Embracing a slightly revised baseball slogan – “If you build it, they will come” – Ontario will soon be a city with a minor league baseball team – again. It enticed a team to forsake Rancho Cucamonga and play in Ontario for the 2026 California League season, the city is assembling a 6,000-seat baseball stadium […]
Embracing a slightly revised baseball slogan – “If you build it, they will come” – Ontario will soon be a city with a minor league baseball team – again.
It enticed a team to forsake Rancho Cucamonga and play in Ontario for the 2026 California League season, the city is assembling a 6,000-seat baseball stadium and athletic complex just off Riverside Drive. There’s a relocation of the minor league affiliates happening in the Inland Empire for the 2026 season, which means Rancho Cucamonga won’t be without a team.
But 78 years ago, Ontario boasted of having its first pro baseball franchise – the curiously named Ontario Orioles. It didn’t last very long nor was it very successful. The Orioles played only the 1947 season in the Class C Sunset League and achieved little to be remembered, with the possible exception of the identity of the owner of the club, Babe Dahlgren.
Dahlgren didn’t play for the Orioles nor spent much time locally when his team played here, but in baseball lore he occupies a very prominent place.
He is the answer to a baseball trivia question: Who replaced the legendary Lou Gehrig, ending his 2,130-consecutive games-played streak?” Dahlgren was inserted in the lineup of the New York Yankees instead of illness-plagued Gehrig for the first time on May 2, 1939.
Other than that moment in the spotlight, Dahlgren played in 1,137 games for eight major league teams (including the Brooklyn Dodgers of 1942, managing a woeful one hit in 19 at-bats). He was a member of the Yankees’ World Series champions of 1938 and 1939.
RELATED: Ontario’s new minor league ballpark, sports complex is taking shape
With the end of World War II bringing home many war veterans, new ball teams and leagues were created, both for players and spectators. The new Sunset League existed from 1947 to 1950, with teams during its first year in Riverside, Anaheim, Las Vegas, Reno and El Centro as well as Ontario. Dahlgren, who was still an active ball player though only in the minors, became owner of the Ontario club with his brother-in-law Russ Decker who was its general manager, reported the Riverside Daily Press, Jan. 28, 1947.
In preparation for the team’s night games during the 1947 season, the city installed arc-lights for the stadium at John Galvan Park. It was just last August that that historic field’s grandstand was destroyed by fire.
The first task for Dahlgren was to find players so he scheduled a couple of “schools,” or tryouts, in San Bernardino and Arcadia in late February. It attracted hopeful players from as far away as Gardena and Los Angeles, wrote the Sun newspaper Feb. 23, 1947.
It turned out that his manager, and World War II veteran, Danny Reagan would also be his best player. Reagan was the Orioles’ catcher and offensive leader, batting .331 that year with 26 home runs and 101 runs batted in.
But otherwise, there really wasn’t much else to talk about from the Orioles’ season.
The team lost four straight in its season-opening series at the Riverside Dons. Things improved a bit when the team returned for its first home game on April 25, 1947, and beat the El Centro Imperials, 15-11. A mere 469 spectators bought tickets for the opener, an early hint of the poor attendance that plagued the team.
The team did win three of four games over El Centro that first week but attracted fewer than 1,000 spectators.
The Orioles’ lack of success continued for the first half of the season but found a brief streak of victories at the midpoint. In late June, the Orioles won six of eight games, some positive results the team just couldn’t sustain in the remaining weeks.
The ballpark did have one brief bit of bliss. If you saw the movie, “Bull Durham,” in which a Durham ballplayer was married at home plate before a game, then you’ll appreciate what happened Aug. 24 to Orioles outfielder Leandro Garcia, a Claremont native.
Escorted under an arch of crossed baseball bats, he and Dorothy Riggins of Pomona were married at home plate between the games of a doubleheader, reported the Pomona Progress-Bulletin two days later. Garcia would hit .308 and slug 16 home runs for the Orioles in his first year of professional baseball. He played four more years in the minor leagues but never made it to the major leagues.
The Orioles finished the season with a 64-75 record, in fifth place, 15½ games behind Riverside. The team averaged 340 paid spectators for each game.
Dahlgren made his home in Upland, after completing a season with the Baltimore team in the International League. He expressed reservations about continuing the Orioles as the team lost money during the season.
