SALEM IS MOPO SPORTS PROFILE MARION BERRIES BASEBALL Summer in Salem is catching a game at the ballpark, and the Marion Berries are the newest team for baseball fans to root for. Debuting in 2025 as the 17th member of the West Coast League, the collegiate wood-bat baseball team is already creating a buzz among fans across the Willamette Valley. “The Berries are about community joy,” says Luke Emanuel, owner and president of the Marion Berries. “Whether it’s through youth programs, local partnerships or just a night at the ballpark, we’re here to create shared moments that remind people why they love living here.” The team’s playful name pays homage to the marionberry, Oregon’s most famous fruit, first cultivated in Marion County. “It represents local pride, hard work and the sweetness of summertime — all the same values we want our team to embody,” adds Emanuel. Fans can look forward to about 30 nights of baseball at Chemeketa Baseball Field in Salem in 2026. But the Marion Berries promise more than just great plays. “We want our games to feel like a family reunion,” says Emanuel, “where neighbors connect, kids dream big and everyone feels proud to call Marion County home.” MarionBerriesBaseball.com sports in the region The Salem area has sports teams and fans who will get you on your feet and cheering. Whether you’re into baseball, pickleball, street B-ball or a roller-derby bout, round up your own team for some good old-fashioned gameplay. Catch the Salem Capitals, the city’s high-flying squad in TBL (The Basketball League), for edge-of-your-seat basketball excitement. Every summer basketball players from far and wide come together to dribble and shoot in the shadow of the Oregon State Capitol during the weeklong Hoopla. The street B-ball tourney is a slam dunk with different age and skill divisions, free kids’ clinics, and cool prizes like medals and championship jerseys. During the holidays, hit up the Capitol City Classic tourney, Salem’s premier high school basketball event. This is where teams from all over the country show off their skills; see them before they’re drafted into the NBA and WNBA. Pack your paddles for the three-day Willamette Valley Open Pickleball Tournament on Memorial Day weekend. Held on championship-level courts at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club, the round-robin format means people of all skill levels can sign up to volley and dink. May through August, catch a Mavericks Independent Baseball League game at Keizer’s Volcanoes Stadium, and watch top undrafted players hit it out of the park. The four-team league plays a total of 96 nail-biting games each season. The Marion Berries is a new summer collegiate woodbat league that will be kicking off its second season in 2026. Check its website for game locations and dates. Three cheers for the Capital Futbol Club, host of the annual Capital Cup Soccer Tournament in June. Games are played at the Capital FC’s Pioneer Sports Park in Salem, a 37-acre soccer complex with well-manicured grass and amenities for fans and players. On July 19, 2026, top-of-their-game athletes will compete in IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon. Voted one of the top three best run experiences in the Global IRONMAN Athletes’ Choice Awards, the Salem circuit includes a swim in the Willamette River, a bike ride through wine country and a run that starts at Salem’s Riverfront Park. Grab the crew for a family-friendly roller-derby game at Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby. With a full-contact competitive team, a recreational team and a junior team, every push-and-shove stadium bout is a hoot. For some good, clean fun, watch kiddos race their homebuilt, engineless cars down a 900-foot track at Bush’s Pasture Park during Salem’s annual Soap Box Derby. Grab a viewing spot for the family on the grass; the event is free to watch and usually happens Memorial Day weekend. TravelSalem.com 24
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==