The West Coast League has awarded the Longview/Kelso franchise to Tony Bonacci, a successful businessman and long-time manager and sponsor of amateur baseball programs. League president Ken Wilson made the announcement Thursday, June 18, praising Bonacci as having “the perfect combination of grassroots experience in baseball and success in business.”

Bonacci has been pursuing a WCL franchise in the Longview/Kelso market since early in the year.

“The league and the community leadership throughout this process has been outstanding, and I’m excited about the things we’ll be doing here,” said Bonacci. “We have to earn support and I believe we will with top-notch baseball and affordable family entertainment.”

Bonacci plans to name a general manager as soon as possible. “Once we get our general manager in place, we’ll have a name the team contest and begin taking ticket deposits.”

Bonacci has a law degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame and is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School. He’s married with four children and makes his home in Phoenix.

The Longview/Kelso team will begin play next season in the West Coast League.

Story Field in Longview will be the site of a Kitsap home game this summer as the BlueJackets take on the WCL defending champion Corvallis Knights on Sunday, July 19 at 5:05 pm. Tickets for that game are on sale at various ticket outlets in Longview/Kelso.