Author Archives: Craig Lawson

In 2025, West Coast League alumni (30 players) appeared in at least one game for nine of the 12 MLB postseason clubs. The list includes a pair of players, Connor Joe (Kelowna Falcons, 2011) and Paul Sewald (Spokane RiverHawks, 2009), who played for two playoff teams. Joe appeared in games for the Cincinnati Reds and …

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In 2025, the West Coast League (WCL) celebrated its 20th Anniversary Season in grand style, as North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league featured record-breaking performances and attendance. Including official League, nonleague, and postseason games, 794,213 fans enjoyed ballparks across the Pacific Northwest and Alberta to set a League attendance mark. The Edmonton Riverhawks set …

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Friday, Commissioner Rob Neyer announced Brock Ketelsen is the West Coast League’s 2025 Top Prospect. Ketelsen, who will enroll at Stanford this fall, anchors the WCL’s final spotlight list of the season. An outfielder/pitcher for the Corvallis Knights, Ketelsen batted .328 with 10 extra-base hits, 27 RBI, 48 runs and a League best 35 stolen …

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West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the League’s Executive of the Year, Broadcaster of the Year and Scorekeeper of the Year, Thursday. The WCL Board of Directors voted Luke Emanuel, the owner and president of Salem’s Marion Berries, as the Executive of the Year In the Berries’ first season, they qualified for the playoffs …

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Wednesday afternoon, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the circuit’s Coach of the Year, Umpire of the Year and Jim Dietz Team Sportsmanship Award. Ed Knaggs earns this year’s Coach of the Year honor. He led the Bellingham Bells to the second WCL championship in team history. The Bells captured the North Division first …

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Tuesday afternoon, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the 2025 All – WCL teams. The South champion Portland Pickles lead the way with 11 selections (five first – team honors), highlighted by 2025 WCL Most Valuable Player Josh Schleichardt. The University of Oregon transfer commit set WCL records with 18 home runs and 64 …

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Monday, Commissioner Rob Neyer announced that Josh Schleichardt and Gio de Graauw have earned the West Coast League’s top 2025 awards. “In a league as competitive as ours,” said Neyer, “each year our coaches have many terrific candidates to sort through, which makes our award winners all the more impressive.” Schleichardt was named the League’s …

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Nate Kirkpatrick rapped two extra-base hits and five Bellingham pitchers combined on a three-hitter as the Bells captured the West Coast League title with a 2-1 victory over the Portland Pickles, Thursday night. With the win, the Bells won their second WCL championship (2014) and knocked off the defending champion Pickles in the process. Kirkpatrick …

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In the 20-year history of the West Coast League, there have been only six champions. That small number is largely because the Corvallis Knights won seven straight titles – their streak ended last season – and 10 overall. The Wenatchee AppleSox won five championships in the WCL’s first eight years. The Bellingham Bells were champs …

Continue reading “Remembering a Championship in Moses Lake”

August 13, 2025 – Nothing came easy for anyone Tuesday night, but Thursday night’s West Coast League championship game is now locked in, with the perennially contending Bellingham Bells visiting last year’s champions, the Portland Pickles. Once again, this year’s South finalists were the Pickles and Corvallis Knights, but this year the Pickles – who broke …

Continue reading “Pickles Host Bells in Thursday’s Championship Game”

After a thrilling weekend of baseball in eight different West Coast League markets, the field of eight has been whittled to four, with North and South championship games scheduled for Tuesday night in Portland, Oregon; and Edmonton, Alberta. Both cities are hosting division title games for the first time, and both stadiums figure to be …

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Monday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Pitcher and Player of the Week. This week, Edmonton Riverhawks right-hander Reece Hemmerling (USC Upstate) and Wenatchee AppleSox infielder Evan Cloyd (Cal State Bakersfield) earned the honors. Hemmerling was outstanding in Game 1 of Edmonton’s divisional semifinal series against the Victoria HarbourCats. …

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FRIDAY, AUG. 8 – Tonight the 2025 West Coast League (WCL) playoffs open, featuring the defending champion, last year’s runner-up, the League’s most decorated team, a bunch of perennial title contenders … and a first-year party crasher. Seven of last year’s eight playoff teams qualified this season, but they’re joined by the League newcomer Marion Berries. …

Continue reading “2025 Postseason Begins Tonight”

With only three days left in the West Coast League’s regular season, all eight postseason berths have been clinched … but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of drama left. For the first round of the playoffs, the #1 seeds were clinched some weeks ago, as the Bellingham Bells held off the Wenatchee AppleSox in …

