Summer Sports Zone Aug. 06

Drifters end season with hot bats;
Challengers lose at state tournament

Top Stories, Recaps & More

By Steve Mims FOR THE CHRONICLE

Deutschman takes lead at Drifters academy

SPRINGFIELD – After 10 years as head baseball coach at Southwestern Oregon Community College, Dave Deutschman is ready for a new challenge.The 38-year old has been hired as the inaugural…

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By Seth Thompson

Drifters enjoy record success on the field, at the plate

SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Drifters fell to Ridgefield 12-10 on Sunday, losing the series 2-1 and eliminating their playoff hopes. Still, the Drifters fought hard in the penultimate series of…

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By Steve Mims FOR THE CHRONICLE

Challengers fall in state semifinal to Tigard

MEDFORD – The Eugene Challengers’ run in the American Legion AAA state baseball tournament in Medford ended with a 5-3 loss to the Tigard Barbers on Tuesday night. Eugene dropped…

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By FRANK ARMENDARIZ for The Chronicle

Wildfire, low water, blistering heat shape fishing outlook

Salmon & steelhead … The spring chinook and summer steelhead migration over the Willamette Falls at Oregon City slowed to a trickle at the end of July. The final season…

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By Chronicle News Service

Drifters Recaps

TUESDAY: DRIFTERS 15, PIPPINS 5 YAKIMA, Wash. – The Drifters’ series opener in Yakima looked like a two-way shootout in the early innings, but Springfield scored five runs in the…

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In Case You Missed It

Miller, Mullins providing consistency on, off field

Drifters pitcher and Pleasant Hill native Andrew Miller (55) has a 5.64 ERA with one save in 13 games. ADON ECCLES / PHOTO – CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

SPRINGFIELD – The Drifters didn’t complete the series sweep Sunday against the Marion Berries. Losing 7-6 in 10 innings, but they did earn another series victory. The week-ending series against the Berries marked the fifth straight series won by the Drifters over Marion, dating to last summer.

“It’s a tough loss when you go 10 innings and kind of leave it all on the table per se, but there’s some good things. We saw nine or 10 (pitchers) tonight and got a chance to look at some new kids,” Drifters pitching coach Dean Stiles said. “Now we’re going to bounce back and head for Yakima with our heads up and ready to go again.”

West Coast League teams experience a constant flow of players coming and going as their schedules allow each season. Players departing for their home schools becomes increasingly common toward the end of the summer league, requiring new faces to fill the old players’ roles.

As the 2026 season nears its end, the Drifters are keeping this in mind.

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