Two class of 2021 graduates will get their first taste of collegiate baseball this summer in Walla Walla.

The Sweets signed two University of Arizona commits Thursday in Tyler Whitaker and Matthew Clark. Clark primarily plays the outfield while Whitaker plays third base, right field and left field.

Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, by way of Bishop Gorman High School, Whitaker is a versatile outfielder with good arm strength. He’s topped 90 miles per hour on his fastball while pitching for Bishop Gorman as well and has great speed on the base paths.

Manager Larry Price is excited about the two newest additions to the Sweets.

“Tyler Whitaker comes to the Sweets with a tall 6-foot-4 frame and plus 200 pounds,” Price said. “He runs very well and also has a strong arm.”

Whitaker also projects as a powerful bat for the Sweets and the Wildcats. He has a fluid, balanced swing and is capable of hitting for power to all fields due to his high bat speed.

Clark, a resident of Upland, California by way of Damien High School, brings a similar skillset to the table. Clark brings great defensive intangibles to the table and shows good fundamentals in the outfield defensively. The Damien High School senior has a strong arm and has a compact and quick release when throwing the ball.

“Matthew Clark comes to the Sweets as a solid 6-foot-2, strong 205 pound outfielder who runs well,” Price said.

Clark adds another right-handed bat to the Sweets lineup. He’s proven capable of hitting behind runners and hitting the ball to all fields. He excels at making solid contact and can hit pitches effectively from anywhere in the zone.

The two signings continue to showcase the Sweets’ pipeline to the Pac-12. Clark and Whitaker are the fifth and sixth players to sign with the Sweets from the Pac-12 conference, with players from Washington State, UCLA and Oregon State on the roster as well.

“The Sweets are very fortunate to have these University of Arizona commits,” Price said.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Larry Price, who was an assistant coach with Walla Walla in 2019, has been elevated to interim head coach of the Sweets for 2021.

Price, whose baseball history dates back decades at the high school and college levels, steps in for Jeff Cirillo, who was hired as Sweets head coach in early 2020 before COVID-19 canceled last year’s West Coast League season.

A family emergency will prevent Cirillo from coaching this summer, and all parties agreed this was the best path forward, Sweets general manager Cody Miller said.

“I’m unfortunately unable to be in Walla Walla this season, but remain fully committed to the Sweets. We’ve recruited a great team this year and I hope to be able to share in the return of baseball to Walla Walla,” said Cirillo, a former Major League All-Star. Cirillo is also a partner of Pacific Baseball Ventures, which owns the Sweets and the Yakima Valley Pippins.

“The baseball community is a family, and there isn’t anything more important than family,” Miller said. “While Jeff won’t be in Walla Walla this year, he and his family will be in our thoughts all summer.”

“Taking over as the interim manager has a ton of responsibilities,” Price said. “I am eager to accept each challenge and put a winning product between the lines and in our community.”

Player development is at the top of both the Sweets’ and Price’s list. But player expectations are equally important to Price.

“When the season is over, we want each and every player going back to their college team to be improved, and to be a huge contributor the next spring,” Price said. “We also want these players giving back to our community. They are given great opportunities to play in the WCL, so it will be preached to be reciprocal and be an outstanding citizen while in Walla Walla.”

Though Price has only coached one year as an assistant in the West Coast League, he’s looking forward to the challenge.

“The WCL has a lot of great managers running their teams,” he said. “To be able to go out and compete against them will be an honor and something I’m really excited about.”

Joining Price in the dugout this summer will be Ryan Johnston, who played for the Sweets in 2016 through 2019, and Tyler Roper. Johnston currently is a graduate student at Concordia University Irvine and is pitching for the Eagles. Roper, from Boise, Idaho, was a catcher at Westmont College in 2018 and 2019, and previously played at Treasure Valley Community College.

Price, who also lives in Boise, Idaho, with his wife, Diane, is an associate scout with the Atlanta Braves, a position he’s held since 2010. Prior to that, he held the same role with the Boston Red Sox from 1995-2003.

Price was an assistant coach at Northwest Nazarene University in 2018. As a high school varsity baseball coach, his teams won 12 state championships in his 26 years at Boise and Timberline high schools. As an American Legion coach, his Boise Gems team won 10 state titles. Price attended the University of Southern California, where he played for two years.

The Sweets open their 2021 campaign on June 4 with a three-game series against the Cowlitz Black Bears in Longview, Wash., followed by a three-game series in Wenatchee against the AppleSox. Walla Walla’s home opener is June 11, when the Sweets will host the Port Angeles Lefties.

The Sweets continued to expand the depth of their roster Thursday with two new signings.

The two newest members of the Sweets roster, Jackson Lapiner and Nation Wood, give the Sweets two more versatile options in the outfield. Both players were slated to be on the 2020 roster before the COVID-19 shutdown.

Starting up north in Washington, Wood hails from Kirkland, Washington and is in his first season at Saddleback Community College. The left-handed hitting outfielder tore the cover off the ball to start the season. In 13 games, he hit .449 with three home runs, 19 RBI’s and 22 runs scored.

Wood comes from Lake Washington High School, where he was ranked the fourth best outfielder in the 2019 Washington class. So far the success from his days at Lake Washington have translated well to the collegiate level.

While at LWHS, Wood was a two-time all state selection and a three-time all-conference selection, winning the conference MVP award in 2019. Wood’s father, Michael, played baseball at the University of Washington.

Moving over to California, Lapiner is currently in his first campaign at Golden West College. Lapiner is a graduate of Calabasas High School where he played outfield, infield and pitched as well.

Lapiner is a dynamic outfielder that can play a variety of roles in Walla Walla. The left-handed hitter has a quick bat along with a strong arm and good defensive instincts.

Walla Walla, WA – A new schedule is here for the 2021 season.

On the heels of Thursday’s announcement from the West Coast League of a revised schedule coming for 2021, the Walla Walla Sweets released their new slate of games for the summer.  The schedule change comes with a separated U.S. and Canadian schedules for this summer due to the travel issues with the U.S.-Canadian border caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sweets will keep their original 32 home dates, while also adding an additional three home games in June. (CLICK HERE for printable schedule).

“Keeping our current home dates and adding three additional games is a great outcome for us and our fans,” said Sweets general manager Cody Miller.  “Providing as many opportunities as possible for our fans to come out to Borleske Stadium this summer to watch Sweets baseball is a big thing for us after missing all of last summer.”

While the home dates were kept the same, the Sweets opponents did shuffle for several series.  Originally slated to have their home opener against the Corvallis Knights, Walla Walla will now host the Port Angeles Lefties for their first three game home series.  The Sweets’ three additional home games come on June 22-24 against non-league opponent CCL All-Stars.

The changes will now have the Sweets at home for 23 of 26 games during a stretch from Friday, June 11 to Sunday, July 11.  Walla Walla will conclude its regular season on Thursday, August 12 at home against the Ridgefield Raptors.

Under the current statewide guidelines, outdoor venues are permitted to operate at 25% fan capacity or 9,000 fans, whichever is fewer.  Borleske Stadium has a capacity of 2,200, which under the current guidelines would mean 550 fans a night.

Miller doesn’t believe that will be the case for the entire 2021 season.

“It’s a fluid situation,” he said.  “Working with our local county health officials, we understand that these guidelines could change at any time before the season starts.  We don’t anticipate the restrictions to be in place all summer long, but we have to be ready for any changes that come our way this year.”

The capacity limits will have an impact on the number of tickets available for purchase, says Miller.

“It’s going to be limited to start,” he said.

Fans who have already purchased voucher plans will be given priority to pick their games they would like to attend before single game tickets go on sale.

Season tickets and mini-plans are now on sale for the season.  Single game tickets will go on sale later this spring.  Call 509-522-BALL for more information.

The Sweets are also continuing to look for host families for the season.  As an added benefit, host families receive season tickets for the season.

The Sweets’ revised schedule for this summer (home games in bold)

June 4,5,6: Cowlitz Black Bears

June 8,9,10: Wenatchee AppleSox

June 11,12,13: Port Angeles Lefties

June 15,16,17: Corvallis Knights

June 18,19,20: Highline Bears

June 22,23,24: CCL All-Stars

June 25,26,27: Yakima Valley Pippins

June 29,30: Cowlitz Black Bears

July 1: Cowlitz Black Bears

July 2,3: Northwest Star NightHawks

July 5,6,7: Yakima Valley Pippins

July 9,10,11: Portland Pickles

July 13,14,15: Portland Pickles

July 16,17,18: Port Angeles Lefties

July 20,21,22: Wenatchee AppleSox

July 23,24,25: Bend Elks

July 27,28,29: Corvallis Knights

July 30,31: Ridgefield Raptors

August 1: Ridgefield Raptors

August 3,4,5: Bend Elks

August 6: CCL All-Stars

August 7,8: Highline Bears

August 10,11,12: Ridgefield Raptors

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Today, the West Coast League announced the adoption of a revised schedule for the 2021 season.  The announcement comes as the league will eliminate any international travel between U.S.-based teams and Canadian based teams across the U.S.-Canada border.  The Walla Walla Sweets will play in a revised schedule that will be against other West Coast League teams and non-league teams.

The elimination of the international travel comes as the continued uncertainty of the U.S.-Canadian border being opened for non-essential travel by the start of the league season in June.

The Sweets will maintain a 32-game home schedule for the 2021 season and are on track to start Friday, June 4 and play a full season.

“While it is unfortunate that we will not be able to play any of our Canadian league teams this year, we understand the decision and look forward to having a full season with our fans and student athletes this season in Walla Walla,” said Sweets general manager Cody Miller.

The new 48-game league schedule will be announced next week for the U.S. based teams.  The Canadian schedule will be announced in early April for Edmonton, Victoria, Nanaimo, and Kamloops.  The Kelowna Falcons officially opted out of the 2021 season today.

Two more players from California will make their way up the west coast to play in Walla Walla this summer.

The Sweets signed current UCLA infielder Eli Paton and 2021 Bruins commit James Hepp Friday.

Paton hails from La Canada, California, and primarily plays first base. He was rated the second-best first basemen in California and the 10th best first basemen nationally out of high school.

Paton enjoyed a decorated prep and high school career prior to UCLA. He was a member of the United States 15U National Team back in 2017. At Maranatha High School, he batted .375 in his shortened senior season and was named to the All-Tournament Team at the 2018 WWBA World Championship.

Outside of playing baseball, Paton’s favorite MLB player is Corey Seager and he roots for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Lakers. His uncle, George Paton, attended UCLA and is currently the General Manager of the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

Hepp, a UCLA commit, is in his senior season at West Ranch High School in Valencia, California.

After a shortened junior year, the 6-foot-7 pitcher is excited to be back on the diamond.

“It feels amazing to be back together with my high school teammates and coaches after an abrupt and devastating year off,” Hepp said. “I missed playing so much and won’t take a moment of this season for granted. I can’t wait to get back out there on the mound and get started!”

Hepp is also looking forward to his first season as a Bruin. He is confident that the Bruins will continue their track record as a program that develops great pitchers.

“I am so grateful to be going to UCLA and look forward to the opportunities that await me,” Hepp said. “There is no doubt that the UCLA program will have continued success due to the stellar coaching and the extremely talented players.”

Continuing their 2021 signings, the Sweets are bringing in two big bats to help their lineup depth.

Cayden Delozier and Evan Harmon, two community college players, will spend their summer in Walla Walla.

Delozier is a 2020 graduate of Canby High School and is currently in his first season at Linn Benton Community College. Delozier is a good power hitter that can play either of the corners, but primarily plays first base.

Delozier joins a successful program in Linn Benton. The Roadrunners won the South Region NWAC Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2019. They begin their season Friday, March 26 with a doubleheader at Lane.

Delozier was rated the second best first basemen out of Oregon and 22nd best prospect in the state overall.

Harmon gives the Sweets a boost in the outfield. He is a strong, quick outfielder that can hit to all fields and impressed at Skyview High School. Harmon hails from Nampa, Idaho.

