An afternoon of America’s pastime. 18 holes on a sprawling green golf course. Evenings on the tennis court overlooking one of Mt. Tabor’s glistening water reservoirs. Spring sports are ramping up, meaning athletes and fans alike are excited. What’s in store for Franklin sports this spring? Let’s ask around and find out!
Franklin baseball is a small piece of the over 16 million players in the United States, yet they aim to have a large impact, hoping to put up some big results in the Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) and Oregon. “I think if we work our [butts] off we could be an underdog in the league and make our way into playoffs,” says Silas Combs, a junior pitcher and third baseman, who is preparing for his third varsity season.
Combs notes that Franklin hasn’t been as successful as they hoped the past two seasons. “My freshman year was disappointing. I wasn’t performing how I should have,” he laments. “We definitely should have made the playoffs, but we missed it by one game — the last game of the season — losing in extra innings.” Last year, Franklin ranked 44 in the state with a record of 4-20. “It was kind of a ragtag season. No one expected us to do well and we kind of filled that expectation.”
Baseball’s counterpart, softball, has found more success, however. Franklin’s team finished third in the PIL in 2023, and second in 2024, making the playoffs both years. In 2024, Franklin was a first-round exit in the playoffs, losing to Sheldon — the team eventually crowned state champions.
Softball is one of Franklin’s most competitive and successful programs. Last season’s first and second-team all-league awards went to five Franklin players: Current seniors, Hannah Churchill and Jordan Vilchis making the first team, as well as sophomores Brooke Aman and Bobbi Jean Wixon, and junior Grace Vaupel making the second team, with two more being given honorable mentions.
Moving off the field and onto the green, golf is another popular spring sport. You can find them at the Eastmoreland golf course, where they practice. Calvin Nelson, a junior on the men’s team who joined last year, comments on what it is like to be on the team, saying, “Our team dynamic is very friendly and supportive.” Nelson enjoyed last season: “I felt very good about last season … I felt I improved a lot. It’s a sport [where] you don’t have to be the best player to have fun.”
Women’s golf is also going strong. The team encourages new players to join, welcoming them into a warm environment. Even in the off-season, they have been hard at work, getting reps in at the Eastmoreland driving range. The team hopes to build on last year’s results, as they were able to send a group to regionals: current seniors Frances Vice, Nala Day, and Edie Stanley, along with Aubrey Marsh, who graduated in 2024.
Track and field, one of the largest sports at Franklin, is gearing up for another successful season. Many of Franklin’s successful cross country runners continue into track to compete in the spring. Franklin’s women’s track and field team finished 26th in the state, and the men’s team finished third. Track and field is one of the most diverse sports, with events ranging from pole vaulting to distance running. Senior Brennan McEwan qualified for the state championships last year for both the 1500 and 3000 running events.
Tennis is another great spring sport to watch and play. A varsity tennis team consists of four singles players and four doubles teams, totaling 12 players. Gwen Kimbrow, a sophomore on the women’s team, says she’s really excited for this season. “I really like being on the team,” she says. “Last season was really good, I [had] just started playing and I felt like I improved a lot.” This season she is looking forward to practices and matches in nice weather. The men’s tennis team is smaller, but is still looking to qualify a few players for the state championship, a feat they couldn’t pull off last year.
Spring sports are a robust part of Franklin’s athletic program. A fun way to close out the school year, a variety of sports harbor communities and compete for glory within the league and Oregon as a whole. As the sun peeks through the clouds and the flowers burst from the soil, spend some time in the nice weather, watching, playing, or supporting Franklin’s blossoming spring sports teams.
