REGISTER GUARD: Oregon Ducks baseball to begin season Feb. 19 (1 photo, article)
The Oregon baseball team will open its 54-game schedule Feb. 19 when the Ducks begin a four-game home series with Omaha at PK Park.
Oregon went 8-7 last year in Mark Wasikowski's first year as the Ducks' coach in the COVID-19-shortened season. Wasikowski, a former Oregon assistant, had spent the previous three years as Purdue's coach.
“After experiencing what we all have for the past 10 months, releasing the 2021 schedule is especially gratifying,” Wasikowski said in a news release. “Allowing the student-athletes the ability to play their beloved sport is one small step towards normalcy. Other college sports have shown that during this time, a certain fluidity to the schedule should be expected and we feel this will apply to us as well."
The Ducks will have 31 of their 54 games at home. After playing four games in three days against Omaha (Feb. 19-21), Oregon will face Seattle in a four-game homestand (Feb. 25-28).
Like most teams across the country, Oregon returns the majority of its team from a year ago as last season didn't count against players' eligibility. The Ducks figure to be led offensively by junior designated hitter Kenyon Yovan, senior first baseman Gabe Matthews and sophomore outfielder/third baseman Aaron Zavala. Yovan and Zavala were all-Americans last season.
Other top returning players include sophomore third baseman Sam Novitske, junior cather Sam Olsson, a former Sheldon High standout, sophomore shortstop Gavin Grant and freshman catcher Jack Scanlon.
The pitching staff is led by veterans Brett Walker, Cullen Kafka, Robert Ahlstrom, a former North Eugene standout, Peyton Fuller and TCU transfer Caleb Sloan.
“Our opponents are traditionally strong programs that will challenge our athletes competitively to where they can maximize their abilities while setting themselves up with a strong RPI for the postseason," Wasikowski said. "Additionally, the opportunity to play a nonconference weekend series versus our in-state rival at their park is something we simply could not pass on.”
The Ducks hit the road for the first two weekends of March when they visit preseason Big West Conference favorite UC Santa Barbara (March 5-7) before traveling to Corvallis for a nonconference series against Oregon State (March 12-14). The Ducks will play four games in three days against UCSB and a three-game series at OSU.
Oregon opens Pac-12 Conference play at home when it hosts Arizona State (March 19-21). The Ducks also host Pac-12 teams Oregon State (April 9-11), UCLA (April 23-25), Washington (May 7-9) and Stanford (May 21-23) at PK Park. In addition to Omaha and Seattle, the Ducks have nonconference home games against Portland (March 23, April 6), a four-game home series vs. New Mexico State (April 1-3) and a two-game midweek series against Gonzaga (May 11-12).
“Although we currently are unable to have fans in attendance,” Wasikowski said, “we are hopeful these restrictions will be lifted as we all do our part to conquering the pandemic.”
Oregon’s first Pac-12 road series is at Arizona (March 26-28) before the Ducks travel to USC (April 16-18). The Ducks also have conference road series at Washington State, Utah and California.
The pitching staff is led by veterans Brett Walker, Cullen Kafka, Robert Ahlstrom, a former North Eugene standout, Peyton Fuller and TCU transfer Caleb Sloan.
“Our opponents are traditionally strong programs that will challenge our athletes competitively to where they can maximize their abilities while setting themselves up with a strong RPI for the postseason," Wasikowski said. "Additionally, the opportunity to play a nonconference weekend series versus our in-state rival at their park is something we simply could not pass on.”
The Ducks hit the road for the first two weekends of March when they visit preseason Big West Conference favorite UC Santa Barbara (March 5-7) before traveling to Corvallis for a nonconference series against Oregon State (March 12-14). The Ducks will play four games in three days against UCSB and a three-game series at OSU.
Oregon opens Pac-12 Conference play at home when it hosts Arizona State (March 19-21). The Ducks also host Pac-12 teams Oregon State (April 9-11), UCLA (April 23-25), Washington (May 7-9) and Stanford (May 21-23) at PK Park. In addition to Omaha and Seattle, the Ducks have nonconference home games against Portland (March 23, April 6), a four-game home series vs. New Mexico State (April 1-3) and a two-game midweek series against Gonzaga (May 11-12).
“Although we currently are unable to have fans in attendance,” Wasikowski said, “we are hopeful these restrictions will be lifted as we all do our part to conquering the pandemic.”
Oregon’s first Pac-12 road series is at Arizona (March 26-28) before the Ducks travel to USC (April 16-18). The Ducks also have conference road series at Washington State, Utah and California.