Harmon is redshirting in his first season at Central Arizona College, which has been a major pipeline to Walla Walla. The Vaqueros began their season on Feb. 3 and have flown out of the gate. They are 14-0 with only five of their games being decided by four runs or fewer.

At Skyview, Harmon batted .306 across four varsity seasons and hit .350 over his final two campaigns. He posted 45 RBI’s and three home runs in his final two full varsity seasons.

Two more position players and four pitchers will be sporting the red and blue this summer for the Sweets.

Quentin Ayers, Cameron Butler, Jacob Dahlstrom, Dylan Schwartz, Caden Kaelber and Eric Romo will be spending their summer in Walla Walla. This will the first year in Walla Walla for all six players.

Ayers, a catcher by of Northwest Nazarene University, will play his first season in Walla Walla. The incoming Nighthawks freshman and Spokane, Washington, product was a 3-time All-League selection at Mt. Spokane High School. He will major in mechanical engineering.

Cameron Butler is the other position player coming in. Butler is the epitome of a utility player and showed the ability to hit and pitch at Big Valley Christian High School. Butler is a senior in high school and has committed to play for Cal Poly.

Butler primarily serves as a middle infielder, but has also played the other infield spots, outfield, and pitched. In the 2019 season, Butler hit .427 with 25 RBI’s and 33 runs scored.

Jacob Dahlstrom gives the Sweets an elite right-handed pitcher. The 6-foot-7 from Renton, Washington, was the 19th best player out of Washington and sixth best pitcher in his class. Dahlstrom comes from Bellevue College, where he made 11 appearances during the 2020 season. He pitched the most innings of any player on the Bulldogs and went 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA. He struck out 10 batters in 11.2 innings.

Dylan Schwartz adds another right-handed arm to the Sweets rotation. Schwartz hails from Chino, California. Schwartz is currently in his first season at Pepperdine after showing great improvement in his final high school season. He upped his fastball velocity to over 90 and improved steadily over four seasons at Ontario Christian High School.

Schwartz chose Pepperdine because it is a good Christian university with good sports, as well as the closeness to home. His favorite player is Nolan Ryan and his favorite team is the Los Angeles Angels.

Caden Kaelbar has already made two appearances in his first season at Washington State. In his last outing of relief against UC Davis, the 6-foot-7 right hander struck out three batters in two innings. The Cougars took their first series of the seasons three games to one against the Aggies.

Prior to Washington State, Kaelber played in junior college at Spokane Falls Community College in Washington. Washington State is back in action for a four-game set beginning today against Dixie State.

Rounding out the additions  is Eric Romo, a senior at Cal Poly Pomona. Romo began his career at Golden West College where he played two seasons. In those two years he struck out 89 batters and made the All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team in his sophomore season.

In a shortened 2020 season, Romo was effective as the closer for the Broncos. He recorded two saves and opponents hit just 6 of 25 against him. Romo was 1-2 in seven appearances with an ERA of 1.29. He struck out seven batters across seven innings.

California native Cesar Lopez has called Walla Walla his summer baseball home for two seasons.

In 2021, the talented outfielder will return to the Sweets for his third season. For the senior out of Cal Poly Pomona, it’s another chance to add to what’s already been a memorable career in the West Coast League.

“A lot of my favorite memories have to do with the comradery that you get with the players and coaches,” Lopez said. “It was also a great experience to go on a nice winning streak to begin the year in the 2019 season.”

Lopez has seen success both in the WCL and at his home college. In 2019, the Downey, California, native hit .313 with 39 RBI’s and 25 runs scored. In last year’s shortened spring season, Lopez played and started in all 21 games for the Broncos and hit .309 with 11 runs, three doubles, 10 RBI, 10 walks and one steal. Lopez has shown an excellent ability to get on base and was the fourth toughest player in the California Community College Athletic Association to strike out.

Lopez has improved year by year in college. He credits part of that improvement to the Sweets and their coaching staff.

“The Sweets have helped me develop as a player because of the great coaching staff that will help you out with anything that you’re struggling with,” Lopez said. “The Sweets also provide an outlet to get plenty of reps and that is very important to me as a young player.”

Lopez has been one of the more consistent hitters for the Broncos and Sweets over the past few seasons. He sports a career average of over .300 with both teams and can play any of the outfield positions.

Lopez’s best season came in 2019, his sophomore campaign with the Broncos. That season, he batted .323 , good for second on the team, with .354 slugging percentage and .385 on-base percentage. He also produced 28 runs, five doubles, 22 RBI, 15 walks, five sacrifice hits, seven steals on 10 tries and a 10-game hitting streak.

With graduation coming soon, Lopez wants to pursue a career in professional baseball or law enforcement after college. He also has several other interests beside baseball.

“Outside of baseball, I like to train boxing as well as watching shows on Netflix,” Lopez said. “I also play video games every once in a while, although I’m not very good at them.”

Two new infielders and a catcher will hit the field in Walla Walla for the first time in 2021.

Middle infielders Seth Ryberg and Chris Conniff, along with catcher Jack Sheward, have officially signed with the Sweets for the upcoming season.

Ryberg, a shortstop  by way of Point Loma Nazarene University, was an PacWest All-Academic Team selection in his freshman season. On the field he appeared in six games, starting in one for the Sea Lions.

Outside of baseball, Ryberg is a physics major at PLNU and wants to become an architect. His favorite athlete is Cubs’ infielder Javy Baez and his favorite food is sushi.

Ryberg has set the bar high for his second season and is anxious to return to the field.

“My goals for this upcoming season with Point Loma is to execute my role as an on base hitter,” Ryberg said. “For the summer with the Sweets my goal is to contribute as a great teammate and win ball games!”

Jack Sheward will suit behind the plate for the Sweets this summer. The Arlington High School product plays his collegiate baseball at Lewis-Stark College. Last season, he made 11 appearances with six starts in the shortened season. In those six appearances, he had six hits including a triple, knocked in six runs and scored one, hit .316 and slugged .421 with an on-base percentage of .480. He also threw out one runner.

Sheward, a redshirt freshman, was a standout athlete at Arlington and hopes to use that athleticism to his advantage behind the plate. The 6-foot catcher hit over .350 in three seasons at Arlington while also playing football. On the diamond, he was a four-year letterman who earned all-league honors 2017-2019 and all-state honors in 2018 and 2019 for the Eagles.

Sheward has been in the batting cages religiously over the last year preparing for baseball to return. While his hitting has progressed nicely due to his constant work on mechanics, Sheward wants to prioritize defense moving forward.

“Some goals of mine this season are to start at catcher the first game of the year and continue to improve my hitting,” Sheward said. “I also want to improve my blocking and defense at catcher.”

Sheward majors in kinesiology at LCSU. His uncle, Brian Traxler, played in the majors for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rounding out the additions is middle infielder Chris Conniff. The 5-foot-10 infielder recently graduated from Norco High School in California and currently attends St. John’s.

Conniff brings quick hands to speed to the Sweets lineup and defense. The California product is a versatile hitter that can hit to all fields as a lefty. His biggest strength may be his defense, however, as he attacks the ball effectively and has good arm speed and instincts at the shortstop position.

Conniff had a decorated career at Norco High School. Last year he earned male student-athlete of the year honors and was ranked the 36th best shortstop in the California. He lettered three times at Norco and was honorable mention all-region by Perfect Game.

Conniff is the second infielder from St. John’s to sign with the Sweets, joining fellow Red Storm teammate Justin Folz.

The Walla Walla Sweets continued to shore up their 2021 roster Tuesday, signing two familiar faces in pitchers Spencer Schwehr and Travis Craven to join the team once again.

The Sweets will return two arms who both contributed to the team’s pitching staff in 2019. Schwehr pitched four games for the Sweets in the 2019 season and allowed just three earned runs in 9 1/3 innings pitched. Hailing from Boise, Idaho, Schwehr enters his third collegiate season as a member of Northwest Nazarene University after beginning his career at Walla Walla Community College. The southpaw locates his pitches well, has a solid fastball-curveball combination, and thrives at producing groundballs.

For Schwehr, returning to the Sweets means another opportunity to be involved with a tight-knit group of players and coaches.

“One of the biggest things I noticed in Walla Walla was the culture of the team,” Schwehr said. “It was a lot of fun to be around.”

Also back for his second season in a Sweets uniform is Craven, who is looking to build off a very successful 2019 West Coast League season.  The left-hander from Goleta, California posted an impressive 1.99 ERA across 13 starts while holding opposing hitters to a batting average just north of .200.

Having played baseball since the age of five, Craven’s passion for the game is undeniable. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused Craven and all players to make adjustments, the Whitman College pitcher has embraced staying disciplined and keeping his skills polished.

“COVID has given me a lot of time to prioritize my development as a baseball player and I am very excited to see how it transfers back to the mound,” Craven said. “I can’t stress enough how special it is to get the opportunity to compete on the field again and have fun playing the game we all love.”

Craven has enjoyed great success at Division III Whitman College. In 2019, he posted an 8-6 record – after a 1-4 beginning – with a 3.08 earned average in 16 appearances, 14 of which were starts. He logged 102.1 innings and allowed 98 hits, and 35 earned runs. He struck out 81 and walked 37. Opponents hit just .252 against him.

Outside of baseball, Craven is a biology major at Whitman and plans on attending medical school.

Like Schwehr, Craven was taken back by how embraced the Sweets were by the Walla Walla community and how much positive character the team had.

“Walla Walla has become my second home,” Craven said. “The Sweets are an incredibly run organization that really cares about the experience and development of its players. The guys they recruit are not just high-level baseball players  but also excellent people.”

As the Sweets anxiously await the start of the 2021 season, the Walla Walla coaching staff is wasting no time bringing back many of the players that would’ve comprised the 2020 roster.

The first batch of new players return includes a well-rounded group of talent spanning the entire country. Justin Folz, Caleb Farmer, Mason Kokodynski, Nick Irwin, Chazz Martinez, Jake Dahle, Nate Dahle, Brayde Hirai and Jordan Stubbings are all set to return.

While these players present many unique skillsets and positions, they all share the anxiousness to return to the field after the cancellation of most spring and summer college baseball seasons. Despite adverse circumstances, players have found a way to push through and keep their games sharp.

Stubbings, a first baseman from Colorado-Mesa, used his love for the game as motivation to push through. Having a batting cage at home and an accessible weight room in his hometown of Parker, Colorado,  helped as well.

“The last eight months have been a roller coaster but the biggest thing was keeping my game sharp,” Stubbings said. “You really just have to love the game to grind as hard as you had to for the last eight months.”

Some players, like Stubbing’s teammate Farmer, were able to find other leagues this past summer. The catcher and San Jacinto, California, native found another home in the Sunflower League in Kansas. With fall workouts now back in full swing as well, Farmer said he has been grateful to have the opportunities to keep his skills and in-game experience fresh.

“I was very fortunate that my school didn’t shut down during the fall semester so we were able to go through our regular fall schedule,” Farmer said.

Outside of baseball, Farmer said he’s enjoyed activities such as mountain biking, off-roading in his Jeep and fishing during the shutdowns.

Rounding out the position players are Folz and Martinez. Folz, a member of the St. John’s Red Storm, hit .294 in his 14-game shortened season. The Northwest Nazarene transfer also tied for the team lead in RBI’s (12) and paced the club with six multi-hit games.

Martinez, listed as both a position player and pitcher, is another versatile weapon for the Sweets. A sophomore at Orange Coast College, Martinez started his collegiate career at UCSB. Before that, he enjoyed a decorated career at Corona Del Mar High School where he was first-team Pacific Coast League twice.

Hirai, the Dahle brothers, Kokodynski and Irwin bring depth to a strong pitching rotation. Hirai spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Walla Walla Community College and will be playing in his third season with the Sweets. He posted a 1.94 ERA with the Sweets across 18 appearances in 2019.

Kokodynski returns for year number two at Borleske Stadium. The LMU freshman recorded five strikeouts in six appearances in his freshman year with the Lions. Outside of baseball, “Koko” says his favorite songs are Brandy by Looking Glass and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ American Girl.

