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Walla Walla Sweets

Sweets Receive All-West Coast League Honors

August 26, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wa. - Hitting was the name of the game this season for the Walla Walla Sweets and outfielder Andrew Mendenhall led the charge. West Coast League president Dennis Koho announced yesterday the All-WCL teams. Mendenhall was named first-team All-WCL, pitcher Jay Flaa, and infielder Mikey Duarte were named second-team All-WCL, while pitcher Conner O'Neil and infielder Jarod Gonzales received honorable mentions.

Mendenhall, a 6-foot 3-inch junior from Lewis-Clark State College, appeared in 49 games for the Sweets this season. As a staple of the Sweets offense, Mendenhall led the team in RBI with 39, led the team in homeruns (8), and led the team with 118 total bases, hitting 17 doubles, and two triples. Mendenhall was second on the team in batting average (.349) and was selected as 2014 WCL North Division All-Star. Mendenhall also played for the Sweets in 2011, where he was named second-team All-WCL and was named to the 2011 WCL East Division All-Star team.

"We are very proud of these players for what they were able to accomplish this summer," said Sweets general manager Katie Baxter. "To be recognized like this, among a league that produces a ton of talent year after year, is a great honor for them as individuals and for our entire team and organization."

Sweets relief pitcher Jay Flaa, a 6-foot 3-inch, 220-pound junior from North Dakota State, and infielder Mikey Duarte, a 5-foot 11-inch, 165-pound junior from UC Irvine were named second-team All-WCL. Duarte led the Sweets this season with a .353 batting average, and was second on the team with six home runs. Flaa, led the Sweets with 58 strikeouts, while recording seven saves on the summer.

"We were very fortunate this season to have two teams playing in the West Coast League, and to have high caliber players representing our organization in both markets," said Sweets president Zachary Fraser. "Each of these players stepped up to help their teams when needed and they deserve all of the accolades they receive."

Vince Fernandez of the Yakima Valley Pippins, the team who shares an ownership group with the Sweets, was named the WCL MVP for 2014. Fernandez, of UC Riverside led the league and set new single-season WCL marks in home runs (10) and RBI (51).

The complete all-WCL teams and awards are as follows:

First-Team All-WCL

C - Ryan Matranga (San Francisco), Kitsap BlueJackets

1B - Steven Packard (Oregon), Klamath Falls Gems

2B - Marc Gallegos (Corban), Corvallis Knights

3B - Dennis Morton (Palomar College), Klamath Falls Gems

SS - Alex DeGoti (Long Beach State), Victoria HarbourCats

OF - Vince Fernandez (UC Riverside), Yakima Valley Pippins

OF - Andrew Mendenhall (Lewis-Clark State), Walla Walla Sweets

OF - Hunter Mercado-Hood (San Diego), Victoria HarbourCats

UTL - Dalton Kelly (UC Santa Barbara), Corvallis Knights

SP - Jackson Lockwood (Portland), Corvallis Knights

SP - Shane Bieber (UC Santa Barbara), Cowlitz Black Bears

SP - Eder Erives (Arizona State), Bellingham Bells

SP - Seth Martinez (Arizona State), Bellingham Bells

SP - Eli Morgan (frosh-to-be at Gonzaga), Yakima Valley Pippins

RP - David Bigelow (Gonzaga), Bellingham Bells

RP - Kevin Sheets (Abilene Christian), Bend Elks

Second-Team All-WCL

C - Michael McCann (Seattle), Wenatchee AppleSox

1B - Kevin Kline (Dixie State), Corvallis Knights

2B - Caleb Wood (Gonzaga), Wenatchee AppleSox

SS - Michael Duarte (UC Irvine), Walla Walla Sweets

3B - Brock Carpenter (Seattle), Bend Elks

OF - Sam Brown (Gonzaga), Wenatchee AppleSox

OF - Grant Melker (San Diego), Corvallis Knights

OF - Daniel Woodrow (Creighton), Kitsap BlueJackets

UTL - Danny Miller (Chico State), Bellingham Bells

SP - Zach Johnson (Edmonds CC), Bellingham Bells

SP - Andrew Woods (VMI), Yakima Valley Pippins

SP - Brandon Bailey (Gonzaga), Wenatchee AppleSox

SP - Angel Landazuri (UC Riverside), Corvallis Knights

SP - Aaron Sandefur (Bellevue College), Bellingham Bells

RP - Brandon Choate (Washington), Corvallis Knights

RP - Jay Flaa (North Dakota State), Walla Walla Sweets

Honorable Mention

Bellingham Bells - Dallas Carroll (Utah), Scott Heath (Maine), Dan Ludwig (Belmont), Eric Webber (Georgetown); Bend Elks- Luis Cohen (Cal State Northridge), Nick Lopez (Creighton), Jake Peevyhouse (Arizona State); Corvallis Knights - Chris Haddeland (Linfield), Logan Ice (Oregon State), Michael Lucarelli (Portland), Dane Lund (Oregon State), Jackson Soto (frosh-to-be at Oregon State); Cowlitz Black Bears - Daniel Orr (Corban), Kort Peterson (UCLA), Joe Reta (Orange Coast College), Billy Sahlinger (Portland), Jonathan Serven (Long Beach State); Kelowna Falcons - Joshua Nuernberg (College of Southern Nevada), Connor Waltner (San Diego); Kitsap BlueJackets - Josh Moss (St. Martin's), Matt Narahara (San Francisco), Dylan LaVelle (Everett CC); Klamath Falls Gems - Thomas Walker (UC Riverside); Medford Rogues - Jackson Bertsch (Lane CC), Christian Cox (Nebraska), Ivan Dilda (Pepperdine), Nathan Etheridge (Western Oregon), David Peterson (frosh-to-be at Oregon), Shane Quarterly (Lane CC), Trent Shelton (Oregon State), Spencer Smith (Lane CC); Victoria HarbourCats - Gabe Clark (Oregon State), Nathan Lukes (Sacramento State), Mikey Wright (San Jose State); Walla Walla Sweets - Conner O'Neill (Central Arizona College), Jarod Gonzales (Gonzaga); Wenatchee AppleSox - AJ Alcantara (UC Irvine), Tyler Frost (frosh-to-be at Gonzaga), Shaun Vetrovec (frosh-to-be at UC Irvine); Yakima Valley Pippins - Alex Guenette (UC Irvine), Kenny Rosenberg (Cal State Northridge), Mitch Skaggs (College of Idaho), Shawn Wardian (AIB College of Business), Brandon Williams (Central Washington).

MVP : Vince Fernandez, Yakima Valley Pippins

Pitcher of the Year : Seth Martinez, Bellingham Bells

Coach of the Year : Jeff James, Bellingham Bells

Jim Dietz Sportsmanship Award : Bellingham Bells

Executive of the Year : Nick Caples, Bellingham Bells

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