Author Archives: Wonderboy Creative

The Kelowna Falcons and WCL defending champion Bellingham Bells joined the Bend Elks this past week as WCL Division champions. The Falcons clinched the East while Bellingham captured the West. Bend, under new owners John & Tami Marick and new skipper Trey Watt, were the first WCL team to clinch its division earning their first …

Continue reading “West Coast League Divisions Clinched”

The WCL’s list of 2015 pros features 21 players that have appeared in the big leagues this summer. The list of alums of WCL teams who have appeared in MLB games include star outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury of the New York Yankees, starting third baseman Matt Duffy of San Francisco, starting first baseman Chris Davis of …

Continue reading “209 WCL Alums Active in Pros”

The West Coast League wild card race is heating up down the final stretch as Corvallis, Victoria and Yakima Valley all are battling for the WCL’s final playoff berth with the regular season ending Sunday, August 9. Corvallis (28-20) leads the wild card standings by two games over Victoria (26-22) and Yakima Valley (26-23) trails …

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A day of West Coast League revelry ended with a 3-0 South win over the North before a crowd of 1,985 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Washington at the 2015 WCL All-Star Game presented by John Howie Restaurants. Before the game Bells’ owner Eddie Poplawski spoke about the All-Star Game’s return to Bellingham. “This …

Continue reading “South Blanks North 3-0 in 2015 WCL All-Star Game”

2015 WCL All-Star Game coaches Jeff James of Bellingham and Brooke Knight of Corvallis announced the probable starting pitchers for Monday’s mid-summer classic at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Washington. James named Bells’ ace Andrew Kemmerer of Central Arkansas the North starter. Kemmerer, a senior-to-be from Issaquah, Washington, has made six starts and logged 37 …

Continue reading “WCL All-Star Game Probable Starters Announced”

West Coast League president Dennis Koho announced the field for the 2015 West Coast League All-Star Game Home Run Derby. The participants include WCL Home Run leader Dan Mayer of Medford. The junior-to-be slugger from University of the Pacific has blasted 8 home runs for the Rogues. He will be challenged by Bellingham’s Bronson Larsen …

Continue reading “WCL ASG Home Run Derby Field Unveiled”

West Coast League president Dennis Koho announced the North and South rosters for the 2015 WCL All-Star Game presented by John Howie Restaurants scheduled for Monday, July 20 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Washington. The defending champion Bells are hosting this season’s mid-summer classic and feature six players on the North roster. Bellingham leads …

Continue reading “Rosters Released for WCL All-Star Game”

Former Corvallis Knights pitcher Matt Boyd made his big league debut at the Rogers Centre today as the starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. Matt was the hard-luck loser as the Jays were blanked 4-0 by the Texas Rangers. Boyd pitched 6.2 innings and walked none while striking out 7. Boyd starred at Oregon …

Continue reading “Former Knight Makes MLB Debut”

Several current West Coast League players and alums were selected in the Major League Basebal June draft held June 8-10. The first two alums picked were Wenatchee’s James Kaprielian of UCLA (16th overall selection) – by the New York Yankees – and Walla Walla’s Jon Harris of Missouri State (29th overall selection) – by the …

Continue reading “59 WCLers Selected in MLB June Draft”

The West Coast League 2015 season got underway on Friday, June 5th with series at Bend, Bellingham, Victoria, Walla Walla and Yakima Valley. Under new ownership, the Bend Elks started a new era with a series win over their rivals the Corvallis Knights taking the final two games of the series at historic Vince Genna …

Continue reading “West Coast League Opens 2015 Season”

Former Kelowna Falcons pitcher Tyler Wagner made his Major League debut on Sunday, May 31 for the Milwaukee Brewers versus the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park in a game that lasted 17 innings. Wagner’s Brewers won it 7-6 on a walk-off homer. Tyler pitched 3.2 innings and allowed 5 runs in his first big league …

Continue reading “Former Falcon Makes MLB Debut”

Several WCL alums earned All-Big West, All-Pac-12 and All-WCC honors this past week. Former WCLers swept the Big West’s top awards as junior right-hander Thomas Eshleman, a former Klamath Falls Gem (2012), of Cal State Fullerton was named BWC Pitcher of the Year, ex-Gem (2013) outfielder Cameron Newell of UC Santa Barbara was named co-BWC …

