Tyler Frisby, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School, has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Corban University in Salem, Oregon, marking the next step in a baseball journey that began on the waters of the Gastineau Channel.
Heritage and Opportunity Intersect
The decision came after a campus visit that highlighted the university’s close‑knit environment, a scholarship package and the chance to compete in the NAIA, where baseball is organized as a unified division across the nation.
Coach Drew DeMasi, who leads the Corban baseball program, praised Frisby’s athleticism and said the youngster could make a significant impact on the team’s future performance.
Melissa Kookesh, Frisby’s mother, expressed excitement and gratitude, noting that her son’s love for the sport has been a constant since his early days in the Gastineau Channel Little League.
Frisby, who carries both his legal name and his Tlingit name this season, comes from a family name that originates from a Tlingit word describing the motion of a dog salmon digging a stream bed for its eggs.
His friend and JDHS teammate Nate Fick encouraged him to reach out to the Corban coaches, a conversation that helped seal the commitment.
Looking ahead, Frisby plans to major in business administration, a field he hopes to blend with his athletic career.