Oregon
Oregon softball opens Pac-12 season with series win against No. 15 California
Highlighted by back-to-back all-around performances, Oregon softball won the final two games against No. 15 California to open Pac-12 Conference play with a 2-1 series win at Jane Sanders Stadium.
The Ducks (14-9, 2-1 Pac-12) lost the first game of Friday’s double-header 11-5, then rebounded to beat the Golden Bears (21-3, 1-2) in nine innings, 4-3.
Oregon finished off the weekend with a 5-2 win on Saturday.
Ariel Carlson hit first-inning home runs in both games on Friday, and Vallery Wong ended the extra-inning game with a walk-off RBI single in the ninth.
Kai Luschar, Ariel Carlson continue hot start at the plate
Leadoff hitter Kai Luschar got a hit in all three games and continues to lead the Ducks in hitting at .474 with a team-high tying 20 runs scored. She also leads the conference with 16 stolen bases and 37 hits.
Carlson went 5-for-10 over the weekend with two homers, a double, three RBIs and two stolen bases.
On the season, the senior is hitting .369 with six homers, six doubles, 25 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Pitching settles down after opener
After giving up 11 runs on 11 hits in the series opener Friday afternoon, Oregon’s pitching staff held Cal to five runs and 19 hits combined over the next two games.
Morgan Scott, who started game two and pitched the final four innings of game three, combined to allow four runs and 11 hits over 9.2 innings in those wins.
Taylour Spencer (5-1) relieved Scott in game two and held the Bears scoreless over the final 3.1 innings.
Elise Sokolsky started game three and allowed one run and four hits through the first three innings before handing the ball over to Scott.
“I thought Elise was excellent today, coming in getting three innings for us,” Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi said. “Then Morgan coming in and finishing it up. Our pitching staff over the weekend was a really big part of what we did this weekend because of the depth that we have there.”
Defense also shines in series
The Ducks have now gone five games without committing an error and their national top-10 fielding percentage improved to .985 on the season.
Oregon’s outfielders also made a pair of defensive gems Friday.
In the opening game, Carlson threw out a runner at third base from her position in right field. In the second game, Luschar gunned down a runner at the plate from left field.
“We work on defense so much as a team and I feel like it is all coming together in every aspect for the Ducks,” Luschar said. “It feels good having a good throw, you don’t get very many opportunities to get that, so it just gives you a little bit more confidence.”
What’s next for Oregon
The Ducks are in Salt Lake City this week for a three-game series against Utah on Friday (3 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.).
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.
Aaron Sibarium explains how Oregon County’s homeless housing scoring system prioritizes certain individuals, potentially disadvantaging others in need.
Aaron Sibarium details Multnomah County, Oregon’s, homeless housing priority system, which awards higher scores to LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC residents. This system could give preference to a transgender immigrant over a homeless woman with a child. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is now investigating these race-based criteria.
PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – As we approach the hottest days of the year, people are finding ways to stay cool.
It’s been two weeks since Portland turned on splash pads across the city.
The water was just one of the ways people were keeping cool on Friday.
“Did you see our cooler? We have a bunch of water in there. More water, stay in the shade, I mean look at these trees, it makes you feel comfortable,” said Beaverton resident Ailan Roman.
Oregon Health Authority says young children and older adults are just a couple of groups of people that face a higher risk of heat related illness.
OHA says in addition to staying hydrated and lounging in the shade, wearing loose fitted, lightweight clothing can make a big difference.
Roman makes sure her, and her grand kids are protected using several different defenses.
“Sunscreen, we have to put that in order to protect our skin,” Roman said.
When temperatures rise, OHA officials recommend staying in air-conditioned buildings.
But for some Portlanders, that’s not always an option, so to cool down, they must get creative.
“We get cheap kiddy pools, and we just stick our feet in it, drink lots of water and beer and weight our feet in the pool and that’s how we stay cool,” said park goer, Jill.
And most Oregonians can agree, water in all its forms is the best way to beat the heat.“You have the water view and then you have the water fountain and I think it’s quiet, I don’t see no issues around,” said Roman.
The CDC shares how you can recognize heat related illnesses. While OHA shares how to avoid issues in the heat.
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Video shows rafting Oregon’s iconic Wallowa-Grande Ronde River
Learn about an overnight rafting trip on a famous 40 mile stretch that includes both the Wallowa and Grande Ronde rivers.
The beloved Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest returns for a series of events from June 19 to June 21.
In 1964, this event was founded by four locals to lift community spirits after a tsunami washed out the Elk Creek Bridge. Now, the event draws thousands of tourists and is recognized as the first and oldest sandcastle contest in Oregon.
Registration for the contest is available online through the Cannon Beach events site.
To start off the weekend, contestants can pickup their competition materials from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on June 19.
The same day, Bill Rose will provide a live sandcastle demonstration on the beach off Second Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Then, the kickoff celebration will take place at Steidel Community Hall from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Competition day starts 8:30 a.m. on June 20 when the beach opens for parking. During the time of the contest, parking is allowed in every public parking lot, on the beach and the sides of the street.
The contest will be on the beach west of Ocean Avenue near Madison Street.
The artists can begin crafting their masterpieces at 9 a.m. when the sandcastle building starts. Only natural materials native to the beach can be used.
Final judging takes place at 2 p.m. Judges are looking for team effort, enthusiasm, composition, detail, adherence to the rules and final appearance.
Spectators and competitors can celebrate from 7 to 10 p.m. with s’mores and music on the beach at the west end of Second Street. There is free admission for the party.
For those looking to get their steps in, the weekend wraps up with the Singing Sands 5K Fun Run at 9 a.m. June 21.
Registration for the run is on the beach at the Tolovana Wayside entrance at 8 a.m.
The Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce and Information Center is available to answer any questions at 503-436-2623.
Makenzie Stamets is an outdoor intern at the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at mstamets@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @MakenzieStamets.
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