WALLA WALLA, WA – The tenth former Walla Walla Sweet has made it to the big leagues.

Outfielder Mark Contreras got the call this past Tuesday, May 10 by the Minnesota Twins.  Contreras is the third former Sweet to make it to the major league level in 2022, preceded by 2014 Walla Walla teammate Cooper Hummel and 2017 alum Vinny Capra.

Contreras, who attended the University of California Riverside, was selected in the ninth round (256th overall) by the Twins in the 2017 MLB Draft.  He has spent five seasons in the Minnesota farm system prior to his big league call up.

In 2014 with the Sweets, Contreras appeared in 22 games and collected 16 hits, with two doubles, two triples, and a home run.  He also added eight RBI and nine stolen bases on the season.

Contreras, who was an infielder during his time in Walla Walla, follows former Sweets alums Matt Hall, Taylor Jones, Eric Yardley, Cody Poteet, Jay Flaa, Jarren Duran, Justin Bruihl, Hummel, and Capra to make it to the major leagues.

Contreras made his big league debut on Wednesday, May 11 against the Houston Astros in Minnesota as a defensive replacement for Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton in the 4th inning of the game.  He later collected his first major league RBI on a sacrifice fly in the 5th inning of the same game.

WALLA WALLA, WA – Welcome to The Show, Vinny Capra!

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Friday the promotion of the 25 year old infielder to their active roster.  Capra, a member of the Sweets 2017 team, becomes the second former Sweets player to make it to the Major Leagues during the 2022 MLB season.  Cooper Hummel of the Arizona Diamondbacks was named to their 26 man roster prior to the start of the league season.

Capra, who attended the University of Richmond, was selected in the 20th round (596th overall) by the Blue Jays in the 2018 MLB Draft.  He has spent five seasons in the Toronto farm system prior to his big league call up.

In 2017 with the Sweets, Capra appeared in 48 games, hitting .291 with one home run, eight doubles, 30 runs scored, while driving in 25.  He also added eight stolen bases on the summer.

This season in Triple AAA, Vinny was hitting .304  in 18 games for the Buffalo Bison’s, adding three doubles, three homers, and 10 runs batted in.

Capra becomes the ninth Sweets alumni to make the Major Leagues, joining Matt Hall, Taylor Jones, Eric Yardley, Cody Poteet, Jay Flaa, Jarren Duran, Justin Bruihl, and Cooper Hummel.

The Blue Jays start a three game home series this Friday, April 29 against the Houston Astros.

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Peter Abinanti and Brandon Vial are joining Brandon Van Horn’s coaching staff this Summer in Walla Walla. Both Abinanti and Vial are bringing a youthful energy to an already young staff with manager Van Horn. 

Abinanti joins the staff as the Sweets hitting and first base coach. Abinanti hails from West Hills, CA, and played collegiately at San Diego in his grad year and spent two seasons at St John’s University in New York. Abinanti received his bachelor’s in sports management from St. John’s. During his playing career with the Red Storm, he hit .252 with a slugging percentage of .277 and a .412 OB%. 

“I’m looking forward to having a great impactful summer with the team and organization.” said Abinanti “I’m very excited to be in Walla Walla this summer, and it’ll be very exciting to watch our guys compete every pitch.”

Brandon Vial is the Sweets pitching coach for the 2022 season. While Vial is young, he does have a lot of experience. Vial is currently an assistant coach at Lewis and Clark State College and previously was the Director of Player Development Initiatives at Georgia Gwinnett College, where he won the 2021 Avista NAIA World Series. 

“Vial is a tireless worker and has been grinding away to put the roster together. He also brings experience when it comes to handling a pitching staff for a whole summer and doing it at a high level” said Sweets Manager Brandon Van Horn. 

Vial played collegiately at Austin Peay State, where he had a career 5.09 ERA with 73 career strikeouts and a 5-7 record.

Manager Van Horn says the biggest advantage for the staff is their youth.

“I couldn’t be more pumped for the two guys joining the staff this summer. Our youth as a staff is a huge advantage over other clubs when it comes to building relationships with players” said Van Horn. “My biggest priority is developing the boys mentally, physically, emotionally, and I have complete confidence our staff will be able to do that at a high level.”

The Sweets begin the 2022 season on the road against the Ridgefield Raptors on Friday, June 3.  The Sweets home opener is scheduled for Friday, June 10, with a 7:05 scheduled first pitch.  Tickets are on sale now at Sweetstickets.com

WALLA WALLA, WA – Cooper Hummel has made The Show.

The 2014 Sweet alum learned Wednesday that he will be making the opening day roster for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Hummel becomes the seventh Sweet to make it to the major leagues, joining former alumni Matt Hall, Taylor Jones, Cody Poteet, Jay Flaa, Jarren Duran, and Justin Bruihl.

Hummel, who attended the University of Portland, was selected in the 18th round (531 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2016 MLB Draft.  He spent five seasons in the Brewers minor league system before being traded to the Diamondbacks during the 2021 season.

Hummel, who plays outfield and catcher, hit .284 for the Sweets in 2014, with seven doubles, one home run, 12 RBI, and 14 walks.

This past season in the minors, he posted a .311 batting average, while hitting 12 homers and 52 RBI.

The Diamondbacks open at home against the San Diego Padres today, April 7.

WALLA WALLA, WA – The Walla Walla Sweets today announced the release of their 2022 promotional schedule.  There are 32 home games this summer at Borleske Stadium, stretched out over June, July, and August.

The Sweets first home game is Friday, June 10, where the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Sweets Flag, courtesy of Columbia REA.  A postgame fireworks show will take place at the conclusion of the game. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Walla Walla will host its Independence Day celebration on Sunday, July 3 with special patriotic uniforms worn by the Sweets players for the game.  Postgame fireworks will take place at the conclusion of the game, sponsored by Walla Walla Toyota.  CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Saturday, July 9 will see a throwback tribute to the Walla Walla Padres of the 1970s and 80s.  Sweets players will wear throwback uniforms during the weekend series, including a bobblehead giveaway to the first 1,000 fans presented by Legends Casino.  CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Local Walla Walla band Whiskey Creek will play a special postgame concert at Borleske Stadium on Saturday, July 23, presented by Pepsi.  All fans who purchased a ticket to the day’s game are permitted to attend.  CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Fan Appreciation night is Thursday, August 4.  The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a special Sweets hat courtesy of P1FCU.  Post game fireworks show will take place at the conclusion of the game.  CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

Daily Promotions:

• Del Taco Tuesdays:  Every home Tuesday.  $1 burritos to fans when gates open, while supplies last
• Winning Wednesdays – Presented by Legends Casino:  Fans have the chance to win up to $500 cash, and $100 to a local restaurant. 
• Thirsty Thursdays – Discounted draft and beer specials all night long
• Sunday Funday – Sweets baseballs passed out to the first 50 kids in attendance.  Kids also run the bases after the game.  Mimosas available for purchase.

Tickets are now on sale for all 32 games.  Visit SweetsTickets.com to grab your seats today!

