News

Ickes Named Top Prospect, Final WCL Spotlight Released

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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Executive, Broadcaster and Scorekeeper of the Year Winners Named

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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Top Coach, Umpire and Team Sportsmanship Award Winners Unveiled

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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All-WCL Teams Released

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 …

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WCL MVP and Pitcher of the Year Selections Announced

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 …

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Corvallis Wins Seventh Consecutive WCL Championship

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 …

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Knights and HarbourCats to Play Monday in WCL Championship Game

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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Four Teams Advance to Saturday’s Divisional Championship Games

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 …

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WCL Playoffs Begin Tonight

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 …

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Titialii and Lim Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Accolades

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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Third WCL Spotlight Unveiled

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 …

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Second WCL Spotlight Released

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 …

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40 WCL Alumni Selected in 2023 MLB Draft

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 …

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17 Former WCL Players Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft

With the selection of 17 players on Monday, 18 WCL alumni have now been taken in the first 10 rounds of this year’s MLB Draft. Two players currently active in the WCL, right-hander Morris Austin of the Portland Pickles and outfielder Quincy Scott of the Ridgefield Raptors, were selected on Monday. UCLA right-hander Alonzo Tredwell …

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Tredwell Becomes MLB Draft Day 1 Selection

Sunday, UCLA right-hander Alonzo Tredwell became the first former WCL player selected in the 2023 MLB Draft when he was chosen in the second round by the Houston Astros with the 61st overall pick. Tredwell pitched for the Portland Pickles in 2021 before an impressive two-year career with the Bruins. The 6’8″ hurler went 8-3 …

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Bells Secure Postseason Bid, Second-Half Race Starts

Thursday night, the Bellingham Bells clinched the West Coast League’s second 2023 playoff spot by securing the first-half title in the North Division. The Bells join the Ridgefield Raptors as the two teams that have already secured their spot in the WCL postseason starting in August. There are still six more playoff spots up for …

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Raptors Clinch Playoff Spot, North Decided Thursday

Wednesday night in Ridgefield, the host Raptors clinched the West Coast League’s first 2023 playoff spot, beating the Portland Pickles 10-3 to eliminate the Pickles from contention. The Raptors had already finished their first half with a 17-9 record, with the Pickles passing the Raptors if they’d pulled off the road sweep this week. But …

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First-Half Race Enters Final Stretch

This week, and perhaps as soon as Tuesday night, the West Coast League’s first two postseason berths will be clinched by the first-half winners in each division. Given the nature of West Coast League scheduling, it’s practically impossible for every WCL team to finish their “first half” on the same date. As a result, each …

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McCollum and Heppner Earn WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors

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 LeTrey McCollum (UC Santa Barbara) and Victoria HarbourCats right-hander Sean Heppner (University of British Columbia). Last week, McCollum went 11 for 19 in five games while scoring nine runs and stealing …

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First WCL Spotlight Unveiled

Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the first-ever WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting players. “We’ve long been considered the West’s top collegiate summer league,” Neyer said, “but the WCL’s talent and stories just get more impressive every year. So now feels like the right time to give our fans …

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Kyle Manzardo Picked to Play in MLB Futures Game

Former Portland Pickle Kyle Manzardo has been selected to play in the 2023 Futures Game in Seattle during this year’s MLB All Star Weekend. The Tampa Bay Rays minor league standout will be headed back to the Pacific Northwest to showcase his talents in this year’s Futures Game. The current Durham Bulls (AAA) superstar is …

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Amundson and Erdman Earn WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors

The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Wenatchee AppleSox infielder Easton Amundson (uncommitted) and Bellingham Bells right-hander Jack Erdman (Tennessee Tech). Last week, Amundson knocked out six extra-base hits, including three home runs, while both driving in and scoring 10 …

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2023 WCL Season Begins Tonight

It’s Opening Night in the West Coast League, with all 16 teams in action this evening across Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. “It’s both exciting and humbling to be entering my fifth season with this tremendous league,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “When I think about how hard everyone’s worked to build the West Coast League, …

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McLain Set for MLB Debut

The first winner of the West Coast League’s Top Prospect Award has arrived in the big leagues. Matt McLain, tabbed in 2018 as the inaugural Top Prospect after his month-long stint with the Bellingham Bells, is set to make his Major League debut Monday night with the Cincinnati Reds, playing shortstop and batting second against …

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Ramirez Primed to Lead the Lefties

If you believe in destiny, or something like it – that everything happens for a reason – you might guess that Carlos Ramirez was destined to coach Matt Acker’s Port Angeles Lefties. Or if not the Lefties, another team associated with Acker. “We met in Hawai’i,” Acker said, “when I started working baseball camps. One …

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New Pace of Play Rules and Umpiring Staff Announced

Tuesday, the West Coast League and Supervisor of Umpires John White announced the League’s U.S.-based umpiring crews, and also instituted new NCAA-inspired rules designed to enhance the WCL’s pace of play. “As we embrace the baseball-wide movement to create a faster-paced, more entertaining game for our fans,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer, “we’re blessed with a …

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MLB Opening Day Rosters Feature 41 Alumni

This year, a record 41 players with West Coast League experience have earned spots on Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters. This marks the third consecutive season with the WCL setting a new record for alumni on Opening Day rosters. Former WCL players gearing up to start the season in the big leagues include 2020 …

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20 WCL Alumni Named to WBC Rosters

The 2023 World Baseball Classic will feature 20 former West Coast League players, representing eight of the 20 teams participating in the tournament that begins on March 7. “As an international league from our very beginning,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “we’re particularly passionate about baseball’s ability to transcend borders, and we’re thrilled to see …

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Executives Gather for Annual Winter Meetings

Last weekend in Portland, the West Coast League’s board of directors and general managers gathered, both in person and via teleconference, for the League’s annual winter meetings. The event kicked off Friday night, when Commissioner Rob Neyer presented Nova Newcomer with the West Coast League’s annual Grass Roots Award, just before Seattle Mariners pitching coach …

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WCL Unveils 2023 Schedule

Last week in Southern California, the West Coast League’s board of directors met to review a tremendously successful 2022 season, approve the League’s 2023 schedule, and reach consensus on a number of other matters. “No doubt, these last few seasons have been challenging,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “with the pandemic wiping out our 2020 …

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298 WCL Alumni Active in Affiliated Baseball

In 2022, 299 alumni of West Coast League teams were active in affiliated professional baseball. A number of WCL alumni had impressive MLB seasons, such as 2022 National League All-Star Tyler Anderson (Corvallis Knights, 2009). Other notable WCL alumni include former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber (Cowlitz, 2014), along with rookie stars Adley Rutschman …

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Umpiring Prospect of the Year and Official Scorer of the Year Honored

Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the inaugural winners of two league awards: Umpiring Prospect of the Year, and Official Scorer of the Year. The WCL’s 2022 Umpiring Prospect of the Year is Nick Hudlow. A Portland native, Hudlow graduated from the famous Wendelstedt Umpire School last winter, then opened the West Coast …

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WCL and MLB Announce Partnership

This week the West Coast League and Major League Baseball announced an agreement to jointly pursue initiatives of mutual interest, including player and coach development, technology innovation related to scouting and fan experience, and community engagement. “We continue to be impressed by Major League Baseball’s enthusiastic support of amateur baseball,” said West Coast League Commissioner …

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WCL Unveils Additional Postseason Award Honorees

Friday morning, the winners of the West Coast League’s Top Prospect, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year, and Team Sportsmanship Award were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. The Bend Elks’ (and incoming Oklahoma State freshman) Beau Sylvester earned the league’s Top Prospect Award. This summer the catcher and Hawaii native …

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All-WCL Teams Announced

Thursday morning, the 2022 All-West Coast League teams were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. “It’s a true pleasure to watch the West Coast League’s tremendous players all summer,” Neyer said, “and I certainly don’t envy our coaches who somehow winnowed down all that talent to just the players on these all-league teams.” …

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WCL Co-MVPs and Pitcher of the Year Unveiled

Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the winners of the League’s top two individual awards: Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year. This year Wenatchee AppleSox second baseman Joichiro Oyama (UC Irvine) and Ridgefield Raptors outfielder/catcher Jacob Sharp (UNLV) were selected by WCL coaches and executives as co-MVPs. Oyama played in all …

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Corvallis Captures Sixth Straight WCL Title

The Corvallis Knights’ historic run – already among the most impressive in modern amateur sports – became even more impressive Monday night when the Knights, with more than 2,000 fans on hand, captured their sixth straight West Coast League championship with a 5-0 victory over the visiting Bellingham Bells. The Knights’ championship is also their …

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Bells and Knights to Meet Monday in WCL Championship Game

Monday night, the Corvallis Knights will host the Bellingham Bells in the West Coast League’s first-ever Championship Game. The Knights, winners of the last five WCL championships, reached the title game by taking two of three games from Yakima Valley in their divisional series, then topping the Ridgefield Raptors in the South Division championship game. …

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Four Teams Advance to Saturday’s Divisional Championship Clashes

The pairings are now set for the Divisional Championship matchups, with the two showdowns set to take place on Saturday. 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 Ridgefield Raptors are on a collision course with the Corvallis …

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Playoff Pairings Set, Postseason Begins Tuesday

Tuesday night in four locations ranging from British Columbia’s Vancouver Island to Central Washington to the Greater Portland area, the West Coast League’s playoffs are set to kick off in unprecedented fashion. For the first time in League history, eight teams qualified for the postseason, following a regular season in which the last two playoff …

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Walker and Taylor Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors

The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Victoria HarbourCats standouts Josh Walker (Sacramento State) and Nick Taylor (Edmonds CC). Both Walker and Taylor played crucial roles in the HarbourCats’ playoffs push, which culminated with a victory in a winner-take-all showdown …

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Playoff Chase Enters Final Weekend

With each day this week, we gained another shred of clarity in the West Coast League postseason picture. But with only three days left, there’s still a great deal in question. For the first time in West Coast League history, this summer eight teams will qualify for the postseason. By virtue of their first-half titles, …

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Postseason Race Sprints Towards Final Stretch

*Note the playoff bracket included with the story is if the season ended before the games on 8/2 are played. Monday night, the West Coast League’s playoff picture became a bit more clear when the visiting Kamloops NorthPaws topped the Kelowna Falcons in a makeup game. For the first time in West Coast League history, …

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WCL Playoff Picture Comes Into Focus

Last winter, the West Coast League’s board of directors approved a new postseason format designed to do two things: (1) increase the number of postseason teams, in part to reflect the jump in league members from 12 to 16, and (2) inject even more excitement into the second half of the season, not to mention …

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30 WCL Alumni Selected in 2022 MLB Draft

Earlier this week, 30 current and former West Coast League players were selected in Major League Baseball’s annual amateur Draft. With both Brooks Lee (Corvallis Knights, No. 8) and Gabriel Hughes (Bellingham Bells, No. 10) among the first 10 overall picks, 2022 marks the sixth straight year with at least one former WCL standout drafted …

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11 Former WCL Players Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft

With the selection of 11 players on Monday, 14 WCL alumni have now been taken in the first 10 rounds of this year’s MLB Draft. Three former WCL players were picked on the Draft’s first day, with both Brooks Lee (Corvallis Knights, No. 8) and Gabriel Hughes (Bellingham Bells, No. 10) among the first 10 …

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Lee and Hughes Selected as Top 10 Picks in 2022 MLB Draft

Sunday, former West Coast League standouts Brooks Lee (Cal Poly) and Gabriel Hughes (Gonzaga) both were among the first 10 picks in the 2022 MLB Draft. The Minnesota Twins selected Lee eighth overall, and just moments later the Colorado Rockies chose Hughes 10th. This marks the sixth straight year featuring at least one former WCL …

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Heimueller Brings Lifetime of Baseball Experience to Nanaimo

By Rob Neyer How often do we reduce, in our minds, a baseball life to a line or two in Baseball-Reference.com or one of those old doorstop encyclopedias? In 1983, Gorman Heimueller started 14 games for the Oakland Athletics, all in the second half of the season. He won three of those, and lost five. …

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Golden Tate Impresses in WCL Debut

Golden Tate hit the ground running Tuesday night in his first game playing in the West Coast League for the Port Angeles Lefties, as the former Pro Bowl wide receiver went 2-for-4 in his debut. Tate had a double, single, stolen base, drove in a run, and scored a run in the Lefties’ 5-2 win …

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WCL’s Lefties Sign Ex-NFL Wide Receiver Golden Tate

Today the West Coast League’s Port Angeles Lefties announced that ex-NFL wide receiver Golden Tate has signed as a Lefties player for the remainder of the 2022 season. While Jake Locker and Jordan Poyer both played for WCL teams before their NFL careers, Tate will become the first former NFL player in the league. “I …

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Official League Offering Limited Edition WCL Hat Collection

Official League, a new lifestyle apparel brand exclusively for passionate fans, yesterday announced a new limited-edition hat collection celebrating Opening Day for the West Coast League, the West’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Official League has created brand-new, exclusive hat designs for the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, Portland Pickles, and Wenatchee AppleSox, with all four …

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2022 WCL Season Opens Tonight

It’s Opening Night in the West Coast League, with four games slated for this evening in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. And in just three days, 16 WCL teams are set for an action-packed weekend. “I’ve got exactly zero doubt,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer, “that this season will be our League’s best yet. We’ll have …

