In the 1970s and early 80s, Borleske Stadium near Highway 12 was the place to go in southeastern Washington for your summer baseball fix.
Some of the best college players from across the country, including future Hall of Famers,Ozzie Smith and Tony Gwynn all cracked home runs over the imposing “Green Monster” of Douglas firs that dot the outside of the field.
Now, after nearly 30 years, summer baseball will return to Borleske in 2010.
Pacific Baseball Ventures, LLC, a group of investors with strong ties to the Walla Walla community, has announced that they have been granted an expansion franchise in the West Coast League, a summer collegiate wood bat league with a roster of teams from across the Northwest. Each summer, teams recruit top college talent from across the country to play in the league.
The league has proved to be a popular choice among college players, who see it as an opportunity to prove to professional major and minor league teams that they don’t need the wide sweet spot of a carbon-fiber bat to crush a baseball over the fence.
“The WCL allows players to compete in an environment that prepares them for professional baseball,” said Zachary Fraser, a representative for Pacific Baseball Ventures. “Swinging a metal bat in baseball is like playing basketball on an 8-ft hoop and then having to play on a 10-ft hoop when you join the NBA. Wood bat leagues like the West Coast League help bridge that gap and prepare players for what is ahead.”
WCL President Ken Wilson is excited about adding the Walla Walla franchise to the league’s roster of teams.
“We are excited to see minor league-style baseball returning to Walla Walla and to have a terrific ownership group with ties to the local community,” said Wilson in a news release. “Many in southeast Washington and northern Oregon remember the likes of Smith and Gwynn, and we look forward to creating new memories.”
The Walla Walla franchise, whose team name and colors are, as of yet, undecided, is currently recruiting college players from across the country. Despite the newness of the team, Fraser and Wilson don’t envision the franchise having any problems selling players on Walla Walla.
“I think we will be very competitive,” said Fraser. “We have players coming from the Big XII, the Big 10, the Pac-10, potentially the SEC, plus we are looking at a mix of players with local ties as well.”
“We get players the old-fashioned way: we get on the phone, introduce ourselves, and sell the player on the quality of the experience they will have in Walla Walla. We work closely with college coaches and develop relationships with them across the country.”
With the season still eight months away, team administrators are hard at work getting everything ready so that when the June 10 season opener rolls around, the team can hit the ground running.
Still on the agenda are a multitude of cosmetic as well as functional renovations to Borleske stadium.
“The first round of renovations includes new dugouts, a new backstop, and a new grandstand behind home plate with traditional baseball-style seats,” said Fraser. “Future plans will include a party deck/beer garden, additional seating and expanded concessions options. Borleske is a great ballpark that just needs a little love to restore the amenities to their former glory, and that is what we are doing.”
The club is welcoming community feedback in preparation for the official team name and colors. Fans can go to http://www.wallawallabaseball.com to provide their ideas.
The official team name, brand, website, ticket prices, and leadership staff will be announced at a date to be determined in the fall.
