, 6-6

Wenatchee Valley 0-0, 5-8

Big Bend 0-0, 6-9

Treasure Valley 0-0, 4-8

Blue Mountain 0-0, 5-10

Dec. 27

North Idaho 84, Treasure Valley 43

Dec. 28

Everett 85, Yakima Valley 80

Spokane 89, Linn-Benton 73

Tacoma 100, Treasure Valley 98

Walla Walla 99, Mount Hood 88

Dec. 29

Clackamas 93, Walla Walla 76

Skagit Valley 96, Yakima Valley 82

Spokane 97, Chemeketa 74

Treasure Valley 106, Shoreline 87

Dec. 30

Highline 90, Walla Walla 84

Jan. 4

Whatcom at Wenatchee Valley, 2 p.m.

Jan. 5

Walla Walla vs. Whatcom at Wenatchee Valley, 1 p.m.

Jan. 8

Treasure Valley at Columbia Basin, 7 p.m.

Walla Walla at Spokane, 7 p.m.

Wenatchee Valley at Big Bend, 7 p.m.

Yakima Valley at Blue Mountain, 7 p.m.

NWAC EAST WOMEN

Treasure Valley 0-0 East, 10-3 overall

Big Bend 0-0, 9-3

Walla Walla 0-0, 9-3

CBC 0-0, 7-4

Wenatchee Valley 0-0, 6-4

Spokane 0-0, 5-5

Yakima Valley 0-0, 5-7

Blue Mountain 0-0, 4-7

Dec. 28

Skagit Valley 65, Spokane 51

Walla Walla 60, Clark 47

Dec. 29

Walla Walla 57, Chemeketa 49

Dec. 30

Big Bend 67, Skagit Valley 57

Lane 92, Blue Mountain 52

Olympic 77, Yakima Valley 62

Umpqua 65, Walla Walla 42

Jan. 2

Walla Walla at Clark, 2 p.m.

Jan. 3

Highline at Wenatchee Valley, 1:30 p.m.

Walla Walla at Centralia, 4 p.m.

Jan. 4

Big Bend vs. South Puget Sound at Skagit Valley, 10:45 a.m.

Jan. 8

Treasure Valley at Columbia Basin, 5 p.m.

Walla Walla at Spokane, 5 p.m.

Wenatchee Valley at Big Bend, 5 p.m.

Yakima Valley at Blue Mountain, 5 p.m.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.