Rick Smith, a beloved figure in the Bremerton, Washington community and passionate baseball advocate, passed away on December 27 at the age of 82. Surrounded by family in his home, Rick’s life was a testament to his deep-rooted love for the game of baseball and his commitment to fostering youth sports. Born on January 21, …
Continue reading “In Loving Memory of Rick Smith: A Baseball Enthusiast and Community Leader”
In the spirit of the giving season, the West Coast League is thrilled to announce the combined charitable outreach from the League and its 17 teams in 2025. Over $500,000 was generated via in-kind and monetary donations, a roughly 15% increase from a year ago. In addition, 50/50 raffles produced nearly $200,000 (CAD) more for …
Wednesday night, West Coast League alumnus Tarik Skubal made history by capturing his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award. 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 became the first A.L. …
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In 2025, 296 alumni of West Coast League teams were active in affiliated professional baseball. The list includes 30 players who contributed to MLB postseason teams. Among the WCL Alumni are four MLB Gold Glove finalists: Steven Kwan (Corvallis Knights/Cleveland Guardians), Matthew Boyd (Corvallis Knights/Chicago Cubs), David Peterson (Medford Rogues/New York Mets) and Kyle Stowers …
Continue reading “Nearly 300 WCL Alumni are Currently with MLB Organizations”
Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released the WCL’s 2026 schedule. Opening Night is Friday, May 29 and features all 16 teams in action. The defending WCL champion Bellingham Bells visit the Kelowna Falcons, while the 2025 South Division champion Portland Pickles entertain the Victoria HarbourCats. The Edmonton Riverhawks, who this year established WCL …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Top Prospect Brock Ketelsen Headlines Players Spotlight”
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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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. …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Chamberlain and Miller Named Weekly Award Winners”
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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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In 2024, West Coast League alumni (28 players) appeared in at least one game for 10 of the 12 MLB postseason clubs. Leading the way is Tarik Skubal (Kitsap BlueJackets, 2014) who is the leading candidate for the American League Cy Young Award after going 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 192 …
The West Coast League (WCL), America’s premier collegiate summer baseball league, is celebrating an unforgettable 2024 season marked by record-breaking achievements both on and off the field. Including official League, nonleague, and postseason games, a grand total of 767,726 fans flocked to ballparks across the Pacific Northwest and Alberta, setting a League attendance record and …
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Thursday, the West Coast League released the final 2024 WCL Spotlight, an expanded list of the League’s most exciting players during the recently concluded season. Topping the Spotlight: Corvallis Knights super-utility player Kevin Takeuchi, selected by WCL coaches as the League’s top prospect. Also on the list? A number of players who were drafted by …
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Tuesday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced three more annual awards: Executive of the Year, Mike Parker Broadcaster of the Year, and Scorekeeper of the Year. This year’s Executive of the Year is Stephanie Morrell, the general manager of the Bellingham Bells since 2016, has been instrumental in guiding her teams to the playoffs …
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Thursday morning, the winners of the West Coast League’s Coach of the Year, Umpire of the Year, and Jim Dietz Team Sportsmanship Award were announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer. Portland’s Mark Magdaleno and Wenatchee’s Mitch Darlington have been honored as 2024 co-Coaches of the Year for their impressive leadership throughout the season. This marks the third …
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Wednesday afternoon, the 2024 All-West Coast League teams were unveiled by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. “I’ve now served as commissioner for six WCL seasons,” said Neyer, “and it’s pretty clear that we’re just getting more talented every summer. We saw that in the most recent MLB draft, and we saw it during our tremendous All-Star …
The West Coast League is proud to announce the recipients of its most prestigious 2024 season awards, selected by the WCL’s outstanding group of head coaches. This year, the title of Most Valuable Player has been awarded to Ridgefield Raptors outfielder Hunter Katschke, while Freddy Rodriguez of the Portland Pickles is 2024’s Pitcher of the Year. Hunter …
Friday night at Portland’s Walker Stadium, the Portland Pickles captured the 2024 West Coast League championship with a 6-5 walkoff win over the Wenatchee AppleSox. This marks the Pickles’ first title in the team’s seven-year WCL history. With perfect baseball weather and a sellout crowd of 4,387, both teams scored early despite a pair of …
