Category Archives: CAL LEAGUE NEWS

STOCKTON PORTS NAME NAME CHRIS ZAVAGLIA AS ASSISTANT GM

Posted on January 14, 2024 by | Comments Off on STOCKTON PORTS NAME NAME CHRIS ZAVAGLIA AS ASSISTANT GM

Press release:

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Stockton Ports are excited to announce the promotion of Chris Zavaglia to become the Assistant General Manager after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons as the team’s Director of Baseball Communications.

Zavaglia, 26, has been with the Ports since April of 2021 when he began his tenure as a seasonal Media and Videoboard Assistant. Following the 2021 season, Zavaglia was promoted to a full-time role as a Ticket Sales and Media Executive. Prior to the 2022 season, Zavaglia was promoted to the team’s Director of Baseball Communications where he has excelled for the past two years.

“It’s an honor to receive this opportunity,” said the newly named Assistant General Manager Chris Zavaglia. “I’m excited to continue to deliver and help the Stockton Ports succeed as much as possible. It’s been an amazing three seasons here and I’m looking forward to working with my amazing staff to deliver the best entertainment possible in the San Joaquin Valley.”

Prior to joining the Ports Front Office, Zavaglia previously worked with Cal State Maritime Academy as a Sports Information Assistant, starting off as an intern in mid-2018. In June of 2020, he was hired as the media manager for the Independent Baseball Affiliate Vallejo Admirals. He has also previously served as one of the play-by-play voices for the Sacramento State Hornets baseball team, the Vallejo Admirals, and Cal Maritime basketball and soccer.

“7th Inning Stretch is delighted to honor Chris with this very well-deserved promotion to Assistant General Manager of the Stockton Ports today,” said Ports General Manager, Jordan Feneck. “Chris has proved day in and day out that he deserves this new role, and I am excited to watch him continue to flourish. He is passionate about our company and wants to see our team succeed, and I am thankful to be working alongside him.”

Zavaglia is looking forward to his next step of growth within the company and is looking forward to continuing to succeed in this new role.

“I want to thank the Stockton Ports, Jordan Feneck, Pat Filippone and the entire 7th Inning Stretch ownership for this incredible opportunity,” Zavaglia went on to add. “I am thrilled to be a part of the Stockton Ports family and look forward to continue creating exciting memories for our fans at Banner Island Ballpark.”

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VISALIA RAWHIDE 2024 COACHING STAFF ANNOUNCED

Posted on January 14, 2024 by | Comments Off on VISALIA RAWHIDE 2024 COACHING STAFF ANNOUNCED

The Visalia Rawhide sent out a press release on January 8th with the 20204 coaching staff listed:

Diamondbacks announce Minor League coaching assignments

The Rawhide know who will be calling the shots from the dugout during the 2024 season! We will be welcoming back:

Manager: Dee Garner
Pitching Coach: Tyler Mark.

Joining the staff for their first year in Visalia are:
Hitting Coach: Brad Marcelino
Bench Coach: Jaime Del Valle
Trainer: Cat Widay
Strength and Conditioning: Wacy Crenshaw

The Rawhide will take the field for the first time in 2024 on April 9th. Individual tickets will go on sale March 5th. Membership packages are available now at RawhideBaseball.com.

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RAWHIDE FACILITY UPGRADE BATTLE

Posted on January 14, 2024 by | Comments Off on RAWHIDE FACILITY UPGRADE BATTLE

The Visalia Rawhide released a statement last week addressing the facility upgrades that have been mandated by MLB for all minor league clubs. At issue is who should pay for the upgrades, the team or the city of Visalia. The two parties headed to court in November and a judge declined to make a ruling on December 22nd, stating that the lease in place did not anticipate the mandated upgrades.

On January 6th, Rawhide owner Sam Sigal asserted that the city is required to pay for the upgrades.

There is quite a bit of back-and-forth on this issue, with the city charging that team ownership agreed to MLB’s mandated facility upgrades without the city’s knowledge.