WALLA WALLA, Wash– Will Fuenning and Joseph Craig are set for their summer in Walla Walla.

The Walla Walla Sweets on Thursday announced the signing of both outfielders to the 2022 squad.  Fuenning and Craig both come from JUCO roots.  Fuenning previously attended Paradise Valley CC, and Craig is currently attending Glendale CC. 

Craig is a freshman center fielder at Glendale CC in California. Craig comes from the cornhusker state of Nebraska, where he played high school ball at Omaha Central. The freshman outfielder is gearing up for his first year of playing collegiate summer ball and is excited to be joining the high talent level of the WCL.

“I’m glad to hear that the goal of the summer is to get better and get reps, and obviously if I’m getting high-quality reps and high-quality competition, that’s the goal,” said Craig. “It’s not just going to make you a better player; it’s also going to help you come back and help your team wherever you may end up.”

At Glendale CC, Craig is out to a fantastic start to his college career. Craig is batting .461 with five home runs, 17 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases which all lead Glendale. 

“I’m a super confident player, I know when I step up to the plate I’m 0-0 with a chance to help the team,” said Craig. “The key to my game is to adapt and adjust on a daily basis and I’m confident I can do that.”

Fuenning is another outfielder with Arizona roots. The Scottsdale native will be making his first trip to the Pacific Northwest by way of West Texas A&M. Fuenning also comes initially from JUCO roots attending Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Arizona before his junior year at A&M. 

“I’ve always heard about the West Coast League so I always wanted to play over there. The first team I reached out to was the Sweets and they immediately reached back out and built a connection and now I just couldn’t be more excited,” said Fuening. 

Fuenning on the year at West A&M has also been fantastic. Fuenning is top five in every offensive category for the Buffs. He is batting .354 with two home runs and 32 RBIs. Fuenning also had a career day in a game on February 20, batting 4-5 with 7 RBIs against Cameron University in a series where he faced off against soon-to-be Sweet Tyler Cornett. On the series versus Cameron, Fuenning was electric, going 7/17 with 10 RBIs, four doubles, and a home run in the sweep over the Aggies. 

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Tyler Cornett and Nick Strong get set to spend their summer in the Pacific Northwest. Both Cornett and Strong come from outside of the Pacific Northwest. They also will be spending their first seasons in Walla Walla and the West Coast League.

Cornett is a big 6’2, right-handed pitcher from Cameron University in Oklahoma. However, he is initially from near the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line, from Shallowater, Texas. Cornett has a few hobbies such as fishing, hunting, bowling, and roping. 

The Texan is ready to bring his southern swag to the Sweets.

“I definitely bring the accent, that’s for sure” said Cornett. “I do have a little swag to myself: I do wear boots, I got plenty of belt buckles, plenty of hats.” 

 Cornett says the most important thing about him is his competitiveness. 

“I love to win; I play the game hard.” said Cornett “I bring my own energy to the field and I think people could tell. Especially this year, guys are chirping me from the other dugout and I love that stuff, it gets me going. But honestly, I’m just a big go-getter.”

Nick Strong is a catcher from Vacaville, California, just outside the Bay Area. Strong attends San Joaquin Delta College and this year is putting up impressive numbers at the NJCAA level. In 2022, Strong is batting .258 with a .597 slugging percentage, as he has five home runs and 20 RBIs. In 62 at-bats, he has 16 hits and 11 of them going for extra bases. 

“I’m looking forward most to the competition, being around several Division I guys and competing with some of the best guys around from different colleges and meeting new people; that’s what it’s all about,” said Strong.

Strong now joins a strong group behind the plate, as he is now the third catcher announced on the roster, joining Shane Gipson from Richmond and Kevin Spear who will be attending Gonzaga. 

“I think it could be good I’m kind of in between the both of them,” said Strong “I can learn from the older catcher Gipson a bit and with the kid coming in, both of us can help him and mentor him in a way,” said Strong.

WALLA WALLA, Wash– Julian Alvarez and Jordan Andrade will be sporting the red and blue this summer in Walla Walla. Alvarez is a freshman outfielder for Riverside City College and Andrade is a sophomore middle infielder from UNLV. Both Andrade and Alverez played together in High School at Yucaipa High School however, this is the first time the two have played on the same team since.

Alvarez is a true center fielder from San Bernardino, California, and Riverside City College. Alvarez previously attended Cal Baptist before transferring to Riverside City College. On the season at Riverside, Alvarez is batting .308, with a .436 SLG% and 19 RBIs. In high school, Alvarez earned first-team honors in the Citrus Belt League and had the most stolen bases in the CIF Southern Section.

“You are going to get a centerfielder and a leadoff hitter who goes out there and plays hard every day,” said Alvarez. “(I’m) very aggressive and passionate towards the field. That fields everything to me; I put my heart into it”.

Andrade is a middle infielder from Yucaipa, California, and San Bernardino County. Andrade is a sophomore at UNLV and is gearing up for his first year with the Sweets. On the season at UNLV, he is batting .320, with a .524 SLG%, and .391 on-base percentage. In high school, Andrade was named to the all-state team and the All-CBL first team as a sophomore and junior. Andrade was also a 2019 Perfect Game All American.

The two former Thunderbirds will join forces again in the Pacific Northwest, and they couldn’t be more excited to join the Sweets this summer.

“We’ve known each other for about ten years now, we’re close like brothers literally,” said Alvarez “it’s crazy we never thought we’d play together again and look at us now; it’s sick.”

WALLA WALLA, Wash–  Hayden Hattenbach and Danny Burns get set to sport the red and blue this summer.  Hattenbach is a freshman currently attending UC-Santa Barbara, while Burns is a sophomore attending Yakima Valley College. It will be the first time both players will be playing as a Sweet. 

https://youtu.be/XTG4VqakSMg

Hattenbach is a big 6’7 southpaw, hailing from San Rafael, California. Hattenbach is currently listed as a true freshman with the Gauchos, however is in his second season athletically with UCSB. In his first year with the ‘Chos, Hattenbach made nine appearances with eight strikeouts and 6.75 ERA in eight innings pitched. On the 2022 campaign, he is out to a very strong start with 1.17 ERA in 7 ⅔ innings pitched, while matching his eight punch-outs from a season ago.

“The thing that makes the experience in playing in the West Coast League is having a big group of guys that you spend your whole summer with and get to know really well,” said Hattenbach. 

This will be Hattenbach’s second stint in the West Coast League as he previously played for the Bend Elks. Hattenbach appeared in five games with two saves, 12 strikeouts, and a 4.32 ERA. 

Danny Burns is a sophomore utility player at Yakima Valley College. He will not be the only Yak joining the Sweets, as he is joined by Jace Hanson, Rowan Ramsey, and Coby Richards. Burns is typically seen in the infield, however he is a guy who can truly do it all, as he’s played outfield and pitched with Yakima. 

“I take pride in being an infielder. I can play anywhere in the infield; I can even play first base if you need it. Really I can play wherever you need me to,” said Burns. “I think I’ll be a good piece to the whole team.”

