Springfield Drifters Announce Opening of Drifters Baseball Academy
Dave Deutschman, the first General Manager of the Drifters Baseball Academy
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Drifters are thrilled to announce the opening of the new Drifters Baseball Academy located inside the historic Memorial Building at 765 A St. in downtown Springfield. The facility plans to open in the Fall of 2026.
Over the past year, Drifters co-owners Ike Olsson and Kelly Richardson have renovated the 76-year-old building, transforming it into a thriving baseball academy and hub for team operations.
The 17,691-square-foot facility includes a full weight room, six batting cages, dedicated infield, pitching, and live at-bat training areas, and the Drifters Team Store and Front Offices. Trackman ball tracking technology, HitTrax hitting technology, Blast Motion swing analysis technology, and private lessons with former professional & collegiate athletes will also be offered at the new facility. The goal of the project is to create a space for youth baseball players in the Eugene–Springfield area to train and develop while contributing to the revitalization of downtown Springfield.
In addition to the new building, the Drifters are also excited to announce Dave Deutschman as the first General Manager of the Drifters Baseball Academy. Deutschman comes to Springfield after 10 seasons in Coos Bay, Oregon, as the head coach of Southwestern Oregon Community College’s baseball team.
Deutschman is a graduate of Junction City High School, where he was a 1st Team All-State baseball player for the Tigers. After graduating from JCHS, Deutschman continued his college baseball career at College of the Siskiyous and Western Oregon University before injuries cut his playing career short, leading him to begin his coaching career.
Throughout his time at SWOCC, Deutschman transformed the Lakers baseball program into one of the most competitive and respected programs in the NWAC, consistently producing athletes that advanced their careers at the four-year level
History of the Building
Construction on the historic Memorial Building began in 1949 during the city's early development. Originally owned by the Veterans Memorial Association, the property was deeded to Willamalane in 1950, and the park district completed construction the following year, giving Springfield a community center in the heart of downtown.
In 2004, Willamalane sought to build a new community center to replace the aging facility, and by the mid-2010s, the park district moved most of its offices and programs to the modern-day Bob Keefer Center after the construction of turf fields on the S 32nd St. site and acquisition of the former regional sports center.
For the past few years, the building has continued to be leased to St. Vincent de Paul as a warming facility during the winter as the SEDA sought to sell the building to a business for the purpose of redeveloping it as a part of the city’s Downtown Urban Renewal Plan.
Looking Ahead
With the acquisition, the Drifters have found their permanent home in the heart of downtown Springfield. The new headquarters is located just one mile from Hamlin Sports Complex, where the Drifters play their home games.
The Drifters’ investment in the Memorial Building reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to growing the game of baseball and supporting the Springfield community.
Registration is now open for our upcoming Drifters Academy tryouts on August 15 and 16. Any young athletes who are ready to develop their skills, compete at the next level, and train with the Drifters Academy are encouraged to sign up. Visit the Drifters Academy page on our website to learn more and register for upcoming tryouts.
For more information on the Springfield Drifters, visit driftersbaseball.com.