By James Joseph
WSL Senior Features Writer

Peter Baum’s senior season at Lincoln High ended one step short of his ultimate goal – a second straight state title.

But Baum can take pride in having helped a young team that suffered significant graduation losses grow up fast and defend its title with vigor until the last day of the season, a 13-11 loss to Oregon Episcopal School in the state championship game.

Lincoln finished 19-5 and posted marquee victories over Issaquah and Bainbridge Island of Washington and in-state rival Lakeridge.

“We had a lot of guys that grew into bigger roles throughout the season,” said Baum, WSL's Oregon Boys Player of the Year.

“It was incredible to see some of these guys who started the season tentative with the ball really start to take over….Myself and the other captains just tried to lead the team as best we could and bring the guys together as a team.”

In addition to providing guidance and leadership for younger teammates, Baum made hefty statistical contributions. Despite frequently facing defenses designed primarily to stop him, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Baum scored 84 goals, handed out 38 assists and scooped up 73 ground balls. 

While Baum helped deliver Lincoln its first state title in 2008, he also is helping to make Oregon lax become better known nationally. Baum will play for Colgate next season, while teammates Andy Fish and Danny Metcalf will play at Albany and Vermont, respectively. That’s three classmates from one school all heading to Division I programs.

“No other school from Oregon in history has ever done anything like that,” Baum said. “We feel we’ve set the framework not just for Lincoln but for Oregon in general.”

In late June, Baum represented for Oregon and the West in the UnderArmour All-America Game. The game features the top 44 players in the country, as selected by Inside Lacrosse.

Baum played for the South team, which includes “non-traditional” lacrosse areas. He helped lead the South to its first victory in the event’s four years. In so doing, he demonstrated he can play with the best the country has to offer.

“I definitely feel like I can play at that level,” he said. “When the fall starts, it’s all about working hard and seeing what I can do. I want to step in right away (at Colgate) and make a difference.”