{"id":195716,"date":"2026-02-27T01:12:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T01:12:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/195716\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T01:12:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T01:12:10","slug":"a-celebration-for-alysa-liu-roots-and-falcons-season-openers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/195716\/","title":{"rendered":"A celebration for Alysa Liu; Roots and Falcons season openers"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2024, before she became the No. 1 overall pick<\/a> in the inaugural Women\u2019s Pro Baseball League draft; before she joined the world-famous Savannah Bananas<\/a> minor league team, Kelsie Whitmore came to the Oakland Ballers open tryouts. Whitmore, a pitcher, signed with the team and became the first woman to start a Pioneer League game.<\/p>\n

Then last year, James Colyer came to the Ballers open tryouts. A lifelong Oakland baseball fan, sporting a large A\u2019s logo tattooed on his thigh, Colyer was also a very good baseball player on his Logan High School team in Union City, and then at Ohlone College, Shorter University, and Cal State East Bay. His dream was to play professionally. Not only did Colyer, another pitcher, make his hometown team, he won a championship<\/a> with them, and then went on to get signed by the Washington Nationals<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s totally one of those Cinderella stories that you would write up in a baseball movie,\u201d said Casey Pratt, a spokesperson for the Ballers.<\/p>\n

What will this year\u2019s dream-come-true story be? Ballers tryouts<\/a>, open to anyone who has played college or professional baseball in the last five years, are on March 7..<\/p>\n

Alysa Liu comes home to Oakland
\n\"\"Alysa Liu competes during the women\u2019s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy. She took home a gold medal. Credit: AP Photo\/Natacha Pisarenko<\/p>\n

A hometown celebration for the figure skater who brought \u201cOakland to Milan\u201d<\/a> and came home with the first US individual figure skating gold medal in decades? That\u2019s what I\u2019m f-in\u2019 talking about!<\/a><\/p>\n

The details are still being sorted out as Team USA hero Alysa Liu makes the talk show rounds, but Mayor Barbara Lee\u2019s office is in talks with Liu about a major event here in Oakland in the coming weeks to celebrate her incredible achievement.<\/p>\n

Oakland Athletic League championships<\/p>\n

In recent times, Oakland High Wildcats and Oakland Tech Bulldogs have dominated in basketball. Three years ago, Tech girls won their third straight state championship<\/a> and the O-High boys won their first state championship<\/a>. The following year, in 2024, it was the O-High girls and the Tech boys who each won a state chip<\/a>. While 2025 did not produce the same level of results for the Oakland Athletic League, who knows what 2026 will bring, as the Bulldogs and Wildcats meet again in both games.<\/p>\n

The opener features the girls championship, where Oakland Tech is favored. In the second game, \u201cfreshman sensation<\/a>\u201d D\u2019Ari Bruce is looking to help the favored Wildcats sweep the Oakland Tech 3-0, but after a close 3-point loss on their homecourt on February 4, the Bulldogs are looking for revenge in the championship game.<\/p>\n

The girls and boys soccer championships are also coming up this weekend, and the finalists will be decided on Thursday night. On the girls side, Oakland Tech is the top seed; they are undefeated in league play. On the boys side, the top-ranked Fremont Tigers have a 11-1-1 OAL record and are favored to take home the championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. girls basketball final, 7 p.m. boys basketball final, Merritt College, 12500 Campus Dr., Oakland; Feb. 28, 5 p.m. girls soccer final, 7 p.m. boys soccer final, Castlemont High School, 8601 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Tickets, $12 for adults, $7 for children, students and seniors, can be purchased on site or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Oakland Freedom Run and Wellness Festival<\/p>\n

The Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network<\/a> and the Oakland Ballers have organized a 5K\u00a0 Freedom Run fundraiser to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Black Panther Party and the 100th year anniversary Black History Month. The event will also include a wellness festival with free health screenings, food, massage, haircuts, clothing, toys, harm reduction and hygiene supplies. Want to volunteer with the Ballers and become a \u201cBallunteer\u201d to support the event? There\u2019s still time to sign up.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Feb. 28, starting at 8 a.m., Raimondi Park, 1689 20th St., Oakland. Registration is open now<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Roller derby scrimmage and fundraiser<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to wait until the official season kicks off in May to watch roller derby up close and personal. The Oakland Outlaws and other Bay Area Derby teams are getting ready to open a new practice facility in East Oakland. To get the warehouse ready for action, they are holding a family-friendly fundraising scrimmage, free skate and radio auction.<\/p>\n

