Gift ideas: What to buy athletes or sports fans to show off Shore and Maryland pride

The holidays are coming up quick, and finding a good gift specifically for someone can always be stressful during this time of year. When it comes to buying gifts for a sports fan or an athlete, there are usually so many options to choose from that its hard zero in on the right one.

There are plenty of local places right here on Delmarva that can help you find the right gift for your favorite athlete or sports fan. Whether it be representing your alma mater or gifting memorabilia from the local minor league baseball team's most recent season, there are quite a few local gift options for sports fans and athletes.

So for this holiday season, why not stay close when looking for sports gifts this year?

Here are a few local choices:

For your favorite Shorebirds fan

This year, the Delmarva Shorebirds hosted many of the Baltimore Orioles' top prospects, with blue chip athletes making their professional debuts on the Shore. And with the popularity of sports cards back on the rise in recent years, what better way to remember the time some top professionals played here on Delmarva than with their baseball cards?

The team set of baseball cards features 11 of the players that were added to the Shorebirds' roster this past season. This includes fifth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft Colton Cowser, second round pick Connor Norby, and other young prospect like Reed Trimble and John Rhodes.

Delmarva Shorebirds Store: shorebirds.milbstore.com

Rep an athlete with a iron-on T-Shirt from Son Graphics

Located next to Dick's Sporting Goods in The Centre at Salisbury mall, Son Graphics specializes in designing T-shirts to anyone's liking. When it comes to sports, they know just how to help people represent athletes.

Show up to Son Graphics with a photo over a high school or Little League athlete you want to represent, and you can get a T-shirt with their photo pressed onto it. If you look into the window of the store, you'll see an example T-shirt with a photo of a former James M. Bennett football player. If you know a parent or grandparent of an athlete, this could be a great gift option.

Commemorate Salisbury University's National Champions from the spring

It's not often that two national championship winning teams come from the same school in the same year. But for Salisbury University, the Sea Gulls were home to two national championship teams in the spring, when the baseball and women's lacrosse teams brought national championships back to Salisbury.

What better an easier way to let people know that you're a proud fan of two National Champions than with a T-shirt celebrating each team. At the SU bookstore, you can find shirts for both squads, commemorating their national championship years, and ensuring that they live on throughout history. It doesn't stop there, as you can find sports gear representing any of SU's teams at the bookstore.

After opting out of competing during last year's sports season, sports are back on at UMES this year. Why not celebrate their comeback this year with apparel representing one of their athletic teams as well?

Salisbury University merch: bookstore.salisbury.edu

UMES merch: https://umes.bncollege.com/

For the surfer in your life

K-Coast in Ocean City has provided Delmarva residents and visitors with some of the best surfing equipment for decades on, and this Black Friday will be no different.

On K-Coast's website, you'll find plenty of the necessary accessories needed for surfer's when they are out on the waves. Something as small as a surfboard leash or tie-down straps could be very useful.

If you want to go all out this year, K-Coast has plenty of surfboards available to purchase as a special gift for your favorite surfer.

K-Coast: https://www.kcoast.com/

Show off your Maryland Pride with all types of athletic wear

Everyone loves to represent their home state, whether you are away from home and want to show people where you're from, or you're in your own backyard celebrating the state you call home. For those from the state of Maryland, there is a specific store that offers people the chance the show off their Maryland pride with all sorts of athletic and outdoors wear.

Route One Apparel has plenty of athletic items designed with the Maryland state flag that can be off great use for Maryland athletes and sports fan. With everything from a soccer balls and golf balls with the state flag on it, all the way to activewear like running shorts or leggings, shopping with Route One Apparel will ensure that people recognize where the pride you have in your home state when engaging in athletic activities. These could also be a good gift item if you know any alumni or future students of the University of Maryland, as well as fans who support the university's athletic teams.

Route One Apparel: https://www.routeoneapparel.com/

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Gift ideas for your favorite sports fan or athlete