A Look Back at the 2018 Season at Borleske Stadium

Walla Walla, Wash. – Relive some of the greatest moments from the 2018 Walla Walla Sweets season!

The 2018 season at Borleske Stadium kicked off with the second annual Walla Walla Valley High School Showcase Game. The Sweets took on some of the most talented high school baseball players from the area in an exhibition style game to raise funds for the youth baseball and softball programs in the Valley. Former major leaguer and part owner of the Sweets, Jeff Cirillo, coached the high school All-Stars while Justin Speer took the helm of the Sweets. It was a great way to start off the year at Borleske Stadium and get the Sweets prepared for the 2018 season. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

 

After a road trip to begin the season, the Sweets returned home on June 8 for Opening Night at Borleske Stadium presented by Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Walla Walla. In front of a packed house, Walla Walla took home the victory over the Corvallis Knights by a final score of 2-0. Darius Vines was sensational in his return to the mound at Borleske, tossing six shutout innings while striking out three. Zach Penrod scored the first run of the 2018 season at Borleske for the Sweets on an RBI single by Nick Nyquist. Another tremendous opening night was capped off by post-game fireworks as the Sweets got their first of many wins at home in 2018. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

 

One of the biggest promotions of the year was Adam West Night presented by Country Financial on June 22. Borleske Stadium had an all-out caped crusader theme for the evening which featured a unique W2 logo in addition to yellow bases. The Sweets donned Adam West themed jerseys which were autographed and auctioned off after the game with the proceeds benefitting the Little Theatre of Walla Walla. It required a super hero type effort for the Sweets to beat the Portland Pickles. Ryan Johnston delivered a walk-off RBI single as the Sweets got the victory by a final score of 5-4. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

 

The famous “Who’s on First?” skit was brought to life on Abbott and Costello Night on June 23. The Sweets wore St. Louis Wolves jerseys that featured the names of players from the popular routine that included ‘Who’, ‘What’, ‘I Don’t Know’, ‘Tomorrow’, and ‘Mr. Broadhurst’. Walla Walla unfortunately lost the game to the Portland Pickles by a final score of 4-1. There was still no shortage of entertainment in what was the first ever recreation of the Abbott and Costello “Who’s on First?’ skit. In addition to the photos, fans can hear what a real St. Louis Wolves game would have sounded like here: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

 

Mariner Moose once again paid a visit to Borleske Stadium to entertain the tremendous Walla Walla Sweets fanbase. The Terrific Tuesday presented by Gesa Credit Union on June 26 saw the Sweets get the victory over the Victoria HarbourCats by a score of 6-1, but it was the Moose who stole the show. Sweets’ on-field emcee Sean McKillip put together a wildly entertaining evening which included bringing out members of the the Walla Walla County police department to try to take the Moose back to the wilderness. That attempt was thwarted by Sweets’ team president Zachary Fraser as the show went on. Mariner Moose got his revenge later by sneaking up and smashing a pie into McKillip’s face in what culminated in an incredibly amusing performance by the two.

 

In the three-game series against the Wenatchee AppleSox on the weekend of July 6, the Sweets took the field in some alternate reality Walla Walla Wallabies uniforms. Many fans may not know that “Wallabies” was very close to being the team name of the Sweets’ franchise before wiser heads prevailed in selecting a more suitable name. Nonetheless, fans got the chance to see ‘what could have been’ had the Sweets been the Wallabies as the players took to the field in their deep blue uniforms and Wallabies’ hats. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

 

The clock was turned back on Throwback Thursday once again in 2018. The Sweets donned their 1973 Walla Walla Padres throwback uniforms and went 2-1 in their three Thursday home games at Borleske Stadium. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Sweets won in walk-off fashion three times throughout the 2018 season. On June 22 on Adam West Night against the Portland Pickles, Ryan Johnston delivered a single through the left side of the infield to drive home Jordan Hovey for the first walk-off victory. Then on August 1 against the Kelowna Falcons, Nick Nyquist lifted a sacrifice fly into left field to score Darius Vines from third for their second walk-off of the season. Finally, on August 3 against the Yakima Valley Pippins, Patrick Caulfield drilled a base hit into right-centerfield with the bases loaded to score Ben Fariss for the third and final walk-off win of the year. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

2019 Season Tickets:
Be sure to purchase your season tickets for the 2019 Walla Walla Sweets season now! To do so, visit the Sweets Shoppe in downtown Walla Walla or call the offices at (509) 522-2255 anytime 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Friday or 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM on Saturday!

By: Brandon Pavlina

Date: September 14, 2018