Continue reading “WCL Alums Sweep Big West Top Honors”

West Coast League alum James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners tossed eight shutout innings vs. Boston yesterday at Safeco Field in the Mariners 5-0 win over the Red Sox. Paxton pitched for the Kelowna Falcons in 2007, and is currently 2-2 with a 3.59 ERA for Seattle. 19 players with experience playing for WCL teams …

Continue reading “Alums of WCL Teams Excel in MLB”

UCLA earned a Pac-12 title today with a 5-3 clinching win over Arizona and USC’s 7-5 loss to Cal. The second-ranked Bruins are 40-12 overall and 21-6 in the Pac-12; and finish the regular season at Oregon May 22-24. This past Friday night, Bruin ace and WCL alum James Kaprielian took part in UCLA baseball …

Continue reading “WCL Alums Lead UCLA and OSU to Top of Pac-12”

The West Coast League is not only a developing ground for young players, the league is also where young coaches can gain experience to help further their coaching careers. The league features a couple veteran coaches, but most of the league’s coaches are younger skippers with long-term college coaching aspirations like 2014 WCL Coach of …

Continue reading “WCL Head Coaches in Place for 2015 Season”

The Bellingham Bells are excited to announce they will host the 2015 West Coast League All-Star Game on Monday, July 20 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Wash. The All-Star Game will be presented by award winning John Howie Restaurants: John Howie Steak, Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar and Sport Restaurant & Bar. “The West …

Continue reading “Defending Champion Bells to Host WCL ASG”

WCL alum Drew Rasmussen of Oregon State tossed the Beavers’ first perfect game in school history yesterday at Goss Stadium, the summer home of the Corvallis Knights. The freshman struck out 10 Washington State batters and allowed no base runners in OSU’s 3-0 win over the Cougars. Rasmussen pitched last summer for the Wenatchee AppleSox. …

Continue reading “Former AppleSox Hurler Tosses Perfect Game”

Baseball America’s College Preview issue hit the streets last week and its retro cover shot featured former Klamath Falls Gems pitcher Thomas Eshelman of Cal State Fullerton. This is the second WCL alum to recently don a Baseball America cover, the other being former Wenatchee AppleSox Marco Gonzales of Gonzaga with the St. Louis Cardinals …

Continue reading “Three WCL Alums Named Pre-Season All-America”

Three West Coast League teams based in Oregon made key front office moves earlier this month. Medford and Corvallis got things started as the Rogues named Ian Church their new general manager and the Knights announced the return of Holly Jones to the club. Shortly thereafter, Klamath Falls added Bryce Mallory to its front office. …

Continue reading “Medford Rogues Start 2015 with New GM”

One of the West Coast League’s founding members – the Kitsap BlueJackets – are celebrating their 10th anniversary season with a big change. Entering the team’s eleventh season, former BlueJackets’ head coach Matt Acker has returned to the club as an owner and as the team’s general manager. Kitsap’s co-founder and longtime managing partner Rick …

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Victoria HarbourCats Vice-President and General Manager Jim Swanson was recently named as one of the most influential Canadians in baseball in 2014 by the Canadian Baseball Network. The second-year HarbourCats’ GM earned honourable mention. The HarbourCats led the West Coast League in attendance last summer drawing 42,563 for the WCL season and 1,576 per game. …

Continue reading “Victoria HarbourCats GM Recognized by CBN”

The West Coast League released its 2015 game schedule this morning, as announced by league president Dennis Koho. The upcoming season marks the 11th season of WCL baseball in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The league features the best collegiate baseball players in North America across 12 markets in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Opening Day …

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After 15 years of owning and operating the Bend Elks, owner/general manager Jim Richards sold the Elks to John and Tami Marick. The sale was finalized in early October. John is the CEO of Consumer Cellular based in Portland, Oregon. John and Tami hired longtime Bend Elks coach Casey Powell to run their operation. The …

Continue reading “Bend to Enter 2015 Season Under New Management”