Continue reading “Second Half Titles on the Line”

Monday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Player and Pitcher of the Week. This week, Portland Pickles infielder Bryson Glassco (Oregon State) and Port Angeles Lefties right-hander Takuma Sato (Mt. Hood CC) garnered the honors. Glassco batted .419 (13-for-31) with four home runs and 17 RBI against the Bend …

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Monday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Player and Pitcher of the Week. This week, the Wenatchee AppleSox swept the awards with infielder Izzy Madariaga (Lewis-Clark State) and right-hander Easton Brooks (Utah Tech) receiving the honors. Madariaga hit safely in all six games for Wenatchee, including four multi-hit efforts. …

Continue reading “AppleSox Sweep Weekly Awards”

On July 16, more than 3,000 fans packed Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Washington and saw the North defeat the South, 5-3, in the 2025 West Coast League All-Star Game. Outfielder Tommy Markey (Port Angeles Lefties/Fordham) collected the key hit, a two-run single to cap a four-run bottom of the third, and was named the game’s …

Continue reading “WCL All-Star Game Video Available on Demand”

Earlier this month, 44 West Coast League alumni were selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. In the days following the draft, 10 additional players with WCL experience have signed pro contracts with MLB organizations. Highlighting the list is Jo Oyama, who swiped 42 bases for the Wenatchee AppleSox in 2022 to become the WCL’s …

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Monday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Player and Pitcher of the Week. This week’s recipients are Bend Elks outfielder Jace Miller (transfer portal) and Springfield Drifters right-hander Andrew Miller (Cal State Fullerton). It’s the second straight week that Jace Miller’s been Player of the Week, sandwiched around his …

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BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The West Coast League All-Star game made a triumphant return to Joe Martin Field, Wednesday as 3,308 fans witnessed the North defeat the South 5-3. Tommy Markey (Port Angeles Lefties/Fordham) delivered a two-run single to cap a four-run bottom of the third and earn the game’s Most Valuable Player accolade. Earlier in …

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Wednesday night will cap an exciting four days for the West Coast League as some of the circuit’s brightest stars will take the field for the 2025 WCL All-Star Game in Bellingham. The week began just outside of Atlanta with 44 WCL players, including eight current, being selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft. This …

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Highlighted by two of the top seven picks, 44 current and former West Coast League players were selected earlier this week in the 2025 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Sunday night, Tyler Bremner (UC Santa Barbara) was chosen No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Angels. Bremner pitched for the Corvallis Knights in 2023. A native …

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Sunday, four West Coast League alumni were selected in MLB’s 2025 First-Year Player Draft. Right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner (UC Santa Barbara) was selected No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Angels. He played for the Corvallis Knights in 2023. The San Diego, California native is the third-highest WCL alumnus ever drafted, behind No. 1 overall …

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West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Pitcher and Player of the Week, Monday. This week’s recipients are Edmonton Riverhawks right-hander Myles Chamberlain (Cloud County CC) and Bend Elks utility player Jace Miller (Portland). Chamberlain recorded a win and a save in two outings. He gave up one run on six …

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Tuesday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the circuit’s 2025 All-Star Game rosters. The event will be held at legendary Joe Martin Field, home of the Bellingham Bells, for the second straight season. Last summer, the North Division All-Stars earned a 3-2 victory with a dramatic two-run rally in the bottom of the …

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West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Pitcher and Player of the Week, Monday. This week’s recipients are Victoria HarbourCats right-hander Thomas Bridges (Northwestern) and Marion Berries third baseman Paul Vazquez (Oregon State). Bridges was stellar in his start against Ridgefield, July 5. He retired 18 of the 19 men he …

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West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, Monday. This week’s recipients are Port Angeles Lefties outfielder Tommy Markey (Fordham) and Kelowna Falcons right-handed starter Gio De Graauw (Newman). Port Angeles is riding a five-game winning streak and Markey was a major reason …

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SALEM, ORE. June 23 – Tonight marks a momentous occasion for both the West Coast League and the Marion Berries, as the Berries prepare for their very first home game at Salem’s Chemeketa Field. Fans from Salem, Keizer, and elsewhere in Marion County are primed to fill the stands, ready to support their new team …

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West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Pitcher of the Week and Player of the Week, Monday. This week’s recipients are Edmonton Riverhawks right-hander Tate Dearing (Reinhardt) and Ridgefield Raptors first baseman Noah Karliner (Cal State Dominguez Hills). Dearing earned three saves while retiring all-nine men he faced. He struck out …

