Three Stars: Pitchers Stand Out, Coballes Signs

YAKIMA, Wash. — Pitchers headed to the Pippins this summer made some good marks with their college teams over the weekend.

Nic Gregson (UC San Diego) struck out four and walked one in a four-inning start against Santa Clara last Thursday. He allowed one earned run but didn’t get the decision in the Tritons’ 6-4 loss. UCSD split the four-game weekend series and picked up its first win in nine games this year.

Seth Kuykendall (Western Oregon) started game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader against Central Washington in Ellensburg. He struck out five and walked one in three innings of work, while allowing an earned run and three hits. He didn’t get a decision in WO’s 7-2 loss. Overall, WO is 3-3, and CWU is 4-4. Kuykendall’s start was the first appearance for the former Yakima Valley Yak this spring.

Karl Koerper (Washington) made his first start of the year in Sunday’s 6-4 win over Seattle Univ. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. In that same game, Case Matter pitched the eighth inning, striking out one and retiring the only three batters in the frame.

SHORT HOPS: Current Yakima Valley sophomore middle infielder Connor Coballes, who grew up in Spokane and attended Gonzaga Prep, fulfilled one of his lifelong dreams last week by signing to play next year with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He’ll finish his playing time in Yakima this summer with the Pippins … Reed Garrett, who started the Pippins’ inaugural game in 2014 and also became the Pippins’ first major-leaguer, made his first appearance with the Seibu Lions in Japan early today. The Lions won 8-7 over the Hiroshima Carp. It’s Garrett’s second season with the Lions.

By Jeff Garretson

March 16, 2021