Former Corvallis Knights infielder Matt Duffy and catcher Andrew Susac helped the San Francisco Giants capture their third World Series title in five years. Both rookies contributed late in the season and during the playoffs. During the World Series, Duffy was featured in a New York Times article titled “A Giants Rookie’s Rise, Just a …

Continue reading “Two WCL Alums Earn Rings in Rookie Seasons for SF”

Former Wenatchee AppleSox pitcher Marco Gonzales of the St. Louis Cardinals earned a playoff series-clinching win last night vs. Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was Gonzales second win of the series, both in games started by the likely NL Cy Young Award winner Kershaw. In each appearance, Marco tossed one scoreless inning …

Continue reading “Former WCLer Marco Gonzales Pitches Cards to NLCS”

Perfect Game Crosschecker recently released its top 20 West Coast League prospects list. WCL MVP Vince Fernandez of UC Riverside was rated the league’s top prospect. The #2 rated prospect was third baseman Sean Bouchard (pictured at bat with the Walla Walla Sweets last summer), an incoming frosh at UCLA. Bouchard was also ranked the …

Continue reading “WCL MVP Vince Fernandez Named PGC Top Prospect”

West Coast League Top Ten Prospects by Clint Longnecker, Baseball America September 12, 2014 Postseason Recap: The Bellingham Bells reached the West Coast League championship series for the first time since 2005 and captured their first league title in franchise history. Bellingham topped the defending champion Corvallis Knights in the decisive third game by a …

Continue reading “Future Duck David Peterson Top WCL Prospect”

The Klamath Falls Gems recently extended their Lease for the use of Kiger Stadium for an additional five years. The original lease, signed in 2011, was set to expire at the end of the 2015 season. “The extension should remove any doubts as to the Gems’ commitment to the community,” said Gems’ General Manager and …

Continue reading “Gems Extend Commitment to Klamath”

West Coast League President Dennis Koho announced the 2014 All-West Coast League teams and individual league awards as voted on by the league’s field managers. This year’s WCL Champions, the Bellingham Bells, placed three pitchers on the All-WCL first team and collected a number of honors including Pitcher of the Year, Coach of the Year, …

Continue reading “Pippins’ Slugger Vince Fernandez Named WCL MVP”

The Bellingham Bells captured their first West Coast League crown with a thrilling 3-2 win over the WCL defending-champion Corvallis Knights at Joe Martin Field before a boisterous crowd of 2,821. The Bells made an early three-run lead stand and closer David Bigelow of Gonzaga shut the door on Corvallis in the ninth recording the …

Continue reading “Bellingham Edges Corvallis 3-2 to Capture WCL Title”

Bellingham jumped on Corvallis early scoring two runs in the first inning, which turned out to be more than enough as lefty reliever Dan Ludwig of Belmont stymied the Knights over 5.1 innings pitched to earn the WCLCS game two victory. The Bells started the last of the first with singles by Dustin Breshears of …

Continue reading “Bells Beat Knights 4-1 to Force Decisive Game Three”

The Corvallis Knights took game one of the West Coast League Championship Series at Goss Stadium by edging the Bellingham Bells, 4-3. Bellingham led early 3-1, but Corvallis outfielder Scott Quinlan of UC Santa Barbara put the Knights ahead for good with his three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth. The Knights bullpen …

Continue reading “Knights Edge Bells 4-3 in Game One of WCLCS”

The West Coast League first-round best-of-three series both ended last night in dramatic fashion with walk-off hits in the bottom of tne ninth at Goss Stadium and Joe Martin Field, respectively. Both hard-fought series were played before enthusiastic crowds and featured late-inning thrills. First, WCL all-star Kevin Kline of Dixie State sent the Corvallis Knights …

Continue reading “Walk-Off Wednesday in West Coast League Playoffs”

The Bend Elks (31-22) secured the West Coast League’s final playoff berth by clinching the wild card last night with a 10-2 home win over Klamath Falls while Wenatchee dropped an extra-inning affair with Yakima, 7-6. The league’s first-round best-of-three playoff series will start Tuesday, August 12 at Bend’s Vince Genna Stadium and at Yakima …

