WALLA WALLA, Washington – Five Walla Walla Sweets will represent the team on the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Team.

Curtis Ellis, Sam Kane, Payton Knowles, Charles Rogers III, and Perry Stow were all named WCL All-Stars following standout performances this summer. Walla Walla’s five selections are tied with Bellingham and Ridgefield for the most from any team in the league.

A steady presence in the Sweets’ starting rotation, Ellis has provided Walla Walla with both innings and consistent command on the mound. The right-hander has made five starts and worked 29.1 innings, ranking inside the top 10 in the West Coast League in innings pitched.

Ellis, a senior at the University of Saint Francis, has walked just two of the 122 batters he has faced. He has posted a 3.38 ERA and a 2-1 record while striking out 24.

“I think just the mentality clicked for me this summer,” Ellis said. “I came into this with nothing to lose so I just told myself to compete to the best of my ability, control what I can control, and everything else would take care of itself.”

In the outfield, Kane has taken over as Walla Walla’s go-to center fielder while emerging as one of the most dangerous bats in the Sweets’ lineup. Through 26 games, he has six home runs, nine doubles, 20 RBIs and a .576 slugging percentage while batting .283.

A senior at the University of Nevada, Kane ranks among the West Coast League’s top power hitters, sitting tied for second in home runs and fourth in doubles at the time of his selection.

“What’s stood out about Kane is how much he has matured since I coached him in Seattle,” Sweets head coach Leo Rivera said. “He has really bought into the idea of quality at-bats and it has led to some impressive performances.”

Kane credits much of his growth this summer to the relationships built inside the Sweets’ clubhouse.

“The camaraderie in the locker room has honestly been unmatched by any summer team I’ve played for,” Kane said. “Us being close as a team and the competitiveness of everybody has really helped me grow.”

Few players have been more consistent at the top of the Walla Walla lineup than Knowles. The Purdy, Washington, infielder has settled into the leadoff spot, batting .324 and reaching base at a .464 clip.

Committed to Troy University, Knowles has also given the Sweets flexibility throughout the lineup. He has spent time on the right side of the infield and as a designated hitter, driving in 18 runs through 20 games while adjusting to whatever role Walla Walla has needed from him.

For Knowles, sharing the All-Star honor with four teammates makes the selection even more meaningful.

“It’s so special to me to be able to be there with my guys,” Knowles said. “Our team as a whole is filled with amazing people and it’s a huge honor to be able to represent our team and Walla Walla!”

Despite being one of the younger arms on the Sweets’ pitching staff, Rogers III has quickly developed into one of Walla Walla’s most reliable starters. The Cal State Northridge sophomore has made six starts and worked 30 innings, ranking sixth in the West Coast League in innings pitched at the time of his selection.

Rogers III has posted a 2.10 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP. Across his 30 innings, the right-hander has allowed just 17 hits and five walks while striking out 28 batters.

“Rogers set the tone for our season with his opening day start in Yakima,” Rivera said. “If you watch him throw you wouldn’t guess he’s one of the youngest guys on the team. His ceiling is incredibly high and that’s because of how hard he works everyday.”

“I was very happy to find out I was selected to be an all-star because I worked very hard and came in here to be the best,” Rogers III said. “I am very grateful to my teammates and coaches because they make an environment that I want to be in every day and I can come to the field excited.”

Stow wasted little time showing Sweets fans his ability to miss bats. In his first appearance at Borleske Stadium, the right-hander struck out eight batters across five innings in Walla Walla’s home opener on June 2.

That debut set the tone for a summer that has placed the University of Saint Francis senior among the West Coast League’s top strikeout arms. Stow has recorded 33 strikeouts in 25.2 innings and sat tied for second in the WCL in strikeouts at the time of his selection. He has posted a 3.16 ERA across six appearances and four starts while holding a 1.09 WHIP.

Stow and Ellis also share the All-Star honor after traveling across the country from the University of Saint Francis in Indiana to spend their summer in Walla Walla.

“Coming from an NAIA in Indiana to Walla Walla, the most impressive thing about Perry and Ellis is how fast they got comfortable,” Rivera said. “They both want to win. And you can see that not only on the field, but they are huge team guys in the clubhouse as well.”

“It’s really cool, we both came out here with the same expectations so it’s been fun accomplishing this with a teammate from home,” Stow said.

For Coach Rivera, five All-Star selections reflect the depth Walla Walla has shown throughout the summer.

“It shows that our team is deep,” Rivera said. “Every game someone different steps up and has a big impact. Both on the pitching and hitting side, we have kept a deep roster and it has allowed us to give a lot of different guys chances.”

The Sweets have one more week of play before the West Coast League All-Star break, beginning with a midweek road trip to Oregon to face the Springfield Drifters before returning to Borleske Stadium to host the Yakima Valley Pippins. Walla Walla’s five All-Stars will then head north to British Columbia, where the HarbourCats and the city of Victoria will host the 2026 WCL All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 15.