Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival highlights spring events near Salem
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival and cherry blossoms at the Oregon State Capitol highlight spring events around Salem and the Willamette Valley.
CORVALLIS — Oregon State leaned on timely hitting and another stellar performance from its starting pitcher to stay atop the Pac-12 standings.
The No. 5 Beavers topped Stanford, 3-1, at Goss Stadium Saturday evening and secured a series win in the process.
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Had they lost, the Beavers (29-4, 10-3 Pac-12) would have fallen behind No. 17 Oregon (25-9, 10-4) in the conference standings as the Ducks beat USC, 5-3, in Eugene earlier in the day. But junior catcher Wilson Weber extended his recent hot streak and provided the go-ahead knock in the fifth inning, and the Beavers never looked back from there.
“Two consecutive days of high-quality pitching and defense,” Oregon State head coach Mitch Canham said. “Controlled the heck out of the (strike zone); 12 (Stanford) walks, and we only had two there. Great grit. … Impressed by how we carried over from yesterday and how the guys went about it again today. Today was a great momentum-builder.”
Oregon State pitcher Jacob Kmatz helps lead the Beavers
Oregon State starter Jacob Kmatz, who tossed a complete game against Arizona State last weekend, produced another quality start on Saturday. The junior righty held Stanford to one earned run on six hits while striking out six in 6.0 innings of work.
Dallas Macias provided the Beavers with an insurance run when, for the second day in a row, he launched a home run that cleared that right field bleachers.
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“I think it’s definitely a byproduct of putting in work with the swing,” Macias said of what has been clicking for him lately. “The guys around the team: (Travis Bazzana), (assistant coach Ryan Gipson); I went to Driveline, too, over the winter, which helped out a lot with different things. I’m also just making better swing decisions, getting the right pitch and squaring it up better.”
Stanford third baseman Jimmy Nati ambushed Kmatz for a solo homer in the top of the second to open the scoring and give the Cardinal an early advantage.
One inning later, Kmatz briefly lost command and surrendered a one-out walk to Stanford No. 9 hitter Ethan Hott, and then a single to leadoff man Owen Cobb. Cort MacDonald followed with a hard-hit single to right field, and Hott attempted to score from second.
But Beavers’ right-fielder Gavin Turley delivered an outstanding throw home to gun down Hott for the second out of the inning.
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“I gave (Turley) a big hug there in the dugout,” Kmatz said. “I had to. That was pretty cool. Defense has just been on lock right now.”
The danger wasn’t over for Oregon State at that point, though. Stanford catcher Malcolm Moore, who is widely considered to be one of the top Major League Baseball Draft prospects in the nation, stepped to the plate with two outs and runners in the corners.
Moore ran up a full count against Kmatz. But the Beavers’ hurler struck him out looking with a fastball to end the inning and escape the jam.
“The goal is to get him out soft and away,” Kmatz said of his battle with Moore. “It’s pitch after pitch after pitch after pitch, and then you see a window (inside) late in the at-bat and get him leaning over the plate a little bit. So, just throwing my best heater on the inner half right there and letting it play up like it can and giving myself and the team the best chance of succeeding in that situation. Because getting that out right there was a pivotal moment.”
Meanwhile, Stanford freshman lefty Christian Lim stymied the Oregon State bats, allowing just two hits and four walks throughout his first 4.0 innings. Oregon State’s bats came to life in the bottom of the fifth, though, when Bazzana scorched a leadoff double to right-center, and then moved to second when Turley followed with a walk.
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Lim bounced back and struck out Mason Guerra and Brady Kasper — the Beavers’ No. 3 and No. 4 hitters — in succession. The Cardinal then turned to hard-throwing righty Joey Volchko with hopes of escaping the inning unscathed.
But Weber greeted Volchko with a two-run single to right to ultimately serve as the go-ahead hit.
Midway through the seventh, Canham turned the game over to closer Bridger Holmes. The standout junior tossed 2 1/3 innings scoreless innings and struck out four to slam the door on the Cardinal.
In 20.0 innings this season, Holmes has struck out 27 batters, surrendered just eight hits, and has yet to allow a run.
