A Look Around the Pond: Oregon Athletics Gearing Up For Spring

On Sunday, Oregon named its new head football coach in Mark Helfrich. Several days later and backup quarterback Bryan Bennett has decided to leave the Ducks for  FCS school Louisiana State and more playing time. Oregon opens Spring football practice on March 20th.

Read more about my thoughts  for the Duck Football moving into the 2013 season.

Elsewhere, Oregon Softball is gearing up for the 2013 season after possibly the best season in their history in 2012 in a trip to the NCAA Regionals, and second ever World Series trip. The Ducks schedule is tough. They will play 33 contests vs 17 teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2012. Oregon Softball kicks of its season on February 7th in Tempe Arizona vs Western Michigan in the Kajikawa Classic tournament.

Oregon Baseball is getting ready for 2013 too and their closer Jimmie Sherfy has been recognized on his third preseason All American Honor. Coach George Horton’s squad begins practice on Friday and the first game of the 2013 season February 15 vs Hawaii in Honolulu. Oregon is set to start the season Ranked in the Top 10 in Two Polls. Oregon is 10th in the Perfect Game Top 25 Poll and tabbed 6th in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll that was released last month. The Ducks return seven position player starters from last season, and four starting pitchers.

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Justin Phillips is Sports Reporter for Newsradio 1120 KPNW in Eugene, Oregon.