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West Coast League Goes Even Bigger With Tech

In recent seasons, the West Coast League has become the tech-friendliest and -savviest summer collegiate league, establishing partnerships with high-profile, industry-leading companies like TrackMan, Synergy Sports, and Driveline Baseball. As notable and productive as those partnerships have been, though, in 2022 the WCL’s technology partnerships have shifted into hyperdrive, with unprecedented coverage that will include …

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#1 MLB Prospect Adley Rutschman Joins Orioles

The West Coast League’s highest-ranked prospect has been called up to the big leagues. Adley Rutschman, the sport’s top prospect according to MLB.com, has been promoted by the Baltimore Orioles and is set to make his MLB debut (Friday night, the Orioles posted video of Rutschman getting the good news). In 2019, Rutschman became the …

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For 2022 Draft, Lee Ranked as No. 5 Prospect

According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, former Corvallis Knights infielder Brooks Lee is one of four former West Coast League players ranked among the Top 150 MLB Draft Prospects for 2022. Lee, the star shortstop for Cal Poly, is listed as the Draft’s No. 5 overall prospect. In each of the last five years, at least …

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MLB Opening Day Rosters Include 33 WCL Alumni

This year, a record 33 players with West Coast League experience have earned spots on Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters. It is the second consecutive season the WCL has set a new record for alumni on MLB Opening Day rosters after there were 31 in 2021. Former WCL players gearing up to start the …

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WCL Remembers Former Commissioner Jim Dietz

The West Coast League mourns the loss of the former league commissioner Jim Dietz. As the League’s first commissioner, Dietz oversaw the WCL’s launch and laid a strong foundation for the WCL’s continuing growth and success. He served as the WCL commissioner from 2005 through 2007, when he transitioned to a key role on the …

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West Coast League Launches New Visual Identity

Today, the West Coast League unveiled a striking rebrand, beginning a transition from the league’s traditional WC logo to a new WCL mark that evokes the league’s sprawling geography, ranging from central Oregon north through Washington state, British Columbia and, beginning this year, well into Alberta, Canada. “The West Coast League’s geography is simply unparalleled,” …

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Board of Directors Hold Annual Winter Meetings

Last weekend in Portland, the West Coast League’s board of directors gathered, both in person and via teleconference, for the League’s annual winter meetings. Most notably, the League’s board of directors approved a new postseason format that includes eight of the WCL’s 16 teams, with all eight postseason teams hosting at least one playoff game. …

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Jerry Smoot Named Inaugural WCL Grass Roots Award Winner

Saturday night in Portland, the West Coast League tabbed Jerry Smoot as the inaugural winner of the WCL’s first Grass Roots Award. “Our Grass Roots Award celebrates coaches from our communities,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “who have spent much of their lives working to promote amateur baseball and help young players achieve their full …

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WCL Announces 2022 Schedule

This morning the West Coast League released its official 2022 schedule, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer. “Now it feels real,” said Neyer. “After a 2020 without games and a 2021 without our Canadian members, a 2022 with everyone — including three new teams in Canada, plus our fourth Oregon member — certainly figures to …

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Board of Directors Gather for Fall League Meetings

Earlier this week in Indio, California, the West Coast League’s board of directors met in person for the first time in nearly two years, and reached consensus on a number of matters while renewing the deep, international ties between League members in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta. “Our league’s No. 1 asset is our …

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305 Alumni of WCL Teams Appear in Affiliated Baseball

In 2021, 305 alumni of West Coast League teams were active in affiliated professional baseball. A number of WCL alumni had impressive MLB seasons, such as former Cy Young Award winner and 2021 American League All-Star Shane Bieber (Cowlitz, 2014). Other notable WCL alumni include pitchers Nick Pivetta (Victoria, 2013), Matt Boyd (Corvallis, 2010) and …

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Knights Named Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team of the Year

Friday, the West Coast League received a bit of tremendous news: for the second straight season, Perfect Game has announced the Corvallis Knights as their Summer Collegiate Team of the Year. “I can’t say I’m completely surprised,” said Rob Neyer, West Coast League Commissioner, “since in their last two seasons, the Knights have won 77 …

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WCL Announces Additional Postseason Award Honorees

Tuesday morning, the winners of the West Coast League’s Top Prospect, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year and the Team Sportsmanship Award were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. Incoming Oregon State freshman Travis Bazzana of the Corvallis Knights, who was also named the WCL’s MVP, earned the league’s Top Prospect …

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All-WCL Teams Unveiled

Wednesday morning, the 2021 All-West Coast League teams were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. “It’s my tremendous pleasure every year,” said Neyer, “to announce the WCL’s All-League teams. Considering the WCL’s position as the premier summer collegiate baseball league in the entire western half of the continent, saying our teams represent ‘the best …

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WCL MVP and Pitcher of the Year Winners Announced

Monday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the winners of the League’s top two individual awards: Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year. “As the West’s top summer collegiate baseball league,” Neyer said, “we obviously featured a great wealth of exciting talent in 2021. Sifting through all that talent and arriving at these two …

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Knights Win Fifth Consecutive WCL Title

The historic run is now a five-peat for the Corvallis Knights. On Friday night at Goss Stadium, the Knights topped the Yakima Valley Pippins 13-2 to capture their fifth consecutive West Coast League title. “When I became Commissioner four years ago,” Rob Neyer said after Friday night’s game in Corvallis, “I was well-aware of the …

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Pippins and Knights Ready for WCLCS Winner-Take-All Game

With their backs against the wall, the Corvallis Knights were able to respond on Thursday night at Goss Stadium. The Knights beat the Yakima Valley Pippins 2-1 to even the West Coast League Championship Series 1-1 and set up a deciding Game 3. First pitch tonight from Goss Stadium in Corvallis is at 6:35 pm. …

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Yakima Valley and Corvallis Advance to WCLCS

The Yakima Valley Pippins and Corvallis Knights are set to square off in the 2021 West Coast League Championship Series. The Pippins punched their ticket to the WCLCS after defeating the Bellingham Bells 11-5 on Monday night in the deciding game of the North’s Divisional Series. For Yakima Valley it is their first trip to …

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WCL Playoff Pairings Set

With the West Coast League’s final postseason berth secured by the Ridgefield Raptors, both first-round matchups are finally set. Thursday night, the Raptors finished the regular season in a three-way tie with the Portland Pickles and Bend Elks, but Ridgefield owned the tiebreaker by virtue of their combined 9-3 record against Portland and Bend. Ridgefield will …

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Final Postseason Bid Still Up for Grabs

Oregon & Washington, Aug. 12—As the final week of the West Coast League’s regular season dawned, four teams were still squarely in the hunt for the South Division’s second playoff spot, which this season goes to the team with the division’s second-best overall record (as the Corvallis Knights have locked up the best record in …

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Hotly Contested Race for Final Playoff Bid

The West Coast League enters the final days of an already unprecedented regular season with not two, or even three, but four teams with highly viable paths to the league’s fourth and final postseason berth. The bracket is set in the WCL’s North Division, as the Yakima Valley Pippins finished atop the first-half standings, and …

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Duran Becomes 100th WCL Alumni to Reach the Major Leagues

Saturday night, the West Coast League reached a huge milestone when Jarren Duran batted sixth and started in center field for the first-place Boston Red Sox, becoming the 100th alumnus of a current or past West Coast League team to make his MLB debut. Chronologically, the list of 100 begins with Mike Thurman, who pitched …

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42 WCL Alumni Selected in 2021 MLB Draft

Earlier this week, 42 current and former West Coast League players were selected in Major League Baseball’s annual Rule 4 amateur draft. With the Cincinnati Reds’ selection of Matt McLain with the 17th overall pick, 2021 marks the fifth straight year with a WCL standout drafted in the first round. There were 19 WCL alumni …

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18 Former WCL Players Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft

A total of 19 WCL alumni have been taken in the first 10 rounds of this year’s MLB Draft after 18 additional players were selected on Monday, including four among the top 63 picks. Matt McLain, who earned the WCL’s Top Prospect Award in 2018 as a member of the Bellingham Bells, was selected by the …

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McLain Selected in First Round of MLB Draft

West Coast League alumni Matt McLain of UCLA was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft, as the Cincinnati Reds picked McLain 17th overall. It is the fifth consecutive season that a former WCL player has been taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. McLain, a UCLA infielder, earned the WCL’s …

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Seven Former WCL Players Named All-Americans

Seven West Coast League alumni were named to All-America teams by Baseball America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, highlighted by first-team selection Aaron Zavala of the University of Oregon. Zavala, who played for the Ridgefield Raptors in 2019, had a .392 batting average with nine home runs, 38 RBIs and 64 runs scored …

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WCL Opens 2021 Campaign

It’s Opening Night in the West Coast League, with five games slated for the circuit this evening in Washington and Oregon. All ten U.S.-based teams will be in action for Opening Night, with the Bellingham Bells hosting the Port Angeles Lefties, the Ridgefield Raptors hosting the Bend Elks, the Yakima Valley Pippins hosting the Corvallis …

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WCL Increases Tech and Data Initiatives for 2021

Entering the 2021 season, the West Coast League continues to enhance technology and data Initiatives with the help of new and expanded partnerships. Among our growing partnerships is with TrackMan, which serves as an additional tool to aid player development and performance evaluation. TrackMan Baseball is used by all 30 Major League Baseball teams and …

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West Coast League Creates Health & Safety Group

Today the West Coast League, one of North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball leagues, announced the formation of a COVID-19 Health & Safety Group, effective immediately. Meeting weekly from this week through the end of the postseason in August, the Health & Safety Group consists of representatives from five teams based in both Washington and …

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WCL Adds Springfield Drifters as Newest Member Team

Thursday, the West Coast League announced the addition of the expansion Springfield Drifters as the league’s 16th member team. The Drifters will join the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, and Portland Pickles as the league’s fourth Oregon-based team. “When you look at a map,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “adding another team in the Willamette Valley …

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WCL’s Canadian Members Withdraw From 2021 Season

Wednesday, the West Coast League announced that all five of the league’s Canadian members have withdrawn from the 2021 season, due to continuing, pandemic-related border and gathering limitations. In addition to the Kelowna Falcons, who previously canceled their season, the Victoria HarbourCats, Edmonton Riverhawks, Kamloops NorthPaws, and Nanaimo NightOwls have also made the difficult decision …

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MLB Opening Day Rosters Feature WCL-Record 31 Alumni

This year, a record 31 players with West Coast League experience have earned spots on Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters. What’s more, three of those players—reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, of the Cleveland Indians; the Seattle Mariners’ Marco Gonzales; and the Detroit Tigers’ Matt Boyd—will serve as their teams’ Opening …

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WCL Announces Driveline Partnership

Wednesday, the West Coast League announced that Driveline Baseball is now an Official Development Partner, with a wide range of elements that will provide unprecedented opportunities for WCL teams and Driveline athletes. “I’ve been admiring Driveline for years,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer, “and I’m thrilled that now we’ll be working so closely with them. Our …

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WCL Unveils Adjusted 2021 Schedule for U.S. Teams

Tuesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released a revised 2021 schedule for the League’s 10 U.S.-based teams. The League and four Canadian teams—the Victoria HarbourCats, along with the expansion Edmonton Riverhawks, Kamloops NorthPaws, and Nanaimo NightOwls—continue to work toward a Canadian-only schedule, while closely monitoring the pandemic responses by border officials and provincial health …

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WCL Announces 2021 Schedule Changes

Today the West Coast League announced the adoption of a revised 2021 schedule that eliminates all regular-season international travel. The new schedule will consist of the league’s U.S.-based members playing each other, and the league’s Canada-based members doing the same. This revised structure leaves open the possibility of a full league playoff format. “After the …

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Kelowna Alumni James Paxton Returns to the Pacific Northwest

The Kelowna Falcons have featured a long list of big leaguers over the years, including slugger Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles and the newest Seattle Mariner – The Big Maple, James Paxton. Paxton is back in the Pacific Northwest and joins former WCLers Mitch Haniger of the Knights and Marco Gonzales of Wenatchee to …

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A Team Reborn, a Birthday Anniversary, and Ties Between Two Baseball Cities

It’s often been said by those inside the game that the baseball world is very small. As widespread as the game is across the country on Little League fields, high school and college fields, and in professional stadiums, baseball has maintained a decidedly intimate feel with myriad small-town connections. The sport reaches deep into communities, …

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WCL Alumni Mitch Haniger & Marco Gonzales Embody Winning Ways

The Corvallis Knights and Wenatchee AppleSox are a tradition celebrated each summer, one inning at a time. The two baseball clubs partnered from the very beginning as founding West Coast League members in 2005. From that inaugural summer collegiate season forward they have enjoyed extraordinary success on the field and in their respective communities.  In …

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Richards Ready to Lead Revived Bushnell Program

By Rob Neyer Tenacious. When asked for a scouting report on Tommy Richards—on Tommy Richards as a player; as a coach; as a person, just living in the world—Scott Anderson kept coming back to the same word: tenacious. If anyone knows, Anderson would. In 2009 and ’10, Anderson was Richards’s head coach with the West …

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MLB Vet Greg Swindell Added to HarbourCats Coaching Staff

There are MLB team coaching staffs that don’t have this much big-league playing experience. Count ’em up, 31 years. Greg Swindell, a 17-year MLB pitcher, has been added by Head Coach Todd Haney for the 2021 Victoria HarbourCats season, as Bench Coach. Add that to Haney’s five seasons and the nine seasons of Pitching Coach …

