Oregon
Tehya Bird powers Oregon softball past Notre Dame in Fayetteville Regional
Tehya Bird is proving to be a different player in critical situations and in the postseason.
The Oregon third baseman, a .277 hitter on the season, is hitting more than 100 points higher with two outs and runners in scoring position following yet another clutch hit.
Bird’s three-run home run in the second capped a 10-pitch at-bat and gave Oregon the lead for good in a 5-4 win over Notre Dame Friday afternoon at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“I thought she had a really good at-bat,” Oregon coach Melyssa Lombardi said. “She continued to foul off pitches; it allowed her to get in a really good rhythm at the plate and then she got her pitch to hit. Love all these guys in different moments have come up big for us. It’s not just one or two.”
The Ducks (36-15) advance to the winner’s bracket semifinal and will face the winner of regional host No. 11 seed Arkansas and Harvard at 12 p.m. PT Saturday. The Fighting Irish will play the loser of that game in the first elimination game of the regional at 2:30 p.m.
Notre Dame (29-18-1) struck first as Joley Mitchell hit a one-out double to left center. Karina Gaskins nearly followed with a two-run home run to right center, but Hanna Delgado tracked it down and robbed the Fighting Irish with a catch over the wall.
Oregon outfielder Hanna Delgado (24) leaps up to steal a home run from Notre Dame during an NCAA softball game on Friday, May 19, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP
“Hanna was big,” Lombardi said. “That could have made the game look a little different, especially with how it finished with us winning by one. We’ve been talking about that, our defense. Defense wins championships and what our defense has been doing all year, I hope for them to continue to do it throughout postseason.”
A similar play effectively ended UO’s season a year ago, when Arkansas’ Rylin Hedgecock hit a bases-clearing double to center off the glove of then-Ducks outfielder Jasmine Williams, who moved to center with Delgado going to left in last year’s regional.
Mitchell advanced and later scored on a single down the line in left by Lexi Orozco off Stevie Hansen (19-6), who gave up two runs on five hits and a walk over 5.0 innings in the win.
“(Delgado’s play) helps me relax a lot more,” Hansen said. “I know the girls are working really hard. I see them, working hard every day at practice and I know they pick me up all the time, constantly, whether if it’s on defense or up to bat. It helps me relax and know whatever happens they’ve got me.”
Oregon rallied for five runs in the second, all with two outs. Alyssa Daniell and KK Humphreys each drew four-pitch walks to bring up Bird. The junior, who had a pair of prolonged at-bats and clutch single in last week’s Pac-12 tournament, battled and hit a 3-2 pitch to left center for a three-run home run.
“I don’t really think about it as two outs; I know there’s runners on base and it makes me think more to whatever you do just put the ball in play and good things happen,” Bird said. “I thought it was going to be a popup right at the wall because I kind of was a little bit early on because it was a changeup. But the ball flies in Arkansas. Then I was surprised running around the bases.”
It was the seventh home run of the season for Bird, her fourth on a two-strike count and third with the count full. She’s hitting .391 (9 for 23) with a home run and 13 RBIs with two outs and runners in scoring position this season, with only Allee Bunker (.526, 14 RBIs) performing better for UO in those spots.
Paige Sinicki followed with a bunt single and scored on a triple by Kai Luschar, who was driven in two batters later by Bunker.
Payton Tidd allowed five runs on four hits and three walks in the loss for Notre Dame.
Following a rain delay of 2:24, each team stranded a runner in the fifth, then the Fighting Irish scored three in the sixth.
Mitchell and Gaskins hit back-to-back doubles and Orozco singled to put runners on the corners. Raegan Breedlove got back-to-back groundouts, the first coming after a collision on the first base line between Humphreys and Leea Hanks, who was called out for obstruction. Jane Kronenberger delivered a pinch hit, two-run single to right to cut the gap to 5-4 and end the day for Breedlove, who allowed two runs on three hits in 0.2 innings.
Morgan Scott earned her seventh save with a perfect 1.1 innings to close it out.
Controversial world leaders invited to Trump’s inauguration
Donald Trump’s inauguration guest list is breaking tradition, as he has invited a number of controversial world leaders, signaling his continued alignment with right-wing figures.
unbranded – Newsworthy
Inauguration Day, when President-elect Donald Trump will officially return to the White House, will take place Monday.
Trump will be sworn in at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda after the inauguration was moved indoors due to forecast cold weather in Washington, D.C. The last time an inauguration was moved indoors was 40 years ago for President Ronald Reagan in 1985.
Here is a list of Oregon politicians who told the Statesman Journal they will be attending or missing the inauguration as of Friday.
Is U.S. Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s pick for U.S. secretary of labor and a former Oregon Republican Congresswoman, did not respond to the Statesman Journal’s inquiry on Friday asking if she would attend the inauguration.
Is Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
No, Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, is not attending the inauguration.
Is U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
No, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, is not attending the inauguration. A representative from Wyden’s office said the senator was hosting planned townhalls in Oregon over the weekend and would be visiting the Providence nurses on strike in Portland before returning to Washington, D.C., Monday for evening votes.
Is U.S. Sen Jeff Merkley attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
Yes, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, is planning to attend the inauguration.
