Ocosta’s Hatton, Willapa Valley’s Layman, Patrick and McGough sign on to play at the collegiate level

Pacific League standouts sign National Letters of Intent

By Grays Harbor News Group • November 21, 2019 1:30 am
Ocosta High School senior Cole Hatton has signed a letter of intent to play baseball for St. Martins University in Lacey. (Submitted photo)
Ocosta High School senior Cole Hatton has signed a letter of intent to play baseball for St. Martins University in Lacey. (Submitted photo)

A quartet of the 2B Pacific League’s top local talent signed to play at the next level this week as Ocosta’s Cole Hatton and Willapa Valley’s Hallee Layman, Britney Patrick and Katelyn McGough signed National Letters of Intent to play their respective sports in college.

Ocosta’s Hatton to play baseball for St. Martin’s

Ocosta High School senior Cole Hatton has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball for St Martin’s University in Lacey.

Hatton, also a varsity football and basketball player, signed Friday.

According to a statement from Ocosta School District Superintendent Heather Sweet, Hatton began playing t-ball with South Beach Little League when he was five years old and has never stopped. In the summer Cole also plays MAC baseball.

Hatton has been a three sport athlete throughout high school. He typically can be found on the mound as a pitcher, but also plays infield. In baseball, Cole has been Pacific League MVP his sophomore and junior years.

Mike Allton, Ocosta baseball coach, said “It is a privilege for the last three years to coach Cole. I knew pretty early he was going to play baseball at the next level.”

In addition to playing sports, Hatton has been able to maintain a 3.85 GPA and is a member of National Honor Society, Knowledge Bowl and has attended both the regional and state math competition as part of the school Math Team. He volunteers with youth sports, including South Beach Youth football, basketball and Little League. Cole is the son of Kevin and Lesley Hatton of Grayland.

Trio of Willapa Valley stars sign on at colleges

Willapa Valley’s Hallee Layman (front, green shirt) and Brittney Patrick (front, gray shirt) are surrounded by coaches, family and friends after signing National Letters of Intent on Wednesday at Willapa Valley High School. (Photo by Larry Bale)

Willapa Valley’s Hallee Layman (front, green shirt) and Brittney Patrick (front, gray shirt) are surrounded by coaches, family and friends after signing National Letters of Intent on Wednesday at Willapa Valley High School. (Photo by Larry Bale)

Willapa Valley standouts Hallee Layman, Brittney Patrick and Katelyn McGough signed National Letters of Intent to play collegiate sports. Layman and Patrick signed their LOIs at a joint ceremony on Wednesday at Willapa Valley High School while McGough signed on Nov. 2.

Layman has been a standout three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball, track and field) for the past four years at Willapa Valley and signed to play track and field with the University of Hawaii. Layman holds both school records in the shot put (42 feet) and the discus (132-09) and is a state champion in both events.

Patrick, also a three-sport standout (volleyball, basketball, softball) signed to play softball with St. Martin’s College. Patrick was named the 2B Pacific League’s MVP in 2019. Patrick helped lead the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans to a second-place finish last season and was a member of the 2017 state-championship team. Patrick, the Titans’ starting catcher, was also a member of the Titans team that placed third in the state in 2018.

Submitted photo Willapa Valley’s Katelyn McGough (second from left) signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball for Lower Columbia on Nov. 2. Pictured with Katelyn are (from left) Willapa Valley head softball coach Ken Olsen and parents Ron and Sheila McGough.

Submitted photo Willapa Valley’s Katelyn McGough (second from left) signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball for Lower Columbia on Nov. 2. Pictured with Katelyn are (from left) Willapa Valley head softball coach Ken Olsen and parents Ron and Sheila McGough.

McGough also played three sports for Willapa Valley (volleyball, basketball, softball) and signed her Letter of Intent to play softball with Lower Columbia College on Nov 2. Katelyn McGough excelled in the sport of fast pitch. She help lead the Titans to a second place finish last year (2018). The heavy-hitting McGough was a member of Willapa Valley’s 2017 state championship team and has been named to the 2B Pacific League’s All-League team in each of her first three seasons and made the All-Area team last year.