By James Day
The campaign to put artificial turf on the football field at Silverton’s Schlador Street campus is on schedule and just six weeks away from breaking ground.
The project has raised $525,000 in cash, although Foxes Athletic Director Greg Kaatz said the group still would like to raise $50,000 more. In addition to cash donations the project has received contributions of labor and materials from K&E Excavating, Ferguson Waterworks, Eberle Concrete and Withers Lumber.
Eight sponsors have purchased ads on the field: Roth’s, Les Schwab, Pacific Sanitation, Silverton Hospital, All-State/Bill Johnson, Jim Hobbs Painting, Rodney Orr/Family Medical Group and Tara Kramer/Ri-Ky Roofing. Four open spots remain on the visitor’s side of the field for $15,000 apiece.
The Silverton youth football “Future Foxes” have donated the new goal posts, although the project still is seeking a donor for the corner flags and goals for the soccer configuration of the field.
The project also is looking for individuals with trucks for the hauling out of the grass and dirt and the hauling in of the rock that will start the project on June 6.
Those willing to assist with any of the project’s needs should call Kaatz at the school at 503-873-6331, ext. 3823 or email him at [email protected].
“Everyone has been very supportive,” Kaatz said. “This was a 10-month plan and that’s very aggressive. The response reflects the support here in Silverton. It’s going to be a wonderful facility.”
Trainer honored: Jennifer Krug, the certified athletic trainer at Silverton, won an award for outstanding contributions and dedicated service from the Northwest Athletic Trainers Association. Krug received the honor at the group’s April 2 annual meeting. The association covers the states of Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Krug was nominated by her peers for being an “outstanding professional and exemplifying what it means to care for athletes and patients in the toughest of situations. She has been a great advocate for athletic training to the local high school, the community of Silverton while covering many state events.”
Krug also serves on the athletic training staff of USA Fencing and works with men and women athletes at both domestic and international competitions.
Krug, 46, has been with the Foxes since 2010. Prior to that she served in a similar capacity at Corban University (previously Western Baptist College) from 1997-2009.
Baseball/softball: Silverton softball, which won the Mid-Willamette Conference last season and advanced to the Class 5A semifinals, is 7-4 in league, 11-5 overall and ranked 15th by the OSAA. The squad is in second place, 3.5 games behind 10-0 Lebanon.
“Foxes softball is competing well,” veteran coach Ralph Cortez said. “We have had some close ball games and have come out on the losing end but the team has the don’t-quit attitude and can give any team a good ball game.”
Top returners include junior pitcher Alex Molloy, sophomore shortstop Maggie Buckholz, junior third baseman Megan Mannion, junior second baseman Daisy Hernandez, junior outfielder Katelyn Hickam and sophomore catcher Maggie Roth.
Roth, who played center field last year, had the tough task to replace all-state catcher Kayla Stocker, but Cortez said Roth has experience at catcher going back to when she was 9 years old.
“I knew she was going to fit in behind the plate well,” Cortez said.
Roth threw out three runners on the basepaths in a recent game against South Albany and ripped a grand slam home run against Central.
New to the starting lineup this season is sophomore first baseman Gracie Voltin, who replaced the graduated Jessica Horsey.
Kennedy, meanwhile, is 4-0 in Special District 2 and ranked No. 12 in Class 2A/1A. The Trojans are one game ahead of sixth-ranked Central Linn and defeated the Cobras 5-1 on April 13 in Mount Angel. The two teams play in Halsey on May 6.
In baseball, Kennedy is battling for the district lead with four other squads. The Trojans are 5-1 in league, one game behind 6-2 St. Paul, with Regis and Western Mennonite both 5-2 and 4-2 Santiam still in the hunt. Only three teams from the league advance to the state playoffs.
Silverton is 5-7 in the Mid-Willamette, tied for fifth place with South Albany. The top two finishers in the MWC draw byes into the state bracket, with teams in third through sixth starting out in the play-in round.
Boston Marathon: Three runners with area ties completed America’s most renowned marathon race April 18. Michael Traeger, 28, of Silverton ran the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston in 2:52.25 and finished 659th overall at a 6:35 mile pace. John Strother, 42, of Salem completed the course in 3:25:07 (7:50 pace) and Kerry Self, 63, of Silverton ran a 9:47 pace and finished in 4:16:13.
Hospital run: The 33rd Silverton Health fun runs are Saturday, May 7. The 1-mile event for kids 10 and younger starts at 8 a.m., with the 5-kilometer run/walk set for 8:45. Day-of-the-race registration starts at 6:45 a.m. and costs $25 with a T-shirt and $20 without.
Run for the Hills is Saturday, May 31, races starting at 8 a.m., Victor Point School, 1175 SE Victor Point Road, Sublimity. Victor Point hosts a 1-mile kids run, 5K & 10K run/walk and a 15K. There will be music, drawing, abd refreshments. It’s $10 for 1-mile run, kids 12 and under, $20 for 5K, $30 for 15K or $25 for a 10K run/walk. Registration deadline May 19. The event benefits Victor Point School. Register at runsignup.com and enter “Victor Point School’s Run for the Hills.” Paper registration is available at the school, 503-873-4987
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