Maddox Molony, a freshman for the Oregon Ducks baseball team, smacked a home run over the left-field fence at PK Park on May 5 for his seventh home run of the season – an Oregon freshman record. Molony, a 2023 Thurston grad and member of the Colts ’23 state title team, has since extended that record to 10 home runs.
The Oregon baseball team (37-18) failed to defend its Pac-12 tournament championship in late May, but still made the NCAA Tournament. On Monday morning, the Ducks were announced as one of the four participants in the Santa Barbara Regional at UC Santa Barbara.
Catch the Ducks in action against San Diego on Friday at noon, and read a full feature on his freshman season in the coming weeks in The Chronicle.
SHS, Thurston fields on pace
A view of the Thurston football field construction project last week. Thurston and Springfield High are getting turf fields for the 2024 fall season.
■ The new turf field projects at Springfield and Thurston high schools broke ground in mid-May. Both schools requested the turf fields due to the deterioration of the grass fields during the fall season.
Springfield Public Schools is working with Beynon Sports to build the fields, with each field costing approximately $1.7 million.
The expectation is that both fields will be done in time for the fall 2024 season.
CHS planning new fields for baseball, softball
■ Creswell officials revealed on May 10 plans for new turf baseball and softball fields at the high school. The fields are in partnership with the Community Sports Development Council – which partners with schools to sponsor fields.
Groundbreaking by Marple Excavating is scheduled soon now that the baseball and softball seasons have concluded.
Dellinger entering HOF
■ Bill Dellinger, a 1952 graduate of Springfield High School and former Thurston HS coach, will be inducted into the Collegiate Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame on June 2 at the Hult Center. Dellinger was a two-time NCAA winner at the University of Oregon under Bill Bowerman, and also won a bronze medal in the 5,000-meters during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
The HOF ceremony will induct 14 new members in 2024, and is being held this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The event is free.
Area coaches honored
■ The 2024 Oregon Athletic Coaches Association banquet was held on May 18.
Thurston’s Dennis Minium (baseball) and Mike Simons (girls wrestling) were honored as Class 5A coaches of the year for their sports.
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