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For 2021 Draft, McLain Ranked as No. 3 Prospect

Former Bellingham Bells infielder Matt McLain is one of four West Coast League alumni ranked among the Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects for 2021, according to MLB.com. McLain, a UCLA standout, is listed as the Draft’s No. 3 overall prospect. Other WCL alumni featured on the list include catcher Noah Cardenas (No. 62), right-handed pitcher …

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WCL Unveils 2021 Schedule

Today the West Coast League released its official 2021 schedule, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer. “Every year,” said Neyer, “getting the new West Coast League schedule is like getting an early Christmas present. The best early Christmas present.” Opening Day 2021 is set for Tuesday, June 1. All fifteen WCL teams will have started …

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WCL Alumni Shane Bieber Wins AL Cy Young Award

Wednesday, former Cowlitz Black Bears pitcher Shane Bieber was named the winner of the 2020 American League Cy Young Award after a dominating season for the Cleveland Indians. Bieber is the first WCL alumni to win a Cy Young Award. “We couldn’t be more thrilled for Shane Bieber, the Cowlitz Black Bears, and the entire …

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Canning Earns Gold Glove Award

Former Wenatchee AppleSox pitcher Griffin Canning (2014) became the team’s first alum to win a Gold Glove Award by claiming the top defensive honor for a player. Canning earned the American League Gold Glove honor at pitcher after his second MLB season. The right-hander led all American League pitchers with 3 Defensive Runs Saved and …

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Black Bears Hire Van Tol as Next Head Coach

Monday, the West Coast League’s Cowlitz Black Bears unveiled their new Head Coach: Gary Van Tol, who’s been teaching and coaching young players in the Pacific Northwest for three decades. “Gary is the ideal fit for the Black Bears and our community,” Cowlitz GM Gus Farah said. “Coach Van Tol will recruit, organize, and compete …

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42 WCL Alumni Appeared in MLB During 2020 Season

During the pandemic-shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season, 42 alumni of West Coast League teams played in the major leagues. A number of alumni posted outstanding seasons, such as Cleveland’s Cy Young Award candidate Shane Bieber (Cowlitz, 2014) and Seattle Mariners ace Marco Gonzales (Wenatchee, 2010). Other notable WCL alumni include pitchers Detroit’s Matt Boyd …

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NorthPaws Name Armstrong Head Coach

The Kamloops NorthPaws have hired Cole Armstrong as the first head coach in franchise history. The 37-year-old from Surrey, B.C. becomes the only current Canadian serving as head coach in the West Coast League. “It’s a dream come true to return to British Columbia to do what I love,”says Armstrong. “I’d like to thank the …

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West Coast League Expands to Edmonton

Western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league continues to grow with Tuesday’s announcement from Baseball Edmonton introducing the Edmonton Riverhawks as the West Coast League’s 15th member team. The Riverhawks now join the Nanaimo NightOwls and Kamloops NorthPaws among three WCL expansion teams, all in Canada, set to begin play next June. The newest …

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Kamloops NorthPaws Newest WCL Expansion Team

Wednesday, the West Coast League welcomed the Kamloops NorthPaws to western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. “As Canada’s ‘Tournament Capital,’ Kamloops is obviously a hotbed for amateur sports in British Columbia, so collegiate summer ball is a perfect fit,” said WCL commissioner Rob Neyer. “As a new team, the NorthPaws face a stiff …

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Veteran Coach to Lead NightOwls in 2021

The first Head Coach of the Nanaimo NightOwls brings a wealth of experience, networking, and community service to the role, to lead the team in its West Coast League debut in 2021. The ownership group of the NightOwls is proud to introduce Greg Frady in the top baseball role — which means the completion of …

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Former WCL Players Make MLB Debut

A pair of West Coast League alumni got their first taste of the big leagues during the opening weekend of the 2020 Major League Baseball season. Brandon Bailey and Taylor Jones each made their MLB debut for the Astros in Houston’s series against the Seattle Mariners. Bailey tossed a scoreless inning in relief on Sunday …

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Four WCL Alums Named MLB Opening Day Starters

Opening Day 2020 has finally arrived for Major League Baseball and four former West Coast League hurlers will toe the rubber in their teams’ first game of the season, as Marco Gonzales, Shane Bieber, Matt Boyd and Tommy Milone have all been tabbed as Opening Day starters. It will be the second season Gonzales has …

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Nanaimo NightOwls to Take Flight in 2021

The lights, the history, the proud First Nations lore. And the world-famous dessert that helped make the City of Nanaimo a household name, all combined. The ownership group of the expansion team for the 2021 season, set to call historic Serauxmen Stadium home in the West Coast League, along with the team’s Founding Sponsor, Island …

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WCL Announces New Merchandise Partnership with Teambrown Apparel

Today the West Coast League, one of North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball leagues, announced a new partnership with Teambrown Apparel to produce WCL-branded merchandise for the league’s fans around the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the baseball world, with items available immediately. “We initially became aware of the WCL because of their unique …

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MLB 60-Man Rosters Feature 50 WCL Alums

Updated July 27, 2020 To date, 50 players with West Coast League experience have been named to Major League Baseball 60-man rosters for the 2020 season. These unprecedented 60-man rosters provide an expanded player pool from which each MLB team may draw, during the shortened season. In 2019, 45 West Coast League alumni appeared in …

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Updated MLB Alumni Page Unveiled

All 83 former West Coast League that have gone on to play in the Major Leagues are featured on the WCL’s brand new alumni page. WCL alums reaching “The Show” include 2019 MLB All-Star Game MVP Shane Bieber (pictured) and emerging slugger Rhys Hoskins, along with standout hurlers such as James Paxton, Marco Gonzales, and …

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Former WCL Players Sign as Non-Drafted Free Agents

*Updated as of August 16, 2020 More West Coast League alums are gearing up to start their professional careers, signing as free agents with Major League organizations since the conclusion of MLB’s 2020 amateur draft. In addition to the five WCLers selected in this year’s five-round draft, 16 more players have now agreed to terms …

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Five WCL Alums Selected in 2020 MLB Draft

Five alums of West Coast League teams were taken in MLB’s 2020 amateur draft, conducted June 10 and 11. With the Milwaukee Brewers’ selection of Garrett Mitchell with the 20th overall pick, 2020 marks the fourth straight year with a WCL standout drafted in the first round. Mitchell, a UCLA outfielder, played for the WCL’s …

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Mitchell Taken in First Round of MLB Draft

West Coast League alum Garrett Mitchell of UCLA was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft today, as the Milwaukee Brewers picked Mitchell 20th overall. It is the fourth straight season that a former WCL player has been taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. Mitchell, a UCLA outfielder, played for …

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2020 MLB Draft WCL Names to Know

With MLB’s annual Rule 4 amateur draft set for this Wednesday and Thursday, West Coast League alumni Garrett Mitchell, Jeremy Wu-Yelland, and Holden Powell all have their sights set on being tabbed in the draft’s five rounds. Mitchell, a UCLA outfielder, played for the West Coast League’s Walla Walla Sweets in 2017. In his first …

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WCL Cancels 2020 Season

This week the West Coast League’s board of directors voted to cancel its 2020 summer collegiate season, due to pandemic-related safety guidelines and travel restrictions across Washington and Oregon. Concurrently, league members Cowlitz, Port Angeles, Ridgefield, Walla Walla, and Yakima Valley are cancelling their respective seasons. Also this week, the League set June 4 as …

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WCL Alums Named 2020 Collegiate Baseball All-Americans

Seven West Coast League alums were named to Collegiate Baseball’s All-America teams released yesterday including first-team All-Americans Zach Pettway of UCLA, A.J. Lewis of Eastern Kentucky and Kenyon Yovan of Oregon. The teams were selected based on games played prior to the stoppage of the college baseball season due to Covid-19. Pettway shined during his summer …

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An Update Regarding COVID-19 and the WCL

On Friday, May 8, the West Coast League and its member teams released the following statement regarding their 2020 season… The West Coast League is closely monitoring the Covid-19 policies and announcements issued by federal, state, provincial, and local authorities in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Considering the latest information at hand, the WCL has …

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Knight Cherishes His Baseball Adventures

By Rob Neyer It definitely felt like the end of the road. This January, Perth Heat manager Brooke Knight and his Australian Baseball League team were many thousands of feet in the air, nearly home after a tough series in Adelaide: three one-run losses in four games to the first-place Bite. But now, with Virgin …

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WCL Urges Fans to #StayHome4Baseball

Wednesday morning, all twelve West Coast League teams launched the #StayHome4Baseball campaign, encouraging fans to stay home and flatten the coronavirus curve. The #StayHome4Baseball campaign challenges not only fans, but also baseball teams everywhere, at all levels, to help limit and ultimately stop the spread of COVID-19. “It’s not often,” WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer said, …

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An Update Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the WCL

About the West Coast League: The West Coast League (WCL) is the premier summer collegiate baseball league west of the Mississippi. Situated in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the fifteen-year-old, twelve-team, professionally operated wood-bat league showcases pro prospects from major conferences around the nation. Every summer, the league features unparalleled fan and player experiences, with the best …

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Nanaimo Awarded WCL Expansion Team

West Coast League baseball is landing in Nanaimo. The WCL, which is currently made up of 12 teams including Canadian entries in Victoria and Kelowna, is expanding to 13 teams with the addition of Nanaimo. The to-be-named club’s inaugural season is set for 2021. Nanaimo will play its home games at Serauxmen Stadium. The team …

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Cirillo Ready to Lead Sweets

By Rob Neyer Sure, you already know Jeff Cirillo as an outstanding Major League Baseball player: fourteen seasons in the majors, twice an All-Star, .296 career batting average, Gold Glove-quality defense (even if the voters somehow never quite noticed). You might not know what Cirillo’s been doing since 2007, because he’s kept a relatively low …

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WCL Announces Pitch Smart Implementation

A new pact further solidifies the West Coast League’s commitment to safe pitching practices. The WCL has been approved at full compliance level by Pitch Smart for the 2020 season. The Pitch Smart program is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball that provides guidelines and best pitching practices to help reduce …

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Victoria Skipper Reflects on Baseball Journey

By Rob Neyer Todd Haney, the ex-major leaguer who just signed a multi-year extension as the Victoria HabourCats’ Head Coach, wasn’t really supposed to play on baseball’s biggest stage. Coming out of high school in Waco, Texas, he was barely recruited and wound up at tiny Panola College. While Haney did finish his college career …

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Exploring Baseball History of WCL South Cities

By Rob Neyer In part one of this two-part series, we looked at the rich baseball history of the West Coast League’s six North Division cities. Here in part two, we’ll look at the South’s similarly fascinating baseball legacy… Obviously, the history of summer baseball in Portland, Oregon—now home to the internationally famous Pickles—is far …

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Exploring Baseball History of WCL North Cities

By Rob Neyer Baseball abhors a vacuum. Or perhaps it’s baseball fans who abhor a vacuum. Because I’ve noticed over the years that even when “baseball” leaves a town or city, for whatever reasons, “baseball” usually returns before long. And there is perhaps no better example than today’s West Coast League, now playing in a …

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Former MLB All-Star Jeff Cirillo to Manage the Sweets

Two-time Major League All-Star Jeff Cirillo has been announced as the new manager for the Walla Walla Sweets. Cirillo, currently a scout for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, had a 14-year playing career in the Major Leagues that included the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. …

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AppleSox to Host 2020 WCL All-Star Game

For the second time in franchise history, the Wenatchee AppleSox will host the West Coast League All-Star Game. The AppleSox hosted the inaugural WCL All-Star Game in 2006 and will become the league’s second team to host multiple All-Star Games when they welcome the 13th mid-summer classic in WCL history to Wenatchee. “I am very …

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WCL Announces 2020 Schedule

The West Coast League released its official 2020 schedule today, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer. “Because of the tremendous geographical scope of our league,” Neyer said, “putting together a schedule is more art than science, and there will always be travel challenges. But we’re confident that our 2020 schedule will showcase our league’s great …

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WCL Alums Named to Olympic Qualifying Rosters

A number of former West Coast League players could have the opportunity to capture Olympic gold in 2020. WCL alums Spencer Howard, Wyatt Mills and Andrew Vaughn were selected to USA Baseball’s roster for the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12. In addition Brandon Marklund and Will McAffer were chosen to play for Team Canada. …

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317 Alums of WCL Teams Appear in Affiliated Baseball

317 alums of West Coast League teams have appeared in or are active in affiliated professional baseball in 2019. The WCL’s list of 2019 pros features 45 players that have appeared in major league games or have been on a big league roster. A number of alums have had outstanding seasons such as 2019 MLB …

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Perfect Game Unveils WCL Top 25 Prospects List

Perfect Game announced on Tuesday their list of the top prospects in the WCL this summer. The list, which was compiled by former Wenatchee AppleSox player Connor Spencer, named Brooks Lee of the Corvallis Knights as the top prospect. Lee was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 37 overall prospect going into this year’s MLB …

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All-WCL Teams and Honors Announced

The 2019 All-West Coast League teams and annual awards were unveiled this morning, as announced by WCL commissioner Rob Neyer. University of Utah slugger Briley Knight of the Corvallis Knights was selected as the WCL’s MVP. The sophomore-to-be for the Utes led the league in a number of offensive categories. He had the top on-base …