What’s next for the Beavers?
The Beavers take on the Cardinal in Game 3 of the series at noon on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
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Jarrid Denney is the high school sports reporter for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney
Arbor Lodge Rarität HefeWeizen (citrusy hefeweizen), 5%. A hefeweizen style beer dry hopped with Deep Cut Cascades, Azacca, and Cashmere to provide Mandarin/grapefruit flavors below the banana esters. Great with a zest of lime or orange.
Baerlic Why Rye? (rye lager), 5%. Description to come
BearKat Cascade Berry Lager (wheat lager), 5.1%. American wheat fermented with lager yeast and a light marionberry addition on the cold side, hopped with Deep Cut Cascades.
Block 15 Devil’s Staircase (Pacific Northwest pale ale), 5.7%. Pacific Northwest pale ale featuring Crosby Deep Cut Cascade, Crosby Estate Comet, and Chinook.
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Breakside Untitled (American pilsner), 5.3%, 31 IBUs. Contemporary American pilsner with Crosby Deep Cut Cascade.
de Garde Deep Green (dry-hopped spontaneously-fermented ale), 5.5%. Barrels of spontaneously fermented wild ale aged 3-5 years, brewed with Oregon malt, raw wheat and aged Oregon hops, then dry-hopped with ‘Deep Cut’ Cascade from Crosby.
Evasion Liberty at Risk (Anchor Liberty Ale homage), 6.3%. An Anchor Liberty tribute APA/IPA with Deep Cut additions at 30 minutes, 45 minutes, whirlpool, and dry hop.
Ferment Forest Gnome IPA (Belgian IPA), 6.8%. A unique and enchanting IPA featuring Deep Cut Cascade hops and a yeast strain little-known in these parts (Imperial Gnome
Heater Allen American Zoigl (traditional American lager), 5.5%, 30 IBUs. American amber lager made with corn adjunct Oregon-grown Goschie Farms Promise malt.
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Kings and Daughters Sentinels of the Sea (IPA), 5.7%, 60 IBUs. American Style IPA featuring Deep Cut Cascade CGX, Crosby Estate Grown Chinooks, and Indie Strata.
Occidental Northwest Pilsner (hoppy pilsner), 5%. Pilsner dry-hopped with Crosby Deep Cut Cascade.
Steeplejack Homeslice McGee (WC Pale), 5.6%
West Coast pale ale with Deep Cut Cascades and Mosaic hops.
Sunriver Green Label, Deep Cut Version (American pale ale) 5.6%, 40 IBUs. Classic APA with Crosby Deep Cut Cascade T-90 and NUVO CGX, including Oregon-grown Goschie Promise malt for a clean and balanced palate with grapefruit, pine, floral, and citrus.
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Von Ebert Predicting the Past (Australian XPA), 5.3%. Aussie-style XPA with Deep Cut Cascade, Citra Cryo, and Chinook. Notes of Sweet citrus, complex floral notes, papaya, and baking spice.
Wayfinder Same Same but Different (pale mild), 4.3%. A British-style golden mild ale with Deep Cut Cascades and Crosby CGX.
Where to Find Them: Tap Takeover Events
Oregon Homegrown beers will be featured at five tap takeover events across the state, giving drinkers the chance to try multiple collaboration beers side by side:
• The BeerMongers — Portland, May 27
• Bridge & Tunnel — Astoria, May 29
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• TopWire Hop Project — Woodburn, June 6
• Bier Stein — Eugene, June 12
• River’s Place — Bend, June 16
More information at celebrateoregonbeer.com.
About Crosby Hops
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Crosby Hops is a family-owned and vertically integrated hop grower, processor, and merchant based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Sourcing from their fifth-generation farm with Estate Grown varieties and longstanding independent growers across the globe, the company provides discerning brewers access to a diverse selection of the finest hops on Earth.
About Imperial Yeast
Imperial Yeast was founded in 2014 with the goal to support brewers worldwide. Their passion for yeast and fermentation has only grown since they opened their doors in Portland, Oregon and in 2020, they opened our production facility in Philadelphia, PA to better serve East Coast customers.
