Spectator Sports
Spectator sports in the mid-valley are at an all-time high, thanks to the successful athletic programs at Oregon State University in Corvallis and the University of Oregon in Eugene, the area’s high school programs and local American Legion baseball teams.
OSU and Oregon are members of the Pacific10 Conference, which bills itself “The Conference of Champions” because it has won more national titles than any other. But the two major colleges aren’t the only source of sports entertainment.
For small-college fans, Western Oregon University in Monmouth is an NCAA Division II member with strong programs in football, basketball and volleyball. There are several NCAA Division III and NAIA schools within a 60-mile radius and Linn-Benton Community College in Albany offers several junior-college sports.
When it comes to high school sports, Corvallis, Crescent Valley, West Albany, South Albany and Lebanon are 5A schools that compete in the eight-team Mid-Willamette Conference. Philomath and Sweet Home are the area’s 4A schools, while Santiam Christian, Harrisburg and Jefferson are 3A schools, and Monroe, East Linn Christian, Central Linn and Scio compete in 2A. Alsea, Eddyville Charter and Fairview Christian compete as 1A schools.
The Corvallis Richey’s Market and Linn County’s Mid-Valley Rockets play American Legion baseball all summer. Richey’s Market has advanced to four of the past five state tournaments and finished third in the 2003 World Series in Bartlesville, Okla.
The Corvallis Knights took up residency in Corvallis in 2007. The Knights are members of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League. The team is made up of college players and uses wood bats. The Knights played in Gresham prior to moving to Corvallis and now call Goss Stadium on the OSU campus home. They won the West Division’s regular season and divisional playoff championships in 2007. Corvallis defeated Kitsap, Wash., 2-1 in the best-of-3 divisional playoff series to advance to the WCCBL’s Championship Series against Moses Lake, which it lost 2-0.
For professional sports buffs, there are two minor-league baseball teams within an hour’s drive of Corvallis and Albany. The Eugene Emeralds and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are Class A baseball teams in the Northwest League.
Auto racing fans can get their motors going at Willamette Speedway, 36606 Airport Drive in Lebanon (541-258-8503). The closest horse racing track is Portland Meadows in Portland.
Annual events include the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo and the Sportsman’s Holiday and Sweet Home Rodeo in July.
Here is a look at some various spectator sports within a short drive of Corvallis and Albany:
Oregon State University
OSU offers 18 NCAA Division I programs and is highly competitive in most. The football team halted its streak of 28 consecutive losing seasons in 1999 under former coach Dennis Erickson and has played in seven bowl games in the past nine seasons. OSU, now coached by former Corvallis High standout Mike Riley, has six home games at Reser Stadium in 2008, including the Civil War.
OSU men’s basketball is under the direction of first-year coach Craig Robinson, who replaced Jay John who was fired in January. Robinson previously coached at Brown for two years before taking the OSU job. The women’s basketball program is under the direction of fourth-year coach LaVonda Wagner, formerly an assistant at Duke University.
The Beavers are perennially strong in the so-called non-revenue or Olympic sports, with top-25 rankings typically in women’s gymnastics, wrestling, softball and men’s and women’s golf. The Beavers baseball team became the first team in 10 years to repeat as national champions in 2007. The softball team missed the postseason for the first time in 10 years in 2008.
OSU’s football success is leading to a building explosion. A new softball stadium was recently completed; an indoor practice facility for football, baseball, soccer and softball was completed in September 2001; lights were added to Goss Stadium in April 2002 and to Lorenz Field in July 2006; the Prothro Field practice area was renovated in 2003, and a $93 million renovation/expansion of Reser Stadium in 2005 resulted in a brand-new East grandstand that increased capacity to about 43,000 from just over 35,000. A new Sports Performance Center opened in May of 2008 and the expansion of Goss Stadium is still in progress. A new track is in the works as well.
For ticket information, call 1-800-GO-BEAVS.
University of Oregon
Oregon offers 16 NCAA Division I programs, a slate that includes men’s and women’s track but not women’s gymnastics. Oregon cut wrestling after the 2008 season but will bring baseball back in 2009.
The football team has become a perennial bowl contender, including an appearance in the Rose (1995) and Fiesta (2002) bowls, and regularly sells out Autzen Stadium. The Ducks play six home games this season.
Men’s and women’s basketball play in McArthur Court, the second oldest on-campus facility in the nation.
Eugene bills itself as the “Track Capital of the World” and is known for its large crowds for meets at Hayward Field. The U.S. Olympic Trials took place there in June and July.
Eugene bills itself as the “Track Capital of the World” and is known for its large crowds for meets at Hayward Field. The U.S. Olympic Trials took place there in June and July.
For ticket information, call 1-800-WEB-FOOT.
Eugene Emeralds & Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Both baseball teams are short-season Class A teams that compete in the Northwest League. Their schedule begins in mid-June and concludes in early September.
The Emeralds’ parent major-league team is the San Diego Padres and the Volcanoes are affiliated with the San Francisco Giants.
The Emeralds play at Civic Stadium, 2077 Willamette St. in Eugene. For ticket information, call 541-342-5367 or go to www.go-ems.com for more information.
The Emeralds play at Civic Stadium, 2077 Willamette St. in Eugene. For ticket information, call 541-342-5367 or go to www.go-ems.com for more information.
The Volcanoes play at Volcanoes Stadium, which is just off Interstate 5 in Keizer, north of Salem. For ticket information, call 503-390-2225 or go to www.volcanoesbaseball.com for more information.