Burns played 26 games with YVC in 2021 and batted .261, with a .393 OB% and 10 RBIs. This year the Yaks are 3-5, with Burns having 2 RBIs and 3 runs in 6 games played on the young campaign. 

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Dylan Matsuoka and JJ Gerarden will be joining Sweets Country this summer. Matsuoka and Gerarden come from the North West Athletic Conference with Matsuoka currently attending Everett CC and Gerarden formerly attending Edmonds CC. This summer will be the first time both players will be suiting up for the red and blue.

Matsuoka comes to Walla Walla by way of Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. The freshman utility player is a do it all guy for the Trojans, working as a right fielder and a starting pitcher this year. Matsuoka previously attended Spokane CC where he primarily worked as an infielder.

“I think as far as baseball, I’m going to bring a competitive spirit,” said Matsuoka. “I believe everyone there is relatively talented. I think it’s going to come down to having good team comradery, and wanting to have a good summer and I think I can offer that.”

Currently, at Everett, Matsuoka has a .182 batting average with a .400 on-base percentage. On the hill, Matsuoka has yet to get a start in 2022. In 2021, the Sammamish, Washington native had two appearances and 1.2 innings of work for the Trojans.

Jalen Gerarden, also known as JJ, comes from Point Loma Nazarene in San Diego, California. Gerarden is an infielder who primarily works up the middle at second base and shortstop. Gerarden and the Sea Lions are out to a 13-1 start on the young season. Gerarden has appeared in six games, starting four for the Sea Lions, where he is batting .214 with 2 RBIs.

“I’m a team player, I’m going to support the guys around me,” said Gerarden. “I can do a little bit of everything. I can drive the ball in the gaps a little bit, drive some runs in, I can lay down a bunt and get the game in motion, as well as just be that solid defensive guy.”

College baseball is back!

This past month, college baseball programs across the country officially started their 2022 seasons.  With that, 50 former Walla Walla Sweets players were on opening day rosters, along with 15 players who will be joining the Sweets this upcoming summer.

Who stood out in February among the bunch?  Find out below in the first edition of this years wrap up.

Martinez Comes Out Firing

Talk about making a good first impression.

2019 Sweets alum and Oklahoma Sooners left hander Chazz Martinez could not have started any better this season.  The redshirt sophomore has begun his 2022 campaign on fire, pitching 11 ⅔ innings in two starts, striking out 19 hitters while only giving up one walk and surrendering just one unearned run.

Martinez is 1-0 on the young season for the Sooners.

His best outing came this past Sunday against Northwestern State.  Martinez went seven innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out an astounding 14 batters!

𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤@chazz4martinez pic.twitter.com/hDElCvFre1

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) February 28, 2022

The southpaw will look to continue his hot start to the season this Friday, when the Sooners take on the LSU Tigers at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.

Farmer Shines In February

Continuing the trend with 2019 Sweets alumni..

Former Sweets infielder Caleb Farmer is having a dream start to his senior season.  Through 12 games, the power hitting righty from San Jacinto, California is batting .438, with seven homers, four doubles, two triples, and 21 runs batted in.  He has started all 12 games for Colorado Mesa, helping them to a 9-3 record to start the year.

His best game arguably came in the season opener at Azusa Pacific.  Farmer went three for four, with two home runs and six runs batted in, including a grand slam in the seventh inning.  His big day helped the Mavericks destroy Azusa Pacific 28-4, and eventually sweep the four game series.

Colorado Mesa resumes action this Friday, March 4 at home against Adams State University to open up conference play.

Price Paves the Way

Northwest Nazarene infielder and former Sweet Parker Price is starting to heat up.

The senior, a member of the 2019 and 2021 Walla Walla Sweets teams, is leading the way for the Nighthawks at the plate.  The Boise, Idaho native has steadily improved each game to start the 2022 campaign, finishing the month with a .333 batting average, two home runs, eight doubles, 17 RBIs, and six walks.

His best stretch of games came against the College of Idaho in a four game series, where Price went 7-17 at the plate, with two doubles, nine RBIs, and scored four runs.  His efforts helped the Nighthawks sweep the Yotes in all four games on the weekend.

Congrats to Parker Price on earning NNU baseball's fourth GNAC weekly honor of the season!

📰: https://t.co/qGnihawq9u pic.twitter.com/yVpBuDs7Uq

— NNU Nighthawks (@NNUSports) February 28, 2022

NNU, who sit 8-8 on the year, open up conference play in the GNAC this Friday at Central Washington in Ellensburg.

Across The Diamond

2021 Sweets alum Evan Harmon finished the month of February with 5 appearances, going 7 ⅓ innings and striking out 12 and sporting a 2.45 ERA.

In two starts, 2021 Sweets alum Jacob Dahlstrom is 1-1 in eight innings of work.  The right hander from Bellevue College has a 2.25 ERA on the year, with 13 strikeouts.

Central Washington left hander Brayde Hirai is back on the mound this year after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2021.  In four innings of work, the former Sweet has allowed just three hits and one run while striking out three, and has recorded a save in his return this season.

Also with Central Washington, Sweets alum Zac Berryman is batting .308 in 15 games played, with two doubles and two home runs and 10 runs batted in for the Wildcats.

Right hander Trent Sellers is 4-0 to start the 2022 season.  The Sweets alum also has notched a save in his 27 ⅔ innings of work for Lewis-Clark State College, striking out 33 batters against just seven walks and posting a season ERA of 0.98

Staying with LCSC, 2019 alum Bryson Spagnuolo has had a solid start to his junior year.  He is 2-0 with a save in four appearances, striking out eight and walking just one in eight innings of work.

Mason Kokodynski has been solid in relief for Loyola Marymount to start the season.  The junior right hander sports a 1.35 ERA in three relief appearances, with seven strikeouts in 6 ⅔ innings.

Montana State Billings junior infielder Carson Green appeared in 14 games for the Yellow Jackets in February.  The 2019 Sweets alum is batting .275 with three doubles, three triples, a home run, and 10 RBIs.  Green also has two stolen bases on the young season.

Former West Coast League Pitcher of the Week winner Brandon Llewellyn is off to a good start with Pepperdine in 2022.  The right hander has struck out seven hitters in 11 ⅔ innings of work, with a 2.31 ERA in two starts.

2021 Sweets alum Seth Ryberg is now batting .319 on the young season for Point Loma Nazarene.   The sophomore infielder has 10 RBIs, two doubles, and a home run to his name in 14 games this spring.

Former Sweets outfielder Pat Caulfield is now at the University of Nevada, Reno for the 2022 campaign.  The senior is batting .280 with three runs scored and two RBIs in seven games played.

2021 First Team All-WCL member Caden Kaelber has not allowed a run in his 4 ⅓ innings of work on the season.  The lanky right hander has a save and two strikeouts on the season, giving up just one to start the year.

Incoming Sweet and Yakima Valley College right hander Coby Richards impressed in his first start of the season.  The freshman went seven innings in a winning effort this past Sunday, striking out seven and allowing just two hits in the Yaks 8-1 win over Clark.