About Celebrate Oregon Beer
Celebrate Oregon Beer is dedicated to establishing Oregon’s reputation as one of the world’s premier beer regions. Founded in 2024, the organization is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit. The organization has the support of the Oregon Brewers Guild and Oregon Hop Commission, and its Board of Directors is composed of brewery owners and hop growers.
Watch the sights and sounds from past Oregon State Fairs
The 160th Oregon State Fair runs from Friday, Aug. 22, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.
The Oregon State Fair has added more big names to its 2026 Columbia Bank Concert Series lineup.
The newly announced performers include country singer Nate Smith on Aug. 28, legendary surf rock group The Beach Boys on Aug. 29 and country artist Jo Dee Messina on Sept. 4.
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The lineup joins other acts previously announced, including BigXThaPlug, who performs Aug. 31, and R&B singer Black, who performs on Sept. 1.
The 2026 headliner will be comedy musician “Weird Al” Yankovic, who will close out the concert series Sept. 7 as part of his “Bigger & Weirder” 2026 tour.
Most concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Weird Al’s Labor Day performance is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Oregon State Fair said additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks that will take place during this year’s 11-day event in Salem.
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How can Oregonians purchase concert tickets?
Concert tickets are available only through the official state fair website via FunCard at https://oregon.funcardapp.com/. Fair organizers warned visitors to avoid unauthorized sellers and scam ticket websites.
Officials also reminded fairgoers that concerts are held rain or shine. Umbrellas are not allowed inside the L.B. Day Amphitheater, though ponchos and blankets are permitted.
The fair runs from Friday, Aug. 28, through Labor Day, Sept. 7, at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
May 20, 2026 5:59 a.m. Updated: May 20, 2026 6:04 a.m.
Nordyke took a notable lead, particularly in Marion County, in the race to run Oregon’s capital city Tuesday.
Julie Hoy, left, has served as Salem’s mayor since 2024. Hoy is challenged by Vanessa Nordyke, a Salem city councilor and lawyer who previously worked for the Oregon Department of Justice.
Courtesy of the candidates
Salem voters are deciding who they want to lead Oregon’s capital and second-largest city.
Early returns Tuesday night show Vanessa Nordyke, a current city councilor and former lawyer at the Oregon Department of Justice, in the lead, roughly 14 percentage points ahead in Marion County and seven points ahead across the Willamette River in Polk County.
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She’s competing against incumbent Julie Hoy, a restaurant owner who previously served on the Salem City Council.
Hoy’s campaign team, after the 8 p.m. returns, told OPB “the night isn’t over,” as they waited to see where things would land.
Following the 10 p.m. updates, Nordyke said, “This campaign is proof that grassroots candidates can beat big money.”
Hoy promised voters safer neighborhoods, cleaner public spaces, more housing and homelessness services, and no new taxes without voter approval, among her campaign priorities.
Meanwhile, Nordyke promised to expand mental health services, open a sobering center, push for affordable housing options, and support library funding and youth-friendly programs.
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That’s just one race in a busy election night in the capital.
Four of Salem’s eight city council positions are up for election.
Preliminary results showed two incumbents leading, including Linda Nishioka with the largest lead of any of the council races — about 30 percentage points — against Manny Martinez for Ward 2 in central Salem.
Micki Varney was narrowly ahead, holding on against challenger Chris Cummings for Ward 8 in West Salem.
Incumbents were losing in races for two other council seats. Dave Inbody was leading against incumbent Deanna Gwyn for Ward 4 in South Salem. And for Northeast Salem’s Ward 6, Betsy Vega took a roughly six-point lead against incumbent Mai Vang.
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As for Marion County commissioners, incumbent Republican Kevin Cameron and Democrat Sara Duncan are the two candidates for Position 1.
Incumbent Republican Colm Willis and Democrat Maria Hinojos Pressey are running for Position 2.
Each ran unopposed in their party for the May primary. As reported by the Statesman Journal, a Democrat hasn’t won an election to the Marion County board since 1979.
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