Must see August sports: From Tri-Cities area rodeos to BMX and Seahawks

Looking for something involving sports this month?

Here’s a look at what’s happening locally, in the Northwest, and nationally:

Must see August sports

Aug. 5, 10, 12 — These are the dates that the Seattle Seahawks still have open for fans to attend their training camp (go to Seahawks.com to register).

Aug. 6-9 — Farm-City Pro Rodeo. It’s rodeo month in our region, with two big ones. This one is in Hermiston at the Umatilla County Fair, and it’s a serious one. It’s the only one I’ve been to where you are required to wear a cowboy hat behind the chutes. But I’ve never been to the Pendleton Roundup either. This month is where cowboys (and cowgirls) start trying to make their big runs to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, set in December in Las Vegas.

Aug. 6-17 — The Kennewick Reign won the Cal Ripken Major 70s Pacific Northwest Regional tournament recently in Helena, Mont., beating Bozeman 7-6 in the title game. That means they qualify for the Cal Ripken World Series, held in Branson, Mo.

Aug. 7 — The National Football League gets the preseason going in earnest on this day — including the Seahawks, who welcome former head coach Pete Carroll and his Las Vegas Raiders to town. It’s a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Aug. 9 — NAPA Auto Care 150 at Tri-City Raceway at Red Mountain Event Center. This ARCA Menards Series West race brings in some of the top drivers from up and down the west coast, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. The Walden family has done a great job of resurrecting the raceway these last few years, and local fans appreciate it.

Aug. 9 — The Northwest Bass Championship Qualifier will be held in Boardman on this day. Pretty amazing to see fishermen and fisher-women get into their speedy bass boats and speed out to their favorite spots.

Aug. 10 — This is for those of you who follow Little League Baseball, the Little League World Series, already under way in Williamsport, Pa. The championship game will be on this day, with first pitch at 12 p.m., and it’s on ABC.

Aug. 12-17 — Hard to believe, but the Tri-City Dust Devils are winding down their 2025 Northwest League baseball season with just two home series remaining. This one involves the Eugene Emeralds, a San Francisco Giants’ affiliate. The Emeralds, as of this writing on Aug. 3, easily lead the second-half standings with a 27-9 record. The Dust Devils (a Los Angeles Angels affiliate) are 9 games back with an 18-18 record. All games are at Gesa Stadium in Pasco. All games each day start at 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 15 — English Premier League play begins with Liverpool at Bournemouth at 12 p.m. on USA Network. I never cared for soccer when I worked full-time at the Herald. But I always had someone on staff who loved soccer. After I retired in 2015, I decided to start watching EPL games, and I fell in love with the sport. Some of my American football friends have taken to calling me a communist, but I don’t care.

Aug. 15 — Kansas City Chiefs at Seahawks preseason game, 7 p.m. I used to be a Seahawks season ticket holder about 20 years ago. And I hated that I had to pay full price for the preseason games; especially when the starters play the first quarter, at most. I wouldn’t expect Patrick Mahomes to suit up for the Chiefs in this game.

Aug. 15-17 — For the third consecutive year, Wildhorse in Pendleton is hosting the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic. This is an Epson Tour event — likened to Triple-A golf for the LPGA Tour. Southridge High grad Therese Warner will be one of the competitors.

Aug. 15-17 — The pickleball explosion has been pretty evident in and around the Tri-Cities the last few years. Columbia Basin Racquet Club in Richland will host the CBRC Pickleball In & Out Showdown. There will be 12 inside courts and 6 outside courts for participants to use. Cost is $65 to enter, and you can do so on pickleballtournaments.com. Deadline to register is Aug. 8.

Aug. 15-20 — Mariners at New York Mets, then Mariners at Philadelphia Phillies. This will be a big week for Seattle, taking on two National League playoff teams. These games will be key in the team’s attempt to overtake the Houston Astros for the AL West title (15-17 at the Mets; 18-20 at the Phillies).

Aug. 19-23 — Horse Heaven Round-up at Benton-Franklin County Fair, Kennewick. This event will be very popular during the fair, as it is every year.

Aug. 20 — High school football season gets under way with the first official practice for everyone. There is a new wrinkle this year in the Mid-Columbia Conference: the league is up to 10 members, as Pasco’s SageView Lobos join the fray. That means no non-conference games for anyone. Openers are set for Sept. 4 and 5.

Aug. 21-24 — The best of the PGA come together at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta to determine the season champion in the PGA TOUR Championship.

Aug. 22-24 — Columbia Basin BMX, based out of Richland, is hosting USA BMX Lumberjack Nationals out at its track at 2002 Snyder Street in Richland. It’s next to the Horn Rapids softball complex, and it’s pretty fun to watch.

Aug. 23 — The first day of major college football games, including Fresno State at Kansas, and Stanford at Hawaii. It’s all pigskin from now until February!

Aug. 23 — If you’ve never been to a weigh-in at a fishing tournament, you’re missing out. It’s full of drama and excitement. The Columbia Basin Bass Club has a tournament set in Irrigon on this day.

Aug. 23 — It’s the final Seahawks’ preseason game, this one at 1 p.m. at Green Bay. If you haven’t set your fantasy football draft yet, you better get it going soon.

Aug. 24-Sept. 7 — The last tennis major gets going with the U.S. Open in New York.

Aug. 25 — The remaining high school fall sports — boys and girls cross country, girls soccer, girls slowpitch softball, and volleyball — start official practices today.

Aug. 25-27 — Padres visit Mariners for a key three-game set. San Diego is busy with its own playoff battle in the tough NL West. When these two teams met in San Diego in May, the Mariners swept the three-game series.

Aug. 28-31 — The Tri-City Americans open their training camp with rookies and veterans at the Toyota Arena, next door to the Toyota Center. New head coach Jody Hull takes a look at what he has to take on the Western Hockey League’s best for the 2025-26 season. On the 31st, the Ams head to Wenatchee for a 2 p.m. preseason game against the Wild.

Aug. 30 — The Washington Huskies open their 2025 football season with a home game against Colorado State. Kickoff is at 8 p.m.

Aug. 30 — Some of the region’s best athletes will compete in the Plutonium Man Triathlon. Contestants will compete in on of two events: a 1.4 kilometer swim, a 40 kilometer bike ride, and a 10K run; or a 1.4K swim, 20K bike ride, and 5K run. For more information, go to 3rrr.org.

Aug. 30 — The Palouse bragging rights are up for grabs, as Idaho visits Washington State in both schools’ season football openers. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Aug. 30 — For those of us who follow Eastern Washington University football, the Eagles open the season with a road game in San Antonio, where they’ll take on Incarnate Word (where former WSU quarterback Cam Ward started his college career). Kickoff is at 4 p.m.

Aug. 30 — It’s been cool to see what Bill Templeton and his staff have done with the Pacific Northwest Christian College football program. Now in their third season, the Gladiators have started sending players off to four-year schools. PNWCC opens its season on Aug. 23 at Eastern Oregon University’s junior varsity, and the Gladiators will play Nevada’s Parazen Elite Prep Academy at home (Lampson Stadium) on the 30th.

Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.