| Yakima Valley Pippins | |
| League: | West Coast League |
| Division: | East |
| Location: | Yakima, Washington |
| Stadium: | Yakima County Stadium |
| Founded: | 2013 |
| League Champs: | 0 |
| Division Champs: | 2 (2014, 2021) |
| Colors: | Green, light blue and white |
| Mascot: | Scott T. Pippin |
| Owner: | Pacific Baseball Ventures, LLC |
| Management: | Jeff Garretson (General Manager) |
| Coach: | Kyle Krustangel |
The Yakima Valley Pippins are a collegiate wood bat baseball team based in Yakima, Washington. They are member of the West Coast League and began play in 2014 at the 3,000-seat Yakima County Stadium. They replaced the Yakima Bears of the Northwest League, who relocated to Hillsboro, Oregon, and were renamed the Hillsboro Hops. They were named for the pippin apple. On August 6, 2014, the Pippins were the first WCL expansion franchise to win a divisional pennant, beating the Cowlitz Black Bears 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th inning. After missing the playoffs in 2015, the Pippins returned to post season play, winning the 2nd Half South Division Title. The Pippins hold the West Coast League record for most wins in their first two seasons going 64-44 in 2014-2015.
The Pippins are the latest West Coast League (WCL) team.[1] Pacific Baseball Ventures LLC owns both the Yakima Valley Pippins and the Walla Walla Sweets baseball team that also plays in the WCL. Because of the expansion team in Yakima, the WCL moved from a two-division format to a three-division format with an MLB playoff order. In May 2014, the Pippins reached an agreement to have 21 of their home games broadcast in Spanish. KDNA 91.9 FM will be the station broadcasting the 21 games out of Yakima.[2]
After Pacific Baseball Ventures was awarded the Yakima expansion team in the late part of the 2013 year, PBV began restoring the field. In the inaugural season for the Pippins. The Pippins were the second team to make the playoffs in the first season of play. With a 35-19 record and the WCL East Division pennant, the Pippins housed the WCL MVP for the 2014 year. Vince Fernandez had 10 home runs and 51 runs batted in, setting the record in both of those categories.[3] In the first year of play at Yakima County Stadium, the Pippins had an attendance of 42,898 in 34 home games.
On June 3rd, Carson Judd was announced as the league's pitcher of the week. Judd pitched six scoreless innings and threw eight strikeouts against the Drifters the previous Saturday night.[4]
On July 9th, Preston Allen and Spencer Shipman were selected to represent the Pippins in the 2024 All Star Game in Bellingham.[5]
The Pippins failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight season.
| Season | League | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Postseason | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | WCL | East | 1st | 35 | 19 | .648 | 0 | Lost Division Series 0-2 (Bellingham) | Marcus McKimmy |
| 2015 | WCL | East | 2nd | 29 | 25 | .537 | 5.5 | Did Not Qualify | Marcus McKimmy |
| 2016 | WCL | South | 2nd | 32 | 22 | .593 | 2 | Lost Division Series 0-2 (Corvallis) | Marcus McKimmy |
| 2017 | WCL | South | 2nd | 28 | 26 | .519 | 6 | Lost Division Series 1-2 (Corvallis) | Marcus McKimmy |
| 2018 | WCL | North | 4th | 27 | 27 | .500 | 8 | Did Not Qualify | Marcus McKimmy |
| 2019 | WCL | North | 5th | 21 | 33 | .389 | 18 | Did Not Qualify | Marcus McKimmy |
| 2020 | Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic) | ||||||||
| 2021 | WCL | North | 1st | 29 | 19 | .604 | 0 | Won Division Series 2-1 (Bellingham) Lost Championship Series 1-2 (Corvallis) | Kyle Krustangel |
| 2022 | WCL | South | 4th | 29 | 25 | .537 | 10 | Lost Divisional Series 1-2 (Corvallis) | Kyle Krustangel |
| 2023 | WCL | South | 7th | 20 | 34 | .370 | 19 | Did Not Qualify | Kyle Krustangel |
| 2024 | WCL | South | 5th | 20 | 33 | .377 | 20.5 | Did Not Qualify | Kyle Krustangel |
| League Champions | Division Champions | Playoff Team |