Infielder Derek Gellos has started his 2022 season off strong as well.  The incoming Sweet and Seattle University sophomore is batting .379 in seven games this season for the Redhawks, with three RBIs.

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Pitchers Ben Jacobs and Stu Flesland III will join an already loaded pitching staff in Walla Walla this summer. Both pitchers will be playing with the Sweets for the first time this season. Flesland will be returning to the West Coast League for the first time since 2019.

Flesland is a big 6’5 southpaw from Colbert, Washington, just over 3 hours from Walla Walla. Flesland plays collegiately at the University of Washington, where he posted a 5.59 ERA in 29 innings of relief for the Huskies in 2021. Flesland previously attended Boise State, where he appeared in 4 games with two starts posting a 1-1 record with a 3.38 ERA, before the COVID-19 shutdown.

Flesland brings a focused approach to the Sweets staff, filled with a ton of energy and big personalities.

“I would say I have high intensity… I’m more quiet and focused so I’d say I have more of a focused intensity.” said Flesland “Ever since I came to college I go in with the mindset of telling myself I’m better than the hitter and I’m going to go out there and beat him ever time.”

Flesland will be returning to the West Coast League after playing for the Badland Big Sticks of the Expedition League last summer. Flesland previously played for the Yakima Valley Pippins in 2019.

Jacobs is another left-hander out of Huntington Beach, California. Jacobs is the number 6 LHP in California and will be attending UCLA next year. While not the biggest pitcher, the soon-to-be Bruin makes up for it with sound mechanics and a strong arm.

Jacobs will be one of three upcoming freshmen joining the Sweets this summer. While young, he feels ready for the challenge of playing against some of the best in the WCL.

“I don’t think there’s gonna be too much pressure, I think summer ball is meant to have fun,” said Jacobs “I’m just gonna focus on having fun this summer and balling out”.

WALLA WALLA, Wash-  Derek Decolati and Jaxon Woodhouse will be joining the Walla Walla Sweets this summer. Decolati and Woodhouse both play collegiately at Nevada and will bring their strong college chemistry to the Sweets this June.

Decolati is a right-handed pitcher from Las Vegas, Nevada, playing his high school ball at Cimmaron Memorial High School. Decolati is currently in his junior year at Nevada after previously attending South Mountain College in Pheonix, Arizona. During his time with the Cougars, he amassed a 4.30 ERA in 46 innings pitched and 33 strikeouts. Decolati also worked at the plate a bit his freshman season at SMCC, batting .276 with 10 runs, a double, two home runs, and four RBIs on the year.

Something Decolati is looking forward to is bringing his big personality to Sweets Country this June.

“Definitely going to be fun. I love the fans and I love summer ball because of how you can interact with the fans,” said Decolati. “Tons of kids, they all love it and look up to you so it’s nice to be able to be a role model.”

Decolati is joined by friend and teammate Jaxon Woodhouse. Woodhouse is a first baseman from Vancouver, Washington who played high school ball at Union High School.

Woodhouse is very familiar with the West Coast League previously playing for the Portland Pickles last season. The Vancouver, Washington native grew up less than 45 minutes from Portland and is excited to have the chance to play in front of friends and family once again this summer.

“I’m excited to meet some new guys and go home when I can and vice versa they’ll come to me so I’m stoked,”  said Woodhouse. 

Woodhouse appeared in 4 games during the Pickles series’ with Bend and Bellingham in early August. 

“When it comes to summer ball, I love it.  I feel there’s a lot less pressure,” said Woodhouse. “The energy is light, people are playing loose, the fans are in there, and it makes a huge difference.” 

The Wolfpack start their season this Friday, February 18 vs Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Bethune-Cookman teammates Knickolas Billings and Alec Mendez will be sporting red and blue this summer as members of the Walla Walla Sweets. Both Billings and Mendez join the Sweets from south Florida and will be playing in Walla Walla for the first time this summer.

Billings resides in Miramar, Florida, just north of Miami. The south Florida native was a standout at Somerset Academy Charter high school in Pembroke Pines. Billings was named to the 2019 5A District 14 team and 2019 All Broward County second team his senior year at Somerset, where he posted a 4-0 record and a 1.21 ERA, with 59 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched.

Billings briefly played with the Savannah Bananas of the Coastal Plains League. Savannah is one of the most famous summer ball teams, with a unique twist on entertainment and fan experience. The Bananas are known as the first-ever and world famous Baseball Circus. Billings said he had to learn dances in the locker room and perform shirtless during his time with the Bananas, but claimed it made him a better player. 

“If there was one way to describe that program, it would be different but in a good way. You’ll never see any type of baseball like that. Savannah does it completely different than anything I’ve ever seen before,” said Billings. “Overall it does make you play better baseball and have more fun because you are not so focused and not so tense.”

Billings is joined by fellow Wildcat Alec Mendez, which he says is a great opportunity.

“It’s going to be exciting. I’ve been with Alec since my freshman year so it’s been about three years I’ve got to be around him,” said Billings. “He knows what I can do and I know what he can do so I mean we have a common goal of showing what we do down here up there.”

During his time at BCU, Mendez turned into a reliable southpaw starter.  He posted the team’s second-highest innings pitched total, going 59.2 innings in his freshman year when he transitioned from reliever to starter. In his senior year of high school, he went 5-1  with a 2.31 ERA over 30.1 innings, and also earned a save. He posted a .449 batting average for the Wolverines.

Mendez is coming off Tommy John surgery and did not play baseball in 2021.

Both pitchers are south Florida through and through and will look to bring that energy to Walla Walla on and off the field. 

“We are gonna bring energy. I got the same thing as Knicko (Knickolas). We have unlimited energy, we have swag, we bring a different game out there, we make people want to come out to the game,” said Mendez. “We show people why we are the best in the country.”

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Cooper Cross, Devan Ornelas and Josh Williams will be heading to Walla Walla this summer to join the Sweets.

All three outfielders come from or will be attending NCAA Division I programs. Both Ornelas and Williams are entering their freshman seasons at Loyola-Marymount and UC-Santa Barbara, respectively, while Cross will be attending Virginia Tech. All three outfielders come from the western United States and will all be heading north for the first time to join the Sweets. 

Cross joins the Sweets by way of Reno, Nevada. The 5’11 lefty brings a combination of speed and power to Walla Walla. Cross is a very athletic outfielder who primarily sees himself working in center field. Cross is currently attending IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Cross is the youngest of the three outfielders and the only one to not play collegiately. Cross plays at one of the strongest athletic programs in the country, so he is no stranger to playing top-tier competition at a young age. 

“I think I’ve gotten a little hint of that at IMG (because) we do play baseball every day,” said Cross. “So I think that having that background will help me a lot going into the summer league.”

While Cross is one of the younger members on an already youthful Walla Walla squad, he says he’s not bothered by the possible age gaps in the West Coast League.

“I think I’m going to go in there trying to prove it. Age isn’t really something I’m concerned with; I know I can compete with the older guys,” said Cross. “I think it’s going to come down to who’s more competitive and who’s putting the work in.”

