PA Lefties Núñez, Scheuber garner All-League honors
PORT ANGELES — The summer-long consistency of Port Angeles Lefties’ standout second baseman Robert Núñez and the rapid rise of right-hander Colby Scheuber were recognized when the 2023 All-West Coast League teams were announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer on Thursday.
Núñez, a rising junior out of the Arizona campus of aeronautical school Embry-Riddle, was a high-flyer at the plate all summer, at or near the top of the league in batting average for much of the season, eventually finishing fifth in the WCL at a .330 clip and second overall in hits with 63.
Scheuber, an Ocosta High School product who will pitch for Grays Harbor College, grew up in a hurry after joining the Lefties at midseason.
He gave up three runs in five innings in his first start for the Lefties on June 24. From that outing on, he steadily lowered his earned run average, including two games in which he gave up no earned runs and two more in which he gave up just one earned run. He finished with a season ERA of 2.16 in 50 innings of work, good for second in the WCL.
Lefties reliever CJ Lewis, who will be a senior for Jackson State next spring, was named Honorable Mention.
“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,” Neyer said. “We saw that in the [MLB} draft earlier this summer, and now we’re seeing this breadth of talent in our All-League teams.”
Yakima Valley Pippins first baseman Jace Phelan was named WCL MVP, while Edmonton hurler Halen Knoll earned Pitcher of the Year honors in awards announced Wednesday.
On the All-WCL first team, the WCL-champion Corvallis Knights lead the way with three selections, followed by the Bend Elks, Edmonton Riverhawks, Portland Pickles, Ridgefield Raptors and Walla Walla Sweets with two each.
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 ElksSP – 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
• 2B – Roberto Núñez (Embry-Riddle, junior), Port Angeles Lefties.
• SP – Colby Scheuber (Grays Harbor College, sophomore), Port Angeles Lefties.
Honorable Mention
Port Angeles: CJ Lewis (Jackson State).
Pirates open play
PORT ANGELES – The Pirates might be playing with a chip on their shoulder as they open the 2023 season at home against North Idaho College at noon Saturday.
The Pirates put together a brilliant 2022 season, scoring 57 goals, allowing just six and going unbeaten with 12 wins, no losses and two ties. One of those ties, however, ended with Spokane advancing via a shootout in the Northwest Athletic Conference quarterfinal.
The Pirates kickoff their 2023 season at noon Saturday against the Cardinals, a team that was second in the NWAC with just eight goals allowed, finishing with 13 wins, two losses and four ties in a tough East Division in 2022.
Admission for Peninsula soccer matches is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, veterans, alumni and youth, and free to children 12 and under.
Following Saturday’s opener, the Pirates will take on Lower Columbia and Centralia at the NWAC Friendlies Aug. 22-23, they will travel east for matches against Spokane and Western Wyoming before opening North Division play at home against Everett on Sept. 6.
Port Angeles Lefties second baseman Robert Nunez jumps to catch a throw but isn’t able to punch out Kelowna baserunner Eddie Fines on Sunday at Civic Field. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
