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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 2017)
SINCE 1979 • VOLUME 38, NO. 39 SECTION A JUNE 30, 2017 $1.00 ONE KEIZER LITTLE LEAGUER’S EPIC JOURNEY TO BECOMING A 32 YEAR-OLD ROOKIE IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes Austin Bibens - Dirkx warmed up six different times in the Rangers bullpen before he was fi nally called to the mound to make his Major League debut on May 17 in Texas. As a 32-year-old rookie, who spent more than 11 years in the minors, Bibens-Dirkx was used to waiting. “I had a smile on my face pretty much the whole time,” Bibens-Dirkx said of his fi rst appear- ance in the big leagues, which came in the top of the ninth inning with the Rangers lead- ing 9-2. “It was the perfect time. They always try to give you a soft landing when you make your debut and not put you in a high pressure situa- tion. I had to take a step back after my warmup pitches off the mound to take everything in, take a deep breath and then get back on.” After a called strike on his fi rst pitch, Bibens-Dirkx hit Philadelphia Phillies outfi elder Aaron Altherr with his second. But Bibens-Dirkx followed up with a strikeout on a curveball and got outfi elder Michael Saunders to pop out to the catcher. With two outs, third baseman Maikel Franco hit a slider to center fi eld to score a run. Bibens-Dirkx then got a line drive to third base for the fi nal out to fi nish the fi rst inning of his MLB career, something that had been a long-time coming. Bibens-Dirkx weighed about 150 pounds and threw in the low to mid 80s when he graduated from McNary High School. If he didn't get a baseball scholarship, Bibens-Dirkx was probably going to enlist in the Navy. But Chemeketa Community Happy Independence Day! “ I want to prove people wrong and say you should have given me a chance.” — Austin Bibens-Dirkx Keizer man turns 100 PAGE A3 ABOVE: Austin Bibens-Dirkx, a McNary graduate and for- mer Keizer Little Leaguer, pitches for the Texas Rangers after more than 11 seasons in the minor leagues. Claggett Creek maestro retires STAR-TELEGRAM/Paul Moseley RIGHT: Bibens-Dirkx, right, played on Roland Herrera's, left, Keizer Little League Ju- nior All-Star team in 1998. PAGE A8 Submitted College offered and Bibens- Dirkx took advantage. Then after one season at the University of Portland, Bibens-Dirkx was drafted in the 16th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2006. In the Mariners organization, Bibens-Dirkx quickly worked his way up Please see ABD, Page A9 Veteran remembers fallen on July 4 The retired Marine, a Master Gunney Sergeant, moves slowly, as he replaces the damaged fl ag with another. It’s a duty he has taken upon himself, honoring the deceased veterans who are laid to rest here. The new fl ag fl utters in the gentle breeze under the noon sun. Since the early 1990’s he has gone out to the cemetery on Flag Day, Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and July 4th to place fl ags on the soldier’s graves. “I am 85 years old and getting younger every day,” he said with a self deprecating chuckle. He served in both KEIZERTIMES/Dee Moore Lou Nordyke will put out fl ags at the graves the Korean and of deceased veterans on Independence Day. Vietnam wars. By DEE MOORE For the Keizertimes Lou Nordyke stoops over a broken fl ag that lies next to a grave at Claggett Cemetery. FEEL GOOD STORY Saluting the people that make us proud of our community capitolauto.com Nordyke makes a pilgrimage to the cemetery several times a week to visit his wife and mother-in-law and care for their graves. While he is there he will check on the military graves, and like today, he will remove and replace the broken or damaged fl ags that remain from visits made by family members. He is often joined by his friend, John Anderson, also a veteran. Nordyke and Anderson have been friends for many years getting to know each other Please see FLAGS, Page A9 McNary goes local for drama director By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes After four years of a two- hour commute to Parkrose High School in Northeast Portland, Tom Cavanaugh is looking forward to working just fi ve minutes from his front door. But that's not all that drew him to McNary High School. “I knew the reputation of McNary theatre,” Cavanaugh said. “I've known Dallas (Myers) for years and years and years. I knew a lot of what they had going on there. It was all really exciting. To have that many kids interested and participating in theatre is amazing.” Cavanaugh is replacing Myers, who stepped down after seven years as McNary's drama director. Cavanaugh and Myers were at Western Oregon University at the same time and acted in many shows together. Cavanaugh's Tom Cavanaugh wife, Jessica, now a teacher at Roots Academy in Salem, did her student teaching at McNary under then drama director Linda Baker. “She was able to speak to the fact that there's this amazing community of support in theatre,” Cavanaugh said. Cavanaugh was introduced to theatre as a high schooler at Westview in Beaverton when athletics didn't go his way. “I thought I was a three- Please see DRAMA, Page A6 Summer Basketball PAGE A10