Williams joins the Sweets from the Golden State of California. Williams is from Fresno County city of Clovis and plays collegiately at UC-Santa Barbara. Williams is in his freshman season at Santa Barbara and will start his regular season at San Francisco on Feb. 18. Williams played high school ball at Buchanan High School, where he was a two-year member of the school’s varsity program that has won 12 conference titles and two national titles. The 6’2 outfielder also played basketball for the Bears. 

Most recently, Williams played summer ball for the Medford Rogues of the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League. Williams said his experience in Southern Oregon was incredibly valuable looking toward playing with the Sweets.

“I’ve dealt with it playing with the Rogues this summer, granted I only played for a month due to my high school season getting backed up. But for the month I did play for the Rogues, it was baseball 24/7 and I’d say I really liked that,” said Williams. 

The Rogues previously were a member of the West Coast League from 2013-2015.

Ornelas is also a California native, joining the Sweets from just outside of Los Angeles in Chatsworth. The 5’10 outfielder at Loyola Marymount is a transfer from TCU, but he didn’t appear in any games for the Horned Frogs. Ornelas played at Notre Dame High School, which is when he made the transition to the outfield, where he says he’s become more comfortable on the baseball field.

Ornelas has previously played summer ball up in Alaska as a member of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots of the Alaska Baseball League. Ornelas had 13 hits and 8 RBIs and valued the experience playing away from home. 

“You want to be the best player that you can, but when you have that opportunity to play somewhere, even if it’s somewhere far from home, I think it’s a great opportunity that someone should take,” said Ornelas. “It was fun. I learned a lot about the game and a lot about myself.”

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Kevin Spear and Shane Gipson will be spending their summer in the Pacific Northwest as members of the Walla Walla Sweets. The two catchers are very different, especially in age: Spear will be entering his freshman year at Gonzaga next fall, and Gipson will be entering his junior season at Richmond this spring as a graduate transfer. Both will join the Sweets for the first time.

The 6-foot-tall Spear will be one of the youngest Sweets come this summer,  joining by way of Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle. Spear started and lettered for Blanchet all four years, serving as captain over the past two seasons. Spear also earned First Team All-League honors and a selection to the 2021 Area Code Games over the spring. Spear is a great athlete who can play multiple positions as he also appeared at shortstop for the Braves. Spear was ranked No. 23 in the state among 2022 prospects by Baseball Northwest.

“My pitching coach at Gonzaga gave me a call and told me I would be heading to the WCL and playing for the Sweets and I was stoked,” Spear said. “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to since I was a little kid and I’m gonna use this offseason to really get prepared and see some great competition this summer.”

Spear isn’t the only Bulldog joining the Sweets this summer, as he will be joined alongside pitcher Kolby Soloman. The two met during Spear’s official visit to Gonzaga and together will look to be a big part of the Zags program in the coming years. 

“He’s a great guy (Soloman). He accepted me with open arms, and I’m excited to build some chemistry going into my freshman year at Gonzaga,” said Spear. “That pitcher-catcher chemistry is a huge thing in baseball. It’s one pitch that can turn a game around, and once he told me he was going out to Walla Walla, I was super excited and I was pumped to just get to know him better and I think it’s going to be a great summer.”

Gipson joins the Sweets from the University of Richmond. While Spear is looking to be the youngest Sweet this summer, Gipson will be the oldest member of the roster. Gipson brings a ton of experience behind the plate, as he’s currently at his fourth school as a member of the Spiders. Prior to Richmond, Gipson spent time at Cal Poly Pomona and Ventura College in southern California. He also briefly attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. In 2020, Gipson started and played in nine contests for Pomona. Gipson has battled through medical redshirts as well as COVID cancellations to eventually land at Richmond and this summer with the Sweets.

“I’m really excited to get out there,” said Gipson. “I’ve had the last three years of college baseball get cancelled because of COVID cancellations or medical redshirts, and I’m excited for the year at Richmond and this summer with the Sweets.”

The Chicago native played with a former Sweet and WCL All-Star Cesar Lopez during his stint at Cal Poly Pomona. 

“I know Cesar really well and he’s said nothing but good things about Walla Walla, and when I was talking with my coach I knew I wanted to go out to Walla Walla,” Gipson said. “(It) maybe a little bit of pressure and a bit of pride, but I know they send a lot of really good baseball players out there and I want to keep that track going.”

WALLA WALLA, Wash- Kolby Solomon, Jace Hanson, and Coby Richards will all be joining the Sweets this summer. All three pitchers come from the northwest and play collegiately in the state of Washington. Solomon and Richards are entering their first seasons of college baseball, as Hanson enters his second year, however, is only a freshman due to the COVID year awarding him an extra year of eligibility. This will be the first year with the Sweets for all three players. 

Solomon joins the Sweets by way of Spokane and Gonzaga University. The freshman right-hander stands at 6’0 and is looking to make an impact in his first year with the Zags. Solomon was a  two-sport football/baseball star for Inglemoor High, where he earned First Team All-KingCo Honors with an ERA of 1.12, while also leading the league in K’s (62) and second in wins with 6 in his senior season. Solomon has a cumulative 3.95 GPA at Gonzaga, as he gets it done on the field and in the classroom. As a younger pitcher, he will work mainly in relief for Gonzaga however is looking to make an impact in any way possible.

“We have top prospects on our team which is super nice, so getting the chance to look up to those guys,” said Solomon “Whatever role I can fit into I will fit in. I just want to play.”

Solomon is coming off a major injury where he needed Tommy John’s surgery, however has said the recovery process has gone well. 

Hanson joins the Sweets by way of Yakima Valley College. Hanson is a big 6’5 right-hander from Ammon Idaho. The eldest out of the trio posted a 5-0 record in 6 starts with the Yaks in his freshman season, posting a 4.33 ERA with 30 K’s in 27 IP. Hanson is currently a Freshman athletically due to the COVID year awarding him an extra year of eligibility. Hanson also finished 6th in the NWAC in wins. The big righty likes to pound the zone and test batters at the plate to try and beat him whenever he steps on the mound.

“I pound the zone. I challenge hitters. Sure they might get more hits off me, but at the end of the day, I’m getting people to roll over, I’m getting people to pop out, I’m getting strikeouts.” said Hanson “Not a lot of guys can beat me and if they do it’s one of those things where you just tip the cap. That’s my selling point.”

Richards is another Yak making the trip out to Walla Walla this summer. The Belgrade Montana native is entering his first year collegiately at Yakima Valley. Richards previously played Summer Ball for his hometown’s Belgrade Bandits. 

“I’m happy for the opportunity and I’m excited to get to play for the Sweets and in this competitive league,” said Richards. “This is a great chance for me to show my stuff and I can’t wait for this summer.”

WALLA WALLA, Wash-Leo Rivera, Derek Gellos, Rowan Ramsay, and Jarred Mazzaferro all will be spending their summer in Walla Walla. This will be the first year with the Sweets for all four players.