Feb. 28, 11a.m., California Historical Radio Society, 2152 Central Ave., Alameda. RSVP and details here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brunch with the Ballers
\n\"\"Tafari Tariq, 34, and daughter Xiere, 1, at a parade celebrating the Oakland Ballers\u2019 2025 league championship near Raimondi Park in Oakland on Oct. 5, 2025. Credit: Estefany Gonzalez for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

As part of SF Beer Week<\/a>, you can join Oakland Ballers players and front office members \u2013 who are bringing last year\u2019s championship trophy with them \u2013 for brunch and beer-mosas at Trumer Taproom<\/a>.<\/p>\n

March 1, 12 p.m., Trumer Taproom, 1404 Fourth St., Berkeley.<\/p>\n

Californian Interscholastic Federation state championships<\/p>\n

The 2026 state championship brackets for basketball and soccer will be released on Sunday, March 1. Keep an eye on the CIF website<\/a> to see which Oakland teams will be playing in March. The state championship finals for both sports will be held in Sacramento on March 13 and 14; the basketball championships will take place at Golden 1 Center and the soccer championships at Natomas High School.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, state wrestling championships are underway today through Sunday at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield, where Oakland\u2019s competitors include Shayna Ward of Oakland Tech, who headed in seeded third in the state.<\/p>\n

\"\"Oakland Tech\u2019s Shayna Ward at her last training session before heading to state finals in Bakersfield, Feb. 24, 2026. Credit: Sarahbeth Maney
\nOakland Ballers open tryouts<\/p>\n

Have you played college or professional baseball in the past five years? Then you might want to register for the Oakland Ballers open tryouts<\/a>. Who knows? You might just make the team, win a ring, and go on to sign with a major league team, like James Colyer<\/a> did last year.<\/p>\n

March 7, 9 a.m., Raimondi Park, 1689 20th St., Oakland.<\/p>\n

Oakland Roots season opener<\/p>\n

The Oakland Roots season opens<\/a> at Monterey Bay FC. Die-hard fans can purchase tickets <\/a>and make the trip to support the local team, or join a local watch party organized by the Oakland 68s<\/a> at Guadalajara Restaurant, featuring Happy Hour specials all night long. The Roots are kicking off the season with returning Golden Boot winner Peter Wilson; an influx of new talent, including Florian Valot and Tommy McCabe; and yet another new coach<\/a>, Ryan Martin, who\u2019s looking to bring an exciting attacking, and possibly winning, style of play to Oakland.<\/p>\n

Match March 7, 7 p.m., Cardinale Stadium, 4111 2nd Ave., Seaside. Watch party, 7 p.m., Guadalajara Restaurant, 1001 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland.<\/p>\n

Oakland 68s Fans Fest<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re an Oakland sports fan, you\u2019ll find hundredsTK of kindred spirits at the free Oakland 68s\u2019 annual Fans Fest<\/a> at Fruitvale Village. Fans Fest is a family-friendly celebration of all things Oakland sports, with all your local teams plus food, drink, vendors, music, and appearances by players including Oakland A\u2019s and Skyline High legend Bip Roberts, who will emcee. Check out the Oakland 68\u2019s Instagram<\/a> for updates on performances and appearances.<\/p>\n

March 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fruitvale Village, 3301-3451 E. 12th St., Oakland.<\/p>\n

Oakland Ballers Fantasy Camp<\/p>\n

Have you ever dreamed of participating in a big league baseball tryout? Here\u2019s your chance to get on the field with the Ballers for their first ever Fantasy Camp, where they say \u201cyou might meet a legend.\u201d<\/p>\n

March 14, 1 to 4 p.m., Raimondi Park, 1689 20th St., Oakland, advance registration required<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bay Area Falcons season opener<\/p>\n

Oakland\u2019s professional women\u2019s and non-binary ultimate frisbee team kicks off their season in San Diego. It\u2019s a long road trip, but you can watch the game online.<\/p>\n

March 14, 4 p.m., streaming on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Oakland Roots home opener<\/p>\n

The Roots\u2019 first home game of their second season, where they\u2019ll face off against New Mexico United at the historic Coliseum, promises to be a party. New Roots coach Ryan Martin, who came from Loudon FC, said \u201cthe amount of support and excitement for the team is a different level\u201d in Oakland. Oakland legend E-40 will perform at halftime and there will be a fireworks show postgame.<\/p>\n

March 14, 7 p.m., Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, tickets from $30<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“*” indicates required fields<\/p>\n

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