Irwin, who was also a member of the 2019 squad, comes from Northwest Nazarene University.  He is once again excited for the opportunity to return to the competitive WCL.

“It (the Sweets) gives me an environment filled with teammates that strive for success in a league that is filled with competition,” Irwin said.

Rounding out the new additions are the Dahle brothers, Jake and Nathan. Both players are Utah natives, with Jake pitching for the University of Utah and Nathan hurling for the College of Southern Idaho.  Jake redshirted his sophomore campaign after pitching four games his freshman year. He posted a 4.00 ERA with the Sweets in 2019.

After traveling to Mexico City for a two-year mission trip, Nathan has smoothly transitioned back into baseball over the past few years.  He posted a 2.87 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 14 appearances in 2019 and is excited to be back in 2021.

“I am highly anticipating my return to Walla Walla,” Dahle said. “I can’t wait to play in a competitive league such as the WCL.”

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Walla Walla Sweets are ready for 2021.

After the 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sweets will return to play next summer at Borleske Stadium with 32 home games.

“It’s great to have the schedule for 2021 in hand,” Sweets general manager Cody Miller said.  “It gives us a lot of optimism as we go through the offseason and into next summer.”

The Sweets will open their 11^th season of West Coast League play June 4 with a six-game road trip to the Cowlitz Black Bears and the Wenatchee AppleSox. Walla Walla will play its home opener June 11 against the 2019 league champion Corvallis Knights.

The schedule release comes as the effects of COVID-19 continue to affect day-to-day life in the state and around the world.

“We are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all of our fans, players, staff, host families and coaches,” Miller said.  “We will follow all local, state, and federal guidelines as we continue to work through the pandemic and prepare for next season.”

After opening against Corvallis, the Sweets will host the Kamloops NorthPaws for a three-game series.  The NorthPaws are one of three new teams to join the West Coast League for 2021, joining the Nanaimo NightOwls and the Edmonton Riverhawks and bringing the WCL to 15 teams in Washington, Oregon, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

Season tickets and ticket voucher packages go on sale Monday.

June home dates: (11)
June 11-12-13:  Corvallis Knights
June 15-16-17:  Kamloops NorthPaws
June 18-19-20:  Kelowna Falcons
June 29-30:  Cowlitz Black Bears

July home dates: (15)
July 1:  Cowlitz Black Bears
July 2-3: Northwest Star Nighthawks
July 5-6-7: Yakima Valley Pippins
July 9-10-11: Portland Pickles
July 20-21-22: Wenatchee AppleSox
July 23-24-25: Bend Elks

August home dates: (6)
August 6:  Cascade Collegiate League
August 7-8: Highline Bears
August: 10-11-12: Ridgefield Raptors

Despite the cancellation of the 2020 West Coast League season, the Sweets and the WCL made plenty of headlines in the off-season.

SWEETS ALUMNI TAKE PART IN SHORTENED MLB SEASON

Fortunately for baseball fans, the recently-concluded 2020 MLB season took place. This gave a few former Sweets players the opportunity to make their mark on the 2020 season, including Red Sox starting pitcher Matt Hall. Hall, who was acquired by the Red Sox this past off-season from the Detroit Tigers, made his first start at Fenway Park and allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings. He also struck out 2019 National League Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso in the first inning.

Hall, a Missouri State alum, played for Walla Walla in 2013. During that season, the southpaw posted an impressive 2.25 ERA while going 5-2 with 45 strikeouts. He played a big factor in leading the Sweets to the West Coast League North Division title.

Hall was selected as a fifth-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Tigers. He made his MLB Debut in 2018 with Detroit and spent two seasons in the Motor City before playing for Boston this past campaign.

Hall was not the only former Sweet to make a debut in the big leagues in 2020. Eric Yardley, a reliever for the Milwaukee Brewers, made his postseason debut in the wildcard round against the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 30-year-old right-hander held his own against the best squad in baseball, facing seven batters and striking out two while pitching 2 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball.

Yardley, a Seattle native, has enjoyed a successful start in his first two seasons in the big leagues. After posting 2.31 ERA in his rookie season with San Diego in 2019, Yardley took on a more prominent role in the Milwaukee bullpen and rose to the occasion. In 24 games this past season, he posted a 1.54 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings.

MLB DRAFT CONDENSED

The 2020 MLB draft was also shortened due to the pandemic, dropping to 5 rounds from the usual 40 rounds this past summer.  The Sweets were still very well represented, as one alumnus and two 2020 signees saw their name called on draft day.  Outfielder Garrett Mitchell was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers 20th overall in the 1st round of the draft out of UCLA.  Mitchell was a member of the 2017 Sweets team where during his first at bat of the summer he sent the first pitch he saw over the scoreboard in right field at Borleske Stadium for a monstrous home run.

Nick Yorke and Kyle Harrison, who both were set to join the Sweets in 2020, also saw their names called on draft day.  Yorke, a middle infielder, went 17th overall in the first round to the Boston Red Sox.  Harrison, a left handed pitcher, went 85th overall in the 3rd round to the San Francisco Giants.

FRONT OFFICE ADDITIONS

The Sweets made moves within the organization as well. The club announced Tommy Ott as the new Director of Sales and Operations for the team. An alma mater of Central Washington with a major in Sport Management, Ott began his career in sports last summer as an intern for Walla Walla’s sister team, the Yakima Valley Pippins. He then joined the Tampa Bay Rays as a stadium operations intern in November 2019 before finding a home in Walla Walla.

“I was very excited to join the team back in February of this year and was obviously very disappointed with having to cancel our 2020 season,” Ott said. “The lack of having a season gave Cody (Miller) and I time to work on things that we would normally not have time to work on, such as redesigning our online merchandise store and changing our POS system for our downtown store.”

Ott, like so many others in the Walla Walla community, is excited for baseball to return to Borleske Stadium.

“The main thing I am looking forward to for this upcoming season is being able to meet Sweets fans in person and interact with them on game days,” Ott said. “It was very strange to not have baseball this past Summer, but I’m looking forward to being a part of hosting events and games that bring our community together in 2021.”

NEW TEAMS JOIN WEST COAST LEAGUE

Around the league, several new teams were added to the WCL. The Edmonton Riverhawks, Kamloops NorthPaws, and Nanaimo Night Owls were added to the West Coast League this past summer and fall.

The Edmonton Riverhawks were introduced as the 15^th team in the WCL on September 15. The newest WCL team will play at RE/MAX Field, former home of the Pacific Coast League’s Edmonton Trappers.

“We are very excited to bring one of the best summer collegiate leagues in all of North America to Edmonton,” says Randy Gregg, Baseball Edmonton’s Managing Director. “In the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft, 90 West Coast League players were picked, including the No. 1 and No. 3 selections. Local sports fans will see future major league stars while they are playing in Edmonton during their college careers,” per the Riverhawks website.

Joining Edmonton as a Canadian expansion team will be the Kamloops NorthPaws, who were announced as the 14^th West Coast League team on September 9. The team was introduced at a socially-distanced fanfare at their home field, Norbrock Stadium. The team hired 37-year-old Cole Armstrong as their first manager October 8. Armstrong has worked in Minor League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox organization since 2014.

“Kamloops and its residents have given so much to the sports community over the years.  It’s a privilege to be involved with an ownership group and front office that has its sights set on giving something back to The Tournament Capital of Canada.  I am excited to bring future Major League stars to Norbrock Stadium and with it, the chance for young fans to interact with them in a setting that only the West Coast League is able to provide,” Armstrong said, via the NorthPaws website.

Rounding out the new trio of WCL teams is the Nanaimo NightOwls. Based out of Nanaimo, British Columbia, the team was announced in July and has a history dating back over a century.

According to their website, the NightOwls nickname is a tribute to the city of Nanaimo for the field-light project that was recently completed. This project will allow night games at Serauxmen Stadium.

“We are thrilled to come on as the Founding Partner for the NightOwls to bring high-quality, collegiate-level baseball to Nanaimo,” said Kendall Gross, President at Island Savings. “Island Savings has a rich history with our local West Coast League baseball club in Victoria and we’ve seen, first-hand, the economic impact this team has in the community – a tradition we look forward to continuing in Nanaimo.” (via NightOwls website)

The leagues now sits at 15 teams for 2021, up from 12 last season.

WALLA WALLA, WA – It was a day of firsts in Boston on Tuesday night.

Former Sweets left-handed pitcher Matt Hall made his first Major League start for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.  Hall, who was acquired by the Red Sox this past off-season from the Detroit Tigers, was pegged as Boston’s fifth starter this season after having an impressive showing during Boston’s summer camp prior to the start of the shortened season.

In 2 2/3 innings against the New York Mets, Hall struck out three and allowed three runs on three hits. After working a 1-2-3 first inning, including a strikeout of 2019 NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso, Hall ran into trouble in the second.

Hall surrendered a leadoff single then struck out Michael Conforto. But he then hit Yoenis Cespedes before giving up a double to Robinson Cano to allow the first run of the game.  After retiring Wilson Ramos on a weak grounder, Hall walked Brandon Nimmo after missing on two close pitches that would have ended the inning.  The walk proved costly, as Amed Rosario followed with a 2-RBI single.  Hall got Alonso to fly out to center to end the inning.

Hall returned to start the third inning and made quick work of the first two hitters he faced, getting a flyout and a strikeout.  But after walking Conforto on four straight pitches, Hall’s night was done as he was replaced by Austin Brice.  Brice struck out Cespedes to end the inning.

While not the outing neither Hall nor the Red Sox had hoped for, it did mark the first time that a Walla Walla Sweets pitcher started a Major League game.  Until last night, Hall had worked out of the bullpen in the minor leagues and with the Tigers when he was called up in September 2018.

Hall, who played his college ball at Missouri State University, was a member of the Sweets 2013 team that won the West Coast League North Division title.  He went 5-2 during the summer, striking out 45 batters with an impressive ERA of 2.25.  He was drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft by the Detroit Tigers.

Hall’s first start also coincided with the debut of left-hander David Peterson, also an alum of the West Coast League.  Peterson, who pitched for the former WCL team Medford Rouges in 2014, took the mound for the Mets and picked up the win.  He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking two.

The Mets won the game 8-3 and improved to 3-2, while the Red Sox fell to 1-4.

In a shortened Major League Baseball draft, the Sweets saw three players selected in the five rounds on Wednesday and Thursday nights.  Outfielder Garrett Mitchell, who suited up for the Sweets in 2017, was selected 20^th overall in the first round by the Milwaukee Brewers.  Two other players who were set to play for the Sweets in 2020, Nick Yorke and Kyle Harrison, were selected by the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants, respectively.

Mitchell, who played at UCLA, was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school, where he was ranked as one of the top 50 prospects in his class.  The California outfielder was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 14^th round in 2017, but ultimately decided to stick with his commitment to UCLA.

For the Sweets, Mitchell made an immediate impact.  Batting leadoff in his first game, Mitchell took the first pitch he saw and launched it over the scoreboard in right field, landing in the parking lot of Borleske Stadium.  Mitchell would finish the night 3 for 4 in his five plate appearances, adding a double and a triple with four runs batted in.  He finished the summer with a .462 batting average and a .563 OBP.

Yorke, who had committed to the University of Arizona, is a middle infielder from Archbishop Mitty in Campbell, California.  He was signed to play for the Sweets this summer with his brother Joey, a freshman at Boise State University, before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 West Coast League season.  The right-handed hitter was a top-100 player in the country in this year’s Perfect Game recruiting class rankings and one who Wildcat coach Jay Johnson last fall described as “Plain and simple, no matter who is out there…is always the best player on the field in my opinion.”  The Red Sox selected Yorke with the 17^th overall pick Wednesday.  They must sign him before the August 1 deadline.

