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 in-season event, and we want to create a showcase experience for baseball fans, players and community members who live in each of the league’s cities,” Pippins general manager Jeff Garretson said. “We’re excited to have a partner that promotes safety, and to do our part to help keep everyone safe.”

“Having the West Coast League All-Star Game in Yakima is great for the Pippins and the entire Yakima Valley,” said Charlotte Layman, the Target Zero Manager for Region 13, which includes Yakima. “We want to make sure everyone gets here and back home safely, and reward those who properly follow safety measures when on the roads.”

Target Zero (www.targetzero.com) is the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s state goal to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero by the year 2030. From 2012 through 2014, 1,336 people lost their lives in motor-vehicle crashes in Washington state — including 90 in Yakima County, according to Target Zero data. Target Zero aims to reduce impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving and other risk factors yearly through education, enforcement, policy measures and other methods.

This spring, Yakima-area law enforcement agencies, in cooperation with the taskforce, will reward those who follow vehicle safety rules through a “caught doing good” program, which will focus on child passenger safety and the well-known “Click It or Ticket” campaign.

On the field, this year’s All-Star Game North and South rosters will include a mix of players posting all-star-level statistics and performances when the teams are selected, in addition to featuring expected high draft picks or standouts as their skills mature.

“After receiving input from a variety of sources, including Major League Baseball scouts and college coaches, league and team officials agree that the best way to showcase the top up-and-coming talent from each team, regardless of how he performs early this summer,” Garretson said.

Traditionally a one-day event, the game and other activities will be spread over two days. The Home Run Derby and Fan Fest will be held at Yakima County Stadium on Monday, July 17, and the All-Star Luncheon, other activities and the game itself will take place July 18. Making his third appearance at The Orchard in three years, the Mariner Moose will join the game’s festivities, and a post-game fireworks show will cap off the extravaganza.

Details and ticket prices for the Fan Fest, Home Run Derby and luncheon will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the All-Star Game cost $10 for Stadium Select (reserved) seats, $8 for Stadium View (bleacher-back) seats and $7 for General Admission, and will go on sale in mid-March. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets for $1 less for each seat.

In addition, two special ticket packages that include All-Star Game tickets will go on sale beginning March 17:

The Pippins Party Package will include two Stadium Select seats for Opening Night (June 2) and the All-Star Game (July 18), parking for both nights and a Pippins Gift Card good for additional tickets, merchandise or concessions items at the stadium, all for $60.

The All-Star Game All-Access Pass will include a Stadium Select seat for the game, entrance to the Fan Fest and Home Run Derby and an All-Star Game luncheon ticket for $60 per person.
Only a limited number of each package will be available.

All-Star Game tickets also are included in Pippins mini-plans (five-game, eight-game, 16-game and full-season ticket memberships), which are currently on sale at Hunky Shaw’s Team Shop at 12 S. Second St. in the Larson Building in downtown Yakima, or at www.pippinsbaseball.com.

ABOUT THE WEST COAST LEAGUE

The West Coast League is the premier summer collegiate baseball league west of the Mississippi. The 13-year-old, 11-team, professionally operated wood-bat league located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest features pro prospects from major conferences across the nation and an unparalleled history out west of great fan and player experiences in addition to the best summer weather in North America. In 2016, 88 players with WCL experience were selected in the MLB June draft, and more than 230 WCL alums appeared in affiliated professional baseball including 28 in the major leagues, such as 2015 home-run leader Chris Davis (Baltimore), 2015 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up Matt Duffy (Tampa Bay) and rising star pitchers Matt Andriese (Tampa Bay), Matt Boyd (Detroit) and James Paxton (Seattle). Overall member attendance was 379,611 this past season.