More to come.

 

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RAWHIDE ALUMS THOMAS AND PFAADT HELP BRING DIAMONDBACKS EVEN IN NLCS

Posted on October 21, 2023 by | Comments Off on RAWHIDE ALUMS THOMAS AND PFAADT HELP BRING DIAMONDBACKS EVEN IN NLCS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Arizona Diamondbacks fell behind the Philadelphia Phillies two games to none in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series but have evened it up at 2-2 with some big performances by former Visalia Rawhide players.

Last night, trailing two games to one in the series, the Diamondbacks gave up an early lead and fell behind 5-2 going to the bottom of the seventh inning. They put a run on the board in the seventh and trailed 5-3 in the eighth when 2019 California League championship game hero Alek Thomas came to the plate and belted a two-run home run to tie the game. The Diamondbacks tacked on the go-ahead run and closed out the game to pull even with the Phillies in the series.

On Thursday, 2021 Rawhide alum Brandon Pfaadt faced the Phillies with the Diamondbacks trailing the series 2-0. The rookie shut out the Phillies over 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out nine. The Diamondbacks won the game on a walk-off single from Ketel Marte.

It was a clutch performance for the rookie who went 3-9 in an up-and-down season that saw tremendous struggles and a couple of trips back to the minor leagues. Pfaadt also shut out the Dodgers over 4 1/3 innings in the divisional series.

Game five is tonight in Phoenix.

 

 

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MODESTO SWEEPS RANCHO FOR CAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted on September 20, 2023 by | Comments Off on MODESTO SWEEPS RANCHO FOR CAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Colt Emerson had four hits and four RBIs as to lead the Modesto Nuts to a 14-8 win over Rancho Cucamonga for the California League championship. The Nuts swept the first two games of the best-of-three series to claim their first league title since 2017.

Modesto erased a 1-0 deficit with a four-run second inning and stretched it out to a 6-1 lead before Rancho Cucamonga came back with two runs in the fourth to make it 6-3. A run in the fifth made it 7-3, Modesto, but the Quakes answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-7 lead.

But that was it for Rancho Cucamonga while Modesto kept adding on.

The Nuts got the lead right back with three in the sixth en route to seven unanswered runs.

Michael Arroyo was 3-for-6 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored. Luis Suisbel was 2-for-6 with a home run.

Modesto finished the season in dominant fashion, chasing down the Fresno Grizzlies to claim the second-half crown in the North division, then kept rolling through the playoffs. Overall, it is Modesto’s 10th league championship and its second since it became an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

MODESTO – 14
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 8
Box

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MODESTO TAKES GAME ONE WITH 9-RUN INNING

Posted on September 18, 2023 by | Comments Off on MODESTO TAKES GAME ONE WITH 9-RUN INNING

Championship Series Gm 1

The Modesto Nuts fell behind 1-0 in the third inning, then came roaring back with nine runs in the fifth and went on to win game one of the California League championship series by a score of 9-2 over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Sunday night. Tatem Levins hit a grand slam and Jonny Farmelo hit a three-run shot as Modesto’s high-powered lineup continued to roll.

Jake Gelof hit a pair of solo home runs to account for both of Rancho Cucamonga’s runs.

Three Modesto pitchers scattered seven hits and allowed just one walk with 12 strikeouts.

3,573 fans showed up at John Thurman Field for Modesto’s last home game of the year. Game two of the championship series will be in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday at 6:30pm.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 2
MODESTO – 9
Box

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QUAKES COME BACK ON 66ERS, FACE MODESTO FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Posted on September 17, 2023 by | Comments Off on QUAKES COME BACK ON 66ERS, FACE MODESTO FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes fell behind 4-0, then came back to win the deciding game of the South division series by a score of 11-6 on Friday night at LoanMart Field. The Quakes will face the Modesto Nuts in Game 1 of the championship series on Sunday night at John Thurman Field.