Another California player, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 85^th overall pick in the third round.  A top-50 prospect in his class, the left-hander was a prized piece of UCLA’s 2020 recruiting class, which was ranked 4^th nationally by Baseball America.  Harrison was seen as potential impact player during his freshman year, with UCLA manager John Savage describing him as “one of the top left handed pitchers in the country,” who “will have an opportunity to be a weekend starter right away.”

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Originally expecting to travel to British Columbia to open their 2020 West Coast League season today, instead the Walla Walla Sweets unfortunately announce the cancelation of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects felt across the Northwest.

“We are disappointed that there will not be Sweets baseball this summer,” Sweets general manager Cody Miller said.  “We did everything we could as an organization and with the West Coast League to hold a season this summer, but unfortunately there became too many restrictions where we couldn’t provide our fans the experience at the ballpark that they have come to love and enjoy.”

Simultaneously, league members Cowlitz, Port Angeles, Ridgefield and Yakima Valley also are canceling their seasons. Five other teams in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia cancelled their seasons earlier this spring.

The Sweets remain committed to Walla Walla and the community for 2021 and beyond and are already preparing for next summer.  Miller also said he expects the return of former MLB All-Star Jeff Cirillo, the Sweets new manager, along with assistants Larry Price and Jarrod Molnaa.

“In this season of pandemic and social unrest, we all want baseball to remind us of the best things in life,” Miller said. “The Sweets are committed to being on the field in 2021 and continue to believe that sports are a powerful force for equity and a sense of shared community in our region.”

Despite the cancellation news, Miller is grateful to see the progress made in Walla Walla County by advancing to Phase 2 of Washington state’s reopening plan and looks forward to having community events resume in Walla Walla this summer and fall.

“One thing this does allow us to do is get a head start on preparing for next season, and I can’t wait to see everyone in Borleske a year from now,” Miller said.

He also offered some additional news on pivoting to the 2021 season:

• In addition to the coaching staff, Miller expects many of the players from the 2020 roster to return for 2021.

• The Sweets will have a 32-game home schedule in 2021, up from 30 scheduled home games in 2020.

“Season ticket members with 2020 tickets will be able to roll over their tickets automatically to next year — and they’ll receive tickets to two additional games at no additional charge,” Miller said. Season ticket packages for new buyers will go on sale later this month, he added.

• The Sweets front office has already begun contacting ticket buyers and sponsors about the canceled season, and are providing options for moving purchases and sponsorship packages to next season.

• The Sweets Shoppe downtown store has reopened to the public, with some restrictions in place.  No more than three people in the store at a time, and masks are RECOMMENDED, but NOT REQUIRED.

• The WCL today announced the 2021 season will begin Friday, June 4, 2021. The Sweets are anticipated to open on the road, with the home opener tentatively slated for Friday, June 11, 2021.

• The 12 current teams in the WCL will be joined next year by an expansion team in Nanaimo, British Columbia, which joined the league earlier this spring.

Today, the West Coast League announced a delayed start to the 2020 season, originally scheduled for June 5, to early July, as a result of the recent announcements from governing officials in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, the states and province in which the league’s 12 teams are located.

The Sweets remain committed to playing the 2020 season at Borleske Stadium this summer.

“Unfortunately, starting the season on June 5 started becoming less and less realistic,” Sweets general manager Cody Miller said.  “But, delaying the start to early July will allow us to monitor the situation as it develops.  It will also make sure we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that we provide a safe experience for our fans, players, coaches, and staff at the stadium.”

Miller also added that the team will follow all local, state, and federal guidelines while continuing to prepare for the season.

“We want to get back out playing as soon as possible, just like everyone else in the sports world,” he said.  “Everyone is itching to get back to sense of normalcy, and I think we can be a big part of that here in Walla Walla when we are able to return to the field and have baseball back again.”

Due to other local, state, and provincial restrictions, some WCL teams will not be fielding a team this summer, the league announcement stated.  But all 12 teams are committed to playing in 2021, and a 13th team in Nanaimo, British Columbia, will join the WCL next year.

With the delay of the season and some teams opting not to play, Miller said this will give the team time to prepare for a different season experience this year.

“This was definitely not the type of season I was expecting for my first year in this role,” Miller said.  “But we’ll adjust.  We are using this time and change of scheduling to implement social distancing at the ballpark, a focus to online ticket sales, and other practices.  We will follow local, state, and federal health and safety guidelines while developing these new practices.”

The West Coast League will release a revised schedule in the next several weeks.  All previously purchased tickets will be valid in the revised summer schedule and single-game and group ticket buyers will be able to transfer those tickets to new games as needed.

The Sweets announced another pair of brothers will join the squad in 2020 Tuesday, as Nick and Joe Yorke will play their summer ball at Borleske Stadium.

A freshman at Boise State and native of Campbell, California, Joe made an immediate impact in his first year as a Bronco. In 12 games he hit .275 and was tied for fifth in the Mountain West Conference with a .463 on-base percentage.

While his season was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe said he learned a lot in the short time he was able to play, including how to step up and help his team in different facets of the game when someone is having an off night.

“My biggest takeaway from my 12 games this season at Boise State is how important it is to play as a team and pick each other up,” Yorke said. “This is what allowed us to be successful over the few games we were able to play.”

Outside of playing baseball, Joe enjoys playing golf, playing the guitar, which he has known how to do since he was six years old, and rooting for the Los Angeles Angels.

Nick, a soon-to-be graduate of Archbishop Mitty High School and one of the top prospects in the 2020 class, is committed to the University of Arizona to continue his playing career in the Pac-12. He said the coaching staff stood out the most to him during his selection process.

“The second I stepped on campus I had a gut feeling and knew I wanted to be there in the coming years,” Yorke said. “The coaching staff was great to me and we built a very comfortable relationship.”

Despite both their seasons coming to unexpected ends, the two brothers continue to polish their game and stay sharp for when baseball does return. Nick has a batting cage set up in his backyard and routinely plays catch with his younger brother.

Even though Joe and Nick compete with each other often, Nick said it motivates them both to be better. Nick also said his brother’s leadership stands out the most to him.

“We compete in almost anything we can, but he is one of my best friends and I learn a lot from him,” Yorke said.

The Sweets season is still scheduled to begin Friday June 5  against the Kelowna Falcons. First pitch is set for 6:35.

Over the past weeks, our lives have quickly changed because of the COVID-19 virus that our city, our state, our nation, and the world is struggling to deal with.  Our priority during this time is the health and safety of all members of Sweets Baseball, from our staffs to our players, coaches, our fans, host families, and business partners.  Each of these groups has helped build and support the Sweets over the past 10 years in Walla Walla.

The Sweets remain committed to Walla Walla and its amazing community.  We also remain committed to playing West Coast League Baseball this summer at Borleske Stadium — but only when safe to do so, and in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines.  We will continue to monitor the developing situation and respond accordingly.

We share the disappointment with all local high school and collegiate athletes who won’t be able to play the sports they love and have been committed to for most of their lives.  We are looking forward to soon seeing them on the playing field again.

The Sweets urge residents to follow local, state, and federal guidelines to not only keep yourselves safe, but to keep your families and neighbors safe as well.  Wash your hands.  Use hand sanitizer.  Practice social distancing.  Be patient with each other.  And look out for one another.

We are in this together.  We will get through this together.  In doing so, we will be able to return to our daily lives with friends and families at the places we love here in Walla Walla.  We can’t wait to see everyone again.

#SweetsCountry

– Cody Miller

General Manger

The Sweets are set to welcome a new manager and pitching coach for the 2020 season, along with the return of an assistant coach.

Jeff Cirillo, a two-time MLB All-Star who hit .296 across 14 seasons, will take over as manager. The former major leaguer played over 1,600 games in his career and was an All-Star for Milwaukee in 1997 and Colorado in 2000.

“Being manager of the Sweets has always been of interest to me,” Cirillo said. “I believe I have a responsibility to the players, coaches and Walla Walla to provide a winning culture for all.”

Since retiring from the show in 2007, Cirillo has been involved in numerous activities. He currently works as a scout for the Los Angeles Angels and has also been involved with TV broadcasts for the Milwaukee Brewers. Outside of baseball, he has three sons and is active in his community.

One of his sons, Connor, played for the Sweets last season and will return in 2020.

“I have coached Connor for several years and I give him his freedom,” Cirillo said. “He knows that results matter and guys who play well in all areas get rewarded with playing time.”

Also joining the staff as a first-year pitching coach is Jarrod Molnaa. A Montana State Billings graduate, Molnaa recorded 8 wins last season for the Yellowjackets, a single-season program record. Prior to MSUB, Molnaa spent one season at Bellevue University and two years at Walla Walla Community College, where he was a two-time NWAC second-team selection.

After playing for the Sweets in 2017, Molnaa says he is excited to return to the team as a coach.

“I loved my time as a Sweet in 2017,” Molnaa said. “I think that experience is going to help me be a guiding voice to all the guys that come in for the summer as we work our way through the schedule.”

Rounding out the coaching staff is assistant Larry Price. A Boise, Idaho, native, Price has served as an associate scout with the Atlanta Braves since 2010 and held the same position with the Red Sox from 1995 to 2003.

“I am counting the days down to get back to Walla Walla,” Price said. I’m also privileged to work alongside Jeff Cirillo. He will bring a vast array of knowledge and he relates well with our ball players.”

With many players returning from last season, Price said the team should hit the ground running.

“I’m very excited to get back with the 10 to 12 of our returners,” Price said. “I felt we had a phenomenal chemistry last summer, and to get a great nucleus back is going to be a great advantage for our success.”

The Walla Walla Sweets continue to shore up their lineup for the 2020 season, as Jordan Stubbings and Caleb Farmer will return to the team this summer.

Both juniors at Division II Colorado-Mesa, Stubbings and Farmer have enjoyed successful collegiate campaigns from both individual and team perspectives.  Their efforts helped lead the Mavericks to a 53-12 record, a 26th Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title (sixth consecutive), and an appearance in the Division II National Championship last season. Their quest for a national title in 2020 begins today with a match-up against Nova Southeastern.

With Stubbings back in the fold, the Sweets have a dangerous power threat in the middle of the lineup. The 6-foot-1 junior from Parker, Colorado, hit .359 with 24 home runs and 108 runs batted in in his first two seasons as a Maverick. He was named First Team All-RMAC last season and was Second Team All-RMAC after leading the Mavericks in home runs, RBI’s, slugging percentage and fielding percentage his freshman season.

Sweets Assistant Coach Larry Price is excited to have the 2018 RMAC Freshman Position Player of the Year back on board.

“Jordan brings with him a great bat,” Price said. “He’s a middle of the order hitter who can hit the ball well to all fields. He never stops working and strives to be the best hitter he can be.”

Stubbings is happy to return to Walla Walla for many reasons, including getting to play in front of family members from the area.

“The added factor of some of my family members being in the area helps make up for the time that I don’t get to spend with them when I’m in Colorado,” Stubbings said. “I love seeing my little cousins at games and seeing their faces light up.”

Like Stubbings, Farmer also earned First Team All-RMAC honors in the 2019 season.  That selection was the second for Farmer in two years, as he finished last season with a .328 average, seven home runs and 46 RBI’s. The San Jacinto, California, native is a versatile player defensively as well as he can catch and play around the infield.

Farmer’s experience at the national championship last year has him hungry for more this go-around .

“I still get chills thinking about it,” Farmer said. “It was something we were very proud to be apart of and it was neat to put our mark in the history book. Our goal is to get back there this year.”

While they are both great individual talents, what stands out the most to Price about the two players is their selflessness.

“They both put the Sweets club before themselves and are top notch teammates,” Price said. “They come from a college program that prepares them extremely well not just on the field, but off of it as well. I’m so excited to have both quality young men back in the program.”

Infielder Justin Folz and left-handed pitcher Brayde Hirai will be returning to the Walla Walla Sweets this summer.

Its the first announced signings for manager Jeff Cirillo, who will begin his first season with the Sweets this summer.

Folz, currently at St. John’s, hit .276 with 19 RBI’s for the Sweets last season. Before St. John’s, the Monroe, Washington, native spent one season each at Palomar College and Northwest Nazarene University. At Palomar, he posted a .333 average with two home runs and 19 RBI’s.

