Springfield Drifters
| Springfield Drifters | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| League | West Coast League (Since 2021) (South) |
| Location | Springfield, Oregon |
| Ballpark | Hamlin Sports Complex |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Colors | Dark Blue, Sky Blue, White |
| Ownership | Ike Olsson and Kelly Richardson |
| General manager | Kyle Whitty |
| Coach | Tommy Richards |
The Springfield Drifters are a collegiate summer baseball team in the West Coast League.
History
The Drifters were announced as the 16th team of the WCL on April 16, 2021 by the league.[1] The Drifters announced that their playfield would be located in a new stadium in the complex of Hamlin Middle School.[2]
The Drifters played their first game on May 31, 2022 on the road defeating the Bellingham Bells 4-2. Their first home game was played on June 3 with the Drifters falling to the Cowlitz Black Bears 11-6.[3]
2024
On June 24, Kyle Larsen was named the league's pitcher of the week after throwing a five hit shutout in the Drifters' win against Corvallis the previous Tuesday.[4]
On July 9, Kendren Kenzie and Dane Woodcook were selected to represent the Drifters in the 2024 All Star Game in Bellingham.[5]
The Drifters once again failed to qualify for the playoffs. The Drifters are one of two franchises to never make the postseason, along with the Nanaimo NightOwls.
2025
On July 8, Cooper Mullens (Michigan) and Isaiah Ibarra (USC) were selected to represent the Drifters at the All Star Game in Bellingham.[6]
The Drifters improved on their 20-34 record from the previous season. The Drifters went 22-32 and finished seventh in the South Division.[7] Cesar Chavez (Cal State Los Angeles) finished with a .341 batting average.[8] 12,115 total fans attended the Drifters' twenty-six home games for an average of 466 fans per game.[9]
The Drifters were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth straight season. The Drifters are one of three teams in the WCL to never clinch a playoff berth and one of four teams to never finish with a winning record.
Results by season
| Season | League | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Post-season | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | WCL | South | 8th | 17 | 37 | 0.315 | 22 | Did Not Qualify | Tommy Richards |
| 2023 | WCL | South | 6th | 22 | 32 | .407 | 17 | Did Not Qualify | Tommy Richards |
| 2024 | WCL | South | 8th | 20 | 34 | .370 | 21 | Did Not Qualify | Tommy Richards |
| 2025 | WCL | South | 7th | 22 | 32 | .407 | 21 | Did Not Qualify | Jeff Lyle |
| Division Champions | League Champions | Playoff Team |
Playoff Appearances
The Drifters are one of three teams in the WCL to have never qualified for the postseason or to have clinched a winning season.
References
- ^ "WCL Adds Springfield Drifters as Newest Member Team". 22 April 2021.
- ^ "About".
- ^ "Win – Loss".
- ^ https://westcoastleague.com/giesegh-and-larsen-earn-wcls-moss-adams-weekly-honors/
- ^ https://westcoastleague.com/wcl-all-star-game-rosters-announced/
- ^ https://westcoastleague.com/2025-wcl-all-stars-announced/
- ^ https://baseball.pointstreak.com/standings.html?leagueid=145&seasonid=34070
- ^ https://baseball.pointstreak.com/leaders.html?leagueid=145&seasonid=34070
- ^ https://baseball.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=145&seasonid=34070