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Corvallis Named Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team of the Year

It was announced this morning that the West Coast League champion Corvallis Knights were selected by Perfect Game USA as the Summer Collegiate Team of the Year. The Knights are the first team in WCL history to be honored by Perfect Game as their Summer College Baseball Team of the Year. Perfect Game is the …

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Knights Win Fourth Straight WCL Title

The Corvallis Knights are once again the champions of the West Coast League. The Knights beat the Victoria HarbourCats 11-1 on Sunday evening at Goss Stadium to clinch the team’s fourth consecutive title. Corvallis is the first team in WCL history to achieve a four-peat. The title is the seventh for the Knights, as Corvallis …

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Victoria and Corvallis Advance to WCLCS

The Corvallis Knights and Victoria HarbourCats are set to clash in the 2019 West Coast League Championship Series. Game 1 is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Friday at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. Game 2 will be at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Goss Stadium; Game 3 (if necessary) would be at 5:05 p.m. Sunday, also at …

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WCL Playoff Pairings Set

The final two spots in the 2019 West Coast League playoffs have been secured by the Walla Walla Sweets and Wenatchee AppleSox. Both teams are making their first trip to the postseason since 2013. The Sweets will battle the three-time defending WCL champs Corvallis Knights in the postseason beginning next week. Walla Walla is set …

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North Tops South 14-1 at All-Star Game in Bend

One big inning helped to lift the North to the 14-1 win over the South at the 2019 West Coast League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in front of 2,284 fans at Vince Genna Stadium in Bend. The North’s early lead expanded with a nine-run top of the second inning to give the squad a …

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WCL All-Star Game Rosters Announced

West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the league’s all-star selections for its 2019 All-Star Game this morning. This year’s mid-summer classic is being held Tuesday, July 23 in Bend at Vince Genna Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm. “Overseeing the West Coast League’s All-Star selection process is both a blessing and a …

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WCL Announces Home Run Derby Lineup

The participants are set for this year’s West Coast League All-Star Game Home Run Derby. The night before the All-Star Game, on Monday, July 22, the annual slugfest will take place at Vince Genna Stadium in Bend. The derby will begin at 7:05 pm and admission is free. There is also a fireworks show scheduled …

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Bieber Named MLB All-Star Game MVP

Former Cowlitz Black Bears pitcher Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first West Coast League alum to be selected as the MVP of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Bieber, playing at his home ballpark of Progressive Field in Cleveland, earned the honor after striking out the side …

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WCL Alums Among Recent MLB Call-Ups

A number of former West Coast League standouts have either made their Major League Baseball debuts or have been called back up to the big leagues as of late. Thomas Eshelman had a strong outing for the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night. In Eshelman’s start against the Tampa Bay Rays he went five innings and …

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90 WCLers Picked in 2019 MLB Draft

Ninety alums and current players of West Coast League teams were selected in the 2019 MLB Draft. West Coast League alum Adley Rutschman of Oregon State was selected as the No. 1 overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. The former Corvallis Knights standout is the first WCL alum in …

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WCL Remembers Former President Dennis Koho

The West Coast League is sorry to report the recent passing of former league president Dennis Koho. From July 2013 until December 2015, Koho oversaw the WCL’s dynamic growth, which included bringing baseball back to Yakima County Stadium in 2014, with the expansion Yakima Valley Pippins, and managing three member transfer sales. “I wasn’t fortunate …

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Caulfield and Magrisi Earn WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Accolades

The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by league commissioner Rob Neyer, are Santa Barbara City College outfielder Patrick Caulfield of the Walla Walla Sweets and Cal State Fullerton pitcher Joe Magrisi of the Yakima Valley Pippins for the week of June 4-9. This summer’s …

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WCL Unveils New Era Caps Partnership

Today the West Coast League announced that New Era will, throughout the 2019 season, serve as the league’s preferred hat. “As our league continues to evolve,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “it’s only natural that we’ll enjoy relationships with phenomenal brands like New Era. Beginning this summer, I fully expect to see baseball fans all …

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TrackMan Expands to Additional WCL Ballparks

Cutting-edge technology will be implemented at five more West Coast League stadiums this summer with the league’s announcement today of an expanded agreement with TrackMan. The company’s 3D Doppler radar system, which is used by all 30 Major League Baseball teams, precisely measures the location, trajectory and spin rate of hit and pitched baseballs. The …

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Future Game Coming to Portland’s Walker Stadium

How will the game of baseball look in 2050? That’s the question the Portland Pickles and Corvallis Knights will tackle on the Fourth of July with a special exhibition matchup at Walker Stadium. The Pickles announced seven major rules changes that will be implemented for the one-night only Future Game. Check it out, as this …

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WCL Announces New Umpiring Partnership

Today the West Coast League announced a new agreement with the Southern Umpires Association, set to begin this summer. The SUA will provide ten umpires, who will staff the great majority of the WCL’s U.S.-based games during the upcoming season. “The West Coast League has always made great efforts to hire the best Northwest-based umpires, …

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MLB Opening Day Rosters Feature 25 WCL Alums

Marco Gonzales of the Seattle Mariners

Neyer Named 2019 Henry Chadwick Award Recipient

WCL Commissioner Honored by SABR

WCL Commissioner Earns 2018 Honor

West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer’s latest book, Power Ball: The Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game

WCL Unveils 2019 Schedule

The West Coast League unveiled its official 2019 schedule today as announced by commissioner Rob Neyer. Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and established in 2005, the premier summer collegiate baseball circuit west of the Mississippi showcases top collegiate baseball players from across North America in 12 markets throughout Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, Canada. …

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Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game

Current West Coast League commissioner and former ESPN columnist and analytics pioneer Rob Neyer dramatically recreates an action-packed 2017 game between the Oakland A’s and eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros to reveal the myriad ways in which Major League Baseball has changed over the last few decades. We invite all our West Coast League …

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294 Alums of WCL Teams in Pro Baseball

294 alums of West Coast League teams have appeared in or are active in affiliated professional baseball in 2018. The WCL’s list of 2018 pros features 38 players that have appeared in major league games or have been on big league rosters this summer. Several alums have been having big MLB seasons such as closer …

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Ridgefield Unveils Identity

After extensive community feedback from Southwest Washington, including a “name the team contest”, the newest West Coast League (WCL) membership in SW Washington will commence play in June 2019 as the Ridgefield Raptors. As previously announced, Chris Cota from College of the Canyons will lead the team as the inaugural manager. The unveiling of the …

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Former Elk Makes MLB Debut

Former Bend Elks closer Jeff Brigham of University Washington made his big league debut yesterday as he started on the mound for the Miami Marlins. The right-hander tossed 3 innings in the Marlins 6-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Marlins Park. Brigham closed for Bend in 2011 where he made 9 regular-season appearances …

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Ridgefield Names Inaugural Skipper

The West Coast League’s newest member, the Ridgefield based WCL team, is pleased to announce that Chris Cota, head coach of College of the Canyons, has been hired as its first skipper in club history. “We are excited to add Chris to our organization and follow his leadership on the field in our inaugural season,” …

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5 WCL Players Named Perfect Game All-America

Five West Coast League players were named to Perfect Game’s Summer Collegiate All-America teams, which were released on August 23, 2018. WCL co-Pitcher of the Year Landen Bourassa of University of San Francisco earned second-team summer collegiate honors. The Corvallis Knights ace and senior-to-be USF Don tied for the league lead in wins with 5 …

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All-WCL Teams and Awards Announced

Kelowna’s Trent Tinglestad Named MVP

Corvallis Captures WCL Title

Corvallis three-peat in WCL Championship

Corvallis Takes Game One of WCLCS

Corvallis 17, Kelowna 6

Kelowna Advances to WCLCS

The Kelowna Falcons advanced to the West Coast League Championship Series last night with a thrilling 7-6 win over the Bellingham Bells at Joe Martin Field. The Falcons raced to an early lead scoring three in the first and four in the second to go up 7-0, but the Bells stormed back, scoring the game’s …

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Corvallis Advances to WCLCS

The Corvallis Knights advanced to the West Coast League Championship Series for a third consecutive year with a sweep of the Portland Pickles in the WCL South Divisional Series. The two-time defending WCL champions edged the Pickles 4-1 last night in 11 innings at a sold out Walker Stadium in Portland. Both WCL South Divisional …

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Kelowna Captures Final North Berth

The Kelowna Falcons captured the league’s final playoff spot last night by clubbing Wenatchee 11-3 and getting some help from the WCL South first-half champion Portland Pickles, as Portland knocked Victoria out of the post-season by beating the HarbourCats 10-3 at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. Kelowna advances to the playoffs for the …

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North Race Goes Down to Final Day

The race for the West Coast League’s final playoff spot got even hotter after Tuesday night’s results. With Corvallis’s 2-0 win over Yakima Tuesday night at Goss Stadium, now Victoria (27-26) is the only contender for the North’s final playoff spot that controls its own destiny. With a Victoria win over Portland on Wednesday, which …

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Heated Race in North

The race for the West Coast League’s final playoff spot, as well as the temps in the Pacific Northwest, are really heating up. It’s a red-hot race for the final berth in the North Division. Among the four contenders for that last spot, the only club that controls its own destiny is Yakima Valley. The …

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Corvallis Clinches Playoff Berth

This past Thursday night, the Corvallis Knights clinched a West Coast League playoff berth for the 12th consecutive year by beating their longtime rival the Bend Elks 8-5 at Oregon State’s Goss Stadium. Corvallis is the league’s reigning champion, winning back-to-back WCL titles in 2016 and 2017. The league’s defending champions are currently on an …

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Bend to Host 2019 WCL All-Star Game

West Coast League commissioner Rob Neyer announced this morning that the league’s 2019 All-Star Game will be played at Vince Genna Stadium, home of the Bend Elks. The exact date for the annual mid-summer classic will be released along with the full 2019 WCL schedule in the fall. The 2019 WCL All-Star Game will be …

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North Beats South 10-6 in ASG

The 2018 West Coast League All-Star Game was powered early by Port Angeles Lefties sluggers Ron Brown of Houston and Kyle Schimpf of Southeastern Louisiana before a packed crowd at Civic Field on a gorgeous evening in Port Angeles, Washington. Monday’s Saltwater Splashdown champ Ron Brown delivered a RBI single in the bottom of the …

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Houston’s Ron Brown Wins HR Derby

In arguably the West Coast League’s most exciting home run derby, the hometown slugger – Houston’s Ron Brown of the Lefties – won the league’s inaugural Saltwater Splashdown in the Port Angeles harbor. The Port Angeles Lefties Ron Brown represented the North in the finals, as he outdistanced the Bellingham Bells Matt James 21 to …

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WCL All-Star Game Probables Announced

North skipper Darren Westergard of Port Angeles and South head coach Brooke Knight of Corvallis announced their probable starting pitchers for Tuesday’s WCL All-Star Game. Westergard tabbed Wenatchee AppleSox Curtis Bafus of VCU. Bafus is 3-3 with a 2.72 ERA over 7 appearances and 6 starts this summer. The right-hander from Woodinville, Washington has struck …

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WCL Unveils Saltwater Splashdown Lineup

The participants are set for the Saltwater Splashdown, this year’s West Coast League All-Star Game Home Run Derby to be held in the Port Angeles harbor. The event will be the most unique All-Star Game Home Run Derby in WCL history. The night before the All-Star Game, on Monday, July 16, going deep will be …

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WCL Announces All-Star Game Rosters

West Coast League commissioner Rob Neyer announced the league’s all-star selections for its 2018 All-Star Game this afternoon. This year’s mid-summer classic is being held Tuesday, July 17 in Port Angeles at Civic Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm. “In my professional life as a columnist and blogger, I second-guessed dozens of All-Star …

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Bells and Pickles Clinch

The first two spots in the 2018 West Coast League playoffs have been secured by the Bellingham Bells and Portland Pickles. The Bells have clinched the first-half North title while the Pickles locked up the first-half title in the South. Bellingham will look to make a return trip to the WCL championship series in 2018. …

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WCL Alum Andrew Vaughn Earns Top Award

A pair of former West Coast League players, Andrew Vaughn and Cadyn Grenier, recently were the recipients of college baseball’s most prestigious awards. Most recently, former Victoria HarbourCat Andrew Vaughn of Cal won the Golden Spikes Award, the football equivalent of the Heisman. Bend Elks alum Cadyn Grenier of Oregon State was the recipient of …

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Oregon State Wins College World Series

The Oregon State Beavers of the Pac-12 went 6-0 in elimination games at the College World Series to capture the program’s third national title. Head coach Pat Casey’s Beavs shutout Arkansas 5-0 yesterday in the CWS finale to secure a national championship. West Coast League alum Adley Rutschman (Corvallis, 2016) was named the College World …

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WCL Adds Clark County Membership

The West Coast League, together with Clark County and the cities of Ridgefield, Vancouver, Camas, Battle Ground, Washougal, and La Center, announced this afternoon the addition of a West Coast League expansion membership in the Clark County market, to begin play in the spring of 2019. The new team’s home facility will be the Ridgefield …

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OSU and UW to Meet in CWS

Yesterday’s College World Series opening games were heartbreaking for #3 national seed Oregon State and first time CWS participant Washington. Both lost close games, Oregon State 8-6 to North Carolina and Washington 1-0 to Mississippi State on a walk-off hit. As a result, the two Pac-12 teams left standing in the NCAA DI baseball tournament …