Last summer, Folz delivered one of the best moments of the season with a 9th inning, go-ahead grand slam in game two of the opening round of the WCL playoffs agianst the Corvallis Knights. He still remembers how special the moment was.

“The grand slam definitely ranks number one in my favorite baseball moments ever,” Folz said. “It’s what every kid dreams of in the backyard. I was just fortunate enough to get the opportunity to live it out.”

St. John’s kicks off its season on February 14th at Kennesaw State, where they begin a weekend trip through the state of Gerogia.  They will also face Georgia State, and the 19th ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the road trip.

With Hirai, he returns for his third summer with the Sweets. The Pasco, Washington native and current Central Washington player posted a 1.94 ERA for the Sweets last season, held opponents to a .125 average and threw 11 consecutive scoreless innings to end the season.  He previously played locally at Walla Walla Community College for the Warriors in 2018 and 2019 before transferring to CWU.

While he’s enjoyed individual success, Hirai’s experiences with teammates, coaches, and the community have stood out to him the most.

“The coaching staff and players are awesome, and the community always provides a lot of support,” Hirai said. “Getting to play with and against such great competition has helped me grow as a player, and the coaches have given me great tips to help me develop as well.”

Central Washington heads to California to start the 2020 season this Friday, January 31st where they will take on Stanislaus State for a weekend series.

The Sweets begin the 2020 season on Friday, June 5th in Canada at the Kelowna Falcons.  The Sweets first home game is Friday, June 12th at Borleske Stadium.  Season Tickets, mini plans, and now Single Game tickets are on sale at WallaWallaSweets.com.  Tickets can also be purchased at the downtown store at 109 E. Main Street, or via phone at 509-522-BALL.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Ohio native Brandon Monty will be the play-by-by broadcaster and director of media relations for the 2020 season.

Currently a senior at Ohio University, Monty spent last summer as the play-by-play broadcaster of the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League. Monty also broadcasts for BobcatTV at OU for the soccer, field hockey, women’s basketball and baseball teams.

“After getting my first dose of collegiate summer baseball last year, I am very excited to be joining the Sweets this season,” Monty said. “This is an incredible opportunity and I am very much looking forward to being a part of this organization and the community.”
 
Monty grew up in Painesville, Ohio, 30 minutes northeast of Cleveland and the hometown Indians. Despite his playing career ending in 10th grade, he knew he wanted to continue to be involved in baseball. He credits current Indians radio broadcaster Tom Hamilton as a major source of inspiration to pursue a career in broadcasting. 
 
“I listened to him almost every day every summer. The way he calls games truly inspires me. The passion, energy, enthusiasm and way he painted the picture of every game is something I want to emulate when I’m in the booth,” Monty said.
 
Sweets general manger Cody Miller is looking forward to having Monty on board as the new voice of the Sweets.
 
“Brandon’s quality of work in the Alaska Baseball League really stood out last summer, and I’ve heard nothing but great things about him,” said Miller.  “I look forward to working with him this year and I think Sweets fans will enjoy his commentary this summer for the team.”
 
On top of play-by-play, Monty has also worked as a reporter at OU. He’s been involved with WOUB Bobcat Showcase, which covers all OU sports, Hardwood Heroes, a high school basketball TV show, and Gridiron Glory, a high school football TV show. As both a reporter and broadcaster, he has seen the kind of positive impact sports can have on a community.
 
“The more you work in sports media, the more you realize that sports have a substantial impact off the field and in the community they are in,” Monty said. “One of my favorite things about being in this industry is getting to know people and sharing stories and experiences. Sports fans are passionate and want their teams covered in the best way, and because of that, I always want to do the best job I can.”
 
The first broadcast will be on the road as the Sweets open their 2020 season against the Kelowna Falcons on June 5th.  The Sweets first home game is also against the Falcons on Friday, June 12th.  Tickets will be on sale later this month. 

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – 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. He played in more than 1,600 games, compiling a career .296 batting average with 112 home runs and 727 RBIs. He was an All-Star for Milwaukee in 1997 and for Colorado in 2000.

“I’m excited to take the next step and coach at a higher level,” Cirillo said. “Being in Walla Walla last year to watch my son Connor play (on the Sweets) and be a part of the team, I look forward to being a part of the Walla Walla community and to bring a championship to the Sweets organization.”

Cirillo is an alumnus of the University of Southern California, where he originally was a pitcher for the Trojans before moving to third base. In 1991, the Brewers selected Cirillo in the 11th round of the MLB draft. Just three years later, he made his major league debut with Milwaukee on May 11, 1994. While a great hitter at the plate, Cirillo was also a stout defensive third baseman. He currently shares the major league record of 99 consecutive error-less games at third base.

Cirillo is the third manager for the Sweets. He succeeds manager Frank Mutz, who stepped down after the 2019 season. Mutz managed the Sweets from 2015 to 2019, collecting 153 wins and a .531 winning percentage and led the Sweets to a postseason appearance in 2019.

“It’s great to build off the success that Frank and (team president) Zachary (Fraser) established here, and to be able to carry that into 2020,” Cirillo said. “Coming off a playoff appearance last summer, it’s a testament to Frank to be able to come into a position like this and have that to build on.”

Cirillo’s Major League background and connections to colleges and programs across the country has Sweets general manger Cody Miller excited for the outlook of the team next season.

“It’s a fantastic asset to bring Jeff on as manager,” Miller said. “His experience and success he had in the Major Leagues is something that will be a great benefit for the Sweets in the WCL.  I know our group of players next year are going to get some of the best coaching and instruction both on and off the field. I couldn’t be more excited about next season.”

Cirillo and assistant coach Larry Price have been working on building the Sweets’ 2020 roster for the past several weeks.

“The roster is very competitive,” Cirillo said. “It is going to have a great blend of top recruits from various schools and the leadership of returning players from the 2019 team. I think we are in for a good season.”

The Sweets will begin announcing the 2020 roster in late January.

Cirillo is also a partner in Pacific Baseball Ventures, which owns and operates the Sweets and the Yakima Valley Pippins. He currently resides in Bellevue, Wash., and loves spending time with his three sons, Cole, Carson, and Connor. Connor, who was a member of the Sweets in 2019, is currently a freshman at USC and will be on the Trojans’ baseball squad this coming spring.

The Sweets open their 2020 home season June 12 against the Kelowna Falcons at Borleske Stadium.  Season tickets, mini plans, and ticket vouchers are now on sale at the Sweets Shoppe in downtown Walla Walla at 109 E. Main St., or by calling 509-522-BALL. Single-game tickets for the 2020 season go on sale in January.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Pacific Baseball Ventures, owner of the Walla Walla Sweets, announced today new leadership for the team’s second decade, which begins with the 2020 season.

Cody Miller, a three-year member of the Walla Walla Sweets front office, has been named general manager of the organization, which competes in the West Coast League.

Miller, who has a degree in sports management from Washington State University, joined the team as an operations intern for the 2017 season. That fall, he was promoted to a full-time employee, focusing on ticket sales, sponsorship development and stadium operations. His role was expanded prior to the 2019 season to include overseeing food and beverage operations at Borleske Stadium, in addition to his duties as assistant general manager.

“Baseball has a great history in Walla Walla, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting people in the area who not only are great Sweets fans, but really care about the organization and our goals and expectations,” Miller said. “We want to build on that as we move into our 11^th season, and grow our partnership base and our fan base.”

Miller’s promotion follows the departure of Zachary Fraser, who will end his active role as of Nov. 30, 2019. Pacific Baseball Ventures (PBV) selected Fraser to start the Sweets in 2010 as general manager and team president, and also the Yakima Valley Pippins in 2014. He informed the PBV partners that he would not be returning for the 2020 season, and has been working with both teams to prepare an effective transition plan.

“We appreciate Zachary’s many contributions over the years and welcome Cody, who in many ways represents the development opportunities this team and league represent. It is a tribute to Zachary that Cody is ready to assume these additional responsibilities,” according to Seattle Mariners’ Chairman and PBV partner John Stanton. PBV partner Peter van Oppen noted, “they are big shoes to fill but we are eager to watch Cody build on the Sweets’ already solid foundation.”

During Fraser’s tenure, the Sweets advanced to the playoffs three times in their 10-year history, including a trip to the WCL championship series in 2011. The Pippins, who will enter their seventh season in 2020, also advanced to the playoffs three times during their first four years, including becoming the winningest WCL expansion team over its first two years and advancing to the playoffs in its inaugural season.

Both teams have also produced several professional players, including at the major league level — 2013 Walla Walla alum Matt Hall joined the Detroit Tigers in September 2018 and 2011 Sweets alum Eric Yardley advanced to San Diego Padres this past August. Reed Garrett, the Pippins’ opening day pitcher in 2014, made the Tigers’ Opening Day roster this past spring.

Fraser will pursue other ventures after leading the first 10 years of Sweets baseball and the first six years of the Pippins.  “I am excited for Cody to have this opportunity in Walla Walla and for Pippins GM Jeff Garretson to expand his role in Yakima,” said Fraser. “They are both talented leaders in a good position to continue the long-term success that we’ve built over the last 10 years.”

“My family and I love Walla Walla, have developed dear friends in Yakima, and are excited to leave the Sweets and the Pippins in good hands as we pursue our next story,” he said. ”A decade is a long time in the West Coast League!”

Miller is leading the search for a new Sweets manager for the 2020 after the departure of Frank Mutz, who managed the team from 2015-2019.

Season tickets, mini plans and flex plans are currently on sale for the 2020 season at the Sweets office in downtown Walla Walla and will be ready for purchase online no later than Jan. 15, 2020.

Walla Walla, WA – The Sweets will begin their second decade of baseball in Walla Walla with a visit from the Kelowna Falcons from north of the border.  After six road games to start the 2020 season, the Sweets will host the Falcons for a three game weekend series beginning Friday, June 12th.  Walla Walla will finish the homestand with three more games against the Portland Pickles.

2020 will see the 11th season of Sweets Baseball in Walla Walla. The Sweets are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2013.  They would eventually lose a hard-fought divisional series to the Corvallis Knights, eventual four-time consecutive WCL champions.  Walla Walla will be looking to make the playoffs in back to back years for the first time in franchise history.

After the opening home series with Kelowna and Portland, the Sweets will have one more WCL homestand in June when they host the Cowlitz Black Bears.   Before the home opener, the Sweets will travel to Kelowna to begin their season, followed by a second three-game road series with the Bend Elks.  Walla Walla will then finish out the first half of the season by hosting the Ridgefield Raptors to start July, before heading to arch rival Yakima Valley for a three-game road series over the July 4 weekend.

The second half of the schedule sees the Sweets at home for the majority of July, with 16 total home games.  Visits from Wenatchee, Bend, and Bellingham will be played at historic Borleske Stadium before the All-Star break, with the Pippins making their way east to end the month.

The Sweets finish off the regular season home schedule against Corvallis, looking to extract a little revenge from last year’s playoff.

The schedule features 54 WCL games, and three non-league opponents. Dates and non-league opponents will be announced later in the off-season.

June home dates (11):

June 12-13-14:         Kelowna
June 16-17-18:         Portland
June 23-24-25:       Cowlitz Black Bears
June 30:                      Ridgefield Raptors

July home dates (16):

July 1-2:                       Ridgefield Raptors
July 7-8-9:                 Wenatchee AppleSox
July 10-11-12:           Bend Elks
July 17-18-19:          Bellingham Bells
July 28-29-30:       Yakima Valley Pippins

August home dates (3):

August 7-8-9:         Corvallis Knights

Frank Mutz, who has skippered the Walla Walla Sweets since the 2015 season, shared with team president Zachary Fraser that he will not be returning to manage the club in 2020. Mutz and his family live in Las Vegas, NV, where his year-round employment in education and education development will not allow him to spend the summer months in the Pacific Northwest.

