Pippins Add Two More Utes to 2017 Roster
February 15, 2017 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
YAKIMA, Wash. - Two batterymates from the University of Utah will head to Yakima this summer to play for the Pippins.
Left-handed pitcher Joshua Tedeschi and catcher Zack Moeller, both sophomores for the defending Pac-12 champion Utes this spring, are hailed by Pippins manager Marcus McKimmy because of their poise and leadership attributes.
"Zack has really developed into a very good Division I catcher,"Â McKimmy said of the 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-handed batter from Hollister, Calif. "To start the season, he will be No. 1 on the depth chart. I'm very excited about his leadership capabilities with our pitching staff, and his ability to quarterback our team defense throughout the summer. We've had quality catching every summer, but pairing him with (Daniel) Cope (Cal State Fullerton) could possibly be our best tandem so far."
Moeller was a two-time, first-team all-Monterey Bay League Galiban Division catcher at San Benito High School, and helped lead the team to two league titles. As a freshman at Utah last spring, he started 17 games for the Utes, batting .174 in 46 at-bats.
Tedeschi, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound southpaw, pitched 13 2/3 innings in 16 appearances for the Utes in 2016 after redshirting the previous spring. At Dos Pueblos High in Goleta, Calif., he helped lead his team to two Channel League titles.
"Josh throws strikes to both sides of the plate and can spin a breaking ball anytime,"Â McKimmy said. "He will throw significant innings at meaningful times out of the bullpen this spring. He can start or relieve for us, but his poise, experience and ability to give quality innings to our pitching staff will be vital in any role on opening day."
Moeller and Tedeschi will join Ute freshman infielder Conner McNally in Yakima this summer.
McNally's signing was announced in January. The Utes open their season Friday with a three- game series at CWU Bakersfield.
The Pippins will host Victoria, British Columbia, on Friday, June 2, in the 2017 season opener, presented by Legends Casino. On July 18, the Pippins will host the West Coast League All-Star Game, which will showcase the top talent from the summer league's 11 teams in the Northwest. Season tickets and ticket mini plans - which include tickets to the All-Star Game -- are available for purchase at Hunky Shaw's Team Shop, 12 S. Second St. in the historic Larson Building in downtown Yakima. Ticket packages also can be purchased by calling 509-575-4487 or online at pippinsbaseball.com.
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