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Port Angeles Introduces Off Field Competition

A competition between West Coast League teams is set to take place off the field as well as on the diamonds this summer, all to support a good cause. The Port Angeles Lefties and the United Way of Clallam County have partnered to start Community Coins, a coin drive designed to see which WCL team …

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73 WCLers Selected in 2018 MLB Draft

73 alums and current players of West Coast League teams were selected in the 2018 MLB draft held June 4-6. Former Corvallis Knights infielder Nick Madrigal of Oregon State was the 4th overall pick in the first round, the highest WCL alum selection ever in the MLB June draft. Over the summer of 2015, Madrigal …

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Two WCL Alums Go in First Round of MLB Draft

West Coast League alum Nick Madrigal of Oregon State was selected in the first round of the MLB draft today, as the Chicago White Sox picked Madrigal 4th overall, the highest selection ever for an alumnus of the WCL. Madrigal starred for the Corvallis Knights in 2015. He earned first-team all-WCL honors and set the …

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WCL Introduces Game of Week

Beginning this season, most of the West Coast League’s member teams are airing their home games over online streaming video. As part of the league’s move to video broadcasting, fans can now connect with the West Coast League throughout the season unlike ever before with a new weekly streaming video Game of the Week broadcast. …

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New WCL Commish Featured in Portland Tribune

West Coast League commissioner Rob Neyer was featured today in an article titled “New WCL baseball commissioner hopes seventh book hits a home run” written by Portland Tribune writer Paul Danzer. To check out commissioner Neyer’s Portland Tribune interview, please click here. ABOUT THE WEST COAST LEAGUE The West Coast League (WCL) is the premier …

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AppleSox Announce Ownership Change

The Wenatchee AppleSox of the West Coast League has been sold by founder Jim Corcoran to Jose Oglesby, a former Microsoft manager. The team, entering its 19th year, will continue to play at Paul Thomas Sr. Field on the campus of Wenatchee Valley College. Assistant general manager and co-owner Ken Osborne will remain with the …

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WCL Introduces Moss Adams Player of the Week

New West Coast League commissioner Rob Neyer announced this morning that the leading summer collegiate baseball league West of the Mississippi is partnering with Moss Adams, a leading accounting & consulting firm with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. “We’re thrilled to partner with such a dynamic firm as Moss Adams,” said WCL Treasurer Dan …

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WCL Alum Tosses No-No for M’s

British Columbia native James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners tossed a no-hitter last night in his home country of Canada at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. The former Kelowna Falcons ace was masterful, striking out 7 while walking three in the Mariners 5-0 victory over the Blue Jays. The flame-throwing lefty struck out 16 over 7 innings …

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Baseball Writer Rob Neyer Joins WCL

This morning, the West Coast League announced the addition of Commissioner to its league leadership structure, and that former ESPN and Fox Sports journalist Rob Neyer will be filling the position, effective immediately. Neyer is the league’s first commissioner since ABCA Hall of Fame head coach Jim Dietz of San Diego State presided over the …

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Walla Walla Sweets to Enhance Facility

Construction is currently underway to upgrade and update the historic home of the Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League. Borleske Stadium is undergoing renovations to enhance the fan experience at the ballpark for the upcoming 2018 season. Perhaps the most notable change that Sweets fans and WCL oppoonents will notice as they enter …

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WCL Alums Twirl No-No for Cougars

Four West Coast League alums – Parker McFadden, AJ Block, Collin Maier and Ryan Walker – combined to no-hit Santa Clara this past Sunday at Washington State as the Cougs blanked the Broncos 5-0 to sweep their non-conference series. McFadden, who pitched for the Cowlitz Black Bears in 2016, got the win – his first …

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Bells Announce Facility Enhancement

The Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League recently announced they are adding a new scoreboard to Joe Martin Field for the 2018 season. The scoreboard, which will completely replace the current existing structure, will feature a new design and full video display capabilities. The new scoreboard has been made possible by financial support from …

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22 WCL Alums Make Opening Day MLB Rosters

Opening Day MLB rosters feature 22 players that have played for West Coast League teams including four Seattle Mariners. The Mariners CEO is John Stanton who is part of the ownership group that operates WCL clubs in Walla Walla and Yakima Valley. Former Kelowna Falcons ace pitcher James Paxton is starting Saturday at Safeco Field …

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Victoria’s Home Has New Name

The West Coast League’s Victoria HarbourCats and the Wilson’s Group of Companies recently announced, effective immediately, a five-year baseball branding agreement that renames the HarbourCats home – Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The branding agreement applies to all baseball related events including HarbourCats home games, the 2018 Baseball Canada Men’s Championship, and other …

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Lexington Legends Name WCL Alum New Broadcaster

West Coast League alum Emma Tiedemann continues to rise in the broadcasting ranks as the former voice of the Medford Rogues, and much more, is set to be the first female play-by-play voice in the South Atlantic League with the Lexington Legends in 2018. The Rogues were members of the West Coast League from 2013-2015. …

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Victoria Signs Two Cuban Players

The Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League recently made two major announcements involving Cuba; an exciting addition to their home schedule and the signing of two International pitchers. The HarbourCats will host an international-flavored exhibition game on Monday, July 30 (6:35pm), against Union de Reyes, an amateur team managed by former Cuban National Team …

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WCL Alum Tosses Perfect Game for UW

Junior right-handed pitcher Joe DeMers of University of Washington tossed a perfect game at Husky Ballpark vs. UC Riverside of the Big West Conference on Saturday, Feb. 24. It was only the 5th perfect game thrown in Pac-12 history. DeMers struck out 9 in UW’s 8-0 win over the Highlanders in the first game of …

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Splashdowns Set for Port Angeles ASG Derby

The Port Angeles Lefties are hosting the 2018 West Coast League All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 17th at Civic Field. As part of the All-Star Game festivities, the Lefties have big plans for the Home Run Derby to be held the night before. For more details, check out yesterday’s piece in the Peninsula Daily News …

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63 WCL Alums CBN Top Players to Watch

63 West Coast Leaue alums were named as Top Players to Watch in their respective conferences in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s annual college baseball preview issue including former Cowlitz Black Bear and current University of Oregon closer Kenyon Yovan and former Corvallis Knights utility man Nick Madrigal of Oregon State, who both also earned CBN pre-season …

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WCL Releases 2018 Schedule

The WCL unveiled its official 2018 schedule today, setting the stage for a 14th season of West Coast League baseball. Established in 2005 and located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the premier summer collegiate baseball circuit west of the Mississippi showcases top collegiate baseball players from across North America in 11 markets throughout Washington, Oregon …

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West Coast League Adds Portland Pickles

The wildly popular Portland Pickles have joined the premier summer collegiate wood-bat league west of the Mississippi – the West Coast League. The Pickles will make their WCL debut in June of 2018. “We have been huge fans of the West Coast league for many years and are so excited to be joining their 11 …

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Lefties Make Coaching Change

The Port Angeles Lefties announced the hiring of Skagit Valley College assistant coach Darren Westergard as their new head coach. Westergard has been at Skagit Valley for 12 seasons. “I’ve known Darren for over 20 years. I’m excited to have him on board,” said Lefties owner Matt Acker. “He knows baseball, talent and is connected …

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Bells Name New Head Coach

Bob Miller has been named head coach of the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League, the team announced today. Miller, the head coach of the Cuesta College baseball program in San Luis Obispo, Calif., will lead the Bells during the 2018 season. Miller has been the head coach at Cuesta College since 2003. During …

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271 Alums of WCL Teams in Pro Baseball

271 alums of West Coast League teams have played or are active in affiliated professional baseball in 2017. The WCL’s list of 2017 pros features 32 players that have appeared or are active in the big leagues this summer. The list of alums of WCL teams who have appeared in MLB games or are on …

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Sweets Chris Lincoln Named BA Top Prospect

This past Wednesday, Baseball America’s Pat Hickey released his 2017 top WCL prospect list. UC Santa Barbara’s Chris Lincoln of the Walla Walla Sweets was rated the West Coast League’s top prospect. The sophomore-to-be flashed electric stuff this past summer as he struck out 36 over 33.1 innings pitched. Lincoln has the size and stuff …

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WCL Alum Hoskins Sets MLB Homer Record

West Coast League alum Rhys Hoskins of the Philadelphia Phillies homered for the 11th time in his 18th big league game Sunday afternoon vs. MLB defending champion Chicago at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies beat the Cubs 6-3 behind the power of Hoskins and starting pitching of former Victoria HarbourCats pitcher Nick Pivetta, who improved …

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All-WCL Teams and Honors Announced

The 2017 all-West Coast League teams were unveiled this morning, as well as the league’s annual awards, as announced by new WCL president Brian Sloan. In the summer of the long ball, West Virginia rising redshirt sophomore catcher Chase Illig of the Bellingham Bells was named MVP of the West Coast League. Illig put on …

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Knights Edge HarbourCats 4-2

The Corvallis Knights repeated as West Coast League champions Tuesday night by beating Victoria 4-2 at Goss Stadium before a crowd of 1,430. Corvallis captured its fifth WCL title by taking the decisive third game of the 2017 WCLCS. Victoria opened the series Saturday night with a 5-4 walk-off win at Royal Athletic Park before …

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Corvallis Evens WCLCS with Game 2 Win

With their backs against the wall, the defending WCL champion Corvallis Knights responded again. Facing elimination for the third time in the West Coast League playoffs, the Knights erupted for six runs in the last of the eighth inning to defeat Victoria 6-0 in Game 2 of the Championship Series before a loud crowd of …

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Victoria Takes Game One of WCLCS

The Victoria HarbourCats scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, capped by a RBI single to deep center from Po-Hao Huang, to give the ‘Cats a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory over the Corvallis Knights. It was a classic, back-and-forth, nail-biting opening game of the 2017 West Coast League Championship Series, …

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Corvallis Advances to WCLCS

The Corvallis Knights and Yakima Valley Pippins went the distance to decide who would represent the South in the 2017 West Coast League Championship Series; with the Knights prevailing 3-2 in a tightly contested decisive third game in Corvallis on Thursday, August 10. Yakima Valley won game one at Yakima County Stadium in convincing fashion, …

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Victoria Advances to WCLCS

The Victoria HarbourCats swept the Kelowna Falcons to advance to the West Coast League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history. In the West Coast League’s first all-Canadian divisional series, Victoria won game one 9-3 at Royal Athletic Park last night and bested Kelowna 11-5 tonight at Elks Stadium to take the series. …

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Last Playoff Spot Goes to HarbourCats

The Victoria HarbourCats were scoreboard watching Monday night, and rooting hard for South first-half and second-half South champs Corvallis vs. Wenatchee at the AppleSox home park Paul Thomas Sr. Field. Victoria needed the Knights to beat Wenatchee to advance to the North Divisional Series vs. Kelowna tomorrow; and it was all cheers for the Cats …

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Knights Win Second-Half; Pippins Clinch Berth

Sunday’s final day of the West Coast League’s regular-season schedule had a playoff feel to it, as so many teams were in contention for the league’s final two playoff spots. Both key games in the North Division ended in wild walk-offs, as the Bellingham Bells kept their playoff hopes alive with a two-run 9th-inning, and …

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Last Two WCL Playoff Berths Still Up for Grabs

For the first time in WCL history, multiple contenders are fighting for multiple playoff spots on the final day of the regular season. Both the North and South second-half champions are still undecided as the league wraps its regular season either today, or tomorrow if Corvallis and Wenatchee have to make-up a game that was …

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Second-Half Races Going Down to Wire

With five scheduled regular-season dates to go, West Coast League North and South races are too close to call, with six contending teams vying for the league’s final two postseason berths with no contending team more than two games out of contention. Tonight, the Victoria HarbourCats are hosting arguably the biggest game of the WCL …

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Granberg Powers South to 5-2 All-Star Game Win

Devlin Granberg of the Cowlitz Black Bears (Dallas Baptist) made himself comfortable at the plate at Yakima County Stadium when Cowlitz took two of three games from the Yakima Valley Pippins the week prior. He collected a pair of multiple-hit nights, and even hit a solo home run over the right field wall in the …

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Bellingham Bells Slugger Wins Derby

Chase Illig of the Bellingham Bells (West Virginia) hit his sixth home run of the season on Sunday night within the familiar confines of Joe Martin Field. He had no issue transferring that power over to Yakima County Stadium last night, as he blasted 11 home runs in round one and cruised to a wire-to-wire …

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ASG Head Coaches Announce Probable Starters

North and South head coaches Greg Goetz of Bellingham and Marcus McKimmy of Yakima Valley, respectively, announced their starting pitchers for tomorrow night’s West Coast League All-Star Game, presented by Target Zero, which starts at 7:05 pm at Yakima County Stadium. Port Angeles Lefties right-hander Nick Bonniksen will start for the North. Bonniksen is a …

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WCL Releases ASG Home Run Derby Lineup

With beautiful weather expected in Yakima for the two days covering this year’s West Coast League All-Star Game events, there’s no doubt the 10 players who will participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby will heat things up. The Home Run Derby, presented by Wildhorse Casino, begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Yakima County Stadium, with …

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WCL Unveils All-Star Game Rosters