“I have loved being a small part of the Sweets Family over these past five seasons,” said Mutz. “I will miss the time with friends at the stadium, competing every night in a great stadium, and the relationships with the players and coaches that form each summer.

“I will cherish the time that I spent in Walla Walla and the friendships that will continue.”

Mutz arrived as a decorated former minor league player, MLB scout, and high school coach from Southern California. A challenging first season on the field was followed by 3 winning seasons out of the last 4, including a return to the WCL playoffs following the 2019 campaign. His total regular season wins (153) and winning percentage (.531) are team records.

Two accomplishments stand out: Mutz’ ability to work with major universities such as UW, USC, UCLA and other major programs with strong baseball pedigrees, and his efforts to help junior-college players connect and sign with the best D1 programs. His deep network of connections in the college game was a benefit to players who often don’t have assistance in the process of finding the best fit for the next step in their playing and academic careers.

“Frank has become a dear friend, and someone who never hesitated to roll up his sleeves and engage in our community,” said Fraser. “From cleaning the stadium when we were short-handed, to visiting community events, churches, and other service opportunities, Frank dove right in.

“We appreciate his efforts on our behalf, and his work to develop good players and young men. I look forward to staying close to Frank and his family.”

Mutz regular-season record by year (playoffs marked with an *):

2015:     25-31

2016:     32-25

2017:     28-30

2018:     33-26

2019:     35-23*

The search for the next manager of the Sweets has already started and the selection will be announced later in the off-season.

Photo Credit: Hutson Photography/Walla Walla Sweets

Patrick Caulfield has been selected by the WCL as the Player of the Week for the week of June 4-9. The recognition is presented by Moss Adams, the official accounting firm of the West Coast League.

Caulfield has led off the season for the Sweets, and has paced the offense to a league-leading 7.83 runs scored per game. He is hitting .560 on the season, with an OPS of 1.287.  In addition to his prowess at the plate, he leads the league with 7 stolen bases.

Caulfield, who signed with the Sweets late in 2018, is currently enrolled at Santa Barbara City College.

“We’re are excited for Patrick,” said manager Frank Mutz. “He is a big reason our offense has been so strong to start the season.”

The Sweets are off to the best start in franchise history, sitting at 6-0 as they enter a 2-game non-league match-up against the Highline Bears on Tuesday, 6/11 and Wednesday 6/12.

WALLA WALLA – Infielder Justin Folz and first baseman/outfielder David Le Boida will be spending their summer as members of the West Coast League’s Walla Walla Sweets, the team announced Tuesday.

Folz, currently at Palomar College, hit .294 with six home runs and 28 RBIs last spring for NCAA Division II member Northwest Nazarene. He started 49 of the team’s 50 games in 2018 and sported a .508 slugging percentage.

The Monroe, Wash., product was an all-state performer his senior year and was a first-team, all-conference choice in his junior and senior campaigns.

Le Boida, who plans to play collegiately at Pepperdine, was recognized late last spring as one of the top 60 West Coast prospects and was invited to the Under Armour All-America tryout in June.

The 6’4″ 240lb utility-man transferred to Aliso Niguel High School in 2018. Le Boida has played for the SoCal Mariners scout team and SoCal National Team Identification Series squad. He played in the National Class Championship in 2017 and batted .378 in his freshman year at JSerra High School.

Le Boida is anxious for the summer season to get started.

“I can’t wait to play for the Sweets,” Le Boida said. “I’m really looking forward to playing almost every day with the kind of talent that will be out there. I can’t wait to compete my hardest and see how I match up against the best.”

WALLA WALLA – A pair of Golden State baseball stars are the latest to be inked by the West Coast League’s Walla Walla Sweets, the team announced Tuesday.

Newport Beach’s Chazz Martinez and Tristan King of San Marcos will be wearing Sweets jerseys this summer as the organization celebrates its 10th WCL season.

Martinez, currently at the University of California-Santa Barbara, is the brother of former Sweets catcher and Arizona Diamondbacks prospect, Renae Martinez. The younger Martinez is a southpaw who can pitch, play first base or roam the outfield. He was a four-year letter winner at Corona Del Mar High School.

He was named to the Pacific Coast League’s first team his junior and senior seasons and the California Interscholastic Federation’s first team last spring after hitting .383 with three home runs and 25 runs batted in.

King registered a .346 batting average with 22 RBI for Palomar College in 2018. His resume also included 31 runs and 10 doubles during a campaign in which Palomar won the California Community College Athletic Association’s Pacific Coast Conference with a 17-7 record (28-17 overall) and reached the second round of the CCCAA’s Southern California Regional.

“I just hope that I can get in peak shape for the summer and next spring year, and be in the right mental and physical states to play baseball the way I know I can,” said King, who is redshirting at Northern Illinois University.

King, a catcher and third baseman, said he is excited to play for the Sweets for a number of reasons.

“It’s in the West Coast League, a really good baseball conference, I’m playing with some old teammates from high school that I haven’t seen in years, (and) this is my first summer season in two years,” King said. “I am really eager to play and develop and travel to new and exciting places playing baseball with an organization that I have only heard positive things

about.”

Opening Day is a sensory experience.

Fresh cut grass (both visual and the smell). Field paint. Vibrant colors displayed in newly printed signs. Batting practice music. The sizzle of grilling hot dogs. The chill of a favorite cold beverage.

All of these evoke strong connections to memories of experiences past and visions of experiences in the future. The joy of Opening Day allows the sensory to fill our dreams of a bright future and appreciate the memories of a warm past.

The Sweets will welcome their 10th Opening Day – an appropriate time for a “woah” – when they host division opponent Corvallis Knights to Borleske Stadium on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

“For me, Opening Day represents the unofficial start to summer,” says general manager J.C. Biagi. “I can’t wait to be back in the ballpark to see so many friends and familiar faces.”

Biagi knows well the excitement of Opening Day, having spent 5 seasons in the dugout while (now) team president Zachary Fraser was the general manager. Instead of lineup cards and home plate meetings, Biagi’s attention will shift to fan experience and the pageantry of the game. Fraser is excited to see him perform in that role.

“J.C. was always very detail-oriented in the dugout, and I know he will bring the same approach to the stadium and fan experience,” he says.

Corvallis – who is the defending WCL Champion – opened the 2018 season at Borleske, with the Sweets taking 2-of-3. In fact, the Knights have struggled in the historic ballpark over the past 3 seasons, going 2-7 against the Sweets. While it isn’t always about the action on the field – Opening Day is more a party than a ballgame – it is fun to anticipate a competitive series that can go a long to setting the tone in the first half race.

Opening Day continues to be presented by Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Walla Walla. This locally-owned, locally-invested automotive dealer enjoys the energy around the biggest game of the early season.

“Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Walla Walla is excited to be partnered up with the Walla Walla Sweets for its 10th Season!,” said managing partner Joel Olsen.

As part of the continuing partnership, CDJR of Walla Walla is sponsoring both a Hat Giveaway to the first 1000 fans and Post-game Fireworks.

“What makes our partnership so great is that both our organizations are locally owned companies who believe in Quality and Community,” Olsen continued. “Opening Day is going to be ‘THE’ event you won’t want to miss. Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Walla Walla is proud to be this year’s Presenting Sponsor of Opening Day.”

For long-time fans (how cool is it that the team has been around long enough to have “long-time fans”?!), Opening Day will have some comfortable familiarities – part of that sensory engagement of memories of a warm past – but it won’t simply be a tired repeat of the same sheet music. New faces, new products to experience, upgrades to the pre-game experience, and the beginning of the celebration of 10 years in the Valley will be a ton of fun. And don’t forget the hats – everyone loves what has become the tradition of one of the best collectibles in the community.

Let’s make sure that we start the season with the energy that it deserves.

We will see you there…

WALLA WALLA – Jeff Cirillo and his son, Connor, have at least a couple of things in common.
One excelled on high school baseball diamonds, the other is doing so presently.

Jeff played baseball at the University of Southern California. Connor will soon follow suit.
This summer, Jeff will be rooting on Connor when he ventures into the West Coast League wars as a member of the Walla Walla Sweets.

Connor, a past member of the Sweets select team and a Bellevue High School graduate to-be, has enjoyed his share of productivity in his first three years of varsity high school baseball. A soon-to-be, four-year starter and lead-off hitter, he’ll carry a career .334 batting average into this spring. Connor hit .412 in 2018 and is hoping to reach the .450 plateau this season.

The Medina, Wash., resident is hopeful he can bring success to a program in need of a boost.
“We have lost a lot of guys over the last two years,” Connor said. “It’s up to me and two or three other studs to carry the team. A personal goal that I have is to with MVP of the KingCo League.”

Connor, a participant in the 2015 Can Am Futures Series and Junior Northwest Championships, said his decision to play collegiately at USC was based on a childhood dream.

“I love California and playing in good weather,” he said. “I love the coaches and feel at home when I’m at the campus and with the team.”

His parents attending and his brother currently enrolled also factored in his wanting to be a Trojan, he said.

Connor, a past MLK Perfect Game all-tournament selection and a 2016 Perfect Game World Series competitor, said he is fired up to compete this summer for the Sweets.

“I’m excited to go up against a bunch of college kids to get some exposure to what it’ll be like at SC,” he said.

Jeff – a former Major Leaguer who played for the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, and Milwaukee Brewers, and is now a scout for the Los Angeles of Anaheim – said his fondest memories in pro ball included his first MLB game, a 2005 home run he struck in Pittsburgh while playing for the Brewers, and throwing batting practice to his sons in pro ballparks.

Not bad for someone seen as a longshot to make the 2005 Milwaukee roster, and who adjusted to Southern Cal after playing prior to that at a small Catholic high school in Burbank, Calif.
The elder Cirillo said he is proud of his son who possesses “a tremendous amount of courage, heart and fight.

“The (WCL) is a talent-filled league and all the players will be solid, older and, for the most part, have one year of college experience,” Jeff said. “My hope is he will continue to learn from a great coaching staff and enjoy the experience of it all.”

WALLA WALLA – To say that baseball has been an important part of Parker and Larry Price‘s lives is profound.

Example: Both have played NCAA baseball – Parker at the Division II level and Larry in the Division I ranks.

This father-son duo will soon make its way to Walla Walla and join the Sweets for the upcoming West Coast League baseball season – Parker as a player and Larry as an assistant coach.

Parker, who was a two-time Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference infielder and pitcher while at Boise’s Timberline High School, is set to begin his second season at Northwest Nazarene University. He started all 50 of NNU’s games last season and hit .324 (60-for-185) with 26 runs batted in.

The younger Price scored 42 runs, smacked 13 doubles, stole 12 bases in 14 attempts, and sported an .828 OPS (.405 slugging percentage and .423 on-base percentage) for a Northwest Nazarene team that finished 2018 with a 17-23 record in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, 19-31 overall.

Parker said he loves playing at NNU and has developed life-long friendships along the way.

“We (have) a new coaching staff and the atmosphere is electric,” Parker said.

Price figures to be the No. 2 or 3 hitter in NNU’s lineup and will be depended on to play solid defense up the middle.

“I’m setting the bar high for my individual play to give our team a chance to win,” Parker said.

Price’s fondness for Walla Walla developed while playing two seasons for the WCL’s Wenatchee AppleSox.

“I loved coming to Walla Walla and playing in front of a big, loud crowd,” Parker said. “I’ve heard from fellow college teammates the Sweets run a great summer program for their players and that the host families are awesome.”

Larry Price has coached baseball for 29 years and has coached 22 high school and American Legion state champions in Boise. He’s assisted more than 160 players to further their careers and play both professionally and collegiately in that time.

The elder Price has been an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves since 2010. He was with the Boston Red Sox from 1996-2003.

Larry Price played college ball at USC in 1983 and 1984, and played alongside the likes of Mark McGwire and Randy Johnson.

Price said he is looking forward to working with his son and Parker’s Sweets teammates.

“The other players will not know in any way that my son is on the team if our last names were different,” Larry said.

That suits Parker just fine.

