Jake Tsukada, Dylan Stewart highlight Ridgefield Raptors on All-West Coast League teams

Six Ridgefield Raptors players were selected for the 2023 All-West Coast League teams released Thursday, representing a mix of second-year returners and newcomers at several positions.

Raptors infielder Jake Tsukada (Hawaii) and pitcher Dylan Stewart (Pepperdine) both landed on the first team. Pitcher Blake Hammond (Northwest Nazarene) was a second-team selection. Plus, an additional three Ridgefield players earned honorable mention nods for their contributions this summer: catcher Justin Stransky (Fresno State), outfielder Trent Prokes (University of the Cumberlands) and pitcher Charlie Royle (Cal Poly).

“With every passing year, I’m more impressed with how much talent and commitment we’re blessed with each summer in the West Coast League,” WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer said in Thursday’s release. “We saw that in the draft earlier this summer, and now we’re seeing this breadth of talent in our All-League teams.”

One of the main catalysts behind Ridgefield’s 33-23 record, capturing the WCL South Division first-half title and reaching the WCL Divisional Series playoffs, Tsukada appeared in a team-high 53 games between the regular season and playoffs.

As the Raptors’ primary leadoff hitter, Tsukada had a .351 batting average, which ranked fourth in the WCL, with 33 RBI, 11 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Tsukada also endeared himself to Ridgefield fans with strong defensive play at third base, with a .961 fielding percentage and just three errors in 48 games.

The honorable mentions also included Prokes, last year’s WCL batting champion. After a slow start to the 2023 campaign, Prokes bounced back to finish the season with a .324 batting average in 34 games. He added 10 RBI, four doubles and two triples.

Prokes, along with Tsukada, Royle and several other players, reunited in Ridgefield this summer after playing with the Raptors in 2022 as well. In fact, according to Tsukada, Prokes was instrumental in convincing some players to return for a second season.

“It was just a great experience last summer,” Prokes said in a June 1 interview prior to Ridgefield’s first game of the season. “I love the squad that they have and I love the coaches. It’s just a great environment to be in. I love being out here.”

Rounding out the Raptors’ honorable mentions was Stransky, who came to Ridgefield following a standout sophomore campaign at Lower Columbia College in Longview. The Fresno State-bound catcher hit .337 in 28 games with nine extra-base hits, one home run and 10 RBI.

Prior to Thursday’s release of the All-WCL teams, the league announced Yakima Valley Pippins first baseman Jace Phelan was named WCL MVP and Edmonton pitcher Halen Knoll earned Pitcher of the Year honors.

Later this week, Neyer will announce the Coach of the Year, Umpire of the Year and Team Sportsmanship Award.

First-Team All-WCL

C – Luca DiPaolo (USC, sophomore), Bend Elks
1B – Jace Phelan (Gonzaga, junior), Yakima Valley Pippins
2B – Frankie Carney (UC Irvine, freshman), Wenatchee AppleSox
3B – Jake Tsukada (Hawaii, senior), Ridgefield Raptors
SS – Jack Metcho (Univ. of the Pacific, sophomore), Portland Pickles
OF – Ben Parker (William & Mary, senior), Walla Walla Sweets
OF – Sam Stem (Gonzaga, sophomore), Corvallis Knights
OF – Aidan Espinoza (UCLA, freshman), Walla Walla Sweets
Util – Ethan Hedges (USC, soph), Corvallis Knights
DH – Dalton Mashore (Saint Mary’s, senior), Portland Pickles

SP – Halen Knoll (Edmonton Collegiate, senior), Edmonton Riverhawks
SP – Ryan Beitel (Univ. of British Columbia, senior), Bellingham Bells
SP – Riley Barrett (Arizona State, freshman), Edmonton Riverhawks
SP – Tucker Grote (Oklahoma Wesleyan, senior), Bend Elks
SP – Dylan Stewart (Pepperdine, sophomore), Ridgefield Raptors
RP – Sean Wiese (Arizona Christian, senior), Corvallis Knights
RP – Andrew Pinedo (Hope International, junior), Nanaimo NightOwls
RP – Logan MacNeil (Campbellsville, junior), Victoria HarbourCats

Second-Team All-WCL

C – Michael Easter (Azusa Pacific, junior), Nanaimo NightOwls
1B – Tyler Davis (Fresno State, junior), Victoria HarbourCats
2B – Roberto Núñez (Embry-Riddle, junior), Port Angeles Lefties
3B – Tyler Quinn (Utah, senior), Corvallis Knights
SS – Hudson Shupe (Gonzaga, sophomore), Victoria HarbourCats
OF – LeTrey McCollum (UCSB, junior), Cowlitz Black Bears
OF – Riley Paulino (U. of Pikeville, junior), Nanaimo NightOwls
OF – Andrew Valdez (Fresno Pacific, senior), Bellingham Bells
Util – Griffin Palfrey (Columbia, junior), Kelowna Falcons

SP – Blake Hammond (Northwest Nazarene, sophomore), Ridgefield Raptors
SP – Merit Jones (Utah, sophomore), Corvallis Knights
SP – Toby Haarer (Central Arizona, sophomore), Wenatchee AppleSox
SP – Sam Hall (Panola JC, sophomore), Kelowna Falcons
SP – Colby Scheuber (Grays Harbor College, sophomore), Port Angeles Lefties
RP – Davis Franklin (U. of Puget Sound, junior), Victoria HarbourCats
RP – Jadon Williamson (Lewis-Clark State, junior), Wenatchee AppleSox
RP – James Trimble (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, sophomore), Bellingham Bells
# year in school noted for fall/winter/spring, 2023-2024