The stage is now set for the West Coast League’s premier in-season event, with the announcement today of the North and South All-Star Teams by Brian Sloan, the new league president. This year’s WCL All-Star Game is hosted by the Yakima Valley Pippins and presented by Target Zero, and will be played Tuesday, July 18, …

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Kelowna Clinches First-Half Title in North

The Kelowna Falcons clinched the WCL North first half last night with a 5-3 road win at Yakima Valley. The Falcons finished the first half with a 17-10 record and own the tie-breaker advantage over both Bellingham and Wenatchee, two North teams with 10 losses and remaining games in the first half. By clinching, the …

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Corvallis Clinches First-Half Title in South

The Corvallis Knights clinched the WCL South first half last night with its 3-2 win at Gresham and Yakima Valley’s 11-5 home loss to Kelowna to earn a spot in the league’s postseason. The North is still up for grabs with four teams contending; Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Bellingham. The Falcons sit in first …

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WCL Introduces New League President

West Coast League Interim President Tony Bonacci – WCL Vice President and owner of the Cowlitz Black Bears – announced the hiring of longtime baseball executive Brian Sloan as the league’s new President this morning. Sloan assumes his President’s duties effective immediately. Sloan is a baseball marketing specialist who has established and cultivated many high …

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82 WCLers Picked in 2017 MLB Draft

82 current and former WCL players were selected in the 2017 MLB draft held June 12-14. Former Wenatchee AppleSox Keston Hiura of UC Irvine was the 9th overall pick in the first round, the highest WCL alum selection ever in the MLB June draft. Over the summer of 2015, Hiura tore apart WCL pitching for …

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Five WCLers Picked in First Two Rounds of MLB Draft

Five former WCLers were picked in the first two rounds of the MLB draft on Monday, June 12. Wenatchee AppleSox alum Keston Hiura of UC Irvine was the 9th overall pick in the first round, the highest WCL alum selection ever in the MLB June draft. Over the summer of 2015, Hiura tore apart WCL …

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WCL Alum Makes MLB Debut for Padres

Former Kelowna Falcons pitcher Phil Maton made his big league debut today for the San Diego Padres at Petco Park vs. the Kansas City Royals. Maton tossed a scoreless inning in the Padres 8-3 defeat. Maton, out of Louisiana Tech, starred for Kelowna in the summer of 2012 where he went 2-1 with a save …

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Seven Former WCLers Named All-Americans

Seven West Coast League alums were named to Baseball America’s All-America teams released yesterday including first-team All-Americans Big West Defensive Player of the Year David Banuelos of Long Beach State, who played for the Bellingham Bells in 2016, and Pac-12 Player of the Year Nick Madrigal of Oregon State, who set the WCL single-season mark …

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Claire Eccles Makes Debut for Victoria

The Wenatchee AppleSox used a 12-hit attack to outscore the Victoria HarbourCats 9-0 last night to take the rubber match of the three-game West Coast League (WCL) series between the two teams, but that did not seem to matter to the 1,263 die-hard fans in attendance, as they got to see history being made when …

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WCL Alum Tyler Smith Makes MLB Debut

Former Bend Elks infielder Tyler Smith was called up this past Friday from AAA Tacoma. That night, he debuted at Safeco Field for the Seattle Mariners at second base and doubled in his first big league at bat. Smith starred in college at Oregon State and played for the Elks in the summer of 2010 …

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Former WCL Star Named Pac-12 Player of Year

The Pac-12 announced its all-conference honors today, and former Corvallis Knights infielder Nick Madrigal of #1-ranked Oregon State was selected as both the conference’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Madrigal got his first taste of college baseball during the summer of 2015, where he earned first-team all-WCL honors and set …

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WCL Alum Named Pac-12 Pitcher of Week

Bend Elks fans were fortunate to see a young Jake Thompson further develop during the summer of 2014. Fast forward to 2017, and the redshirt junior is having arguably the best season of any pitcher in the country. He tossed a complete game shutout this past Saturday vs. Washington State and was named Pac-12 Pitcher …

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HarbourCats Sign Claire Eccles

It is a landmark day for the Victoria HarbourCats and the West Coast League, as the HarbourCats announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Claire Eccles, who is set to become the first female player in WCL history. Eccles, 19, represented Canada at the 2016 Women’s Baseball World Cup in South Korea last September, making two …

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WCL Alums Big Part of Cougars Surge

Former West Coast League pitchers Ryan Walker and Trenton Dupre of Washington State both excelled in the WCL for the Corvallis Knights; Walker following his frosh season in 2015 and Dupre after his junior campaign in 2016. Both also pitched in the WCL All-Star Game and have contributed to the Cougars late season surge that …

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Former HarbourCat Makes MLB Debut

Former Victoria HarbourCats hurler Nick Pivetta of the Philadelphia Phillies made his MLB debut today vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers in LA. The Victoria, BC native made two starts for the Cats in 2013, including the inaugural WCL home game at Royal Athletic Park, which Pivetta won 8-6 vs. Kelowna. Nick went 2-0 while with …

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WCL Alum Tosses First SAL Perfect Game

Former Cowlitz Black Bears southpaw Domenic Mazza of UC Santa Barbara made South Atlantic League history this past Tuesday by tossing the league’s first perfect game for the Augusta GreenJackets. The GreenJackets are a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Mazza, a native of Walnut Creek, California, pitched for the Black Bears following …

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MLB Opening Day Rosters Feature 16 WCL Alums

Sixteen players who have played for West Coast League teams made Major League Baseball 2017 Opening Day rosters. The region’s team – the Seattle Mariners – feature three former WCL players. Last year, 28 alums of WCL teams appeared in the major leagues. Below is a list of players who played for WCL member teams …

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WCL Alums Lead OSU to #1 Ranking

Former West Coast Leaguers are leading the charge for #1 ranked Oregon State. After sweeping perennial Pac-12 power Arizona State in Tempe, the Beavers were ranked #1 in the nation by both D1Baseball.com and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper yesterday. Today, former Bend Elks shorstop Cadyn Grenier and pitcher Jake Thompson were named Pac-12 Player of the …

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WCL Alums Shine in WBC

The star-studded World Baseball Classic is delivering world-class baseball, upsets and fantastic finishes as first-round Pool Play is being held in Tokyo, Seoul, Miami and Jalisco. The biggest surprise thus far is Team Israel, who opened its Pool Play in Seoul with a stunning 2-1 extra-inning win over South Korea. Former Kitsap BlueJackets infielder Scott …

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Pippins Unveil All-Star Game Logo

All roads will lead to Yakima County Stadium this summer for the West Coast League’s All-Star Game, and the Yakima Valley Pippins and the Yakima County Traffic Safety Taskforce, the game’s presenting sponsor, are teaming up to ensure fans get to the game and back home again safely. “The All-Star Game is the league’s premiere …

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Three WCL Alums Pre-Season All-Americans

Three alums of the West Coast League were named to Baseball America’s pre-season All-America teams, which were released yesterday. Sophomore infielder Nick Madrigal of Oregon State was named first-team All-America. Madrigal played for the Corvallis Knights in 2015 and broke the league’s single season steals record by swiping 40 bases that summer. He was a …

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WCL Fan Cave Returns to NWBC

The West Coast League was out in full force this past weekend at the 2017 Northwest Baseball Coaches convention held January 20-22 at the Portland airport Sheraton. The event saw the return of the popular WCL Fan Cave, which entertained coaching guests such as associate head coaches Pat Bailey and Jay Uhlman of Oregon State …

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Victoria’s Swanson Leader in Canadian Baseball

Victoria HarbourCats managing partner Jim Swanson was recently recognized by Canadian Baseball Network as one of the most influential Canadians in baseball in CBN’s top 100 list for 2016. Swanson came in at #76. HarbourCats broadcaster and communications director; and West Coast League Coordinator of Online Communications Jonathan Hodgson earned honorable mention. To check out …

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WCL Partner Recognized for Innovation

Longtime West Coast League partner Baden Sports, located in Renton, Washington, was recognized this month by Seattle Business Magazine for its innovative products. As part of the magazine’s 2016 Family Business Awards, Baden earned a gold award in the category of Innovation. Baden is the official basedball supplier of the WCL. The league has being …

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New Ownership in Gresham

The Gresham GreyWolves have been purchased by Scott and Misty Barchus. The purchase announcement was made this past Tuesday by Jerry and Lisa Walker who brought their West Coast League team to Gresham last season. “We are very happy to turn over operations of the GreyWolves to the Barchus’ as they have connections with the …

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HCats New Skipper Impresses at Hot Stove

By Jonathan Hodgson Brian McRae knows Bo. Well, sort of. The Kansas City Royals called McRae up to the major leagues in August of 1990 in a move that corresponded with Bo Jackson landing on the disabled list. Jackson famously starred as a power-hitting outfielder with the Royals and later the Chicago White Sox and …

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WCL Alum Mitch Haniger Traded to Seattle

Former West Coast League star Mitch Haniger could not be more excited about his recent trade to the Seattle Mariners and a return to the Pacific Northwest. “Can’t wait for spring already! Let’s go @Mariners,” he tweeted on his Twitter page, @m_Hanny19, following Seattle’s blockbuster deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Nov. 23. “Pumped to …

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HarbourCats Hot Stove Party Big Hit

By Jonathan Hodgson WCL Coordinator of Online Communications Significant names from the baseball world, past, present and future, descended on Victoria on November 5th for the 2nd Annual HarbourCats Hot Stove. The event, hosted by Yates Street Taphouse, was headlined for the second straight year by Gregg Zaun, a former major league catcher and current …

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Holy Cow. Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

By Jonathan Hodgson WCL Coordinator of Online Communications Young slugger Kyle Schwarber of the Chicago Cubs played an instrumental role in the Cubbies first World Series championship since 1908. Last night at Progressive Field in Cleveland, the second-year player collected three hits and started the Cubs tie-breaking 10th-inning two-run rally with a lead-off single in …

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WCL Adds Marketing Communications Resource

The West Coast League is pleased to announce the addition of Jonathan Hodgson to its marketing communications team. Hodgson will act as the WCL’s Coordinator of Online Communications. He joins Chris King, the league’s Director of Online Communications, as a content creator for WCL online communications. Jonathan’s focus will be writing stories for the league …

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WCL Unveils 2017 Schedule

The West Coast League unveiled its official 2017 schedule today as announced by league president Donnie Marbut. The upcoming season marks the WCL’s 13th campaign since the league was established in 2005. Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the premier summer collegiate baseball circuit west of the Mississippi showcases top collegiate baseball players from across …

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Bells and Sox Name New Head Coaches

Founding West Coast League members the Bellingham Bells and Wenatchee AppleSox recently made head coaching changes. Yesterday, the Sox introduced Kyle Krustangel of Yakima Valley CC as the club’s fourth head coach. He replaces A.J. Proszek. Kyle guided the Yaks to a NWAC championship in his first season as head coach at YVCC. The Whitworth …

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Perfect Game Releases WCL Prospects List

Perfect Game released its top thirty WCL prospects list last week. Corvallis Knights junior southpaw Cameron Bishop of UC Irvine was rated the league’s top prospect with Cal Bear frosh right-hander Jared Horn of the Bellingham Bells being ranked #2. Horn was rated the WCL’s top prospect and Bishop #2 by Baseball America. The list …

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WCL Coming to Port Angeles in 2017

West Coast League baseball is coming to Port Angeles, Washington in 2017. The WCL is proud to announce the birth of the Port Angeles Lefties, who will begin play in the league next season. Team ownership as well as members of the organization, Port Angeles city officials – led by Mayor Patrick Downie – along …

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WCL Alum Makes MLB Debut with Rocks

Former Wenatchee AppleSox infielder Pat Valaika made his major league debut this past Tuesday as a pinch-runner for the Colorado Rockies. An alum of UCLA, Valaika scored his first run in the big leagues last night as a pinch-runner in the Rocks 6-5 come from behind win over the San Francisco Giants. Valaika played for …

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Perfect Game Summer All-Americans

Perfect Game released its Summer Collegiate All-America teams last week. Four WCL players made the list including two first team honorees, both pitchers – Bellingham’s Sam Hellinger of Gonzaga and Yakima Valley’s Zach Draper of College of Idaho. Hellinger led the WCL in saves with 15 (regular and postseason combined) and Draper was the WCL’s …

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Baseball America Releases WCL Prospects List

Baseball America released its 2016 West Coast League top ten prospects list today. Bellingham’s Jared Horn of Cal Berkely of the Pac-12 was named the league’s top prospect. In total, six prospects from the Pac-12 were featured on Baseball America’s list along with representatives from the Big West, WCC and Big 12. West Coast League …

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Ex-MLBer to Skipper Victoria in 2017

The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce that former Major League Baseball star outfielder Brian McRae, now a college coach with summer baseball managerial experience, will take over as the team’s head coach. McRae has agreed to a two-year contract to lead the on-field product at Royal Athletic Park. McRae, who turns 49 on August …

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Knights Capture WCL Crown

Corvallis erased a West Coast League Championship Series (WCLCS) game three 4-2 deficit by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh-inning at Goss Stadium, as the Knights edged Bellingham 6-4 on Tuesday night before a crowd of 1,112 to win the West Coast League title. The Knights won the WCLCS opener 4-0 at …

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All-WCL Teams and Awards Announced