“He will bring (an) additional energy and work ethic to our summer club,” Parker said. “He will expect nothing but the best from me, and will push me to be a big contributor on and off the field.”

WALLA WALLA – A Central Arizona Community College product and a University of California-Santa Barbara player – who suited up for Walla Walla’s West Coast League baseball entry last summer – will be donning Sweets jerseys in 2019, the team announced Thursday.

Danny Cervantes and Ben Fariss both enjoyed solid campaigns in their respective 2018 venues.

Cervantes hit .314, had an on-base percentage of .400, and slugged at a .568 clip last spring for a Vaqueros ball club that finished third in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. He scored 27 runs, and registered six doubles, eight home runs and 28 runs batted in in 42 games.

“I matured a lot,” Cervantes said. “I started off slow and had to see things from a different perspective. Once that clicked, I started having success.”

CACC finished 25-11 in league, 45-13 overall, and reached the Division I Region I tournament.

“My expectation for this spring is to win a national championship,” Cervantes said. “Our team is talented and we’ve worked hard to get to where we want to be.”

Cervantes said he couldn’t be more excited to play for the Sweets this summer.

“Ever since someone I’ve looked up to and worked with for years – Alex McKenna – played for the Sweets, I’ve wanted to play for them too,” Cervantes said. “Now I have that opportunity and can’t wait to play for a bunch of great fans.”

Fariss performed well for the Sweets last summer – both at the plate and on the mound. He hit .286 (22-for-77) with three dingers and nine runs driven across, and posted a .468 slugging percentage.

Fariss notched a 2-0 record and two saves in six pitching appearances. He struck out 10 and walked two in nine innings of duty.

“My 2018 season was an exciting ride,” Fariss said. “It was a great environment to play in with some great teammates and coaches. The support from the local fan base is the most incredible part.”

WALLA WALLA – A pair of high school seniors from southern California – who intend to further their baseball careers at UCLA – have agreed to play this summer for the Walla Walla Sweets, the West Coast League team announced Thursday.

Canyon pitcher Charles Harrison and Servite outfielder Emanuel Dean, who obtained All-America acclaim from amateur baseball event provider Perfect Game in 2018, are the latest prospects that the Sweets organization has landed.

Harrison was named to the Foothill League’s first team and the Cowboys’ most valuable player during his junior season. He posted a 3.56 earned run average, struck out 72 in 63 innings pitched, and hit .322 with 16 runs batted in for the Canyon Country-based school.

“My expectation for this season is to help my team to the playoffs – which we haven’t been to in six years,” Harrison said. “I’m looking forward to playing with the Sweets this summer against great competition.”

Dean socked four home runs during his junior year with the Friars. The Anaheim Hills native garnered Trinity League honorable mention status after hitting .297 against conference foes and achieving a team-leading .486 slugging percentage and a .400 on-base percentage – good for second on the ball club. He had 11 hits, five for extra bases, and drove in eight runs.

Dean is committed to improving upon his junior campaign.

“Lots of ups and downs,” Dean said. “But I got through it and learned from my failures.
“My expectations for this upcoming season (are) to give it all I got, to play the game the right way, and to play hard,” Dean said. “Just have fun out there and let my talents and athletic ability do its work.”

Dean’s power landed him on the national state at Nationals Park for Major League Baseballs High School Home Run Derby during MLB All-Star festivities last summer.

As for the Sweets summer season, Dean stated, “It’s such an honor and I am blessed to receive this opportunity to play for such a great team.”

WALLA WALLA – Three members of the Walla Walla Community College baseball team – two of which suited up for the Walla Walla Sweets last summer – have committed to join the local West Coast League entry for the 2019 season, the team announced Thursday.

The trio looking to improve the Sweets 2018 record of 28-26 are pitchers Brayde Hirai and Michael Peterson, and outfielder Brandon Wagstaff.

Hirai won a team co-leading four games last summer and posted a 3.79 earned run average. He struck out 30 in 40.1 innings pitched spread out over 17 appearances.

“I’d like to carry on with how last summer went,” Hirai said. “I’m going to go into (the season) with the same mindset and get after it.”

Walla Walla manager Frank Mutz refers to Hirai as a “tremendous competitor and a heck of a clutch pitcher.”

“There were several occasions last summer we had to move up or change Brayde’s spot in the rotation,” Mutz said. “He was ready every time we handed him the ball.”

Peterson participated in 13 games during the 2018 season. He fanned 23 hitters and walked just eight in 33.2 innings. Opponents hit just .238 against him.

“We’re going to try and compete for and win the (Northwest Athletic Conference) Eastern Region,” Peterson said of his expectations for the spring. “I’m also excited and looking forward to playing for the Sweets and having another good year.”

Mutz is thrilled to have Peterson back in the fold this summer.

“He was extremely reliable,” Mutz said. “Once Michael started to use his change up more effectively, there were games last summer where he was unhittable. As Michael continues to get stronger and log more innings this spring, I’m certain he will be an arm we will rely on.” 

Wagstaff, who redshirted last spring, batted .295 in 2017. He led WWCC with 32 runs batted in, tied for second in runs scored (30) and sacrifice flies (three), was third in at-bats (173), and fourth in hits (51) on his way to earning a spot on the Eastern Region’s second-team.

The Warriors finished 18-12 in league, 30-20 overall, won the North Super Regional, and placed third in the NWAC Championships.

“We have a lot of young guys, but I think we (the Warriors) are going to be good,” Wagstaff said. “Playing for the Sweets is something I’ve wanted to do. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Mutz believes the cozy confines of Borleske Stadium will work to Wagstaff’s advantage.

“I love his slugging percentage and his ability to drive in runs,” Mutz said. “That sits at the top of our priority list when we talk about building our roster.”

WWCC coach Justin Speer is optimistic about his player’s summer prospects.

“I’m excited for our guys to get the opportunity to be a part of such a great organization like the Sweets,” Speer said. “I have no doubt that they will represent Warrior baseball very well.”

WALLA WALLA – A pair of Colorado Mesa sophomores-to-be, who helped lead the Mavericks to the championship game of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Baseball Tournament last spring, will hone their skills this summer as members of the Walla Walla Sweets, the West Coast League team announced Thursday.

Infielders Caleb Farmer of San Jacinto, Calif., and Parker, Colo., native Jordan Stubbings enjoyed stellar freshman seasons at the Grand Junction-based school. Their efforts contributed to the program’s seventh straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season title and 25th overall. Colorado Mesa also won the RMAC Tournament for the fifth consecutive time resulting in CMU’s 18th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Both players participated in 42 of the team’s 59 games last season. Stubbings and Farmer started 34 and 32 games, respectively.

Stubbings, who was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Freshman Positional Player of the Year and cited as a second-team selection by the DII Conference Commissioner’s Association in 2018, hit .382 and led the Mavericks in home runs (11), runs batted in (53), slugging percentage (.701), and fielding percentage (.991).

“We are very young going into 2019, but we have a strong (group) of very good players,” Stubbings said. “I’m expecting us to be a top-10 team in the nation.”

Stubbings is as excited to join the organization as the team is to host him during the 2019 summer.

“There’s a lot of talent in the WCL and I have family that lives in the area. It’s going to be a great summer and I’m very excited to play with the Sweets.”

“We have been recruiting power and on-base percentage, and Stubbings fits the bill,” Mutz said. “He has put up solid numbers over the past two seasons in high school and his freshman year at CMU.”

Farmer, a first-team, all-league selection and the eighth-ranked freshman in DII, posted a .384 batting average and stroked a team-high 15 doubles.

“All I wanted to do was make the travel squad and help the team,” Farmer said. “My freshman year went better than I ever expected.”

Farmer said the goal for 2019 is clear.

“The goal is to win the national championship,” Farmer said. “We have the talent to do it.”

Like Stubbings, Farmer is looking forward to putting on a Sweets uniform.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about them and have friends who played against them in the WCL,” Farmer said. “My goal this summer is to take my game further and hope to open some eyes to some of the scouts…and to make new friends and some good memories.”

Mutz said Farmer is an outstanding athlete who will shore up the middle of the Sweets lineup.

“He hits for average, has a high OPS, and can hit with power,” Mutz said. “Caleb has proven to be consistent through his young career offensively, which is what we are looking for for the 2019 lineup.”

Colorado Mesa ended the 2018 campaign with a 43-16 overall record, including a 22-3 mark at home, and were 26-9 against RMAC opponents.

Among the flurry of baseball activity the Walla Walla Sweets also opened up single game ticket sales on Tuesday for fans looking to take advantage of early selection opportunities.

The fastest ten seasons in the history of mankind (at least it feels that way) will open with the Walla Walla hosting the Corvallis Knights at Borleske Stadium. It is the second time in as many years that the Sweets and Knights will christen the home schedule at Historic Borleske Stadium. Opening Day, presented by Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Walla Walla, will be Tuesday, June 4.

2019 will mark the tenth season of operation for the Walla Walla Sweets, making the club the stand-alone team in terms of longest continual operation in the history of professionally operated baseball in the Walla Walla Valley. This particular vintage looks to be a great one for celebrating the history of the past decade.

“This is a fantastic schedule!” said general manager J.C. Biagi. “A good balance of games by month, some fun road trips across the beautiful league footprint, and once again a chance to be in control of our own destiny on the field, particularly in the first half of the season.

“We’re already rolling with a remarkable season ticket renewal, and can’t wait to keep building the energy through to Opening Day!”

The schedule features 54 WCL games, and 5 non-league opponents. Dates for the non-league games are scheduled, with details of opponents being announced later in the off-season.

The 2019 WCL All-Star Game will be hosted by the Bend Elks. This mid-summer celebration of summer collegiate baseball will take place on July 22-23.

For the full schedule, please visit www.wallawallasweets.com/schedule.

For a printable version, please click here.

June home dates (14) are as follows:

June 4-5-6: Corvallis
June 7-8-9: Bend
June 11-12: Non-League (to be announced)
June 18-19-20: Portland Pickles
June 21-22-23: Port Angeles Lefties

July home dates (12) are as follows:

July 2-3-4: Cowlitz Black Bears
July 12-13-14: Non-League (to be announced)
July 15-16-17: Victoria Harbourcats
July 24-25-26: Wenatchee Applesox

August home dates (6) are as follows:

August 2,6-7: Kelowna Falcons
August 3-4-5: Ridgefield Raptors

FOR TICKET OPTIONS – Click here

There have been exactly two managers in the entire history of the Walla Walla Sweets. That will not change for the 2019 season, and now those two will be working together to make the 10th anniversary celebration a success at Borleske Stadium.

General Manager J.C. Biagi announced today that manager Frank Mutz will return to skipper the club in 2019. The two are indelibly connected, as Mutz joined the club following a successful 5-year run with Biagi in the dugout. That connection will only grow stronger. The now-teammates will leverage a combined 30+ years of playing, coaching, scouting and baseball development on the West Coast to focus on improving the on-field product, while continuing the tradition as one of the premier development teams in the league.

“I’m thrilled to be back in Walla Walla for my 5th season. I’m looking forward to building a championship club along side of J.C. He and his wife (former Sweets general manager)Katie and been nothing but supportive during my tenure with the Sweets.

“J.C. has a very high baseball I.Q. and I’m sure the two of us will work closely and tirelessly putting together a championship roster for the 2019 season.”

Mutz has an overall record of 118-112 in his four seasons in the dugout (.513) and has managed some of the most thrilling games in the team’s history. During his tenure, the Sweets have:

• Set a then WCL-record for staff strikeouts in the season (471, 2016 season)
• Seen fifteen players be selected as WCL All-Stars
• Achieved the first complete-game, no-hitter in team history (Kyle Molnar/UCLA, 7/27/2015 vs. Kitsap)
• Had (4) WCL-1st Team selections, (4) WCL-2nd Team selections, (25) WCL-Honorable Mention Team selections, and (6) players selected to Baseball America’s “Top 10 Prospects” Lists, including Chris Lincoln as the top prospect in 2017
• Seen over a dozen players who played for Mutz in Walla Walla be selected in the MLB Draft

“I think the world of Frank and the great effort he’s put into integrating himself into this community,” said Biagi. “We’ve developed a terrific rapport over the last few years and our families share a wonderful friendship.

