YAKIMA, Wash. – Following the adage that a team can never have enough arms, the Pippins have added four pitchers to the 2023 roster.

Right-handers Zak Elvy of Cochise College, Tyson Rutherford of Yakima Valley College, and Joey Harmon of Pacific University, along with left-hander Ethan Salscheider of Pierce College bring to 15 the number of arms coming to The Orchard this summer — so far.

Elvy is a freshman at Cochise, located in Douglas, Arizona. Before heading to the Apaches, Elvy was a member of the U-19 Team Australia squad and on the 2021 National Junior Squad. The New South Wales resident’s talent has been on display in the States as well. Elvy is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA in 24.1 innings of work, with 36 strikeouts in that span.

Rutherford, a freshman with the Yaks, has been performing well alongside teammate Carson Judd, who’s also headed to The Orchard this summer. The two sit atop the team statistics in both innings pitched and strikeouts.

Rutherford, from Post Falls, Idaho, has made seven appearances, and is 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA. He’s struck out 35 in 33.1 innings. The right-hander hopes this is just the beginning for him on the mound.

“I’m looking to put myself in the best place to play good competition to continue to improve upon the little things in my game,” Rutherford said. “I want to continue to push myself to play at the highest level I possibly can when it comes to this game.”

The lone lefty of the bunch is sophomore Ethan Salscheider from Tacoma, Washington. After struggling to start his career, Salscheider has been improving at a steady rate since joining Pierce and is one of the Raiders’ aces this spring.

In 40 innings pitched so far this season, Salscheider is 2-2 with a 2.25 ERA. He’s also added 26 strikeouts and has given up just 10 earned runs in that span.

The former Wilson High School product isn’t taking the opportunity to play with the Pippins this summer lightly.

“It means a lot to me,” Salscheider said. “I’m excited and ready to compete with my teammates and continue to represent the organization the right way on and off the field throughout the community.”

Harmon is the second of two players joining the Pippins from the Pacific University Boxers, alongside utility right-hander CJ Coyler. Most of the success Harmon has showcased on the mound has come out of the pen for the Boxers. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native has appeared in eight games for the Boxers and has thrown 12.1 innings, striking out 14 and compiling a 2.92 ERA.

Harmon wants to be as dominant as possible coming into a ballgame, and watching one MLB player in particular while growing up has helped him get better.

“I always loved watching Trevor Hoffman pitch,” Harmon said. “I’ve tried to emulate certain things from his game like his changeup as much as I possibly can.”

Pippins manager Kyle Krustangel is intrigued by the talent that this group can bring to the team this summer.

“These four are extremely consistent,” Krustangel said. “All four of these guys throw a lot of strikes and have extremely capable off-speed stuff. I’m excited to see what exactly they all end up bringing to the table, they will all more than likely be used in various roles throughout the summer.”