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West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the Baker Tilly WCL Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, Monday. The honorees are Portland Pickles outfielder Josh Schleichardt (Vanguard) and Kelowna Falcons right-hander Joel Hogan (East Central). Schleichardt belted five home runs and collected 15 RBI to lead the Pickles to a 5-1 record. …

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Tanner Kern is the Moss Adams West Coast League Player of the Week and Chihiro Sato is the Pitcher of the Week, WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer announced, Monday. Kern (Sacramento State) was 11-for-21 (.524) for the Walla Walla Sweets. He collected three doubles, a triple and a home run in five games. The infielder scored …

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West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the circuit’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, Monday. The recipients are Wenatchee AppleSox outfielder Brady Bean (Portland) and Portland Pickles right-hander Ryder Edwards (George Fox). Bean recorded multiple hits in each of Wenatchee’s three games and finished the week 7-for-11 (.636) with …

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The West Coast League (WCL) is thrilled to announce the official opening of the 2025 season tonight, featuring 14 of the League’s 17 teams in action. This summer each team will play 54 official WCL games, starting tonight and concluding on August 6. The season will culminate in the championship playoffs, featuring eight teams and …

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Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released the first WCL Spotlight  of 2025, on the eve of the West Coast League’s 20th Anniversary season. “With 17 teams in our league this season,” Neyer said, “and all of them drawing from rich sources of baseball talent, the WCL has a practically infinite number of young players …

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Several youth baseball initiatives are taking place during the West Coast League’s 20th Anniversary Season, highlighted by the Community Champions Game in Bellingham, Washington on July 15, the night before the Bells host the WCL’s All-Star Game. The Community Champions Game is played by athletes from the Max Higbee Center, which supports teens and adults …

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The West Coast League announced an exciting partnership with MaxBP, the industry leader in Fast Training for baseball and softball, Thursday. This collaboration establishes MaxBP as the presenting partner of WCL Live, the league’s video livestreaming platform. MaxBP will also be providing all WCL teams with advanced training solutions to accelerate player development. “We’re thrilled …

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To celebrate its upcoming 20th season, the West Coast League is proud to launch Season 2 of its LEGENDS OF THE WCL series, a weekly celebration throughout May and June of the league’s most iconic alumni and their journeys from summer ball to the big leagues. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural season, …

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It’s probably not fair to the West Coast League’s founding members to call the league’s beginnings humble … but, in retrospect? Yes, it would have been difficult, 20 years ago, to imagine what the West Coast League has become since four men met in an ancient Columbia River Gorge hotel to sketch the beginnings of …

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This year, a record 42 West Coast League alumni were listed on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day rosters. The total includes 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal (Kitsap/Detroit Tigers), who made his second straight Opening Day start for Detroit. On Opening Day, Steven Kwan (Corvallis/Cleveland Guardians), a three-time Gold Glove winner and 2024 …

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On January 24 and 25 in Portland, the West Coast League’s board of directors and general managers convened for the League’s annual winter meetings. Held in conjunction with the annual Northwest Baseball Coaches Association Convention, the League’s meetings celebrate and reinforce the deep, long-standing connection between the League and the region’s coaches from every level …

Continue reading “Dane Siegfried Receives Grass Roots Award”

This week the West Coast League announced that in 2024 nearly $500,000 was generated via in-kind and monetary donations through its member clubs’ charitable outreach. In addition, 50/50 raffles produced more than $100,000 more for local charities in Victoria and Nanaimo, British Columbia. The WCL’s charity work impacts 17 teams’ communities in the U.S. states …

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After a highly successful event earlier this year, the West Coast League announced its All-Star Game will return to Bellingham, Washington on July 16, 2025. The Bellingham Bells will host the event at iconic Joe Martin Field. Featuring top players from each of the league’s 17 teams, the WCL’s marquee event will be livestreamed around …

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Wednesday night, Tarik Skubal capped his stellar 2024 season by being named the American League’s Cy Young Award winner. Prior to his pro career, the Detroit Tigers left-hander pitched for the Kitsap BlueJackets in 2014, followed by four years at Seattle University before being drafted by Detroit in 2018. Skubal earned the American League’s “pitching …

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Thursday, the West Coast League (WCL) announced its official 2025 schedule. The WCL, which debuted in 2005, will celebrate its 20th season next summer with 17 teams located in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. “Each season the league adds another chapter to its rich history,” Commissioner Rob Neyer said,” and with our All-Star Game, …

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