West Coast League president Donnie Marbut released the 2016 all-West Coast League teams this morning, as well as announcing the league’s 2016 awards. Rising UCLA freshman Michael Toglia of the Wenatchee AppleSox was named MVP of the West Coast League. The 35th round draft pick of Colorado Rockies from Gig Harbor, Washington led the WCL …

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235 WCLers in Affiliated Pro Baseball

235 alums of West Coast League teams have played or are active in affiliated professional baseball in 2016. The WCL’s list of 2016 pros features 28 players that have appeared in the big leagues this summer. The list of alums of WCL teams who have appeared in MLB games in 2016 include starting first baseman …

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Bellingham and Corvallis Advance

The Bellingham Bells and Corvallis Knights advanced to the West Coast League Championship Series with wins last night to earn Divisional Series sweeps. The Bells, led by shortstop Chase Strumpf, beat Victoria 12-1 at Royal Athletic Park to earn a berth in the WCLCS for the second time in three years. Strumpf, an incoming freshman …

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Shane Hanon Wins Batting Crown

The West Coast League regular season wrapped up yesterday with Bellingham and Yakima Valley securing second-half North and South titles, respectively. The Bells finished tied with Victoria at 17-10, but owned the tie-breaker as the Bells went 4-2 vs. the HarbourCats in the second half. Yakima Valley topped Corvallis by one game, finishing 17-10. The …

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Bells Clinch Final Postseason Spot

The Bellingham Bells clinched the final WCL playoff spot last night with a 4-3 extra-inning win at Wenatchee. Bellingham will face Victoria in the North Divisional Series. Game one is set for Bellingham’s Joe Martin Field on Tuesday, August 9. Games two and three (if necessary) will be held at Royal Athletic Park Wednesday, August …

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Pippins Clinch Playoff Berth

The Yakima Valley Pippins clinched a playoff berth last night as the Gresham GreyWolves were eliminated from postseason contention by the Corvallis Knights, 10-2. With three games remaining in the WCL regular season, the Pippins second-half record is 16-8, three games better than Gresham; and Yakima Valley owns the second-half tie-breaker as well as an …

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Second-Half Races Heat Up

The WCL North and South second-half playoff chase is about as hot as it can get. With summer finally here in the Pacific Northwest, the final week of the WCL regular season is sure to be heated. Only a half-game separates Yakima Valley and Gresham (13-7) in the South, with the Pippins in first with …

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South blanks North 4-0 in ASG at Cowlitz

Oregon State senior-to-be outfielder Kyle Nobach of the Corvallis Knights and Cal sophomore-to-be outfielder Jeffery Mitchell of the Gresham GreyWolves combined for five hits, three runs and a pair of RBIs to lead the South to a 4-0 win over the North in the 2016 West Coast League All-Star Game played last night in front …

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ASG Home Run Derby Lineup Announced

West Coast League president Donnie Marbut released the lineup of WCL All-Star Game Home Run Derby entrants this morning. Topping that list are WCL HR leaders Ben Polshuk of Victoria and Colorado Rockies 35th round draft pick Micheal Toglia of Wenatchee. Both have blasted 5 homers this summer and are tied for the league lead …

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Probable Starters Set for WCL All-Star Game

North skipper Bryan Donohue of the second-half first-place Kelowna Falcons and South head coach Grady Tweit of the Cowlitz Black Bears tabbed their West Coast League All-Star Game starting pitchers on Sunday. Donohue announced that Walla Walla’s Easton Lucas of Pepperdine would start for the North this Tuesday at Lower Columbia College’s David Story Field. …

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All-Star Game Rosters Released

Rosters for the 2016 West Coast League All-Star Game hosted this summer by the Cowlitz Black Bears were announced by league president Donnie Marbut this morning. The WCL’s annual showcase is set for Tuesday, July 19 at David Story Field in Longview, Washington. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. As in past years, a …

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Knights Clinch First-Half South Title

The Corvallis Knights secured a spot in the 2016 WCL postseason by clinching a first-half South title with its win yesterday at Yakima Valley. The Knights can finish no worse than in a first-half tie with Yakima Valley after improving to 15-8 by edging the Pippins 2-1. Corvallis owns the tie-breaker advantage – highest winning …

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HarbourCats Clinch First-Half North Title

It’s been a magical West Coast League (WCL) season so far for the Victoria HarbourCats and that magic continued at Royal Athletic Park (RAP) on Thursday, June 30, as the HarbourCats rolled to an unprecedented 18th win in a row with a 9-1 win over the Kelowna Falcons. The win clinched the first-half North Division …

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HarbourCats Set Win Streak Mark

The Victoria HarbourCats made WCL history last night as they beat the Wenatchee AppleSox at Paul Thomas Sr. Field 7-4 to extend their record-setting win streak to 15 games. They broke the old mark – 14 consecutive wins – previously held by the AppleSox. Victoria is currently in first place in the WCL North with …

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Former Bell Makes MLB Debut

Former Bellingham Bells ace and 2011 first-team all-WCL starting pitcher Adrian Sampson of the Seattle Mariners made his big league debut yesterday at Fenway Park vs. the mighty Red Sox. A product of Bellevue College, Sampson nearly went five innings in the Mariners 6-2 loss at Boston. Sampson was masterful back in the summer of …

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Former Knight Makes MLB Debut

Former Corvallis Knights southpaw Tyler Anderson of University of Oregon made his MLB debut this past Sunday at home vs. the San Diego Padres. The lefty from Las Vegas, Nevada turned in an impressive first start as Anderson tossed 6.1 innings of one-run baseball allowing no walks while striking out six in the Rocks 2-1 …

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88 WCLers Selected in MLB June Draft

Eighty-eight WCL alums and current players were selected in the 2016 MLB June draft held June 9-11. Former Corvallis Knights catcher Logan Ice was the first West Coast League alum to be picked as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 2nd round. Ice played for Corvallis …

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WCL Alum Powers Arizona to CWS

It was a dream day yesterday for senior Ryan Aguilar of Arizona. The former Cowlitz Black Bears star led his Wildcats to the College World Series and was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 31st round of the MLB June draft. Last night, Aguilar’s Arizona Wildcats rallied from a 5-1 deficit vs. Mississippi State …

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WCL Alums Key in UA and UCSB Regional Wins

UC Santa Barbara of the Big West and Arizona of the Pac-12 both won Regionals this past weekend. The Gauchos and Wildcats are the last west teams still standing in what started as a 64-team NCAA tournament field, as UCSB won the Nashville Regional and Arizona the Lafayette Regional. The Gauchos were led by former …

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Bend Tosses Combined No-Hitter

Day two of the West Coast League season featured history in Bend, Oregon. At Vince Genna Stadium, right-hander Kris Jackson of Chemeketa CC and southpaw Logan Hatley of Linn-Benton CC combined on the Elks first WCL no-hitter in club history vs. long-time rvial Corvallis. Jackson tossed eight innings, walked two and struck out 6 while …

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14 WCL Alums Earn All-Pac-12 Honors

Fourteen alums of West Coast League clubs were named to the 2016 All-Pac-12 team. In addition, former Corvallis Knights Logan Ice and Nick Madrigal of Oregon State were named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. Junior catcher Logan Ice of OSU earned honorable mention all-WCL honors in 2014. Madrigal …

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2016 WCL Season Opens Tonight

It’s Opening Day in the West Coast League. June 3 features WCL baseball in Bend, Cowlitz, Kelowna, Walla Walla and Wenatchee. The defending champion Elks take on longtime rival Corvallis at Vince Genna. The Black Bears open at David Story Field in Longview, Washington vs. the Kitsap BlueJackets. 2015 finalist Kelowna hosts 2014 WCL champion …

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Inside College Baseball with Donnie Marbut

Welcome to the second edition of the West Coast League’s Inside College Baseball, where new league president Donnie Marbut provides insight and analysis on the West Coast college baseball landscape. The former Washington State University head coach and Pac-12 Network analyst offers up his latest thoughts on college baseball in the west, which highlights many …

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WCL Alum Named WCC Player of the Year

West Coast League alum Jeff Bohling of Gonzaga was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Click here for more info from GU’s website. Bohling played for the Kitsap BlueJackets in 2014. That summer, he hit .255 with a homer and 17 RBIs over 145 at bats. He debuted in the West Coast …

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WCL Alums Earn Lofty Conference Honors

WCL alum Joe DeRoche-Duffin of University of Connecticut was named the Player of the Year in the American Athletic Conference. Duffin played for Corvallis in 2013 and 2014 and represented the Knights in the WCL HR Derby both years. Joe had a breakout senior season for the Huskies blasting 17 homers and collecting 52 RBIs. …

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WCL Previews Promotions

It is going to be a fun-filled summer at West Coast League ballparks in 2016. Fans will not only get to experience outstanding action on the field, but all 11 teams have fantastic promotions scheduled throughout the season. A few highlights include bobblehead giveaways, an appearance by the World Famous SD Chicken, and a number …

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Mother’s Day Magic at Angel Stadium

Corvallis Knights alum and 2009 West Coast League Pitcher of the Year Matt Andriese (pictured) made his 2016 debut with the Tampa Bay Rays extra special as the right-hander pitched in front of friends and family, including his mom Lynn, at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Mother’s Day. Andriese, a native of Redlands, California, grew …

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Inside College Baseball with Donnie Marbut

Welcome to the first edition of the West Coast League’s Inside College Baseball, where new league president Donnie Marbut provides insight and analysis on the West Coast college baseball landscape. The former Washington State University head coach and current Pac-12 Networks commentator offers up his latest thoughts on college baseball in the west, which highlights …

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John Stanton to Lead Mariners

The West Coast League along with the Yakima Valley Pippins and Walla Walla Sweets, the two WCL teams owned and operated by Pacific Baseball Ventures, congratulate John Stanton in his new role as chairman and CEO of the Seattle Mariners of the American League. Stanton, the chairman of PBV who was born in Seattle and …

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Victoria Owner Named Biz Person of Year

A member of the Victoria HarbourCats local ownership group, and giant of the Victoria business community, John Wilson was honored recently by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. At the chamber’s annual Business Awards held at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel this past Thursday evening, Wilson was named 2016 Victoria Business Person of the Year. …

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Victoria Names Hodgson Broadcaster

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce Jonathan Hodgson as the new ‘Voice of the HarbourCats’ for all online broadcasts throughout the 2016 season. HarbourCats online broadcasts will return this season, with all 27 regular season West Coast League home games plus three exhibition games and a BCPBL showcase game at Royal …

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WCL Alums Called Up

On Monday, April 11, rookie Texas Rangers catcher Brett Nicholas made his big league debut in the Rangers 7-3 win vs. Seattle at Safeco Field. Nicholas starred for the Kelowna Falcons in 2008 where he earned first-team all-WCL honors as a first baseman following his frosh spring at Gonzaga. Nicholas would later transfer to University …

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Q&A with WCL President Marbut

Donnie Marbut’s lifelong love affair with baseball took on an added dimension on March 31st, when the longtime player and coach was named the fifth president of the West Coast League, the premier summer collegiate wood-bat circuit on the West Coast. A native of Aberdeen, Wash., and former three-sport start at Aberdeen High School, Marbut …

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15 WCLers Make MLB Opening Day Rosters

Fifteen players who have played for West Coast League teams made Major League Baseball 2016 Opening Day rosters. Last year, 25 alums of WCL teams appeared in the major leagues. Below is a list of West Coast Leaguers that are starting their 2016 professional season in the big leagues. AMERICAN LEAGUE Chris Davis (Kelowna), Baltimore …

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WCL Introduces New President

Donnie Marbut, former head baseball coach at Washington State University, assumes duties today as President of the West Coast League, the premier summer collegiate baseball league West of the Mississippi. Marbut, a native of the Pacific Northwest, is the league’s fifth president. “The league is thrilled to introduce Donnie as its new leader,” said Owner/General …

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Burcham and Israel Cinderella Story at WBC

By Jonathan Hodgson Colorado Rockies prospect Scott Burcham is enjoying what is likely the highlight of his career to this point. The Rockies’ farmhand and former West Coast League talent, was the starting shortstop for Israel at the World Baseball Classic. A native of La Quinta, CA, Scott gained eligibility to play for Israel due …

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Cowlitz to Host 2016 All-Star Game

The Cowlitz Black Bears are pleased to announce they will host the 2016 West Coast League All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 19, at David Story Field in Longview, Washington. This showcase event will feature over forty of the WCL’s top players in the league’s annual exhibition. “It’s a great honor for this community to host …

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Pointstreak and WCL Renew

The West Coast League and Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc. announced a renewal to a long-standing and successful stats partnership. “The WCL is pleased to continue the partnership with Pointstreak to provide our players with deep stats into the future,” said Holly Jones, the acting president of the West Coast League. “Pointstreak’s Statistics platform is very …

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WCL Introduces Split Season

The West Coast League will be adopting a new split season format beginning in 2016 to determine its first-round playoff pairings. The WCL season will be split equally into two parts, with the winner from each division of each half securing a playoff berth. The 54-game league schedule will be divided into a first and …

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WCL Hits Homer at NWBC

The West Coast League was a corporate sponsor of the very well attended Northwest Baseball Convention that was held this past weekend (January 22-24) at the Sheraton Portland Airport. The WCL was also a title sponsor of the event’s Walk of Champions where the league’s 2015 champ the Bend Elks were honored. Bend general manager …

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HarbourCats Announce Front Office Reorganization

