Again, just small notes about sports with a Northwest tie-in at the start of a week with a lighter than normal load.
Beacons Awards a rousing success: more than 600 people filled the Elsinore Theatre on Saturday Night to honor athletes, coaches, and life-long contributors to prep sports in the Salem-Keizer area. The event, sponsored by the Salem-Keizer High School Sports Booster Club, returned after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The ceremonies were finished in an ultra-efficient two hours. Reviews from attendees were decidedly positive. At the risk of sounding like a homer for the event, two thumbs UP.
Attention Baseball History Nerds: have noticed a bit of chatter on Facebook (yes—I am that old) about Salem’s old Waters Field, which burned down way back in 1966—before I cared about such things in my life. The field was located on the current site of Salem’s Post office at the corner of 25th and Mission SE. I was about to do a deep dive into the story behind the storied stadium, when I found an impressive write-up about it on a website called stadiumjourney.com. Author Marc Viquez does a great job looking back at this field, which was built for the Salem Senators ball club in 1940. The link for that article can be found here: https://stadiumjourney.com/news/remembering-salems-waters-field
North Salem major leaguer in a slump: Former North Salem High School and Stanford University baseball standout Jed Lowrie is struggling at the plate for the cellar-dwelling Oakland Athletics in the American League-West. The 38-year old Lowrie’s average stands at .196, with 28 hits in 143 at-bats. But his current situation is even more dire. He is just 1 for his last 24 plate appearances—for an average of .042. I recall having a streak where I was batting .017 for my slow pitch softball team, so I do personally feel for him. Everybody can use a dose of encouragement, and Jed is no different…. drop him a note of support if you feel led—put a message on his Facebook page. Link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=209674
Oakland has Monday off before beginning a three-game home series vs. Seattle.
Oregon Hoopla 2022: Last year’s 3 on 3 tournament attracted over one thousand teams and 4500-plus participants to the streets surrounding the Oregon State Capital, and more fun is expected this year, when teams meet July 12-17, 2022. The 23rd annual event will also include 2 on 2 competition for a second straight year. And back again is a free clinic for Unified Division players with special needs, along with a Unified Division for teams. WARNING-WARNING-WARNING: the deadline for Hoopla team registration is fast approaching. Thursday, June 30th is the deadline for 3 on 3 teams, while the 2 on 2 tournament registration deadline will be Tuesday, July 12. For more event details go to this link: https://oregonhoopla.com/week/events
I have many fond memories as a 9 year old dodging the ball shaggers at Waters field, friends of ours lived right across the street. The night it burned I was in the stands at Bennett field and we could see the flames.