Joe Vetrano hit two home runs and drove in five runs to lead the Rancho Cucamonga attack. Five different Quakes had multi-hit games as the club belted out 14 hits, including four home runs.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Rancho Cucamonga put up eight runs, then added a ninth run in the third inning. Up 9-4, they never looked back. Garrett McDaniels finished the game with three scoreless innings to earn the win.

The best-of-three championship series starts Sunday night at 6:05 in Modesto, then shifts to Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, Game three will be on Wednesday in Rancho if necessary.

INLAND EMPIRE – 6
RANCHO CUCAMONGA -11
Box

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MODESTO SWEEPS, RANCHO CUCAMAMONGA FORCES GM 3

Posted on September 14, 2023 by | Comments Off on MODESTO SWEEPS, RANCHO CUCAMAMONGA FORCES GM 3

The Modesto Nuts punched their ticket to the California League championship series with a 13-4 romp over San Jose to sweep their North division playoff series. It was typical of Modesto’s late-season dominance as they scored their 13 runs on 17 hits and drew six walks while scoring multiple runs in four straight innings. The Giants got out to a 4-0 lead and ultimately used seven pitchers with no answers to the Nuts’ high-powered offense.

Michael Arroyo was 5-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Tatem Levins had three hits and a walk with two RBIs and two runs scored. Colt Emerson had three hits and drove in three runs.

Riley Davis pitched six shutout innings out of the bullpen for Modesto, allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Game one of the championship series will be on Sunday at 5:05 pm in Modesto.

MODESTO – 13
SAN JOSE – 4
Box

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes built a 4-0 lead and then held off the Inland Empire 66ers for a 4-3 win to even the South division playoff series at 1-1. The two teams combined for just nine hits and Rancho appeared to have the game will in hand with strong pitching and a pair of two-run innings to build their lead.

But Inland Empire almost spoiled the party with three eighth-inning runs and a ninth-inning rally that loaded the bases on walks and wild pitches. The Quakes got out of it unscathed and now there will be a third game on Friday at 6:30 pm at LoanMart Field.

INLAND EMPIRE – 3
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 4
Box

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INLAND EMPIRE, MODESTO TAKE GAME 1’S IN PLAYOFFS

Posted on September 13, 2023 by | Comments Off on INLAND EMPIRE, MODESTO TAKE GAME 1’S IN PLAYOFFS

The Inland Empire 66ers held serve in game one of the South division playoffs, shutting out the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3-0 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series. Jeremy Arocha was 1-for-2 with a walk and scored two runs for the 66ers and Joel Hurtado allowed just one hit and one walk over seven innings with four strikeouts. The series moves to Rancho Cucamonga for game two on Thursday night at 6:30 pm.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 0
INLAND EMPIRE – 3
Box
Story

The Modesto Nuts came back in the late innings and took game one of the North division playoff series with a 6-5 win over the San Jose Giants in 10 innings. Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jonny Farmelo tripled in a run to cut the deficit to one, and the comeback was on. Lazaro Montes homered in the bottom of the ninth to tie it up and Colt Emerson walked it off in the 10th with a bases-loaded single. Game two will be in San Jose on Thursday night at 7 pm.

SAN JOSE – 5
MODESTO – 6
Box
Story

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PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

Posted on September 11, 2023 by | Comments Off on PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

The 2023 California League regular season ended yesterday with the Modesto Nuts and Inland Empire 66ers finishing the second half as division winners. The playoff matchups are set with the divisional series starting on Tuesday:

RANCHO CUCAMONGA at INLAND EMPIRE Gm 1, 6:35 pm.

SAN JOSE at MODESTO Gm 1, 7:05 pm.

Wednesday will be an off day with Game 2’s going on Thursday at Rancho Cucamonga and San Jose. Pending the outcomes, Game 3’s will be played on Friday as necessary. The championship series starts on Sunday, September 17th.

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