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The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown in the West Coast League championship game this Friday night, when the champions of the North and South Divisions face off. And for the first time since 2015, the eventual WCL champions will not be the dynastic Corvallis Knights. Wednesday night, the visiting Portland Pickles dashed Corvallis’s hopes for …
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This weekend the West Coast League playoffs were in full swing, with all eight postseason teams engaged in best-of-three divisional playoff games. The South Division championship game is now set, with the Portland Pickles and Corvallis Knights both advancing in impressive fashion. On a perfect Sunday evening at Portland’s Walker Stadium, nearly 4,000 fans witnessed …
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Portland Pickles outfielder Tanner Griffith (Saint Mary’s) and Wenatchee AppleSox left-hander Quincy Vassar (Vanguard). In five games with the Pickles last week – three regular-season, two playoff – Griffith reached base 13 times …
Continue reading “Griffith and Vassar Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Accolades”
The 2024 West Coast League (WCL) playoffs open Saturday with intriguing matchups in both the South and North Divisions. In one South Division series, the defending WCL champion Corvallis Knights will face the Ridgefield Raptors. While the Knights are going after their eighth straight championship, the Raptors are on an impressive run of their own, …
With just three games left in the West Coast League season, there remains plenty of drama as South Division teams battle for their final positions and four North teams remain in a desperate battle for three remaining spots. In the South, the #1 seeded Corvallis Knights, having already clinched the first-half title, will face the …
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Ridgefield Raptors infielder Taylor Takata (Hawaii) and Victoria HarbourCats right-hander Carson Cormier (TCU). In six games with the Raptors last week, Takata reached base 21 times, drove in 14 runs, and stole three …
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With a dramatic flourish in the ninth inning, the North topped the South 3-2 in Wednesday night’s West Coast League All-Star Game. Gavyn Jones (Kelowna Falcons) was the North’s hero in the bottom of the ninth inning, rapping a two-out, two-strike, bases-loaded grounder that South shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Corvallis Knights) couldn’t quite corral in time …
Continue reading “North Edges South 3-2 at All-Star Game in Bellingham”
Earlier this week, 55 current and former West Coast League players were selected in 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. There were 22 alumni selected in the first 10 rounds of the Draft, and five of the 54 total selections are players that have been active in the WCL this summer. Sunday night, 2021 WCL MVP …
The stage is now set for the West Coast League’s 2024 All-Star Game, with festivities beginning tonight in Bellingham, followed Wednesday evening by the League’s first All-Star Game since 2019. Thrilling news was announced last week, as the All-Star Game will be broadcast live on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB App beginning at …
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With the selection of 20 players on Monday, 22 WCL alumni have now been taken in the first 10 rounds of this year’s MLB Draft. Five of the first 95 selections of this year’s MLB Draft were former WCL players, including the No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana. In seven of the last eight years, …
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Former West Coast League MVP Travis Bazzana of Oregon State was selected as the No. 1 overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Guardians. The former Corvallis Knights slugger is the second WCL alumnus to be taken as the first overall pick in the MLB Draft, following in the footsteps of …
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The West Coast League (WCL) is thrilled to announce that the 2024 All-Star Game will be broadcast live on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB App on Wednesday, July 17, beginning at 6:30 PM Pacific Time. Fans can look forward to an exciting evening of baseball, featuring the league’s top players and future stars. …
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Tuesday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer revealed the all-star selections for the 2024 All-Star Game. Marking the return of the WCL’s mid-summer classic for the first time since 2019, the game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17, with the first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Pacific Time at the legendary Joe Martin Field. “After …
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Cowlitz Black Bears infielder Keaton Grady (Dallas Baptist) and Bend Elks right-hander Jackson Elder (Utah). In six games with the Black Bears last week, Grady drove in 11 runs and produced ten hits. …
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Edmonton, Alberta, with a rich baseball history, had seen the sport’s popularity wane over the years. However, the arrival of the Edmonton Riverhawks in the West Coast League (WCL) has brought about a remarkable resurgence, reigniting the city’s longstanding passion for the game. The History of Baseball in Edmonton Baseball in Edmonton dates back to …
