The Crater Comets’ Jace Godley is a busy man year-round. In the fall he was plowing over defensive backs and linebackers, racking up over 1200 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. In the winter he was busy pile-driving kids to the mat, ending with a fourth place State finish, and currently, he’s casually hitting .417 with three home runs, seven extra base hits, 16 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
He is also a big reason why the Comets’ baseball team is number one in state. “Jace is a quiet leader that leads by example. He really works hard to be the best player he can be. He brings some power to our line up as well as a good left fielder that can cover a lot of ground, and also has a strong arm,” according to Crater’s head baseball coach Jay Campell.
The Comets are currently sitting on a 13-1 record overall and a 9-0 record in the Midwestern League (first in MWL). Craters only loss on the year came to a 6A School in West Albany (ranked 14th in state and third in the Greater Valley Conference) at the Crater baseball tournament.
In more recent play, Godley is coming off back to back homerun games against Thurston (ranked sixth in state and fifth in the MWL), including a two homerun performance. “The first homerun he hit is the farthest ball I have seen hit with the new restricted bats. Then he comes up the next inning and hits another home run to the opposite field. Then 4 days later, against the same team, he hits another home run that travelled close to 400 feet,” is what coach Campell had to say about Godley’s recent performance.
Coach Campell mentioned that the left fielder is a quiet leader and that was echoed by Godley as well, “I definitely feel like a veteran and a mentor to some of the younger kids… I mainly just try to lead by example but if a younger player approaches me for help then I’ll stay after practice and help them. I try to be motivational just by doing my best and keeping the team up in the dugout, even if we are having a bad inning.”
Godley has this Crater team playing very well and coach Campell has some high hopes for his team, “…we want to be standing at the end of the season with the trophy so we just take one day at a time to try to work to obtain that goal. By the end of this season I want these kids to experience what it is like to be a state champion.” Godley also believes this Crater team can reach high levels, however, the quiet leader kept it short and sweet, “My goal for this team is to just play to our fullest potential, because I know if we do that, then great things will happen.”
The three sport stud is focused on baseball for the time being, but after his high school days are over he plans to play football at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Orefon.
Jace has made quite the name for himself amongst the Comet greats, however Godley was a well-known name around Crater, before Jace. His dad JR Godley and his two brothers also wrestled and played football for Crater. JR is currently a member of the Central Point Police Department and is one of two Central Point School District Officers. To say that the Comets’ run deep in this family would be an understatement.
Oh, and the Godley name will live on at Crater after Jace is gone, as he has one brother attending scenic middle school and another in JR Comets, and best believe they’re both three sport athletes as well!
Stay tuned for more athletes each week!
