Bundle up: spring sports get rolling in mid-March
Published 11:44 am Sunday, March 8, 2026
New seasons, some new coaches and new hopes and objectives – it’s time for spring sports.
The Madras baseball squad throws its first pitch on the highway Tuesday, March 17, at Sweet Home. Coach Jerry Shaw’s squad will meet up with cross-county rival Culver at residence on Thursday, March 19, at 4:30 p.m. It’s the season opener for the Bulldogs.
The Buffalos return a really skilled squad in 2026, seeking to climb up the Tri-Valley Conference standings after going 2-12 in 2025. As juniors, catcher Pablo Solis earned second staff all-league final spring, and Jared Penaloza and Bentley Stockton earned honorable point out spots, Penaloza as an infielder and Stockton as a pitcher.
Under coach Kyle Kuust, the Bulldogs have had nice success over the previous two seasons, making state twice. But the Dawgs will likely be rebuilding in 2026, hitting the diamond with out longtime leaders Houston Wittenberg, Jace Silbernagel and Carlos Fernandez, amongst others.
Both the Buffalos and the Bulldogs will likely be collaborating in the White Buffalo Classic throughout spring break, a two-day, six-team match working March 25-26, so there are many alternatives to catch the native squads early.
New MHS softball coach Bailey Daniels kicks off her tenure at residence. The Buffalos host Sweet Home Tuesday, March 17, at 4:30. Madras additionally hosts the Lady Buff Classic March 23-24, a two-day occasion. Madras is scheduled to face Clatskanie on the twenty third at 2 p.m. and Milwaukie at 4 p.m., then tangle with Lost River March 24 at 8 a.m. and Crook County at 4 p.m.
In Culver, Amanda Smith begins her second marketing campaign as head coach of the Bulldogs’ softball squad. They kick off in opposition to JV squads from bigger colleges, opening at residence in opposition to the Madras JVs Thursday, March 19, at 4:30. On Wednesday, March 25, they’ll have a doubleheader with the Crook County JVs in Prineville, beginning at 10 a.m.
The Dawgs’ residence opener is in opposition to Central Linn, a Friday, April 3 doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. It’s the opening sequence in 2A/1A Special District 3 play.
It’s a brand new period in Buffalo monitor and discipline as Mario Mendoza Jr. takes over as head coach. A famend ultra-distance runner, Mendoza takes over a wholesome program however one that should exchange state 1,500-meter champion Emily Picard on the women facet and sprinter/jumper level machine Andres Aguilar on the boys facet. Gavin Williams has mirrored Aguilar’s success in the sprints, relays and jumps and ought to be poised for an enormous senior yr.
Having Crook County out of the Tri-Valley Conference will probably assist extra Buffalos make the state monitor meet. The Cowboys and Cowgirls dominated the latest district meets however are actually a 5A faculty.
Madras kicks off the monitor season at Crook County, although, on Thursday, March 19, on the annual Icebreaker meet.
The Culver Bulldogs, led by coach Cooper Shaw, will even be on the Icebreaker to begin their season. The Bulldogs return state-champion 200-meter runner Kaydon Haro, district pole vault champ, Tyler Rahi, and a powerful assortment of distance runners led by Brogan Weaver.
Johnny Wilson’s boys golf squad has improved yearly because the program was resuscitated, and final yr completed second amongst 10 groups at district and earned a spot on the state match. They kick the season off Monday, March 16, with a match at Indian Creek in Hood River. The boys host a match at Desert Peaks on April 7. The Buffalo ladies, coached by Allen Hair, first tee up on March 17 at The Dalles Country Club.
Having Crook County go away the 4A stage will make the White Buffalos one in every of solely two 4A groups in the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 4 tennis league, together with The Dalles. That ought to assist the Buffs come district time, when the athletes shoot for state berths.
Coach Margaret Kincaid’s boys squad opens in opposition to Mountain View Tuesday, March 17, on the Madras courts. The eight-team Madras Invitational is ready for Saturday, April 4.
Coach Lori Stock’s ladies staff opens on the highway in opposition to Mountain View on the seventeenth. Their residence opener is March 31 in opposition to Sisters. The Buffalo ladies’ large residence match, the Steve Rankin Invitational, is Saturday, April 18.