Beacon Magazine: Bushnell’s Home Field Brings Community Together

In 2018, the University was thinking expansively. In the flow of record-setting annual enrollment trends and in the process of devising a sweeping capital campaign, the University was looking to purchase a property to build a baseball stadium. This multi-million dollar proposition, even as part of a larger campaign, was an expensive one.

Then came promising partners like Ike Olsson, owner of Olsson Industrial Electric, and Kelly Richardson, owner of Richardson Sports. Their dream to establish a local collegiate woodbat summer league complemented President Joe Womack’s desire for a baseball program at Bushnell. Together, they began to think outside the box, or rather, the diamond. In concert with the Springfield Public Schools, a field of dreams began to take form as a shared-use stadium between Bushnell Baseball, the West Coast League Springfield Drifters, and Springfield High School.

Now three years into existence, the stadium has gained a reputation as the finest in the WCL and the Cascade Collegiate Conference. Springfield High was the only team in their league to finish one rainy Spring season because of the excellent drainage and 100% artificial turf. Currently called the Hamlin Sports Complex (to be named later), the field is now busy in every season with games, camps, outreach, and other community events. Numerous other donors and corporate partners have joined “the team” and our dreams keep coming true.

Best of all, the Drifters and Beacons teams have been able to actively serve the Springfield youth community through various service projects and partnerships with organizations like the Hope Project and youth sports organizations. Drifters co-founder Kelly Richardson shares, “We’re very proud of the new baseball facility at Hamlin Middle School and the work done by The Springfield Drifters, Bushnell University, and the Springfield School District that made it a reality.  It’s rewarding to see the field being used year-round by kids of all ages and providing a facility the entire community can be proud of.”

Just this fall, hundreds of local students came to the stadium to receive new backpacks and school supplies to start the school year off right, something that brings inspiration to co-founder Ike Olsson: “The Drifters are thankful for the wonderful partnership with the Hope Project, Springfield School District, and Bushnell University. Whether it’s the annual Christmas food box handout or backpack give aways at the Drifters games, we are proud of the impact that we are having on the children and families in the community.”

Donovan Kimball’s Love for Christ & Baseball Stands Strong

Bushnell Baseball became a reality in 2022 because of generous donors like friend of the University Don Kimball, a long-time educator and devout Christian with historic ties to the Willamette Valley. His wife’s parents traveled to the region on the Oregon Trail in 1952, the same year as members of James Bushnell’s family.

Don played third base for the Oregon Ducks for four years, graduating in 1950, but his bride, Dorothy (McBee) had been a student at Bushnell (then NCC). Don even coached basketball at the University in 1948, making him the oldest living Bushnell coach. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, Don became a teacher at Pleasant Hill High School. Eventually, he became assistant superintendent for Springfield Schools and volunteered on the Lane County ESD Board. Don gave generously to the baseball project because he knew “it would open doors to draw more students to Bushnell to receive a Christ-centered education…our country is starving for spiritual leaders.” His gift also honors his beloved late wife Dorothy (Tinker) Kimball who attended the University from 1946-1948. His deep Christian faith and heart for the next generation inspires our students to live up to those aspirations.