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Walla Walla Sweets

Sweets Coaching Staff to See Changes in 2015

August 28, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Walla Walla Sweets News Release


WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Walla Walla Sweets recently completed their fifth season as members of the West Coast League. As the Sweets look toward 2015, the team announced today that head coach J.C. Biagi has stepped down to pursue other interests outside of baseball. Also not returning after five seasons is pitching coach Mark Michaud, who will begin a full-time teaching career in the Milton-Freewater (OR) school district.

"This is a bittersweet moment," said Sweets president Zachary Fraser. "J.C., Mark, and I have been together since day 1. The memories - from building rosters to desks, to winning pennants, to Christmas floats, to watching our players succeed over the years - will be something that I will always cherish. Both J.C. and Mark are good men who did everything that we asked of them, and often more. I am happy for both of them as they move on to bigger and better things, and I am excited to start the process of finding the staff that will build upon the traditions of community and excellence they helped create. Both J.C. and Mark will always be welcome family members in the clubhouse and the Sweets office."

Both Biagi and Michaud joined the Sweets coaching staff for the inaugural season of Sweets baseball in 2009. While at the helm for the Sweets, Biagi led the team to two winning seasons (2013 and 2014). In 2011, Biagi led the Sweets to their first playoff appearance in team history, defeating the Wenatchee AppleSox in the division series and advancing to the championship series where they lost to the Corvallis Knights. In 2013, Biagi led the team to an East Division title and the team's second playoff appearance, as well as a #41 ranking among the top 50 teams in the summer collegiate national rankings.

"I still have the lineup cards on my wall from the series win vs. Wenatchee in 2011," added Fraser. "That was when we confirmed that the grand experiment of WCL baseball in Walla Walla, and J.C.'s leadership in the dugout was the instrumental piece to our success that season."

"There are no words to describe how thankful I am for the opportunity to become the first manager of the Walla Walla Sweets, and I count myself as very fortunate and blessed to have worked with some amazing people along the way," said J.C. Biagi. "The job was always fun, but it's really the people involved that made it exciting and memorable every day. I will be forever grateful to the ownership group, front office, coaching staff, players, and especially the fans for the unwavering effort, support, and love over the last five years."

In 2011, as the Sweets advanced to the WCL Championship, Michaud, oversaw a Sweets pitching staff that finished with the second-best ERA in the West Coast League at 2.62. Coach Michaud also oversaw the Sweets Leadership Program and directed the premiere summer baseball camp in the Walla Walla Valley, Camp #57. The Sweets will look to build off the strong foundation established by Michaud as they continue these programs in 2015.

"It has been an amazing five years and I would like to thank the Sweets for offering me the opportunity to work for such a first class organization. This experience has changed my life in more ways than I could have imagined, and the key component to that has been the amazing people that I have met," offered Mark Michaud. "Our coaches, players, front office, game day employees, and fans have become family to me. It has been an honor to represent Walla Walla and work with its youth through the leadership program and camps. Thank you all, and Go Sweets!"

The Sweets will begin the process of looking for a new manager and pitching coach for the 2015 season. More information about the positions will be available on the Sweets website www.wallawallasweets.com/club/jobs.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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