By Terry Mosher
Editor, Sports Paper
Changes are coming to the Kitsap BlueJackets and to the wood bat collegiate West Coast League the Bremerton teams plays in.
The first thing is that the league has added the Yakima Pippins to its team roster. There are now 12 teams in the league.
The league also has split into three divisions to help reduce travel costs. The BlueJackets will be in the West Division with the Victoria HarbourCats, Bellingham Bells and the Cowlitz Black Bears. The East Division contains the Kelowna Falcons, Walla Walla Sweets, Wenatchee AppleSox and Yakima. The South Division will have the defending champion Corvallis Knights, Bend Elks, Klamath Falls Gems and Medford Rogues.
There will also be a new playoff format. The three division winners and a wild card team will make the playoffs. The wild card team will be the one with the best record after the three division winners.
As for the BlueJackets, they will celebrate their 10th year in existence with a nod toward the military, which is a big part of West Sound. Rick Smith, co-owner and general manager of the BlueJackets says the team will have Buck Night for all active military personnel in its games this year, except for the annual big Fourth of July celebration game that will be held on the Fifth of July this season.
RICK SMITH
“We are going for broke here,” says Smith, a Silverdale lawyer. “Since we now control the concessions it is important that we get more people in the ballpark. Another thing is the (opportunity for revenue from the) beer garden and merchandise, and it doesn’t happen unless you got butts in the seats.”
The team also has moved military appreciation day from Thursdays to Fridays, conceding that it’s a better day for military families. Military families, including retired military, will get in at half-price on Fridays.
Smith said they will continue Sunday games as Super Sunday day for kids.
Cost of tickets is $7 for general admission and $9 for Stadium Seating. The ballpark – Gene Lobe Fields at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds – has seating for 1,200, including space for handicap.
Manger Ryan Parker, also the coach of the Olympic College Rangers, will be back, Smith said.
The league season opens in early June and ends on Aug. 11.