Continue reading “Bend Clinches WCL Wild Card Spot”

The expansion Yakima Valley Pippins clinched the East Division title last night with a 7-6 walk-off home win over Cowlitz before a crowd of 2,769 at the Yakima County Stadium. Yakima Valley (33-18) is the first WCL expansion team to win a division title. The Pippins finish the regular season at Wenatchee. Yakima Valley is …

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Chris Davis has always hit north of the border by Melissa Couto, Canadian Baseball Network If anything can help Chris Davis get out of his lengthy slump, it’s a trip to Canada. The Baltimore Orioles slugger, who arrived in Toronto to begin a three-game set against the Blue Jays on Tuesday with a measly .195 …

Continue reading “Baltimore Slugger Chris Davis Starred in Kelowna”

With one week remaining in the West Coast League regular season, the Bellingham Bells have clinched the West Division. The Bells own the league’s best record at 33-14 and were recently awarded the 2015 WCL All-Star Game. The division title is Bellingham’s first as a member of the West Coast League. The South Division is …

Continue reading “West Coast League Wild Card Spot Up for Grabs”

Former Corvallis Knights catcher Andrew Susac of Oregon State made his big league debut with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, July 26th at AT&T Park vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. His first major league at bat was against Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw. Susac played in the West Coast League in 2009 and earned all-WCL …

Continue reading “Corvallis Alums Susac and Duffy Make Giant Debuts”

The Toronto Blue Jays and Victoria HarbourCats teamed up July 2-3 to host a youth baseball camp for kids on Vancouver Island at Sports Traders Diamond at Royal Athletic Park. The Blue Jays Honda Super Camp drew lots attention, and was a big hit. So much so that MLB.com captured the fun. Check out their …

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2014 WCL All-Star Game Washed Out By Bob Webster, West Coast League Contributing Writer July 21, 2014 Even though rain canceled the All-Star Game, the 2014 West Coast League All-Star Game festivities in Klamath Falls were a huge success. Things got started on Sunday, July 20 with a Welcome Party, followed by a Luncheon and …

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The lineup of 2014 West Coast League All-Star Game Home Run Derby sluggers was released this afternoon by league president Dennis Koho. Four of the most prolific home run hitters in the WCL top the list of entrants including league-leader Gabe Clark of Victoria, who has blasted six roundrippers; and Joe Duffin of Corvallis, Vince …

Continue reading “WCL ASG Home Run Derby Lineup Released”

West Coast League All-Star Game managers Ed Knaggs of Wenatchee (North) and Mitch Karraker of Klamath Falls (South) announced their starting pitchers for this Monday’s WCL midsummer classic at Kiger Stadium in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The host South will start Corvallis Knights right-hander Jackson Lockwood of University of Portland while the North team will counter …

Continue reading “All-Star Game Probable Starters Announced”

West Coast League president Dennis Koho announced the league’s All-Star Game rosters this morning. The North squad – made up of Kelowna, Victoria, Bellingham, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Yakima – will be managed by Ed Knaggs, the skipper of the Wenatchee AppleSox. The South team – compromised of Kitsap, Cowlitz, Corvallis, Bend, Medford and host …

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210 alums of West Coast League teams have played or are active in affiliated professional baseball in 2014

The home of the Klamath Falls Gems, Kiger Stadium, is the host site of the 2014 West Coast League All-Star Game to be held on Monday, July 21st. Summer baseball has a long history at Kiger, including hosting the original Gems who played in the Far West League, a “Class D” minor league, from 1948-1951 …

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The 2014 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team selected by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper was recently released by CBN. The list includes two current West Coast League players – catcher Aaron Barnett of the Victoria Harbourcats and two-way player Trenton Brooks of the Wenatchee AppleSox – and WCL alum AJ Balta of Oregon, who played for the …

Continue reading “Louisville Slugger Frosh All-Americans”

Former All-WCL first-teamer Marco Gonzales of the Wenatchee AppleSox made his Major League Baseball debut for St. Louis yesterday afternoon at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado vs. the Colorado Rockies. His appearance was televised live on MLB Network. The southpaw went 5 innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits while walking two and striking out …

