West Coast League Chief Steps Down

Ken Wilson, president of the summer collegiate West Coast League, announced this past week that he will be stepping down from his role.  He will continue to serve as an advisor and consultant to the league through August 31st of this year.

Upgrades Progressing at Medford’s Harry & David Field

Planned upgrades to Harry & David Field, home of the expansion summer collegiate Medford Rogues (West Coast League) appear to be coming along nicely with new, expanded seating in place.  Check out these photos below from the Rogues’ Facebook page:

West Coast League Expands to Yakima

PRESS RELEASE – The West Coast League will expand in 2014 as Pacific Baseball Ventures, LLC (PBV), the ownership group of the Walla Walla Sweets, announced today that they have been awarded a West Coast League membership in Yakima, Washington. The soon-to-be-named Yakima team will begin WCL play in time for the 2014 season. The Sweets will continue to play in Walla

HarbourCats Unveil All-Star Game Logo

PRESS RELEASE – General Manager Holly Jones is pleased to announce that the Yates Street Tap House will be the presenting partner of the 2013 West Coast League All-Star Game. The game will be held on July 23 on the HarbourCats home field at Royal Athletic Park.  The HarbourCats are also excited to reveal the official 2013 WCL All-Star Game logo.

HarbourCats Unveil Official Team Mascot

PRESS RELEASE – General Manager Holly Jones is pleased to reveal the team’s new mascot. Harvey the HarbourCat debuted on Thursday morning at the Hotel Rialto. He was welcomed to the Victoria mascot community by Marty the Marmot from the Victoria Royals, Striker from the Victoria Highlanders, and Thunder from the University of Victoria.

West Coast League Could Be Flexing Its Muscles into Redding, Chico

While it’s not surprising news to us, it appears that expansion into Redding (CA) and Chico (CA) is on the horizon for the summer collegiate West Coast League.  As we have viewed the WCL’s future for some time, this potential move into California is a necessary next step for the league to truly capture the West Coast and solidify its place as one of the top three summer collegiate circuits  in the country.  Read more here.

Alley Café New AppleSox Concession Operator

PRESS RELEASE – An expanded menu highlights the AppleSox new partnership with the Alley Café as the team’s new concession provider at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

Rogues Introduce Mascot for Inaugural 2013 Season

PRESS RELEASE – After a week of voting by Medford Elementary School children, more than 800 entries and a grueling selection process, Rowdy made his debut as the Medford Rogues’ mascot today in front of a packed house at Lone Pine Elementary School in Medford.

Sweets Sign Hoffman as Play-by-Play Broadcaster

PRESS RELEASE – The Walla Walla Sweets are excited to announce the signing of award-winning radio talent Howard Hoffman as the play-by-play broadcaster for the 2013 season. Hoffman enjoyed a 40-year career in radio that took him to San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Hoffman will make his first foray into baseball broadcasting by joining the Sweets as the

AppleSox Hire Thurling as New Radio Voice

PRESS RELEASE – A new voice will be behind the microphone this season as Spencer Thurling has been hired as the AppleSox new radio broadcaster. Thurling will announce every AppleSox game on the team’s radio home 560 KPQ and online at kpq.com.

Voice of Corvallis Knights Takes Job with Blue Wahoos

PRESS RELEASE – There’s a certain irony to a Virginia Tech graduate joining a franchise called the Wahoos, a nickname often used by sports teams from the arch-rival University of Virginia. But life often works in mysterious ways. And if that entails a die-hard Hokie becoming a Wahoo to join

HarbourCats Introduce Mascot, Name the Mascot Contest

PRESS RELEASE – HarbourCats General Manager Holly Jones is pleased to unveil the team’s new mascot and invites all fans to suggest a name for the newest member of the HarbourCats family. The Times-Colonist newspaper is hosting the “Name the Mascot” contest, which kicks-off with a special notice in their Sunday, February 10th edition. Be sure to watch for it!

Bells Hire New Voice

PRESS RELEASE – The Bellingham Bells recently hired Michael Weisman to be the voice of the Bells for the upcoming 2013 season.  Michael will broadcast all 57 games this summer.