“He’s an asset to our organization and I’m excited to work with him in building a successful 2019 campaign.”

Mutz, who spent eleven seasons as the head coach at prestigious Chaminade Prep in West Hills, CA, is now the athletic director at Calvary Christian in Las Vegas, NV, where he is also serving as the head baseball coach. Biagi and Mutz have begun work on constructing the 2019 coaching staff, which will be announced at a later date.

Over 9 seasons, the Sweets have blossomed into the place where summer memories are made in the Walla Walla Valley. A pioneer to that success is returning to the team as the general manager.

J.C. Biagi, who was hired by team president Zachary Fraser to serve as the inaugural manager of the Sweets for the 2010 season, and was later Fraser’s assistant GM from 2011-13, is returning to the team to serve as the General Manager.

“I’m beyond excited to be back with the Sweets in such an exciting time for the organization,” said Biagi. “It’s an honor to take the reigns in our tenth season. I learned so much in my first five years with the Sweets, even more in starting and running my own business, and I can’t wait to be back in the ballpark on a nightly basis, in a different role – and I certainly hope will not involve as many ejections!”

“I am excited to welcoming my friend back to our team,” said Fraser. “He knows what has been done to build the Sweets in the community over the past decade, he has talent in leading successful businesses and teams, and he brings new strengths developed in his time away from the Sweets that will make us even stronger in the future.

“From building desks, clubhouses and rosters together in the early years, to now working on the next decade of Sweets baseball – I am personally energized to have him back on our team, and it will be fun to work alongside him during games where I am not escorting him from the dugout to the clubhouse.”

Biagi was the on-field manager of the Sweets from 2010 through the 2014 season. As the manager, he led the club to two WCL playoff appearances, including a 2011 WCL Championship appearance. He saw dozens of players that he managed be selected in the MLB Draft, and was at the helm when Matt Hall (2013) pitched for the Sweets. Earlier this month, Hall became the first former Sweet to make the Major Leagues when the Detroit Tigers called him up from AAA Toledo. Biagi was born and raised in the Walla Walla Valley, and played baseball at both DeSales and Walla Walla Community College before completing his playing career as a NCAA Division I pitcher at Centenary (LA).

In addition to his coaching responsibilities with the Sweets, Biagi worked closely with Fraser as the assistant GM (when Fraser was serving as the GM) to establish Borleske Stadium and Sweets baseball as the place to be on summer nights in the Walla Walla Valley. The two built the desks that are still used in the Sweets offices, and spent many a late night trading ideas that developed into the traditions the Sweets fans enjoy today.

His business building continued after he stepped away from the dugout. Biagi and his wife, Katie, founded Wonderboy Creative, a full-service creative and marketing agency based in Walla Walla. His combination of business and baseball development, along with his passion for the roots of the team, positioned Biagi to be a wise local choice to work with Fraser in charting the next decade for the Sweets.

The Sweets and Wonderboy have enjoyed a unique partnership – primarily through work on the teams digital and creative assets – and that will continue. While remaining a partner in Wonderboy, Biagi will hand off day-to-day management to the team that he has helped assemble there.

As the GM of the Sweets, he will have day-to-day responsibility in managing ticket sales, business development, stadium operations and baseball operations, including working with manager Frank Mutz to construct the roster. Given Biagi’s history with the team, and Fraser’s continued role of overall management of Pacific Baseball Ventures interests, it is exciting to think what can develop with the refreshed version of this partnership.

“Our energies and skill sets compliment one another,” said Fraser. “Over the past few seasons, he has stayed close to the team, has a great relationship with Frank and the front office – I cannot wait to work with him again in this capacity.”

“I look forward to bringing energy, a refreshed perspective and fun to the ballpark each night in a different capacity than I enjoyed the first time with the team,” Biagi said. “From the dugout, I was always grateful for our fans’ support, and it’ll be a joy to get to know them and serve them in this new role.”

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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!

Dan Ferguson has announced that he is stepping down as General Manager of the Walla Walla Sweets, effective immediately. He will be starting a position with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League, where he will serve as the Vice-President of Sales & Service for the team.

Ferguson was hired in 2015 to serve as the team’s Director of Ticket Sales & Service. Following a successful first season, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager for the 2017 season, and was again promoted to General Manager for the 2018 season.

The senior leader was not an unknown talent to Sweets senior management. He had worked with Sweets founding General Manager and current team President Zachary Fraser in Seattle with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and has enjoyed a career in professional sports management for nearly 15 years. Ferguson specializes in running ticket sales departments, and that specialty is reflected in a 35% increase in ticket business over the past three seasons with the Sweets.

“We are grateful for all of the good things that Dan has brought to the team and to the Walla Walla community,” said Fraser. “He did a wonderful job of changing the trajectory of ticket sales, improved our internship program and was adept at discovering talented members of our current staff.

“I wish my friend great success in a really cool stadium in Lancaster.”

The Sweets are preparing for their 10th season in the Walla Walla market and as members of the West Coast League. Fraser anticipates moving quickly to solidify the team leadership for the season and the next decade of Sweets baseball. He does not plan to assume the GM role again, as he did in 2017 following the three-year tenure of Katie Biagi. However, Fraser will continue to be very active in the interim in working with fans, sponsors, front office and coaching staff while a new general manager is identified and on-boarded.

“We have a few great options to consider, and I am confident that we will soon have a dynamic, experienced, day-to-day operator for what will be a season-long celebration of our first decade at Borleske.

“As remarkable as the past decade has been, our best days as an organization are in front of us.”

Walla Walla, Wash. – The All-WCL teams have been announced and the Sweets saw two of their players receive nods while several teammates received honorable mention. Bryce Moyle (First Team) and Nick Nyquist (Second Team) headline the 2018 Walla Walla Sweets All-WCL selections.

First Team All-WCL

Bryce Moyle – LHP (Washington State University, Sophomore)

Few pitchers in the West Coast League performed as well as Moyle did in the second half of the 2018 season. From July 8 on he went 3-0 with a 0.72 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 25 innings of work. His best performance of the year came July 21 when the Sweets hosted the Cowlitz Black Bears. Moyle put in six innings of work to earn the victory while allowing no runs on just three hits with 11 strikeouts. That outing earned him WCL Pitcher of the Week honors for July 16-22.

Second Team All-WCL

Nick Nyquist – IF (Gonzaga University, RS Senior)

He might as well go by ‘Mr. Sweet’ after the three-year career Nyquist put together for Walla Walla. He capped off his Sweets tenure with his best season yet in 2018 including a career best batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was named to the WCL All-Star Game for the third consecutive year in addition to being named to an All-WCL team for the third straight year, as well. Nyquist finished his Sweets career as the all-time leader in games played (147), at-bats (516), hits (145), runs scored (89), runs batted in (81), triples (6), homeruns (11), walks (73), and stolen bases (34).

Honorable Mention

Jordan Hovey – IF (Creighton University, Junior)

Hovey became one of the best hitters in the Sweets’ lineup once he settled into hitting in the West Coast League. After a slow start through his first 17 games in which he was hitting under .200, he tore through the remainder of the season. Over his final 34 games, Hovey had a .309 batting average with a .428 OBP and cut his strikeout percentage down by .127 points. He also tallied 21 runs, 20 RBI, nine doubles and four homeruns over that stretch.

Cesar Lopez – OF (Cal Poly Pomona, Sophomore)

The Cal Poly Pomona walk-on Lopez excelled playing in his first season in the WCL with the Sweets. He was selected to the WCL All-Star game where he was named co-MVP of the game after going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a homerun. There was a stretch during the 2018 season that Lopez was nearly impossible to get out. Over 15 games from June 22 through July 10, he had a .462 batting average, a .517 on-base percentage, a .596 slugging percentage, scored nine runs and had eight RBI.

Haydn King – LHP (UNLV, Junior)

In his second year with the Sweets, King was dominant on the mound at times in 2018. He got two starts against the highest scoring offense in the league in the Portland Pickles and simply shut them down. Over those two games he went 10.1 innings with just two earned runs allowed. On the road against the Pickles on July 11, King had one of the most impressive outings of the season. He tossed five innings while allowing just one run and struck out 11 hitters. That performance got him the nod as WCL Pitcher of the Week for July 9-16.

Zach Penrod – Utility (Northwest Nazarene University, Signed)

Penrod proved to be – if not the best – then certainly one of the best two-way players in the WCL in 2018. He was selected to the WCL All-Star team as a pitcher but also participated in the homerun derby. Offensively Penrod helped to pace the Sweets by accounting for 32 runs over just 28 games. It was his promise on the mound however that caught the eye of MLB scouts. As a result, Penrod signed a professional minor league contract with the Texas Rangers as a pitcher midway through the WCL season. He is currently playing for the Rangers’ rookie ball affiliate in the Arizona League.

Darius Vines – RHP (Arizona State University, Junior)

Vines once again flashed why he was one of the most talented pitchers in the WCL in 2018. He earned his second consecutive selection to the WCL All-Star Game this past year. While he cooled off in the latter portion of the season, Vines was devastating on the mound over his first few appearances. He went 3-0 over his first three starts with just one earned run allowed and 19 strikeouts over 17 innings pitched.

Walla Walla, Wash. – There were a lot of great moments captured at Borleske Stadium this summer, but only one could be voted the best. The ‘Splashdown!’ photo from the Sweets’ walk-off victory against the Kelowna Falcons on August 1 was voted by fans the Best Picture of the 2018 Season.

The late-season victory against the Falcons came with a little extra meaning for the Sweets. Heading into the game on August 1, the Sweets had lost three-straight and were coming off a road trip in which they went 1-5.

It was a wild game early between the Sweets and the Falcons that saw the scoreboard swing back and forth. Walla Walla jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run double by Jordan Hovey and an RBI double by Cesar Lopez.

The hot start was short lived however as Kelowna responded with six runs in the top of the second inning to take the lead 6-3. Walla Walla then slowly began to chip away at the lead.

Tate Soderstrom drove home Danny Sinatro on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third to make it 6-4. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the eighth when with runners on second and third, Ryan Johnston drove home a run on a groundout to cut the lead to 6-5.

It can not go without mentioning the performance turned in by Johnston on the mound in the game. He took over in the top of the fifth inning and was virtually untouchable.

Johnston went five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and allowed just one hit. Perhaps most impressive is that retired the final 13 batters he faced on nothing but strikeouts and groundouts with the ball never leaving the infield.

Walla Walla came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 6-5 with a final crack at trying to extend or win the game. Ben Fariss was called on to pinch hit to lead off the inning and with one swing he turned the game on its head.

On the very first pitch he saw, Fariss launched a towering drive into the trees out past the left field wall for a solo homerun which tied the game at 6-6. Quentin LaFontaine then drew a walk to put the game-winning run on with nobody out.

Darius Vines came on to pinch run for LaFontaine to give the Sweets a little added speed on the base paths. After an error put runners on first and second, a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position with only one out.

That brought up Nick Nyquist for a chance to play hero and give the Sweets a much-needed win. On a 1-1 count, he lifted a fly ball into left field.

The ball was caught as Vines tagged from third and headed for home. The throw to the plate was wide as Vines scored standing up with Nyquist walking the Sweets off winners by the final score of 7-6.

The celebration ensued and the Best Picture of the 2018 Season, ‘Splashdown!’, was captured as Sweets players spilled onto the field and doused Nyquist with the Gatorade jug. Stay tuned on Saturday for the upcoming Look Back at the 2018 Walla Walla Sweets Season to check out all the great photos from Borleske Stadium this past year.

Walla Walla, Wash. – Vote now on the best picture of the 2018 Walla Walla Sweets season! Scroll down to view the images and to vote on the poll!

What is the Best Photo from the 2018 Walla Walla Sweets Season?

Throw your hands up! Splash down!

Superhero victory! The chase down!

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