Riverside Daily Press writer Bob Weide reported on Feb. 10, 1948, that Dahlgreen proposed moving the team to San Bernardino but decided against it after the cost to rent the 10,000-seat Orange Show Stadium proved too high. Instead, he sold the team to Mexicali, Mexico, where the team played as the Mexicali Aguilas and won the 1948 regular-season championship.
I want to thank my friend Joe Caskey, president of Ontario Heritage, who first drew my attention to the Ontario Orioles. He also offered the suggestion that the nickname for the new team ought to be the Orioles, honoring the original team of 1947.
But why was it called the Orioles in the first place? The Ontario Daily Report on Feb. 8, 1947, told the story that the nickname was picked after very little forethought by Dahlgren. He discovered one day that he had to immediately order team uniforms for his team which still didn’t have a name.
“Dahlgren was forced to make a quick decision,” said the article, “so decided upon (Orioles), which is the nickname of the Baltimore club of the International League where Dahlgren will play this season.”
The Historical Society of the Pomona Valley will hold its annual meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at the Ebell Museum of Pomona History, 585 E. Holt Ave., Pomona. Information: pomonahistorical.org.
On June 28, the organization is planning the second of two cleanups at the Palomares Adobe, 491 E. Arrow Highway, Pomona. The work begins at 8 a.m. and involves tidying up the gardens at the historic site. Volunteers interested in participating should call 909-623-2198.
Joe Blackstock writes on Inland Empire history. He can be reached at joe.blackstock@gmail.com or Twitter @JoeBlackstock. Check out some of our columns of the past at Inland Empire Stories on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IEHistory.
Kooralife.com solidifies its position as Morocco’s top football news outlet with unprecedented engagement during the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025. Digital Visionary Leads Football News Revolution Kooralife.com, Morocco’s leading football-focused sports media platform, has achieved unprecedented reach and engagement during the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025, cementing its position as the nation’s number […]
Kooralife.com solidifies its position as Morocco’s top football news outlet with unprecedented engagement during the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025.
Kooralife.com, Morocco’s leading football-focused sports media platform, has achieved unprecedented reach and engagement during the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025, cementing its position as the nation’s number one source for soccer coverage. Under the editorial leadership of Chakir, the platform delivered record-breaking performance in audience engagement, content output, and digital influence—outpacing every other Moroccan media outlet during the global tournament.
Founded with the mission to provide in-depth and real-time football coverage, Kooralife.com has grown from a modest sports blog into a nationally recognized digital powerhouse. Today, it ranks as the second-largest sports news site in Morocco and the largest in the country dedicated exclusively to football, with over 4.6 million followers across social media platforms.
The platform’s transformation can be traced directly to Chakir’s vision and editorial strategy. His approach combines rapid news delivery, data-informed content planning, and a deep understanding of what resonates with football fans, particularly younger audiences.
By emphasizing live updates, analytical match reports, and exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, Chakir has shaped Kooralife.com into a destination for both passionate Moroccan supporters and global football followers. His focus on multi-platform publishing ensures that coverage is optimized for Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, meeting fans where they spend their time.
Kooralife.com’s dominance was most visible during the FIFA Club World Cup USA 2025. The platform achieved:
This performance made Kooralife.com the top-performing Moroccan media outlet during the event, consistently leading online football discussions and driving unmatched engagement.
Kooralife.com’s editorial success is rooted in a dual commitment to credible journalism and digital virality. The team produces exclusive interviews, in-depth features, and real-time coverage, while ensuring that content is packaged for high shareability.
Unlike general sports outlets, Kooralife.com maintains a singular focus on football, which allows for more specialized reporting and rapid updates. This specialization, combined with a strong social media presence, gives the platform a competitive edge in delivering stories that are both timely and relevant.
During major football events, Kooralife.com consistently delivers faster updates, more comprehensive coverage, and stronger fan engagement than its competitors. The ability to integrate text, video, and interactive content in a fast-paced publishing cycle has made it the preferred digital destination for Moroccan football fans.
Chakir’s editorial leadership has fostered a culture of responsiveness and innovation, ensuring that the platform remains ahead of trends while staying anchored in journalistic integrity.