Rivera will be continuing to play at Borleske Stadium as he comes from nearby Whitman College. Rivera is a true utility player who can play anywhere on the field getting starts at first, second, and third base for the Blues in their 2021 season. In the 2021 season, Rivera played and started in 38 games, batting .294 with three doubles and a home run for the Blues. Rivera is a 2018 graduate of O’Dea High School in Seattle, Washington, where he was a multi-sport athlete lettering in baseball, basketball, and wrestling.

“I’m definitely excited,” said Rivera “Getting to stay here is something I’ve always wanted to do”.

Gellos joins the Sweets by way of Seattle U of the Western Athletic Conference. Gellos was a three-year varsity letter winner at Issaquah HS, where he helped the Eagles reach back-to-back playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019. In his freshman year at Seattle U, Gellos saw action in 37 games and started 19 contests. He hit .263 with two doubles, six RBI’s, and eight runs scored. Gellos is another do it all guy who can play anywhere on the field for the Sweets.

“The Sweets are a program I’ve always heard about growing up in western Washington and I’m super excited,” said Gellos “every day I want to go out and prove myself as one of the best players in the country, and I think this will be a perfect opportunity to go do that”.

Mazzaferro comes from the Golden State however, the 5’7 middle infielder from San Jose will stay in Washington this summer, as he plays collegiately at The University of Washington. The Sophomore for the Huskies previously played at Ohlone College, where he batted .276 with 16 RBI’s in his freshman year with the Renegades. He primarily played shortstop for the Renegades and will look to bring his strong athleticism to the Sweets.

“It feels great, the PAC 12 is one of the top Conferences and I feel when I go to Walla Walla, the other teams in the West Coast League are just as competitive as it is now, ” said Mazzaferro. “In the Summer every guy you face, every guy who steps up to the plate deserves to be here and it’s always fun to play high-level competition.”

Lastly, Rowan Ramsey comes to the Sweets by way of Yakima Valley College. The 5’10 sophomore middle infielder from Portland Oregon plays collegiately at YVC and formerly at Menlo College. Ramsey hit .302 across 36 games and 27 starts, recorded seven extra-base hits, scored 15 times, drove in 14 runs, and led the team in triples during his freshman season at Menlo . Ramsey played high school ball at Portland Central Catholic High School and helped lead the Rams to an Oregon State championship quarterfinal birth.

WALLA WALLA, Wash.  – Gary Erdelyi will flip coasts to join the Sweets, coming  across the country from the Garden State of New Jersey.

Erdelyi earned his degrees in Journalism and Radio, TV, and Film from Rowan University. During his time in Glassboro he was the Sports Director and lead radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Profs for all sports airing on Rowan Radio, including baseball. Most recently, Erdelyi was a play-by-play broadcaster for the Washington Nationals High-A affiliate, the Wilmington Blue Rocks.  

“I’m thrilled that the Sweets are giving me the opportunity to continue to do what I love” said Erdelyi, “I’m very excited to begin working with the team; I know that this organization has had an upwards trajectory and I’m excited to continue that.”

Erdelyi’s responsibilities will include broadcasting home and away games, relationships with local media, managing all media relations requests for the team, as well as managing the Sweets website and content posted by the team. His first game in the Sweets booth will be on June 3rd as the Sweets take on the Ridgefield Raptors on the road to start the 2022 season.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. —  The Sweets return to Borleske Stadium on Friday, June 10 for the 2022 home opener.

This morning, the West Coast League announced the full schedule for the 2022 summer season.  The league will consist of 16 teams next year with the addition of the Springfield Drifters, and the return of the league’s five Canadian teams who had to pull out of the 2021 season due to COVID-19.

The Sweets start the season with road trips to Ridgefield and Yakima Valley before their home opener against the Cowlitz Black Bears on Friday, June 10.

Walla Walla will have 32 home games in the 2022 regular season, consisting of 27 league games and five non-league games.  The Sweets will play 10 home games in June, 19 in July, and three in August.  The season finale is scheduled for Thursday, August 4 against Ridgefield.

A full promotional schedule with finalized game times will be released at a later date.  Season tickets, mini plans, and group packages are currently on sale at the Sweets downtown office, or by calling 509-522-2255.

—–

A full list of the 2022 Schedule

(Home Games in BOLD)

June 3-5: Ridgefield Raptors

June 7-9: Yakima Valley Pippins

June 10-12: Cowlitz Black Bears

June 13: Cascade Collegiate League

June 14-16: Northwest Star NightHawks

June 17-19: Port Angeles Lefties

June 21-23: Corvallis Knights

June 24-26: Springfield Drifters

June 28-30: Yakima Valley Pippins

July 1-3: Kelowna Falcons

July 4: Cascade Collegiate League

July 5-7: Bend Elks

July 8-10: Portland Pickles

July 12-14: Bend Elks

July 15-17: Kelowna Falcons

July 19-21: Springfield Drifters

July 22-24: Wenatchee AppleSox

July 26-28: Portland Pickles

July 29-31: Corvallis Knights

August 2-4: Ridgefield Raptors

August 5-7: Wenatchee AppleSox

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Brandon Van Horn, a former San Francisco Giants minor league player, will become the new manager of the Walla Walla Sweets.

“It is a huge honor to lead the Sweets for the upcoming summer.  This is such an exciting time for my wife and I,” said Van Horn. “I am extremely grateful to the Sweets for giving me this opportunity to lead the team in 2022.”

Sweets general manager Cody Miller is looking forward to having Van Horn as part of the Walla Walla community and is excited about what Van Horn will bring to the field next summer.

“His experience in the minor leagues is something that will be a huge asset for our players,” Miller said. “Understanding what it takes every day to prepare, improve, and compete to get to the next level is exactly what the Sweets want to provide our players each summer.”

Van Horn, a native of Tujunga, California, will become the fourth manager of the Sweets. He succeeds interim manager Larry Price, who helmed the team in 2021.

“Larry stepped in just a few months before we took the field last summer, and represented the Sweets and the community very well,” Miller said. “As an assistant coach in 2019 and head coach in 2021, Larry always put the players and the community first.”

Van Horn comes to Walla Walla with more than four years of playing minor league baseball in the Giants organization. After San Francisco drafted him in the 19th round in 2016, Van Horn reached as high as Triple A in the minors.

After his playing career, Van Horn spent a summer in the Competitors Collegiate League as manager of one of four teams during the shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, Van Horn became a member of the New Mexico State baseball coaching staff as an assistant.  He is starting his second season with the Aggies as they prepare for the 2022 college spring season.

Van Horn is excited about working on the Sweets’ roster for next season.

“I am looking forward to building a culture of player development and winning ball games that the community of Walla Walla will be proud of,” he said.

“I can’t wait to spend summer nights out on a ballfield with the rest of the Sweets family and can’t wait to get going,” Van Horn added.

Season tickets are on sale now for the 2022 Sweets season.  Call 509-522-BALL or visit the downtown store at 109 E. Main Street for details.

WALLA WALLA, WA – The West Coast League today announced the All – WCL team selections for the 2021 summer season, with the five Sweets garnering spots.