Is U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
Yes, U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, an Oregon Democrat, is planning to attend the inauguration.
Is U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
Yes, U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, an Oregon Democrat, is planning to attend the inauguration, although recent venue changes may affect her decision.
Is U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
No, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, an Oregon Democrat, will not attend the inauguration. A represent from her office said Bonamici will be gathering with immigration advocates, attending an MLK Day breakfast with community leaders and volunteering with an organization that serves homeless youth.
“I will not be attending the inauguration in DC this year. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day of service and I will be spending it in Oregon with community members and organizations who are working to create a better future,” Bonamici said.
Is U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
Yes, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, an Oregon Republican, is planning to attend the inauguration, although recent venue changes may affect his decision.
Is U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
Yes, U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, an Oregon Democrat, will attend the inauguration.
Is U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration?
U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, an Oregon Democrat, was unsure if should would be attending the inauguration when contacted by the Statesman Journal on Friday.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The first Powerball jackpot of 2025 was sold in Oregon and is worth $328.5 million, according to lottery officials.
The winner purchased the winning ticket in Beaverton on Thursday, Jan. 17, the Oregon Lottery said. The retail location will not be revealed until a winner has come forward.
The winning numbers for the Saturday drawing were: 14, 31, 35, 64 and 69 and Powerball 23.
The winner has a year to claim their prize, Oregon Lottery spokesperson Melanie Mesaros said. After the winning ticket is presented, “it will take time before a winner can be identified due to security and payment processes.”
Oregon lottery winners, with few exceptions, cannot remain anonymous, Mesaros said.
The winner will have a choice between an annuitized prize of $328.5 million or a lump-sum payment of $146.4 million, according to lottery officials, which are both options before taxes.
Last year, the largest Powerball prize won in Oregon — a $1.3 billion jackpot — was split between a Portland man, his wife, and friend.
Before Saturday, the most recent Powerball jackpot was sold in December in New York and was worth $256 million.
Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Fernando Cervantes Jr., a news reporter for USA TODAY, contributed to this story.
Cherrill Crosby is the executive editor of the Statesman Journal and The Register-Guard. Reach her at crosbyc@gannett.com
Oregon head football coach Dan Lanning has been a busy man.
But when you’re the man tasked with running one of the top college football programs in the country, burning jet fuel to shake hands and take photos is a big part of the gig. And Lanning was doing plenty of that last week.
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Lanning returned home last week on a two-day tear recruiting some of the top 2026 prospects in the country.
Lanning’s known stops included Lee’s Summit on Jan. 16, where the Tigers have 2027 interior line prospect Zach Harsha (6-5, 260) and 2028 tight end Max Trillo (6-4, 225).
Great Day at Lee’s Summit High Today
Appreciate Head Coach Dan Lanning of the University of Oregon for coming to see the Tigers! #RecruitLS@CoachDanLanning @oregonfootball @lstigerfootball pic.twitter.com/DBFM8AwLzM— Recruiting LSTIGERFOOTBALL (@recruitLSFB) January 17, 2025
He was even busier the following day. He had stops at Raymore-Peculiar, where he visited with and offered four-star uncommitted running back DeZephen Walker (6-0, 205) who is believed to be heavily considering Kansas and Nebraska.
He also headed to Illinois, where he swung by Lincoln-Way East to visit with quarterback Jonas Williams, who agreed with the Ducks on Aug. 3, 2024,
A big thank you to the University of Oregon Ducks Head Football Coach Dan Lanning for coming to Lincoln-Way East today! pic.twitter.com/lruzNH6I2q
— Lincoln-Way East Football (@LWEastFootball) January 17, 2025
A trip to the Springfield, Mo. area was also on the docket, as Lanning traveled to Nixa High School to again meet with the country’s No. 1 2026 offensive lineman, Jackson Cantwell, on Jan. 16. The 6-8, 315 offensive tackle has offers from just about everyone in the country, though he has spoken highly of Lanning and his relationship with the Ducks coach – making Oregon one of the favorites for his services.
Nice to have @oregonfootball @CoachDanLanning & @UMichFootball @Coach_SMoore in Nixa, MO! @jcantwell2499 is bringing out all the stars. #TeamNixa #NSGB pic.twitter.com/bBlvB3Uy8j
— John Perry (@jperry_nixa) January 17, 2025
Cantwell was honored by the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 18 during their AFC Divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans after he was selected to represent the Chiefs at the ‘Nike Ones’ showcase during Super Bowl weekend in New Orleans.
Lanning concluded his trip with a little basketball in Hutchinson, Kan., where he watched Great Bend tight end Ian Premer (6-6, 215) – the top tight end in the 2026 class – take on Hutchinson. Premer, a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball, impressed with 22 points in the game.
Oregon 🏈 HC @CoachDanLanning is in Hutchinson tonight to watch Great Bend’s @IanPremer play hoops. @GBHS_Athletics @GreatBend_BB @sportsinkansas pic.twitter.com/AnYWMlxe6X
— Jason Lamb (@JasonLambTV) January 18, 2025
The Midwest swing adds to a busy month for Lanning, who also has been spotted with Utah No. 1 athlete Salasi Moa and recently secured a visit with top 2026 quarterback and Nashville native Jared Curtis.
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