Beyond its success as a business, Kooralife.com represents a Moroccan media success story. Built without the backing of legacy media, it has shown that independent digital outlets can compete—and lead—on a national and regional scale.
Chakir’s journey from editor of a small sports blog to head of Morocco’s largest football-focused digital community has inspired young journalists, content creators, and media entrepreneurs to pursue innovative paths in sports coverage.
Kooralife.com is Morocco’s premier football-focused sports news platform, delivering 24/7 coverage of both domestic and international soccer. Known for its in-depth reports, live match updates, exclusive insights, and strong social media engagement, Kooralife.com reaches millions of football fans in Morocco and beyond. With over 4.6 million followers across platforms, it is the most influential digital football brand in the country.
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– Theme park revenue rose 8% while streaming growth lags, highlighting reliance on cross-platform synergies for long-term value.
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian police said Monday there were no injuries after shots were fired near an Under-20 World Cup women’s water polo game between China and Canada in the city of Salvador. China won 12-8 on Sunday — the opening day of the tournament — but footage showed the game being briefly interrupted […]
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian police said Monday there were no injuries after shots were fired near an Under-20 World Cup women’s water polo game between China and Canada in the city of Salvador.
China won 12-8 on Sunday — the opening day of the tournament — but footage showed the game being briefly interrupted as players got out of the pool, laid down and took cover by a small barrier after hearing gunshots outside the water polo venue in the Pituba neighborhood. China led Canada 3-2 at the time.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Story Links Coming off of its first-ever Big West regular season title, Hawai’i will open its 2025 season with a nonconference match at Long Beach State on Thursday at 4 p.m. HT. Following Thursday’s season opener, the Rainbow Wahine will head up the California Coast to take on Pepperdine Sunday at […]
Coming off of its first-ever Big West regular season title, Hawai’i will open its 2025 season with a nonconference match at Long Beach State on Thursday at 4 p.m. HT.
Following Thursday’s season opener, the Rainbow Wahine will head up the California Coast to take on Pepperdine Sunday at 9 a.m. HT. UH trails the all time series against both schools (3-10-4 vs. LBSU, 0-6-1 vs. PEP) but won the last meeting against The Beach with a 1-0 victory in the regular season finale last year.
| HAWAI’I (12-8-1, 8-1-1 Big West) at Long Beach State (6-9-3, 3-5-2 Big West) // Pepperdine (12-4-5, 6-1-3 WCC) | ||||
| Date / Time | Thursday, Aug. 14 Hawai’i at Long Beach State — 4:00 p.m. HT Sunday, Aug. 17 |
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| Location | Long Beach, Calif. | Malibu, Calif. | |||
| Live Stream | Thursday | |||
| Live Stats | Thursday | Sunday | |||
| PDF Notes | Hawai’i | Long Beach State | Pepperdine | |||
| Social Media | @HawaiiWSoccer  | #HawaiiWSoccer | @HawaiiWSoccer  |
|||
HEAD COACH MICHELE NAGAMINE
At Hawai’i: 86-115-25 (14th season)
Collegiate Record: 110-145-26 (17th year)
SERIES VS. LONG BEACH STATE
Overall: LBSU leads, 10-3-4
Last Meeting: Oct. 31, 2024 (UH won, 1-0)
Streak: W1
SERIES VS. PEPPERDINE
Overall: PEP leads, 6-0-1
Last meeting: Sept. 19, 2010 (PEP won, 2-0)
Streak: L2
ON THE PITCH
DID YOU KNOW?
2024 Big West Midfielder of the Year Nalani Damacion finished tied for third nationally and first among all freshmen with seven game-winning goals. Her seven game-winners were also the most by any NCAA freshman since 2015 (Cece Kizer, Ole Miss).
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS!
Hawai’i is coming off of a magical 2024 season in which it captured the program’s first ever Big West regular season title. The Rainbow Wahine dominated the Big West regular season, going 8-1-1 and setting a school record for conference wins while finishing with 25 points – the most by a Big West school since 2016. The regular season title gave UH the right to host the semifinals and finals of the Big West Championship, however, the ‘Bows saw their historic season come to an end with a semifinal loss to CSU Bakersfield.
» Set a school record with a nine-match unbeaten streak that ran from Sept. 12-Oct. 20.
» Seven match winning streak was the longest in a single season and tied the overall program record.
