Seth Thompson
Sports Reporter, Journalist, Public Relations and Journalism major at the University of Oregon
SPRINGFIELD – Cooper Mullens and Isaiah Ibarra – the Drifters’ second baseman and catcher, respectively – were named to the 2025 West Coast League all-star team.
“I’m super honored,” Mullens said. “I’m really excited to be able to honor or represent the Drifters organization. They’ve done a lot for me over the past couple of years, and to be able to represent them and how they do things, which has just been first class since I’ve been here, (and) hopefully represent them well, I’m super excited.”
SPRINGFIELD – In sports, home-field advantage is a well-known advantage.
Last Thursday night, this truism was on full display for the Springfield Drifters.
With a record-breaking crowd of more than 2,500 fans, Springfield had a chip on its shoulder against the Ridgefield Raptors.
The Raptors swept the Drifters last week in their first meetings of the season – but that was in Ridgefield. Back at Hamlin Sports Complex and that series still fresh on their minds, the Drifters wanted to return the favor.
SPRINGFIELD – It’s never easy to say goodbye, and for Springfield Drifters’ coaches and players, this is no different. It’s especially difficult before the season even ends.
Over the past two weeks, players have returned home and to their schools to continue their collegiate careers.
Coach Jeff Lyle said a bond remains with the early departures.
“Once a Drifter, always a Drifter, you know, kind of what everybody says about their organizations, but it’ll be 100% true. We’ve already had guys leave and we’ve already checked in on them,” Lyle said. “You never lose those connections; baseball is a really small, big world.”
EUGENE – What does building a legacy mean to you? For Cottage Grove track star Carter Bengtson, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. After breaking the 31-year-standing Sky-Em district meet record — as well as his own school record set earlier this year — in the 3000m, Bengtson has the opportunity to further cement his legacy next weekend at state.
“It’s gonna be fun, like we have our core group of four guys in the distance. This is basically what the state meet will be,” Bengtson said. “It’ll be fun to see these guys again, but I think we’re gonna drop some more time at state.”
THURSTON – The Thurston Colts boys basketball team – riding high on a 12-game winning streak – went into Saturday’s playoff game against No. 15 Centennial blazing hot. They did not expect the Eagles to be equally en fuego.
The higher-seeded Colts trailed most of the game due to the Eagles’ strong effort, but Thurston was able to edge out Centennial 50-48, extending the winning streak to 13 and securing their ticket to the Class 5A state tournament at McMinnville this weekend.
The Pleasant Hill Billies girls basketball team took care of business on Friday night, crushing the Creswell Bulldogs 44-21. For the Billies, it was a particularly great showing on the defensive end as they notched a plethora of turnovers and held the Bulldogs to just five points in the first half.
“The past week or two, the message to our players has been (that) we do play a solid 2-3 zone. We have a lot of length, we have a lot of girls that will go get a rebound and that’s all great, but there does come a point where you’ve gotta be able to play straight up five-on-five man-to-man,” Pleasant Hill head coach Paxton Miller said. “…So I thought tonight was our best effort of the season of flying around, jumping to the basketball, getting in passing lanes and making multiple efforts defensively.”
The Racks – the newest vintage shop in Eugene’s 5th Street Market – is a passion project born from humble beginnings.
Just three years ago, high school sweethearts Allyssa Corpuz and Dylan Harloff started selling clothes on depop – an online marketplace for vintage streetwear. The couple made this decision after being let go from their jobs due to Covid-19 as a way to earn money from clothes they had sitting in their rooms.
Looking for a way to unwind from a stressful week? Have you considered implementing friendly farm animals into that plan? At No Regrets Flower Farm & Animal Sanctuary, you can expect relaxing yoga sessions accompanied by a herd of goats.
Lainey Morse — the owner of No Regrets and founder of Original Goat Yoga and Goat Happy Hour — describes Goat Yoga as being all about “disconnecting from day to day stress, illness or depression and focusing on happy vibes!”
CRESWELL – “The Jake” opened this past October for the University of Oregon at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell. The facility – formally named Peter & Jan Jacobsen Oregon Golf Teaching Facility – offers indoor/outdoor capabilities for training during any type of weather.
About me
My name is Seth Thompson, I am a student at the University of Oregon studying Journalism and Public Relations.
Since September 2023, I have been writing for The Chronicle as an intern sports reporter. Over the course of this internship, I’ve had the chance to cover athletics at all levels in the communities of Springfield, Creswell, Pleasant Hill and Cottage Grove.
During my time at UO, I have worked with different members of the community. I’ve worked on projects such as a series about local thrift stores and a variety of community events.
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