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Bellingham Bells Owner Eddie Poplawski Driven by Love of Community, Mentoring Players – Whatcom TALK For Eddie Poplawski, becoming owner of the Bellingham Bells was about something much bigger than his love of the game. It was also about building – and celebrating – community, and readying his talented young players for successful, fulfilling lives …

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The 2014 MLB June draft concluded yesterday. 63 WCL alums or current players were selected. The first former WCL player to be selected was ex-Kelowna Falcons utlity player Connor Joe of San Diego. He was selected in the Competitive Balance Round A by the Pittsburgh Pirates and was the 39th overall pick of the draft, …

Continue reading “63 WCLers Selected in 2014 MLB June Draft”

The MLB June draft kicked off on Thursday, June 5 and concludes today; Saturday, June 7. There were no WCL alums or current WCLers drafted on day one (first round), but several were picked yesterday; the first WCL pick being former Kelowna Falcon Connor Joe of San Diego, who was selected 39th overall as a …

Continue reading “Former Sweet Matt Imhof Picked 47th Overall”

Mr. Baseball by Eric Rowe, Victoria HarbourCats Baseball Blog harbourcatsbaseball.blogspot.ca Literally. We’ve talked so much about the start of the 2014 West Coast League season, we’ve analyzed baseball players, baseball executives, baseball statistics but what about just, the baseball. If you’ve watched Bull Durham, you’ll know that there are 108 stitches in a baseball, but …

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Former Klamath Falls Gems pitcher Thomas Eshelman (pictured), a second-team all-WCL selection in 2012, continues to master his craft for the Cal State Fullerton Titans. The sophomore right-hander recently earned NCBWA National Player of the Week honors for his performance versus University of Hawaii on April 25, 2014. Thomas is 6-1 on the season and …

Continue reading “Gems’ Alum Thomas Eshelman Master of Control”

It appears former Kitsap BlueJackets head coach Matt Acker is returning to guide the Silverdale, Washington based club. But he will now be focused on managing operations. Matt skippered the Jackets for seven seasons from 2005-2011. Kitsap is a founding member of the West Coast League and plays its games at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. …

Continue reading “Back to the Future for Kitsap”

Oregon State shocked the baseball world last spring by winning the Pac-10 and appearing in the College World Series (the Beavs first CWS appearance since 1952). There won’t be any surprises this spring as the Beavers have been ranked from the season’s first pitch. Overnight, the Beavers went from hunter to hunted. Senior outfielder Geoff …

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Former Aloha Knights Bill Rowe and Kevin Gunderson teamed up again to lead Oregon State to a huge College World Series victory and even its series with North Carolina 1-1. Sunday evening, Rowe shocked the baseball world with a three-run homer in the fourth-inning that put OSU ahead 7-5 after going into the inning down …

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The #25 ranked University of California, Riverside Highlanders went 4-0 last week sweeping conference power Cal State Fullerton over the weekend and beating #18 ranked UCLA on Tuesday. Many of the Highlanders (27-16, 7-2) star performers developed in the WCCBL including last week’s (April 23-29) Big West Player of the Week Jaime Pedroza and Pitcher …

Continue reading “Jaime Pedroza and Marc Rzepczynski”

Defending Big West champion UC Irvine was ranked #8 in Baseball America’s college baseball preview issue (Feb. 22-Mar. 7, 2010). The Anteaters send many of its players to the West Coast League. 2009 Big West Pitcher of the Year Daniel Bibona (pictured) developed his superb changeup in the summer of 2007 with the Corvallis Knights. …

Continue reading “Ronnie Shaefer”

by Aaron Yost, College Baseball Daily Wednesday, April 2, 2014 It’s hard to argue with the success the Pac-12 Conference has enjoyed on the national stage – both historically and in more recent years – and many of the players in the conference are developing during the summer months throughout the West Coast League. Reigning …

Continue reading “WCL teams stocking up on Pac-12 talent”

Canada’s most-decorated athletics program, the UBC Thunderbirds, celebrated its best and brightest stars, both past and present, at the 93rd annual UBC Big Block Awards and Hall of Fame Banquet on April 1. Ex-Falcons’ infielder Andrew Firth was honored earning the Bobby Gaul Memorial Trophy as UBC’s graduating Male Athlete of the Year.

