Fall sports 2017 are officially underway, and this season Oregon SportsBeat will be featuring the region’s finest sports programs in our live game broadcasts, bi-monthly Monday night SportsBeat TV show, and select articles previewing and recapping top games around the state. Check in every Wednesday for a rundown on important happenings in the Oregon sports world.
Soccer season kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, 8/31 at 7 pm with an exciting match-up in McMinnville, as the Grizzlies host the Hood River Valley Eagles. The Grizz have been flirting with a state Championship for too long now; they lost in a tough shootout to Lakeridge in the 6A State Championship final in 2016, but they return top scorer Cameron Autencio and goal keeper Grant Vicknair to an always loaded program. Hood River is no stranger to State Championships, winning the 5A titles in 2014 and 2015. They finished 2016 with a bad taste in their mouth after losing to LaSalle in a shootout in the playoff quarterfinals. The game should have been won in regulation time by HRV, but Noa Magana’s spectacular diving header goal was called offside (wrongly) by the ref, and such is soccer life. No worry, as HRV head coach Jamie Rivera has another talented crop of stars in the brew, including more Magana’s. Grizzlies vs. Eagles live on Oregon SportsBeat, Thursday August 31st, 2017, 7pm.
High School Football (American style) gets underway this Friday, September 1st. SportsBeat brings you 3 live game broadcasts to choose from! 1st up is Central Catholic hosting Camas of Washington. Camas won the big school championship in Washington in 2016, and Central Catholic was runner up in Oregon in 2016. Both teams will be contenders again in 2017, and at the end of the season we will look back at this game to make comparisons between who’s best in football- Oregon or Washington. Live broadcast 7:30 pm.
Also on the agenda is the intriguing Lincoln vs. Lake Oswego game. Coach Wes Warren’s Cardinal team seems to always have plenty of depth, something coach Coury’s Laker team may lack this season. That could play a role later in the season as injuries set in, but shouldn’t be too much an issue in week 1. Tune in at 7pm to watch the live broadcast.
Finally on the football schedule for Friday, September 1st, the Wilson Trojans head to McMinnville to get their season underway. Coach David Kilpatrick- White welcomes the challenge in re-building the program after the Ken Duilio era, check KW’s interview on SportsBeat TV here, and this McMinnville game will be a good temperature check for 2017. Live Broadcast here 7pm.
Rounding out our first week of broadcasts is next Tuesday’s volleyball match between Central Catholic and Barlow. The defending 6A State Champions Lady Rams are always tough, and the Barlow rivalry goes back 25 years. Check out the live broadcast next Tuesday, September 5th, at 6:15 pm.
Check back in next week for a look ahead at another full broadcasts schedule. Enjoy!