Steve Mims FOR THE CHRONICLE

THURSTON ■ Coach: Dennis Minium■ Last year: 26-4 overall, 18-0 to win Midwestern League title. Lost to Canby, 2-0, in the state semifinals.■ Outlook: The Colts have won seven straight league titles dating to 2018 and are favored to add…

THURSTON ■ Coach: K.C. Gillespie■ Outlook: The Colts placed sixth at state last year in the girls competition led by Brooklyn Anderson, who won the state title in the 100 hurdles in 14.93 seconds. She already topped that time as…

CRESWELL – Not many people would have expected Calvin Green to play in multiple USGA national championships when he arrived at Thurston High School. The Springfield native played basketball and soccer in elementary school before trying out golf in middle…

PLEASANT HILL – When Ryan Svenson began imagining prep basketball matchups for the “Return of the Mac,” one came to mind immediately. Luke Jackson and Maarty Leunen will return to their old stomping grounds – this time as coaches –…

CRESWELL – When Covid hit in 2020, Sarah Hanson and her daughter, Piper, had to turn their home into a volleyball court. “I would go over there and they are in the living room, Sarah hammering balls at Piper,” recalled…

SPRINGFIELD – Ron and Melinda Molony have spent the past dozen years visiting baseball diamonds to watch their grandsons. From T-ball to Babe Ruth, Regionals and a couple of World Series, and more recently, Thurston High School and PK Park,…

THURSTON – Some high school basketball coaches might be hesitant to add a former head coach to their staff. They might come with a big ego, their own ideas, and maybe even a desire to eventually take over the program.…