» Outscored teams 12-6 in 10 league games, with all eight wins coming by one goal.
» First Big West team to start 5-0 in conference play since 2010 (UC Irvine).
RAISING THE EXPECTATIONS
The Rainbow Wahine enter the 2025 season with lofty expectations following last year’s conference regular season title. UH was picked first in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll, marking the first time since 2008 that the program has been tabbed as a preseason conference favorite. It’s also the first time since Hawai’i joined the Big West that it has been picked to finish atop the conference. Additionally, Amber Gilbert and Nalani Damacion each earned Preseason All-Big West recognition.
FAB FRESHMEN TO SUPER SOPHOMORES
A huge key to last season’s Big West regular season title run was the contributions UH got from a number of freshmen. The Rainbow Wahine’s group of eight sophomores combined for three Big West All-Freshman honors and eight conference player of the week recognitions a year ago as freshmen and will be counted on to play key roles again in 2025.
» Kennedy Justin earned Big West Goalkeeper of the Year honors last year as a redshirt freshman.
» Justin became the first freshman ever to claim that honor and matched a school single-season record for goalkeeper wins with a record of 11-8-1.
» Nalani Damacion was named Big West Midfielder of the Year after leading the team with seven goals.
» Damacion became the first freshman ever to claim the honor.
» All seven of Damacion’s goals were game-winner, ranking third nationally and first among freshmen.
» Alice Davidson earned Big West All-Freshman honors after finishing with four assists (T-1st on team).
» UH earned six total Big West Freshman of the Week honors (Damacion: 5x; Laule’a Ah Mook Sang: 1x)
RAINBOW RELOAD
The Rainbow Wahine will welcome in a talented group of eight newcomers to compliment their deep pool of returnees. UH brings in three players out of the transfer portal while adding five freshmen to the mix in 2025. Defenders Rikako Hayami and Solala Nasu will fill some key roles on the back line while three-year Division I goalkeeper Julia Ortega gives UH depth in the net. Isabella Kaemmerer, Karissa Kira, Saira Johal, Montana Longcrier and Sophia Nygaard make up the group of five incoming true freshmen.
» Hayami spent the 2024 season at Arizona and previously was an NJCAA All-American in 2023.
» Nasu returns home after spending freshman season at South Dakota State; was the three-time HHSAA State Tournament Most Outstanding Player from 2022-24.
» Ortega has totaled 137 saves in 29 career starts in goal at Southern Utah and Arizona State.
» Kaemmerer and Kira were high school and club teammates, winning an ECNL U17 national title in 2024.
Olivia Ekponé made her return to Aggieland to join head coach Pat Henry’s staff at the start of the 2024/25 season. Since landing back in College Station, she took on the role of athletics assistant for the Maroon & White, helping in multitude of roles for the track & field program. Assisting on the track, she […]
Assisting on the track, she aids both Coach Pat Henry and Coach Kurt Henry with the decorated 400m and sprint groups for practice and meet day preparation. Her experience as an athlete helped those groups, as she contributed to the men’s programs fifth NCAA Outdoor National Title and first SEC Indoor Championship during the 2025 season.
Her groups on the men’s side accounted for 10 points at the NCAA outdoor championships and eight points at the indoor championships. Collecting honors throughout the season, Ekponé’s squads tacked on 13 All-America accolades and three conference medals. The women’s team also saw success through her leadership, with 19 All-America honors and three league medals.
As an athlete, Ekponé was a four-year letterwinner and 12-time All-American for the Maroon & White. She played a key role in securing the women’s team’s fourth NCAA outdoor championship in 2014 and the program’s first SEC outdoor team title in 2013. She also anchored the women’s 4x100m relay team to a national title at the 2014 outdoor meet, winning the final in 42.80. Her outstanding performances won her SEC Runner of the Year honors in 2014, and helped guide the team to another trio of top-three program finishes during her time as a student-athlete.
She also etched her name in the Aggie history books, as Ekponé remains the school-record holder in the women’s outdoor 200m with a time of 22.23, as well as ranking in the top-10 in both the indoor 60m (7.25) and outdoor 100m (11.11).
Following her graduation, Ekponé stayed in the track & field world, as she worked for MileSplit and FloTrack in a sports media roll covering athletes from the youth to professional levels.
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