Catcher Colin Wetterau, a junior from St. John’s, and reliever Caden Kaelber, a junior from Washington State, were both named to the First Team All – WCL.  Left-handed pitcher Travis Craven, a Whitman College graduate on his way to USC this fall, picked up Second Team All – WCL honors after a second consecutive summer season in Walla Walla.

Oregon State infielder Paul Myro IV and Northwest Nazarene infielder Parker Price picked up honorable mentions for the All – WCL selections.

Wetterau was a mainstay in the sweets lineup all summer long.  Appearing in 45 games, the junior batted .268, with six doubles and two triples while driving in 18 runs on the season.  Overall, he slashed .268/.316/.324 on the year, and was second among West Coast League catchers in batting average on the season.

Kaelber, the long and lanky reliever from Washington State, was the Sweets most reliable arm out of the bullpen this summer.  The junior threw a West Coast League leading 47 1/3 innings in relief in 19 appearances, striking out 63 batters with a 3.61 ERA.  Kaelber also added 2 saves on the season for the Sweets.

Craven was his usual reliable self for Walla Walla this summer.  The local product threw 61 1/3 innings in 16 appearances this season, 10 of them starts.  He struck out 63 hitters while allowing just 16 walks and posting a 3.82 ERA.  He also picked up Pitcher of the Week honors in July, highlighted by an 8 inning, 14 strikeout performance in a 1-0 loss against the Wenatchee AppleSox on July 22.

Myro IV appeared in 37 games for the Sweets, and slashed .265/.436/.341 while finishing second in the West Coast League in walks with 37.

Price, in his second season with the Sweets, slashed .310/.429/.422, and led the team with an .851 OPS in 33 games.

WALLA WALLA, WA – After the dust had settled, three former or current Sweets players heard their name called during the 2021 MLB Draft.

Two Sweets alumni, Sean Sullivan and Chazz Martinez, along with current Sweet, Cameron Butler, were selected as part of the MLB’s 20 round player draft that started this past Sunday.

It was Sullivan who heard his name called first, when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the eighth round.  Sullivan, a right-handed pitcher from the University of California, played for the Sweets during the 2018 summer season.  He made ten appearances, six of them starts, while striking out 24 batters in 26 innings pitched.  He is coming off a junior season at California where he went 4-5 with a 3.68 ERA for the Golden Bears, striking out 75 hitters.

Martinez, a left-handed pitcher from Orange Coast College, was next off the board.  He was also selected by the Pirates, going in the 12^th round.  Chazz was used in a dual role for the Sweets during his one season with the team in 2019.  He finished the season with a .308 batting average at the plate, hitting five home runs and added 15 RBI’s on year.  On the mound, Martinez made eight appearances, starting in three of those games, striking out 21 batters in 11 1/3 innings pitched.

Butler, a high school senior who had committed to play at Cal Poly, got the call from the Chicago White Sox in the 15^th round.  After a stellar season his senior year at Big Valley Christian High School, he made his way to Walla Walla for the first half of the 2021 West Coast League season.  He batted .265 in 18 games for the Sweets, with one home run and 10 RBI’s while playing several positions in the infield and outfield.

WALLA WALLA, WA – Following the lead from the city of Walla Walla and local fire and city officials, the Sweets have postponed their 4th of July fireworks show.

The fireworks display was scheduled to happen at the conclusion of the Sweets July 3 game against the visiting Northwest Star Nighthawks.  But with extreme heat entering the Walla Walla Valley this past week coupled with the combined dry and humid conditions, the guidance from city officials’ determined that public fireworks displays were not safe for the region at this time.

A makeup date for the show will be announced at a later date.  Tickets for the July 3 matchup are still valid for the game.  Tickets for the rest of the Sweets games can be purchased at SweetsTickets.com

Due to the extreme heat affecting much of the pacific northwest this week, the Sweets have announced they have moved back their game start time to 7:05pm for this week’s games against the Cowlitz Black Bears.  The games were originally scheduled to start at 6:35pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

The Sweets start a three game home series against the Cowlitz Black Bears on Tuesday, June 29 as part of a stretch of 11 home games in 13 days.  The following two games against Northwest Star on July 2 and 3 are still planned to start at 7:05pm.

Walla Walla will have an off day on July 4 before hosting a three-game series against the Yakima Valley Pippins , who currently lead the West Coast League North Division by three games.  The Sweets then finish off the homestand with a three-game series against the Portland Pickles beginning on July 9.

Tickets for all upcoming games are now available at SweetsTickets.com

WALLA WALLA, Wash. –  Starting no later than July 1, the Walla Walla Sweets will lift many of the current COVID-19 restrictions in place and allow full stadium capacity at Borleske Stadium for the rest of the summer season.

Tickets for all remaining games will go on sale starting Friday, June 25 at 10am online and at the downtown Sweets Shoppe.  All sections will be available for single game purchase depending on current ticket availability.

Fans who are unvaccinated will still be encouraged to wear masks, per current CDC guidelines.

The Sweets will continue current crowd seating restrictions through the upcoming home series from June 22-24 with pod seating.

Walla Walla is currently 6-6 in league play, and just 2.5 games out of first place in the West Coast League North Division.  They travel to Yakima Valley this Friday to play the Pippins, who currently sit atop the division at 7-2.

As part of the return to full capacity, cash transactions will also be made available at all points of sale starting Tuesday June 29 at Borleske Stadium when they start a three game homestand with the Cowlitz Black Bears.  The Sweets will then host the Northwest Star Nighthawks on July 2 and 3, with a postgame firework show after the July 3 game to celebrate Independence Day.

Tickets for all remaining games will be available at SweetsTickets.com or by calling 509-522-BALL.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: www.SweetsTickets.com

Sweets starting pitcher Brandon Llewellyn has been named the West Coast League Pitcher of the Week, per WCL commissioner Rob Neyer.

Llewellyn takes home the award following an impressive home opening start for the Sweets against the Port Angeles Lefties. The right-hander from Pepperdine threw seven scoreless innings and allowed no runs on one hit and five strikeouts Friday and earned his first win of the season.

For Llewellyn, he hopes this is first of many awards he’ll receive this summer.

“The WCL and Sweets have been a great way for me to start of the summer,” Llewellyn said. “I could not have hoped for a better group to do all of this with. Hoping this won’t be the last time you see my name on the list and I’ll be back and ready for more.”

Llewellyn has looked sharp in two starts thus far in 2021. The Colleyville, Texas, native has thrown 11 scoreless innings without allowing a run, is tied for the league lead in ERA at 0.00, and is tied for second in the WCL with 12 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .086 against him.

The Sweets are back in action Tuesday at Borleske Stadium when they host the Corvallis Knights. Tickets are still available at www.wallawallasweets.com.

The Walla Walla Sweets announced their final roster moves ahead of the 2021 season Thursday.

The Sweets welcome three more Division-I players to their squad this season, with the final roster now sitting at 35 players. Pitchers Brandon Llewellyn and Logan Hurd, along with infielder Paul Myro IV, are set to join the team.

Myro, currently a freshman at Oregon State, said he has learned a lot playing for a strong program like Oregon State.

