Wildcat baseball, softball honor six former Linfield baseball players

On February 12, 2014, Wildcatville posted the info/photos below, beneath the "***" etc. Wildcatville updated the posting with the following photos (taken 3/27/2014), showing the completed front exterior graphics of the Linfield batting practice facility.

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Six former Linfield baseball players are honored by Wildcat baseball and softball.

They are Roy Helser, Scott Brosius, Ad Rutschman, Scott Carnahan, Arnie Owens and Kevin Mosley.

At Roy Helser (baseball) Field, the Linfield baseball batting practice facility outside part of the field's first base line now has a triangular graphic. 

The graphic focuses on three national baseball championships won by Linfield: NCAA Division III in 2013 and NAIA in 1966 and 1971.

Current head coach Scott Brosius, Linfield Class of 1988-completed degree in 2002, led the 2013 title team.

Field namesake Helser, Class of 1936, coached the 1966 team to the first national team title won by Linfield in any sport.

Ad Rutschman, Class of 1954, coached the 1971 title team.

The graphic:

• highlights the facility, Carney's (batting) Cages, named for  Scott Carnahan, Class of 1973, who was Brosius' Linfield baseball coach.
• memorializes Wildcat baseball fan Arnold "Arnie" Owens, who died in 2013. A Molalla, Ore., High School grad, he entered Linfield in 1950. At Linfield, he graduated in 1954 with a bachelor of arts degree and a master of education degree in 1958. He played four seasons (1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954) as an infielder for Helser-coached Linfield baseball teams. Owens was a Northwest Conference baseball all-star for 1954. He served as JV coach for the 1954 Linfield football team (Paul Durham, head coach) and as assistant baseball coach (Helser, head coach) in the 1955 season. His career in education included serving at Maupin, Hermiston and Grants Pass High Schools. At Maupin (now South Wasco High School) his duties including being head football and baseball coach. He was head baseball coach at Hermiston and a counselor at Grants Pass. 

At Del Smith (softball) Stadium, the Linfield Softball Kevin Mosely Batting Practice Facility is just beyond the center outfield fence. The facility was blessed before a Lewis & Clark at Linfield softball doubleheader on March 7, 2010. That was the date which would have been the 55th birthday of Mosley, who died in 2009. His family, friends, Linfield coaches and players and others took part in the event. See photo of blessing and of plaque.

Mosley graduated from Hillsboro, Ore., High School before attending Linfield, from which he earned a bachelor of bachelor of arts degree in physical education in 1977. He played/lettered in baseball (pitcher), 1970-73, and football (defensive back), 1974, for Linfield. His Wildcat pitching win-loss record was 10-7 with a 2.94 earned run average. He ranks sixth in the Linfield career record book for games finished (17) and is tied for 16th for most complete games (10).  As a senior, he was the Linfield baseball team's Most Inspirational Player award winner.

Background:

• Athletic director emeritus Rutschman succeeded Helser as baseball coach and, later, as athletic director.
• Carnahan, the college's athletic director, succeeded Rutschman as baseball coach and, later, as athletic director. 
• Brosius succeeded Carnahan as baseball coach. Carnahan continues coaching baseball at Linfield as an assistant to Brosius.
• Chronology for Linfield baseball coaches mentioned in this article: Roy Helser, 1950-1970; Ad Rutschman, 1971-1983; Scott Carnahan, 1984-2007; and Scott Brosius, 2008-present
• Larry Ward -- a 1965 Maupin High grad and former (1973-1977) Linfield radio play-by-play voice for football and men's basketball -- said Owens was his football and baseball coach as a freshman at Maupin.
• Top three photo-baseball, all other photos-softball. Photo credits: blessing by Linfield Sports Information. All others by Wildcatville. Arrow points to part of the Kevin Mosely facility.