Three Stars: Zag Pitchers Continue to Shine

YAKIMA, Wash. — Two former Pippins pitching for the Gonzaga Bulldogs are garnering a lot of attention lately.

Trystan Vrieling (Pippins ’19) capped a big weekend for the Zags (14-4 overall, 3-0 WCC), striking out 10 and walking one in 6 2/3 innings Sunday in a 5-3 win against the University of Pacific. Vrieling, who improved to 2-1, allowed just one (earned) run and scattered six hits.  In five appearances, the former Kamiakin High School standout has a 2.84 ERA with 48 strikeouts against 1 walks in 31 2/3 innings.

On Saturday, Owen Wild (Pippins ’21) improved to 2-1 with a five-inning start against the Tigers. Wild struck out nine and walked four, while giving up three hits and one unearned run. The Gig Harbor right-hander has a 2.79 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings in six outings this year.

In the three-game sweep, Gonzaga’s Connor Coballes went 6-for-13 with two RBIs. The Spokane junior is now hitting .311 (19 for 61) in 18 games (17 starts) this season.

Yakima Valley College swept a pair of doubleheaders from Southwestern Oregon this past weekend, including a 16-10 victory in Game 1 on Saturday that featured home runs from three current Pippins.

Catcher Josh Davis (2-for-5), infielder Spencer Marenco (2-for-4) and center fielder Hank Dunn (4-for-5) all homered in the game. Davis started the parade with a two-run homer in the third inning, Marenco added a solo homer in the fourth, and Dunn cracked a two-run homer in the sixth. Davis and Dunn each finished that game with four RBIs.

Tyler Griggs (Pippins ’22) is hitting .292 for Central Arizona in 26 games so far this spring. Griggs, who will head to Gonzaga this fall, has 21 RBIs and a home run, has stolen five bases and has scored 29 times. The Vaqueros are 29-4 overall this spring.

By Yakima Valley Pippins

March 21, 2022