Each summer, the Big West conference sends its best young players to the West Coast League to further develop. That development is on full display throughout the conference as WCL alums are excelling early this spring for #5-ranked Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to #9-ranked Cal State Fullerton to #15-ranked UC Santa Barbara to traditional …

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The West Coast League released its overall total attendance figures for the 2013 season. For the first time, total overall attendance eclipsed the 400,000 mark as WCL clubs drew 402,958 fans last summer. The Bend Elks topped the league in overall attendance drawing 51,283 to Vince Genna Stadium for an average of 1,602 per game. …

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166 alums of West Coast League teams played in affiliated professional baseball in 2013

The Board of Directors of the West Coast League voted to re-align the league’s divisions for the 2014 season. The vote moved to create a three-division alignment based on natural geographical boundaries. The South Division includes all of the league’s Oregon teams – the defending WCL champion Corvallis Knights, Bend Elks, Klamath Falls Gems, and …

Continue reading “West Coast League re-aligns, moves to three divisions”

Baseball America released its West Coast League top ten prospects list on September 5, and yesterday (September 11) Perfect Game Crosschecker announced its top 40 list. Sophomore-to-be pitcher Cody Poteet of UCLA was rated the league’s top prospect by both BA and PGC. Poteet made six starts for the North Division champion Walla Walla Sweets …

Continue reading “Baseball America and PG Crosschecker release WCL prospects lists; Walla Walla’s Cody Poteet of UCLA rated #1 prospect in WCL”

West Coast League president Dennis Koho announced the League’s awards and All-WCL teams this afternoon. This summer’s WCL Champion, the Corvallis Knights, led the WCL in selections with seven All-WCL players and five honorable mention picks. Bellingham slugger Alex Calbick of Maine (pictured) was named the MVP of the West Coast League. The senior-to-be not …

Continue reading “West Coast League award winners and All-WCL teams released; Bellingham third baseman Alex Calbick of Maine earns MVP honors”

The Corvallis Knights won their third West Coast League Championship on Monday night before a crowd of 1,224 at Goss Stadium. The Knights swept the Wenatchee AppleSox two games to none by beating them 1-0 in game two. It was the fourth time the two teams had met in the West Coast League Championship Series …

Continue reading “Knights win third WCL title; Corvallis blanks AppleSox 1-0 in game two thriller”

History was made all across Royal Athletic Park Tuesday night at the 2013 WCL All-Star Game, as 4,210 fans watched the South Division All-Stars knock off the North by a score of 7-5. The crowd of 4,210 was a new WCL single-game high in the first ever All-Star Game hosted on Canadian soil. It was …

Continue reading “South beats North 7-5 before record crowd of 4,210 at 2013 All-Star Game in Victoria”

The teams for the 2013 West Coast League All-Star Game presented by Yates Street Taphouse were announced this morning by the WCL All-Star Game committee. With 25 players named to each team, the North Division and South Division squads will meet on Tuesday, July 23, at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, Canada, at 7 p.m. …

Continue reading “West Coast League announces 2013 WCL All-Star Game rosters”

Former West Coast League players led UCLA to the College World Series finals and sweep of Mississippi State to win the program’s first national title. UCLA won game one of the best-of-three championship series, 3-1. Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Valaika knocked in the game-winner in the first with a RBI single and …

Continue reading “National champion UCLA Bruins led by WCL alums”

Bellingham Bells pitcher Mike Connolly, who just finished his junior year at the University of Maine, will not be returning to the East Coast for his senior season of baseball. Connolly came to terms this week with the San Francisco Giants, who selected him in the 27th round (No. 822 overall) of this year’s MLB …

Continue reading “Bellingham pitcher from University of Maine signs with San Francisco Giants”

The West Coast League represented well this year in the MLB draft as 57 former and current WCL players were selected by MLB teams. The top WCL draft pick was Wenatchee AppleSox alum Marco Gonzales of Gonzaga (pictured). The St. Louis Cardinals selected Gonzales in the first round as the 19th overall pick. This is …