The development of the Victoria HarbourCats in the community has allowed the West Coast League franchise to make organizational changes geared to improving operations and prepare for growth. The HarbourCats, who took on a new ownership structure last spring when John Wilson, Richard Harder, Ken Swanson and Jim Swanson purchased the team, will play their …

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Falcons Hire New Skipper

The Kelowna Falcons have hired a new head coach in Mt. Hood Community College’s Bryan Donohue. Donohue is entering season number nine with the Mt Hood Saints, where he has compiled a record of 243-127 and is a 6-time Coach of the Year in the NWAC Southern Region. Prior to coaching at Mt Hood, Donohue …

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WCL Alum Featured in Baseball America

WCL alum Colin Walsh was recently featured in Baseball America in a piece written by BA editor John Manuel. Walsh played for the Kelowna Falcons in 2008 and earned honorable mention all-West Coast Collegiate Baseball League honors as the Stanford infielder led Kelowna in hitting with a .352 batting average that summer. Colin was selected …

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Bells Promote Front Office Staffers

The Bellingham Bells announced today that they have promoted two key front office staff members to expanded roles for the 2016 season. General Manager Nick Caples will assume the new role of Vice President of Operations and Assistant General Manager Stephanie Morrell will be promoted to the role of General Manager. “This is an extremely …

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Cats and Dawgs Featured in CBN

The West Coast League leader in attendance in 2015 – the Victoria HarbourCats – were recently recognized as one of Canada’s leaders in summer collegiate baseball by the Canadian Baseball Network. The article by Jonathan Hodgson titled “HarbourCats, Dawgs are summer time draws” featured the HarbourCats and Okotoks Dawgs, a member of the Western Major …

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King to Champion WCL Social Media and Online Communications

The West Coast League announced this afternoon the appointment of Chris King as its new social media resource and first director of online communications. King, a graduate of Washington State University, started his professional journey with the WCL’s founding flagship member – the Wenatchee AppleSox. The Marysville, Washington native launched his career as the team’s …

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WCL Alums Named Pre-Season All-America

Three West Coast League alums were named to Louisville Slugger’s pre-season All-America teams as selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Former Bellingham Bells shortstop Colby Woodmansee of Arizona State was a second-team All-America pick. The junior played in the WCL following his frosh season at ASU and hit five home runs for the 2014 WCL champion …

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College Coaches Put Faith in WCL

As the West Coast League and its partners look forward to a holiday season with family and friends, we as a league wish our loyal coaching friends and wonderful partner schools the very best during the holidays and this upcoming spring. The WCL is fast approaching its 12th season in 2016, and is thankful to …

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WCL President Steps Down

After nearly three seasons presiding over the West Coast League (WCL) – the leading summer collegiate wood-bat baseball league in the west – Dennis Koho announced his resignation as WCL president effective immediately. Koho cited needs to focus solely on his law practice and to spend more time with family. “I am appreciative of having …

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Gresham Club Announces Name, Unveils Logos

Gresham’s new West Coast League baseball team now has a name – the Gresham GreyWolves will take the field for the first time next summer and call Oslund Field at Mt. Hood Community College their home. Team owners, Jerry and Lisa Walker, made the announcement in front of an overflow crowd at Gresham’s City Council …

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WCL Alum Second in NL ROY Voting

If WCL alum and Giants third baseman Matt Duffy had a National League Rookie of the Year Award ballot, he would have supported Kris Bryant, too. Duffy finished second in the voting for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s top NL rookie honor in results announced yesterday. Bryant, the Cubs’ third baseman, received all 30 …

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New Gresham Club Announces Head Coach

Justin Barchus will take the helm as the first ever head coach for the newly announced West Coast League Gresham baseball team for the 2016 season. The announcement was made by team team owners Jerry and Lisa Walker. “We believe Justin is the perfect coach to lead Gresham in 2016 and for many years to …

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WCL Unveils 2016 Schedule

With WCL meetings wrapped up, a new and exciting market now part of the league footprint, and the world focused on baseball with the start of the World Series, the WCL is thrilled to release its 2016 league schedule. The upcoming season marks the 12th season of WCL baseball in the beautiful Pacific Northwest as …

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Gresham, Oregon Lands WCL Club

Starting summer 2016, Gresham, Oregon will be home to the newest West Coast League baseball team. Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis, along with West Coast League President Dennis Koho, made the announcement today at Mt. Hood Community College’s Oslund Field. “We are proud to welcome the West Coast League to Gresham. This league will bring a …

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Bells Make Coaching Change

The Bellingham Bells have promoted Mike Gange to the role of head coach, the team announced yesterday. Gange previously served as an assistant coach for the Bells during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. “We are thrilled to have Mike on board as our manager for the 2016 season,” general manager Nick Caples said. “Mike is …

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Former WCLer Earns Willie Mac Award

Former Corvallis Knights’ infielder Matt Duffy was the recipient of the 2015 Willie Mac Award, an annual honor voted on by San Francisco Giants players and coaches; and Giants’ legend Willie McCovey. The award ceremony took place before the Giants/Colorado Rockies game at AT&T Park on Friday, October 2. Duffy played shortstop and second base …

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WCL Top Prospect Lists Released

August 31, 2015 by Pat Hickey, Baseball America 1. Cadyn Grenier, ss, Bend (Fr., Oregon State) A three-time first team All-State selection at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, Grenier was considered a top-five round talent this past June. The Cardinals were interested in taking him with the 23rd overall pick, but couldn’t match his …

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All-WCL Teams and Awards Announced

West Coast League president Dennis Koho released the 2015 all-West Coast League teams this morning, as well as announcing the league’s 2015 awards. The East Division-champion Kelowna Falcons captured all or a share of all the individual awards as Falcons’ shortstop Hunter Villanueva of Fresno Pacific earned MVP honors, Kelowna right-hander Brady Miller of Western …

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Bend Captures First WCL Crown

The Bend Elks swept through the WCL playoffs scoring 43 runs and winning four straight to capture the team’s first West Coast League title. The Elks were led Monday night by Billy King’s grand slam home run in the third, as King’s blast erased a two-run deficit and put Bend up 4-2. King, a junior-to-be …

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Bend and Kelowna Earn Spots in WCLCS

The Kelowna Falcons punched their ticket to the West Coast League Championship Series (WCLCS) with a thrilling 9-6 win last night over the WCL defending champion Bellingham Bells at Elks Stadium. The Falcons will face the Bend Elks in the WCLCS with game one set for Saturday, August 15 at Elks Stadium in Kelowna. First …

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First-Round Playoff Pairings Set

The final piece of the WCL playoff puzzle was put in place this past Saturday night as the Corvallis Knights captured the league’s wild card spot with a 7-4 home win over Medford. West Coast League president Dennis Koho announced the league’s postseason first-round pairings this morning. Corvallis will play the Bend Elks with game …

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West Coast League Divisions Clinched

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 …

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209 WCL Alums Active in Pros

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 …

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WCL Wild Card Race Heating Up

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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Future Bruin Tosses No-No for Sweets

Walla Walla Sweets right-hander Kyle Molnar tossed a no-hitter last night (July 27) versus the Kitsap BlueJackets at Gene Lobe Field. The future UCLA Bruin pitcher walked 3 and struck out 8 in the Sweets’ 2-0 road win. Molnar, a senior this past spring at Aliso Niguel High School in California, has made 4 appearances …

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South Blanks North 3-0 in 2015 WCL All-Star Game

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 …

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WCL All-Star Game Probable Starters Announced

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 …

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WCL ASG Home Run Derby Field Unveiled

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 …

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Rosters Released for WCL All-Star Game

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 …

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Former Knight Makes MLB Debut

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 …

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59 WCLers Selected in MLB June Draft

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 …

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West Coast League Opens 2015 Season

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 …

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Former Falcon Makes MLB Debut

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 …

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WCL Alums Sweep Big West Top Honors

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 …

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Alums of WCL Teams Excel in MLB

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 …

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WCL Alums Lead UCLA and OSU to Top of Pac-12

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 …

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WCL Head Coaches in Place for 2015 Season

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 …

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Defending Champion Bells to Host WCL ASG

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 …

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Former AppleSox Hurler Tosses Perfect Game

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. …

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Knights Enter Golden Era; New Logo Unveiled

With an acknowledgement to their historic past, the Corvallis Knights will make a fresh statement this season with the introduction of new team colors and a bold new logo. After considerable offseason research, arguably the West Coast League’s most successful franchise teamed up with San Diego based branding company Brandiose to chart its new path. …

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Three WCL Alums Named Pre-Season All-America

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 …

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Medford Rogues Start 2015 with New GM

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. …

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Kitsap Celebrates Anniversary with Big Change

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 GM Recognized by CBN

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. …

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West Coast League Releases 2015 Schedule

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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Bend to Enter 2015 Season Under New Management

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 …

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Two WCL Alums Earn Rings in Rookie Seasons for SF

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 …

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Former WCLer Marco Gonzales Pitches Cards to NLCS

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 …

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WCL MVP Vince Fernandez Named PGC Top Prospect

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 …

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Future Duck David Peterson Top WCL 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 …

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Gems Extend Commitment to Klamath

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 …

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Pippins’ Slugger Vince Fernandez Named WCL MVP

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, …

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Bellingham Edges Corvallis 3-2 to Capture WCL Title

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 …

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Bells Beat Knights 4-1 to Force Decisive Game Three

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 …

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Knights Edge Bells 4-3 in Game One of WCLCS

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 …

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Walk-Off Wednesday in West Coast League Playoffs

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 …

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Bend Clinches WCL Wild Card Spot

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 …

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Expansion Yakima Valley Clinches East Division

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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Baltimore Slugger Chris Davis Starred in Kelowna

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 …

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West Coast League Wild Card Spot Up for Grabs

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 …

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Corvallis Alums Susac and Duffy Make Giant Debuts

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 …

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MLB.com Video Features Blue Jays and HarbourCats

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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Rain Washes Out WCL All-Star Game

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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WCL ASG Home Run Derby Lineup Released

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 …

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All-Star Game Probable Starters Announced

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 …

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WCL Unveils All-Star Game Rosters

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 WCL Alums in Affiliated Pro Baseball

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

Kiger Stadium to Host WCL All-Star Game

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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Louisville Slugger Frosh All-Americans

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 …

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Former AppleSox Marco Gonzales Makes MLB Debut

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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Player Development and Community

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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63 WCLers Selected in 2014 MLB June Draft

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, …

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Former Sweet Matt Imhof Picked 47th Overall

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 …

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Temp Players Thrive in West Coast League

The role of 10-day contracts in West Coast League baseball By Gary Belleville, Victoria HarbourCats Baseball Blog harbourcatsbaseball.blogspot.ca The NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was played this past weekend with the top 64 teams in the country squaring off in 16 regional tournaments. The winner of each regional advances to a Super Regional next weekend, …

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Mr. Baseball

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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West Coast League and Black Ball Ferry Partner

Keizer, Oregon, June 3, 2014 – With the start of the West Coast League’s 10th season only days away, the League is excited to announce a partnership with Black Ball Ferry Line that will see the Coho ferry designated as the “Preferred Ferry of the West Coast League” for the 2014 season. “We are a …

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WCL ERA Leader Elliot Surrey Stymies OSU

Southpaw Elliot Surrey of UC Irvine tossed a gem this past Saturday night to beat the #1 national seed Oregon State Beavers at their park – Goss Stadium – Surrey’s home last summer. The left-hander pitched for WCL champion Corvallis and posted a league-low 1.27 ERA for the Knights. UC Irvine routed OSU 14-2 as …

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Hall of Famer Alomar to Visit Victoria

Victoria HarbourCats GM Jim Swanson announced that Victoria has partnered with the Toronto Blue Jays of the American League to host a two-day youth camp, July 2-3, at Royal Athletic Park. The instructors feature five former Jays including Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar (pictured).

College World Series and Omaha are Synonymous

The Road to Omaha – The NCAA Div-1 baseball season explained by Brian Hayes HarbourCats Baseball Blog writer While West Coast League fans await the beginning of summer and the start of the 2014 season, many of the athletes that will be filling WCL rosters spent the spring competing for NCAA teams hoping to lead …

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Gems’ Alum Thomas Eshelman Master of Control

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 …

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Back to the Future for Kitsap

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. …

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Geoff Wagner

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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Bill Rowe

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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Jaime Pedroza and Marc Rzepczynski

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 …

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Ronnie Shaefer

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. …

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WCL teams stocking up on Pac-12 talent

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 …

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Former Kelowna Falcon Andrew Firth Honored

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.

WCL alums power Big West conference

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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West Coast League eclipses 400,000 mark in overall attendance for 2013 season

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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List of 2013 WCL pros includes MLB All-Star Chris Davis of Baltimore

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

West Coast League re-aligns, moves to three divisions

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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

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 …

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West Coast League announces 2013 WCL All-Star Game rosters

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. …

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National champion UCLA Bruins led by WCL alums

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 …

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Bellingham pitcher from University of Maine signs with San Francisco Giants

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 …

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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 …

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

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 …

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Five WCL alums earn All-America honors

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); …

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Pacific Baseball Ventures awarded West Coast League membership in Yakima

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 …

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

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 …

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Norris to throw first pitch of 2013 MLB season for Astros

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 …

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

#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 …

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West Coast League moves to three man umpiring crews for 2013 season

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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WCL alums earn pre-season Baseball America honors

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 …

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