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The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Kamloops NorthPaws outfielder-pitcher Joey Rico (Westmont College) and Walla Walla Sweets right-hander Zachary Hangas (Ottawa University). In six games with the NorthPaws last week, Rico racked up 10 hits and ran his hitting …
Continue reading “Rico and Hangas Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Accolades”
Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released the second 2024 WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting and notable players, and highlighting just a few of the dynamic talents who make up the league. This latest WCL Spotlight includes one representative from all 16 WCL teams, showcasing a mix of compelling talents …
History was made at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex on Tuesday night as three Ridgefield Raptors pitchers combined to throw the first no-hitter in team history. Starters Dylan Stewart (Pepperdine) earned the win after working five innings, while Curtis Herbert (Portland) and Mac Elske (Chaminade) each tossed two innings in relief. Ridgefield’s pitching staff had …
The West Coast League (WCL) is thrilled to announce the official opening of the 2024 season tonight, featuring all 16 teams in action. Each team will play 54 league games this summer, starting tonight and concluding on August 8. The season will culminate in the championship playoffs, which will feature eight teams, each hosting at …
Thursday, on the eve of the West Coast League’s 2024 season, WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer released the first WCL Spotlight of the year, featuring a representative collection of the league’s most exciting and notable players. This preseason 2024 WCL Spotlight includes one player from each of the 16 teams, showcasing a mix of compelling talents …
Today the West Coast League (WCL) proudly announces the launch of its captivating new video series, Legends of the West Coast League, showcasing WCL alumni who have ascended to Major League Baseball stardom. The inaugural episode highlights the inspiring journey of Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, a notable WCL graduate currently making waves as a …
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Excitement is building as renowned West Coast League coach Ed Knaggs prepares to embark on his extraordinary Opening Day Run, 419 miles (give or take a mile) from Wenatchee, Washington to Corvallis, Oregon, beginning Wednesday, May 1. Knaggs is running for the love of the sport, yes – he’s been a dedicated runner for many …
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This year, 38 players with West Coast League experience have earned spots on Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters. Former WCL players starting the season in the big leagues include 2023 Silver Slugger Award winner and American League All-Star Adley Rutschman, 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, and two-time American League Gold …
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Today the West Coast League unveiled its plans for the highly anticipated return of the All-Star Game to the league’s lineup of summer events in 2024. The 2024 West Coast League All-Star Game will be hosted by the Bellingham Bells, scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday, July 17, at the iconic Joe …
Continue reading “WCL and Bellingham Bells Announce Return of All-Star Game in Summer 2024”
The West Coast League’s board of directors and general managers convened in Portland last weekend for the League’s highly anticipated annual winter meetings. The gathering, a blend of in-person and teleconference sessions, witnessed a significant announcement and recognition of local coaches. On Friday, the meetings kicked off with the exciting revelation that the West Coast …
Continue reading “WCL Announces Expansion and Presents Grass Roots Award at Annual Winter Meetings”
Friday, the West Coast League happily announced the addition of its 17th member in Salem, Oregon, opening play in 2025. The Salem Baseball Club will join the Springfield Drifters, Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, and Portland Pickles as the league’s fifth Oregon-based team. “When you look at a map,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “adding another …
Continue reading “Salem Awarded WCL Expansion Team for 2025”
This weekend in Portland, Oregon, baseball enthusiasts and industry leaders will converge for the annual Northwest Baseball Coaches Association Convention. With a robust West Coast League presence, the convention promises an engaging lineup of speakers, interactive demonstrations, and breakout sessions, making this a must-attend event for baseball coaches and enthusiasts alike. As usual, this year’s …
Monday, the West Coast League (WCL) proudly announced the continuation of its valued partnership with the Northwest Baseball Coaches Association (NWBCA) for its annual convention, a highly anticipated gathering of baseball coaches and vendors held each January in Portland, Oregon. The NWBCA convention stands as the premier baseball coaches conference in the Pacific Northwest, scheduled …
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The West Coast League (WCL), now entering its 20th year, and third year with a roster of 16 teams ranging from Alberta to Oregon, has officially unveiled its much-anticipated schedule for the 2024 regular season and exciting postseason. All 16 teams will kick off their WCL campaigns on Friday, May 31, igniting another summer of …