Continue reading “57 WCLers selected in the 2013 MLB June draft”

The West Coast League represented well this year in the MLB draft as 57 former and current WCL players were selected by MLB teams. The top WCL draft pick was Wenatchee AppleSox alum Marco Gonzales of Gonzaga (pictured). The St. Louis Cardinals selected Gonzales in the first round as the 19th overall pick. This is …

Continue reading “Ex-Wenatchee southpaw Marco Gonzales of Gonzaga selected in the first round (19th overall pick)”

Several ex-WCLers were named to season-ending all-conference teams in the Pac-12, Big West and WCC. And five WCL alums were named to Louisville Slugger All-America teams as announced by Collegiate Baseball News yesterday including first-team selection Thomas Eshelman of Cal State Fullerton (Klamath Falls Gems, 2012), second-team pick Jimmie Sherfy of Oregon (Corvallis Knights, 2011); …

Continue reading “Five WCL alums earn All-America honors”

The West Coast League will expand in 2014 as Pacific Baseball Ventures, LLC (PBV), the ownership group of the Walla Walla Sweets, announced today that they have been awarded a West Coast League membership in Yakima, Washington. The soon-to-be-named Yakima team will begin WCL play in time for the 2014 season. “We are excited to …

Continue reading “Pacific Baseball Ventures awarded West Coast League membership in Yakima”

The West Coast League has been known as a pitching league. That’s ringing very true this spring as several former WCL hurlers have been dominant. No one has been as impressive as frosh Thomas Eshelman (pictured) of Cal State Fullerton. Eshelman was introduced to college baseball last summer with the Klamath Falls Gems. Thomas pitched …

Continue reading “Cal State Fullerton freshman pitching sensation Thomas Eshelman, Baseball America’s #10 rated 2012 WCL prospect, leads Titans to lofty ranking”

West Coast League alumnus Bud Norris (pictured) will throw the first pitch of the 2013 Major League Baseball season. The veteran Houston right-hander, a standout on the 2005 Aloha Knights, has earned the starting nod for Sunday night’s game against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park, the first big league game this season. It …

Continue reading “Norris to throw first pitch of 2013 MLB season for Astros”

#3 ranked and undefeated Oregon State looked to extend its 15-game win streak versus University of San Francisco of the West Coast Conference yesterday at Goss Stadium. But the Dons would have nothing of it, and handed OSU its first loss of the season beating the Beavers 5-1. Earlier on Tuesday, ex-Klamath Falls Gems and …

Continue reading “Former Klamath Falls and Bend infielder Tyler Smith of OSU earns Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for the #3 ranked Beavers”

The West Coast League board of directors voted last week to move from 2-man umpiring crews to 3-man crews for the 2013 season. The change was adopted to improve officiating and help further develop umpires in the region by working professionally-run games in the West Coast League. Like the Cape Cod League, the WCL now …

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Several ex-WCLers earned 2013 preseason honors by Baseball America in its college baseball preview issue. Former Wenatchee AppleSox southpaw and first baseman Marco Gonzales of Gonzaga was named to Baseball America’s first-team All-America squad. Gonzalez led Wenatchee to a WCL title in 2010 as the Zags’ frosh-to-be went 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA while striking …

Continue reading “WCL alums earn pre-season Baseball America honors”

The list of pros features 18 players that have appeared in the big leagues this season including Chris Davis (pictured) of resurgent Baltimore. To date, Davis is hitting .267 with 20 doubles, 28 homers and 77 RBIs for the 89-67 Orioles. Other Major Leaguers include star outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury of Boston, starting pitcher Tommy Hanson …

Continue reading “160 alums of WCL teams appear in affiliated pro ball in 2012”

WCL Top Ten Prospects by Conor Glassey, Baseball America The Wenatchee AppleSox are something of a summer league dynasty. Over the first eight years of the West Coast League, Wenatchee has won five championships. This year, the team defeated the Corvallis Knights in the best-of-three championship series, two games to one. Wenatchee leads the West …

Continue reading “Baseball America releases WCL prospects list; Wenatchee’s Taylor Sparks of UC Irvine ranks as league’s top prospect. Perfect Game names Cowlitz southpaw Cole Irvin top rising frosh in summer college baseball”

