Steve Mims FOR THE CHRONICLE

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 director of the Springfield Drifters Academy scheduled to open later…

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 its opener to Hillsdale before beating Salem and Corvallis. Tigard…

MEDFORD – Brock Johnson has swung a hot bat while Braden Corgain and Kyle Miller had stellar starts on the mound as the three Thurston graduates have led the Eugene Challengers into the semifinals of the American Legion AAA state…

SPRINGFIELD – Kyle Miller, Braden Corgain, and Brock Johnson are trying to extend their final summer of American Legion baseball. The three Thurston graduates will lead the Eugene Challengers into the AAA state tournament at Harry and David Field in…

SPRINGFIELD – With the game tied 4-4 heading into the ninth inning against the Marion Berries on Saturday night, Springfield coach Jeff Lyle had a plan for speedster Aiden Gebhard to lead off the ninth. “The kid runs like the…

SPRINGFIELD – Michael Klein earned himself an extra bus ride this summer.The left-handed relief pitcher is Springfield’s lone representative in the West Coast League All-Star Game on Wednesday night in Victoria, B.C.. Klein has a 1.59 ERA in 28 1/3…

SPRINGFIELD – Maddox Molony is on the path to Motown. The 2023 Thurston High School graduate was drafted by Detroit in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday. The shortstop was selected with the 187th pick…

SPRINGFIELD – Andrew Miller is spending the summer reconnecting with old friends. The Springfield Drifters pitcher spent the first 12 years of his life in Pleasant Hill before moving to the coast, where he graduated from Knappa High School. A…

Two former Thurston teammates could both be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft this weekend. Maddox Molony was a senior and Grady Saunders a freshman when they helped the Colts win the 2023 Class 5A state title with a…

SPRINGFIELD – When J.J. Altobelli recommended LJ Layhew spend his summer in Springfield, the Rice catcher searched a map. “The first thing I had to do was look up where it was at,” Layhew said. “I’ve never been anywhere near…