Gems Tap Into Volcanoes for Food Service

PRESS RELEASE – The food service at the Klamath Falls Gems will be headed by Jerry Crane this year. Mr. Crane has owned three catering and concession companies over the past 12 years. He has fed over a million and a half people in the last 10 years as well as catered for groups as large as 9,000 people at one time.

Rogues Unveil Caps, Harry & David Field Improvements Underway

The summer collegiate Medford Rogues (West Coast League) have unveiled their home, road and alternative caps for the team’s inaugural 2013 season.

Medford Rogues Facebook photos

Sale of Outlaws Finalized, Team to Play in NYCBL

The sale of the assets of the summer collegiate Oneonta Outlaws (Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League) from co-owners Keith Rogers and Dan Scaring of Saratoga Springs (NY) to Oneonta (NY) businessman Gary Laing was completed over the weekend.  Because Laing wasn’t interested in fielding a team in the PGCBL or he simply didn’t want to pay for the PGCBL’s more premium franchise rights, he plans

First-Year Victoria to Host 2013 West Coast League All-Star Game

PRESS RELEASE – Victoria HarbourCats Owner John McLean and General Manager Holly Jones are pleased to announce that the City of Victoria and the Victoria HarbourCats have been awarded the 2013 West Coast League (WCL) All-Star Game.

It’s the ‘Medford Rogues’

PRESS RELEASE – The West Coast League’s newest team, based in Medford, Oregon, today announced the team name, unveiled the logo and launched the team’s Web site.

Expansion Medford to Unveil Branding Tuesday

CSH International, Inc., the owner of the summer collegiate West Coast League’s expansion franchise in Medford (OR), will unveil the team’s name, logo and website on Tuesday, November 13 at 2 p.m. at Chadwick’s Pub & Sports Bar, 2300 Biddle Road in the Rogue Regency.  Read more here.

GM Grant Wilson Leaves Black Bears for Gems

PRESS RELEASE – Veteran minor league baseball executive Grant Wilson has been named the new General Manager of the Klamath Falls Gems of the West Coast League. Team owner Jerry Walker made the announcement Monday.

It’s the ‘Victoria HarbourCats’ (UPDATED)

At a press conference today, the owners of the new summer collegiate West Coast League expansion franchise  in Victoria (BC) unveiled the team’s name a logo.  The Victoria HarbourCats will begin play in 2013 at Royal Athletic Park.

Klamath Falls Gems Sold

PRESS RELEASE – Jerry and Lisa Walker of the San Francisco Giants’ Class A affiliate, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes have purchased ownership of the Klamath Falls Gems.  The transfer of the team and franchise from an ownership group comprised of various West Coast League executives and local owners will be immediate.

Expansion Victoria to Unveil Branding Friday

After more than 600 name submissions from fans, the new summer collegiate West Coast League franchise in Victoria (BC) has a name and logo.  Team Victoria has scheduled a press conference for this Friday, October 12, at 11:30 a.m. to unveil the club’s branding.  The public event will take place at the Sharks Club Bar & Grill at the Sandman Hotel.  Read more here.

Expansion Victoria Names Stewart Director of Communications

PRESS RELEASE – The Victoria Baseball Club today named Christian J. Stewart as the first Director of Communications and Photography, effective immediately. Chris will manage the team’s media relations, website, photography and community events. Christian has most recently served as the Editor and Photographer for Island Sports News.

Expansion Medford Announces GM, Front Office Staff, Name-the-Team Contest

PRESS RELEASE – The West Coast League’s newest team, based in Medford, Oregon, today announced the hiring of the team’s full-time staff. WCL Medford, owned and operated by CSH International, Inc., welcomes Chuck Heeman as the team’s first General Manager, Mayra Heeman as Sales Representative and Administrative Assistant, and Kyndra Miles as Sales Representative.

Wilson Steps Down as GM of Black Bears

Grant Wilson has decided to step down as the general manager of the summer collegiate Cowlitz Black Bears (West Coast League).  Tony Bonacci, owner of the three-year-old, Longview (WA)-based franchise, has not announced when a replacement will be named.  Read more here.

CDA Council to Vote Tonight on West Coast League Team

The Coeur d’Alene (ID) City Council will vote Tuesday night on a recommendation by the General Services Committee to endorse the concept of bringing a summer collegiate West Coast League team to the city as the anchor tenant for the new sports facility at Cherry Hill by the 2014 season.

