Yes it’s true. As I pack up my prison size dorm room and prepare to head north from Eugene, a sad realization hits. The school year is over and a full nine months of Oregon sports goes with it. Whether you’re a Duck or Beaver, it’s easy to see that with the conclusion of collegiate spring sports, athletics across the state come to a slow. Without school in session and no professional teams, Oregonians get the short end of the stick. Welcome to dry season.
Before fretting or jumping ship, however, there are still a few options to tie you over until fall.
The Hillsboro Hops: Summer means baseball and for Oregon, there’s another option close by. While the closest MLB game is north in Seattle, a Class-A minor league team is now prepared to make their debut in Portland’s backyard. The Hops’ 3,534 seat stadium is now complete and the roster is on its way to being full as well. The team will be comprised of mainly collegiate players, looking to break into the Arizona Diamondbacks roster. It’s sure to be promotions and freebies galore as the Hops’ look to make themselves at home. The Hops’ season starts Friday night in Salem.
Portland Timbers: It’s no news, but the Timbers are still here! The 23-14 squad is third in the Western Conference and will play through October. Last year, the Timbers were a last place team and despite an enthusiastic fan following have struggled to close out a season on top. This year may be the chance to turn that around as they reach the halfway mark of their season. They host two more games at Jeld-Wen before facing strong squads in LA and Dallas.
Portland Thorns: The Thorns have proven a good fit for the Rose City in their first season in the newly established National Women’s Soccer League. The women are tied for first place with a 10-7 record and have led the league in attendance since their home opener. Whether or not soccer is your sport, the fan enthusiasm and star power of Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair make a trip to Jeld-Wen well worth it.
Hike, Run, Walk, Swim, Raft, Camp, Fish, Play: It is summer after all! And while the Northwest doesn’t offer many professional options, Oregon’s natural playground is vast. We boast the beach, the mountains, hills, and plains. Summer isn’t just for the kids to get out and play. The next few sunny months are a perfect time to step away from the screen or the bleachers, while we desperately await kick off.
Samantha Saldivar is on Twitter. Follow her at @SammySaldivar
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