The 2012 All-West Coast League teams were released, along with the league’s individual and team awards, this afternoon by WCL president Ken Wilson. The Klamath Falls Gems led the way with seven players named All-WCL while the Kelowna Falcons and Wenatchee AppleSox had five players honored. The league’s Most Valuable Player is Wenatchee third baseman …

Continue reading “All-WCL teams and league awards announced; Wenatchee’s Mitchell Gunsolus of Gonzaga named WCL MVP”

The West edged the East 3-2 in the 2012 West Coast League All-Star Game before a near capacity crowd of 2,006 at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla, Washington. The game featured outstanding pitching by both teams and a thrilling finish that saw the East nearly rally in the bottom of the ninth to tie or …

Continue reading “West beats East 3-2 in WCL All-Star Game nail-biter at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla”

he teams for the 2012 West Coast League All-Star Game presented by NAPA Auto Parts were announced this past Tuesday by league president Ken Wilson. In total, forty-two players were named to the East Division and West Division squads, which will meet Tuesday, July 24 at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla, Washington. Wenatchee AppleSox coach …

Continue reading “WCL President Ken Wilson announces WCL All-Star Game rosters”

A record 56 former or current West Coast League players were selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball June draft held June 4-6. The former WCL high was 51 selections in the 2009 MLB draft, which was 50 rounds (10 more than in 2012). Two former WCLer outfielders were picked in the first round. 2010 …

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Several ex-WCLers were named to season-ending all-conference teams in the Pac-12, Big West and WCC. Senior right-hander Alex Keudell of Oregon, who pitched for the 2010 Cowlitz Black Bears, was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year. Ex-Corvallis Knights star outfielder Mitch Haniger (pictured) of Cal Poly was named Big West Player of the Year. …

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The University of Oregon Ducks are flying high. George Horton’s club is 19-8 in Pac-12 play, 41-14 overall and are ranked #5 by Baseball America. The Ducks’ roster has a definite WCL feel to it with closer Jimmie Sherfy (2.25, 4-2, 16 saves) and outfielder Aaron Jones (pictured) leading the way. Sherfy, who emerged last …

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Baseball America and Perfect Game Crosschecker released their summer collegiate baseball top prospects lists and Corvallis left-handed pitcher Jace Fry, a frosh-to-be at Oregon State, was named the West Coast League’s #1 prospect by both the national publication and comprehensive online scouting notebook. To check out the lists, please read below. Baseball America Top Ten …

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The 2011 All-WCL teams and awards were announced by West Coast League president Ken Wilson as voted on by league head coaches and executives. The Wenatchee AppleSox placed six players on the first team, more than any other club. Eleven players from Corvallis were All-WCL selections, making the Knights the most represented club on both …

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The return of the West Coast League All-Star Game was a huge hit. Fans, players, coaches and scouts enjoyed a full evening of entertainment that included a rousing home run derby, exciting game and spectacular fireworks show. The league’s midsummer classic was nearly a sellout at Goss Stadium in Corvallis as 2,517 fans attended the …

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The list of pros features 12 players that have appeared in the big leagues this season including the first WCL alum to appear in a MLB All-Star Game, Jacoby Ellsbury (pictured) of the Boston Red Sox. Other major leaguers include starting pitcher Tommy Hanson of Atlanta, starting pitcher Jeff Francis of Kansas City, catcher Chris …

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West Coast League president Ken Wilson announced the league’s 2011 All-Star teams as voted on by fans, league coaches and the Major League Scouting Bureau. The East Division team, coached by Ed Knaggs of Wenatchee, features ten AppleSox, including ace pitcher Owen Jones of the University of Portland. Jones leads the league with five wins. …

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Several ex-WCLers were named to 2011 All-Conference teams including Marco Gonzales of Gonzaga. The frosh southpaw and first baseman was named the West Coast Conference co-Player of the Year. Gonzales went 11-2 this past spring and hit .291 for the Bulldogs. Marco played for the Wenatchee AppleSox in the summer of 2010, where he earned …

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