Milwaukie Pulls Plug On Ballpark Project

The City of Milwaukie (OR) has decided shelve a plan to build a new baseball stadium, after time ran out to provide a needed economic feasibility study for building a more modest facility for a summer collegiate West Coast League franchise, after talks broke down with the Single-A Northwest League.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Joe Martin Field (Bellingham, WA)

Andrea and Jim from BaseballRoadTrip.net visit Joe Martin Field, home of the summer collegiate Bellingham Bells (West Coast League).  Read review and view photos here.

Knights Promote Kerkvliet to GM

PRESS RELEASE – The Corvallis Knights of the West Coast League have promoted Bre Kerkvliet to general manager, president Dan Segel announced Thursday. She will become the first female GM in the WCL.

Milwaukie Set To Consider Proposal for WCL Ballpark Next Tuesday, Deadline Looms

After voting 3-2 to consider building a more modest ballpark for the summer collegiate West Coast League after talks with the Single-A Northwest League broke down, the Milwaukie (OR) City Council will review next Tuesday an updated economic impact study and architectural plans for a 2,000-seat baseball stadium.  Read more here.  The city is reportedly facing an Aug. 23

Dormant RiverHawks Likely Anchor Tenant for New Coeur d’Alene Ballpark

Local organizers in Coeur d’Alene (ID) remain in talks with Irv Zakheim, owner of the dormant summer collegiate Spokane Riverhawk (West Coast League), and friend/advisor/baseball executive Bobby Brett from the nearby Single-A Spokane Indians (Northwest League), about making the ‘Hawks the primary tenant of the proposed new $3 million baseball complex at Cherry Hill

Milwaukie Takes Next Steps with West Coast League

The Milwaukie (OR) City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to press ahead with a proposed new minor-league baseball stadium project, contingent upon determining the economic impact of building a smaller ballpark and bringing in a summer collegiate West Coast League franchise, after talks with the Single-A Northwest League broke down.  Read more here.

West Coast League Steps Up to Plate in Milwuakie

Now that talks between Milwuakie (OR) and the Single-A Northwest League have collapsed, the summer collegiate West Coast League has taken a seat at the negotiating table.  Read more here.  Read statement from the mayor here.

Northwest League a No Go in Milwaukie, West Coast League Presented as Option

Milwaukie (OR) officials have announced that talks with the Single-A Northwest League to lure an existing franchise to a proposed new ballpark in town have come to a disappointing end.  Quite simply, there is no team availabe, because the Yakima Bears

WCL All-Star Game Tonight in Walla Walla

PRESS RELEASE – The showcase event of the West Coast League season, the 2012 All-Star Game, will be played tonight at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla, Washington. Forty-two players represeting the nine teams in the league will take part. The game begins at 7:35 pm and will be preceeded by a home run hitting contest.

West Coast League Expands to Medford, Yakima on Deck

The summer collegiate West Coast League has announced that the circuit is expanding to Medford (OR).  The team will be owned by Arizona-based Consolidated Sports Holdings International, Inc..  The group has pledged $250,000 in matching funds to help complete Harry & David Field.  The franchise will replace the amateur Southern Oregon RiverDawgs (Far West League) beginning

Yakima Bears, Hillsboro Strike Deal

The City of Hillsboro and the Single-A Yakima Bears (Northwest League) have reportedly agreed to terms that would bring the franchise to a new ballpark in the Portland suburb beginning as early as next season.  Expect the summer collegiate West Coast League to quickly step in to fill the void in Yakima.  Read more here.

Victoria Welcomes Baseball Back to Royal Athletic Park

PRESS RELEASE – Today the City of Victoria announced the return of baseball to the Capital City with a soon-to-be named team within the collegiate level West Coast League. The Victoria Baseball Club has negotiated a three year agreement as the anchor tenant at Royal Athletic Park starting in June of 2013.

AppleSox Trade Red/Gray for Green in Ballpark Facelift

No more red/faded pink Kingdome seats for Paul Thomas Sr. Baseball Stadium on the campus of Wenatchee Valley College, as the summer collegiate Wenatchee AppleSox (West Coast League) held their home opener Tuesday night against the Bend Elks in front of a crowd of 1,195.  Seats, paint, and signage are all new.  View pre-completion photos here and here.

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