It’s exciting to watch your favorite player hit, but getting into the batter’s box yourself? That’s on a whole new level. One fan got the opportunity on Fan Appreciation Night at Walker Stadium, and he didn’t simply take a pitch! He walked, stole a base, scored, and then hit a home run that made the audience go wild. But was he really a fan?

The Portland Pickles, the collegiate summer baseball wooden bat team, were playing against the Gherkins at Walker Stadium on the Fan Appreciation Night, and as part of the festivities, a random fan named Dixie was chosen to bat. In the eighth inning, he came up wearing a mix-and-match jersey, fought to a full count, and then hit a two-run home run to deep left-centre.  It was a classic fan home run moment.

But later, Bill Oram, a well-known sports columnist at The Oregonian, dropped the bombshell. He shared, “Turns out the ‘random fan’ was a Pickles intern and the starting second baseman at Lewis & Clark College.” Turns out that the unknown Dixie was Eli Steinhaus. And that viral home run wasn’t a fluke. It came from a kid who had been playing baseball all spring and summer.

Steinhaus’s official bio at Lewis & Clark shows that he was more than just a casual pick. In the 2025 season, he has played 38 games and started in 37 of them. He has a .161 batting average with 19 hits in 118 at-bats, including three doubles, a triple, eight RBIs, and four stolen bases on four attempts. He made 48 assists and 84 putouts on defense as well, with only six errors, giving him a good .957 fielding percentage.

While Steinhaus’s home run was the highlight of the night, the Pickles beat the Marion Berries 9–5.  The Pickles are the defending West Coast League champions and are currently occupying the second spot in the South Division with a winning percentage of .808.

The Fan Appreciation Night hosted by the Pickles was a huge success, and the fun will continue going forward. The club has planned more themed games before they wrap up their 2025 season.

From fan home run to Dandy Warhols: Pickles’ themed nights to end the season in style

The Portland Pickles had planned to organize six themed home games at Walker Stadium from August 1 to 7. One was Bigfoot Is Real and We Can Prove It Night, where Pickles All‑Stars took on the Portland Rosebuds. It was scheduled on August 1. The other one was the Fan Appreciation Night presented by Willy Make It, which was scheduled on August 2 between Pickles All‑Stars vs. Portland Gherkins. And the third one was Dilly Hawks Pro Skater presented by Cornel’s HVAC + Toyota Youth Baseball Sunday on August 3.

Now, three more fan-focused nights filled with energy and local flair are set to keep the excitement going. On August 5, the Pickles All-Stars will play the Portland Rosebuds in RipCity Night, which will be presented by Warn Industries. It will be a homecoming party beneath the lights, mixing Rip City pride with ballpark adrenaline as the team embraces its Rose City character.

Then, the Pickles All-Stars will take on the Gherkins on August 6 for Arrested Dillvelopment Night and Woof Wednesday, featuring word games and dog-friendly promotions. The regular season ends on August 7 with Keep Portland Weird Night, showcasing the Dandy Warhols and a game against the Gresham Greywolves. It’s going to be a great mix of Portland culture, music, and baseball!