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Yakima Valley Pippins

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Yakima Valley Pippins
Information
LeagueWest Coast League (East)
LocationYakima, Washington
BallparkYakima County Stadium
Founded2013
League championships0
Division championships2 (2014, 2021)
ColorsGreen, light blue and white
MascotScott T. Pippin
OwnershipPacific Baseball Ventures, LLC
ManagementJeff Garretson (General Manager)
CoachKyle Krustangel

The Yakima Valley Pippins are a collegiate wood bat baseball team based in Yakima, Washington. They are member of the West Coast League and began play in 2014 at the 3,000-seat Yakima County Stadium. They replaced the Yakima Bears of the Northwest League, who relocated to Hillsboro, Oregon, and were renamed the Hillsboro Hops. They were named for the pippin apple. On August 6, 2014, the Pippins were the first WCL expansion franchise to win a divisional pennant, beating the Cowlitz Black Bears 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th inning. After missing the playoffs in 2015, the Pippins returned to post season play, winning the 2nd Half South Division Title. The Pippins hold the West Coast League record for most wins in their first two seasons going 64-44 in 2014-2015.

History

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2013

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The Pippins are the latest West Coast League (WCL) team.[1] Pacific Baseball Ventures LLC owns both the Yakima Valley Pippins and the Walla Walla Sweets baseball team that also plays in the WCL. Because of the expansion team in Yakima, the WCL moved from a two-division format to a three-division format with an MLB playoff order. In May 2014, the Pippins reached an agreement to have 21 of their home games broadcast in Spanish. KDNA 91.9 FM will be the station broadcasting the 21 games out of Yakima.[2]

2014

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After Pacific Baseball Ventures was awarded the Yakima expansion team in the late part of the 2013 year, PBV began restoring the field. In the inaugural season for the Pippins. The Pippins were the second team to make the playoffs in the first season of play. With a 35-19 record and the WCL East Division pennant, the Pippins housed the WCL MVP for the 2014 year. Vince Fernandez had 10 home runs and 51 runs batted in, setting the record in both of those categories.[3] In the first year of play at Yakima County Stadium, the Pippins had an attendance of 42,898 in 34 home games.

2024

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On June 3rd, Carson Judd was announced as the league's pitcher of the week. Judd pitched six scoreless innings and threw eight strikeouts against the Drifters the previous Saturday night.[4]

On July 9th, Preston Allen and Spencer Shipman were selected to represent the Pippins in the 2024 All Star Game in Bellingham.[5]

Results by Season

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Season League Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Postseason Manager
2014 WCL East 1st 35 19 .648 0 Lost Division Series 0-2 (Bellingham) Marcus McKimmy
2015 WCL East 2nd 29 25 .537 5.5 Did Not Qualify Marcus McKimmy
2016 WCL South 2nd 32 22 .593 2 Lost Division Series 0-2 (Corvallis) Marcus McKimmy
2017 WCL South 2nd 28 26 .519 6 Lost Division Series 1-2 (Corvallis) Marcus McKimmy
2018 WCL North 4th 27 27 .500 8 Did Not Qualify Marcus McKimmy
2019 WCL North 5th 21 33 .389 18 Did Not Qualify Marcus McKimmy
2020 Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 WCL North 1st 29 19 .604 0 Won Division Series 2-1 (Bellingham)
Lost Championship Series 1-2 (Corvallis)
Kyle Krustangel
2022 WCL South 4th 29 25 .537 10 Lost Divisional Series 1-2 (Corvallis) Kyle Krustangel
2023 WCL South 7th 20 34 .370 19 Did Not Qualify Kyle Krustangel
2024 WCL South 5th 18 29 .383 17.5 Did Not Qualify Kyle Krustangel
League Champions Division Champions Playoff Team

Notable players

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References

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  1. ^ "The Official Site of the West Coast League - The Diamond Standard - News". www.wccbl.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-24.
  2. ^ "Welcome to the Official Site of the Yakima Valley Pippins!: News". pippinsbaseball.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12.
  3. ^ "Official Website of the West Coast League: WCL Team News". westcoastleague.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-30.
  4. ^ https://westcoastleague.com/hartman-and-judd-receive-wcls-moss-adams-weekly-accolades/
  5. ^ https://westcoastleague.com/wcl-all-star-game-rosters-announced/
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