OTHELLO – When Jordan Montemayor looks back at his baseball career at Othello High School, he said he wouldn't change a thing.  

“It's crazy that it's over. It went by in a heartbeat, but I had a lot of fun, and I wouldn't change anything if I went back. I would do it all the same way again,” he said.  

Montemayor has been playing baseball since he was 6 years old, he said. However, once he reached middle school level, he said he began to enjoy the sport. He said he learned from his dad, Michael, not to make the sport his whole life.  

“I could have a bad day and go home and not let it bother me, and I really started to enjoy it,” Montemayor said.  

Montemayor said he realized this over time, and it taught him to be okay with failure because of the learning opportunity. Huskies head coach Sonny Garza saw similar traits while he coached Montemayor.  

“He never wavered from what his goals were and what he wanted. He showed up every single day, did whatever was in front of him, and performed at a really high level for several years,” Garza said.  

When Montemayor arrived at Othello High School, he found himself becoming a key contributor. In his freshman season, he made the varsity team for the Huskies alongside fellow freshman Sonny Salazar and Kal El Ozuna. According to Montemayor, making the varsity team so early in high school proved to be beneficial in the long run.  

“It was a big challenge as a freshman, playing against upperclassmen, but I think it was a challenge to help me succeed later on throughout my career, so I'm glad that Sonny trusted us enough to put us in that position,” he said. 

Montemayor said there were plenty of downs throughout his freshman season, but he complimented his coaching staff for always pushing him. As his career progressed, Montemayor saw his game improving.  

In his sophomore season, he made the second team All-Conference in the Central Washington Athletic Conference. In his junior and senior seasons, he made first team All-Conference in CWAC. Though it was useful to track his progress, Montemayor said those accolades never mattered much to him. He had higher aspirations than individual accolades.  

“What matters to me was making it to state for the first time in 10 years, making it to the final four, and giving us a chance to do something special,” Montemayor said.  

To reach these goals, it requires Montemayor's favorite aspect of playing baseball, team chemistry. He said it’s important for teammates to bond and grow close to succeed.  

“You can't do it all with one person. You really have to have a bond with your teammates. You guys have to be family on and off the field to make it work. I think that's what I enjoy most about it, is the moments outside of baseball,” he said.  

According to Montemayor, he has been friends with a lot of his teammates since he was playing youth baseball. He met Ozuna when they were eight years old and have been friends ever since, he said. Montemayor said the little things in baseball reach another level when they start playing for people who are more than just teammates to him.  

This tight bond contributed to the Huskies' success in Montemayor's final season last spring. The Huskies went 21-6 and made it to the state tournament. However, the Huskies did not stop at just making an appearance; they went on a run to the final four before being eliminated.  

Like Ozuna, their game against W.F. West High will always stick with Montemayor as one of his favorite memories in a Huskie uniform. After falling behind 5-0, Montemayor said they had a moment of self-reflection.  

“We all had to look at ourselves and say, 'OK. What kind of team are we going to be? Are we going to roll over and let them win, or are we going to fight back and give it all we have, because it’s our one, only chance,’ and we fought back,” he said.  

Now that his chapter at Othello High School has closed, Montemayor prepares to play for Whitman College in Walla Walla. He said the school's family culture was a major selling point for him when looking at options for college. According to Montemayor, his goals at Whitman will be the same as his goals for his senior season — to give it all he has and be a good teammate.  

On the academic side, Montemayor said he plans to study Biology in the hopes of becoming an Orthodontist one day. He said he grew up in an orthodontist's office and shadowed them in high school and thought it was cool.  

Coach Garza said the Huskie baseball program will miss a key leader next season in Montemayor.  

“I feel this is going to be felt by our team. Missing that leader in the infield that just kind of puts his head down and puts his nose to the ground and just works, just grinds, and people see that and know that he's going to give 100% every single day,” Garza said.  

    Huskies Jordan Montemayor gets congratulated by head coach Sonny Garza as he rounds third base during a game against Chiawana last season. Montemayor was named first team All-Conference in the Central Washington Athletic Conference last spring.
  

    Huskies Jordan Montemayor tags out a Prosser base runner during a game his junior season. Montemayor said his favorite part of baseball is team bonding and creating a family environment.
  

    Huskies Jordan Montemayor takes a swing at bat during his sophomore season. Montemayor was called a silent leader that will be missed next ws by head coach Sonny Garza.