Marion Berries

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Marion Berries
Logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueWest Coast League (2025–present)
LocationSalem, Oregon
BallparkSpec Keene Stadium at Bush's Pasture Park
Founded2024
Nickname(s)Berries
League championships0
Division championships0
ColorsDark Purple, Berry Blue, Green and White
       
OwnershipSalem Baseball Club, LLC
Luke Emanuel
PresidentLuke Emanuel
General managerPat Zajac
ManagerTBA
Websitewww.marionberriesbaseball.com

The Marion Berries are a collegiate summer wood bat baseball team based in Salem, Oregon. They play in the South Division of the West Coast League, a premier collegiate summer baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. The Berries play their home games at Spec Keene Stadium at Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem's Willamette University.

History

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Team founding and naming (2024)

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On January 19, 2024, the West Coast League announces that Salem would be the host of the league's 17th team, an expansion franchise.[1] Months later after a name-the-team contest, the team became officially known as the Marion Berries.[2][3][4] The name's origin comes from the popular marionberry that was discovered in 1956, leading to a robust berry industry in the heart of the Willamette Valley. The Berries are the latest baseball team to play in the Salem region joining the professional former Minor League Baseball team the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and the Mavericks League.

2025

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The Berries played their first ever home game on June 23 defeating the Corvallis Knights 14-7. The Berries play their home games at Chemeketa Field due to their ballpark not being ready for the season. Chemeketa Field hosted the Salem Senators minor league team in 1978.[5][6][7]

Paul Vasquez (Oregon State) was named player of the week by the league on July 7.[8]

On July 8, it was announced that Alex Chavez (Loyola Marymount), Danny Wideman (Oregon) and Steven Verespey (Willamette) were selected to represent the Berries at the All Star Game in Bellingham.[9]

The Berries went 28-26 and finished fourth in the South Division in their first season of fielding a team.[10] Verespey finished tied for fourth in the league with four pitching wins and finished second in the league with a 1.45 ERA.[11] 25,128 total fans attended the Berries' twenty-four home games for an average of 1,047 fans per game.[12]

The Berries clinched a wildcard berth for their first ever playoff appearance. The Berries faced the Pickles in the South Divisional Series but were swept two games to zero.

Results by season

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League Champions Division Champions Division Regular Season Champions Playoff Berth
Year League Division Finish W L Win% GB Postseason Manager
2025 WCL South 4th 28 26 .519 15.5 Lost South Divisional Series 0-2 (Pickles) Tucker Brack

References

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  1. ^ "Salem Awarded WCL Expansion Team for 2025". West Coast League. January 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Siess, Joe (September 17, 2024). "Salem's new summer baseball team will be called the Marion Berries". Salem Reporter. Salem, Oregon. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  3. ^ Denney, Jarrid (September 19, 2024). "Salem's new summer collegiate baseball team announces name, logo". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  4. ^ Martinez, Luis (November 22, 2024). "Marion Berries Are Newest Semi-Pro Team in Salem". Salem Business Journal. Salem, Oregon. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  5. ^ https://westcoastleague.com/marion-berries-ready-for-first-home-game/
  6. ^ https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=630952
  7. ^ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122156879264398114&set=pb.61561943443257.-2207520000&type=3
  8. ^ https://westcoastleague.com/bridges-and-vazquez-garner-weekly-honors/
  9. ^ https://westcoastleague.com/2025-wcl-all-stars-announced/
  10. ^ https://baseball.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=145&seasonid=34070
  11. ^ https://baseball.pointstreak.com/leaders.html?leagueid=145&seasonid=34070
  12. ^ https://baseball.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=145&seasonid=34070
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