“My first year has been a year for growth,” Myro said. “I have gotten much stronger and have been critiquing the little things in my game.”

The freshman outfielder graduated from Palo Verde High School last year and is from Las Vegas. He was a second-team all-state selection following his junior season, hitting .340 with eight doubles, six home runs, 27 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

For Myro, playing for the Sweets presents another opportunity to work on his craft and develop as a player.

“I’m looking forward to getting on the field, playing hard, helping my new teammates win some ball games this summer, and getting even more prepared for my second year at Oregon State,” Myro said.

Moving to the mound, the Sweets picked up two West Coast Conference pitchers in Llewellyn and Hurd. The former attends Pepperdine and is in his first season with the Waves, while Hurd throws for Loyola Marymount University.

Llewellyn is well-traveled in his baseball career. Originally from Colleyville, Texas, the right-handed pitcher attended IMG Academy in Florida and showcased enough skills to earn offers from several big schools across the country. After originally committing to Notre Dame, he ultimately decided on Pepperdine as his school of choice.

At IMG Academy, he threw 47.2 innings and had a 3-1 record. He also collected 12 saves, struck out 57 batters and walked just 10, and had a 1.93 ERA and 1.20 ERA in his two seasons at IMG.

Rounding out the additions is Logan Hurd, who becomes the third pitcher from LMU to join the Sweets roster (Mason Kokodynski, William Grimm).

Hurd has pitched 9 2/3 innings so far in his freshman season for the Lions, striking out ten batters in the process. He was named both a First Team All-League DAL and the Acalanes Varsity Pitcher of the Year in 2019. He chose LMU because he felt it was the perfect size.

WALLA WALLA, WA – Walla Walla Sweets single game tickets for the  opening home series against the Port Angeles Lefties will go on sale Monday, May 24.

Due to restrictions put in place by the state of Washington’s governors office for COVID-19 safety protocols, Borleske stadium will be at 25% fan capacity to start the season.  As a result, 550 tickets will be made available per game for fans and spectators.

“Under phase 3 guidelines, we will have to start the season with a limited seating capacity,” said Sweets general manager Cody Miller.  “Our hope is that restrictions will ease as the summer goes along and we can allow more fans into Borleske at some point this season.”

Tickets will be made available online at SweetsTickets.com beginning at 10am on Monday, May 24.  Tickets will also be able to be purchased over the phone at 509-522-2255, or at the Sweets downtown store at 109 E. Main Street in Walla Walla.

Due to social distancing protocols, all available seats will be available in pods of 2, 4, and 6 seats.  Ticket buyers must purchase all tickets in a pod when selecting their seats.

With such a limited number of seats available, Miller suggests buying seats early.

“I don’t anticipate many tickets being available If you wait too long,” he said.  “With such a limited number of seats available, games could get sold out faster than some might anticipate.”

Miller also said that season ticket holders, host families, and voucher plan buyers would be given first priority for their seats.

Borleske Stadium will be a cashless facility to start the season for all concession and merchandise purchases.

“We’re trying to eliminate as many situations as possible for transmission,” said Miller.  “Many other baseball facilities across the state have done the same.”

Miller also added that some concession stands will not open to begin the season due to the limited fan capacity.  The Sweets are currently looking at options for offering mobile ordering and pickup for concession orders.

Tickets for future games after opening weekend will be released at a later date.

The Sweets continue to look for host families for the 2021 season.  Those interested are strongly encouraged to apply at wallawallasweets.com/host-families/  or call 509-522-2255.

Sweets Manager Larry Price takes pride in what his son, Parker, has accomplished on and off the baseball field.

The duo has shared plenty of special moments on the diamond together, and are prepared to do so again in 2021 at Borleske Stadium. This time around, however, the elder Price will be the skipper.

While the position for Larry Price changes from assistant coach to manager, the excitement to be back with Parker remains the same.

“I am very excited to have a three-year veteran returning to the WCL,” Price said. “Other players and opposing coaches have shared with me that his leadership on the field is as good as it gets.”

Parker’s on-field production and leadership have been on full display his whole career. He was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Idaho at Timberline High School. He was a first-team all-conference infielder and pitcher during his high school days.

In four years at Northwest Nazarene University, he owns a lifetime average of .308 while driving in 64 runs and stealing 25 bases. He stepped right in as a freshman in 2018 and impressed early, playing 50 games and hitting .324.

While the numbers are impressive, his aggressive playstyle and hard-working, positive attitude are the two things that stand out the most to his father.

“Parker is as tough as nails,” Price said. “He fits the mindset of our team’s philosophy of grit and mental toughness. His strengths are that he is savvy, has good athleticism and brings energy to the team. His desire to win is contagious.”

Parker Price is familiar with other areas of the West Coast League. He spent two seasons with the Wenatchee AppleSox before making his way to Borleske Stadium to sport the red and blue uniforms of Walla Walla. The energy and enthusiasm of the Sweets’ crowd was enough for him to make a change of scenery.

While Larry feels excited about coaching Parker, he emphasized the importance of treating everyone fairly.

“As far as how I will feel coaching him, he will be like any other guy,” Price said. “Every player I will coach I consider like a son. This team will be like a family.”

With the first Sweets game at Borleske Stadium since 2019 coming up in 50 days, the red and blue are putting the final touches on their 2021 roster.

The Sweets announced Thursday that they have signed pitcher Will Grimm and catcher Colin Wetterau for the 2021 campaign. This season will be the first in the West Coast League for both players.

Grimm, a freshman at Loyola Marymount University out of the West Coast Conference, gives the Sweets an effective southpaw in the pitching staff.

While he is listed as a pitcher, the Lions have primarily used him as a hitter in his first collegiate season. The California product launched a home run in his latest game on April 20, against USC.  This season, Grimm is hitting .263 with four RBI’s and six runs.

Prior to LMU, Grimm attended Crescenta Valley High School and was a four-year starter under manager Phil Torres. He was recognized  as CIF SS Div. II, All CIF Baseball First Team, and First Team All-League Baseball for Spring 2019. He was well on his way to earning those feats in 2020 as well before the season was cut short, as he threw 24 consecutive scoreless innings to begin the year.

Grimm is the second pitcher from LMU to join the Sweets, along with right-hander Mason Kokodynski.

Moving over to the east coast, Colin Wetterau becomes the third catcher to join the Sweets roster along with Jack Sheward and Quentin Ayers.

Wetterau is in his third season at St. John’s and is listed as a redshirt sophomore. The New Jersey native got off to a hot start for the Red Storm this season, picking up a hit in six of his first seven games.

Wetterau brings another efficient bat to the Sweets lineup and is an effective hitting catcher. He is hitting .280 this year for the Red Storm with 6 RBI’s and has displayed a good eye at the dish, drawing six walks.

Wetterau is the second member of the Red Storm to head out west for collegiate summer baseball, joining teammate Justin Folz. The Medford, New Jersey, product was a top-five catcher in New Jersey out of high school and was an all-conference selection in football as well.

Outside of baseball, Wetterau majors in business and lists Chase Utley as his favorite athlete.

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.