In 2023, 289 alumni of West Coast League teams were active in affiliated professional baseball. A number of WCL alumni posted impressive MLB seasons, such as 2023 American League All-Star Adley Rutschman (Corvallis Knights, 2016). Other notable WCL alumni include recent Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber (Cowlitz Black Bears, 2014), Steven Kwan (Corvallis, 2016) …
Continue reading “289 WCL Alumni Active in Affiliated Baseball”
Thursday, the West Coast League released the final 2023 WCL Spotlight, an expanded list of the League’s most exciting players during the recently concluded season. Topping the Spotlight: Nanaimo NightOwls shortstop Elijah Ickes, selected by WCL coaches as the League’s top prospect. Also on the list? A number of players who were drafted by MLB …
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Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the winners of three more 2023 League awards: Executive of the Year, Official Scorer of the Year, and the inaugural Broadcaster of the Year Award. “I am incredibly pleased,” said Neyer, “to present our first Broadcaster of the Year Award to Mike Parker, one of the Pacific …
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Friday morning, the winners of the West Coast League’s Coach of the Year, Umpire of the Year, and Team Sportsmanship Award were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. Victoria skipper Todd Haney is 2023’s Coach of the Year. Haney guided the HarbourCats to a 38-15 mark, which included a remarkable 27-2 home record …
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Thursday morning, the 2023 All-West Coast League teams were unveiled by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. “With every passing year,” said Neyer, “I’m more impressed with how much talent and commitment we’re blessed with each summer in the West Coast League. We saw that in the draft earlier this summer, and now we’re seeing …
Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the winners of the League’s top two individual awards. This year’s Most Valuable Player is Yakima Valley Pippins first baseman Jace Phelan. The rising junior from Gonzaga led the League with 50 RBI and 8 home runs. Phelan was also the distance king, hitting the two longest …
Continue reading “WCL MVP and Pitcher of the Year Selections Announced”
The Corvallis Knights’ historic run became even more impressive Monday night when the Knights won their seventh straight West Coast League championship with a 5-0 victory over the visiting Victoria HarbourCats. The Knights’ championship is also their tenth overall, with 2023 joining 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 (the league’s 2020 …
Continue reading “Corvallis Wins Seventh Consecutive WCL Championship”
As usual, the road to the West Coast League championship runs through Corvallis, Oregon. Monday night, the Corvallis Knights, aiming for their seventh straight WCL crown, will host the Victoria HarbourCats in the League’s winner-take-all championship game. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. at Goss Stadium. The later start time is due to anticipated high …
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The matchups are now locked in for the Divisional Championship showdowns, with the two games set for Saturday night. Now that the best-of-three divisional playoffs are wrapped up, both the division and league championships will consist of just one game. In the South, the Portland Pickles will clash with the Corvallis Knights, who finished the …
Continue reading “Four Teams Advance to Saturday’s Divisional Championship Games”
Tuesday night – in four locations ranging from Oregon and Washington to British Columbia – the West Coast League’s playoffs open with four Divisional Series games, the first in what promise to be a quartet of exciting series featuring the eight best teams in one of North America’s premier collegiate summer baseball leagues. For the second …
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Cowlitz Black Bears outfielder Marques Titialii (Arizona Christian) and Portland Pickles left-hander Christian Lim (Stanford). In six games with Cowlitz last week, Titialii hit three home runs and scored 12 runs. He also …
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Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released the third 2023 WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting and notable players. This week’s WCL Spotlight includes only West Coast Leaguers currently playing, with the rankings reflecting not just their professional potential, but also various other compelling reasons for tracking their performance as …
Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer unveiled the second 2023 WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting players. This Spotlight includes only West Coast Leaguers currently playing, with the rankings reflecting not just their professional potential, but also the various other compelling reasons for tracking their progress this summer. The first …
Earlier this week, 40 current and former West Coast League players were selected in Major League Baseball’s annual Rule 4 Amateur Draft. There were 18 alumni selected in the first 10 rounds of the Draft, and 10 of the 40 total selections are current WCL players. Sunday night, UCLA right-hander Alonzo Tredwell became the first …
