Palm Springs, Calif. – The 2024 California Winter League (CWL) season began Thursday with a full slate as all eight teams took the field. On the auxiliary field, the Canada A’s opened the season with a 4-0 victory over the Washington Blue Sox while the Oregon Lumberjacks brought home a 6-2 win against the Palm Springs Chill. At Palm Springs Stadium, MLB Development Center (DC) China impressed in their 7-3 triumph versus the British Columbia Bombers before the Palm Springs Power registered a 2-0 shutout of the Alberta Grizzly.
Canada A’s @ Washington Blue Sox
The A’s officially rang in the new CWL season with a stellar pitching performance. Cole Rodriguez got the start. Kent Evans Jr. and Brendan Knoll combined to finish a shutout on the bump. Offensively, Nathaniël Lai picked up a pair of hits along with two RBIs including a sacrifice fly in the first frame. That was more than enough as Canada’s team put a 4-0 result in the win column.
MLB DC China @ British Columbia Bombers
In their debut at the CWL, MLB DC China raced out to a 4-0 lead after Jingxuan He’s two-run double got the scoring going in the third. The Bombers threatened in the fourth as Jordyn Smith blasted a solo home run to left followed by run-scoring singles from Garrett Gonzales and Shuto Yamada to make it 4-3. However, Lun Zhao and Pengwei Jing responded with RBI doubles in the fifth inning to put the game out of hand. Reixin Wei entered from the bullpen and sealed the deal with 3.1 hitless innings as DC China wrapped up a 7-3 victory.
Palm Springs Chill @ Oregon Lumberjacks
Early runs defined the battle between the Chill and Lumberjacks. The Chill tallied two runs in the top of the first. Alex Aguilar knocked in Alex Ford with a two-bagger, and Aguilar crossed home shortly after on a grounder from Conner Allen to make it 2-0 Chill. CJ Mervilus responded immediately, leading off the home half of the first with a home run. A patient approach paid off for the Lumberjacks as they capitalized on six walks to manufacture runs throughout the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Justin Rios, Connor Gleason, Tyler Knight and Shinichi Suzuki collectively held the Chill down after the first and held for a 6-2 Oregon victory.
Alberta Grizzly @ Palm Springs Power
For the team sporting the home whites, it was all about the guys on the mound. Trey Valka, Jimmy Welsher and Fu-Yuan Jhang of the Power combined for seven innings of shutout baseball. Valka started the game and went four frames, striking out five Grizzly batters. Chase Vinson recorded the lone RBI with a sacrifice fly as the other run came in via an error, and that’s all the Power needed in their 2-0 win.
Tomorrow is Canada Day at Palm Springs Stadium as the Washington Blue Sox will take on the Alberta Grizzly at 10 AM immediately followed by the Palm Springs Chill and the British Columbia Bombers at 12:30 PM. All fans with Canadian IDs can buy tickets for $5. For more information on promotions and scheduling for the California Winter League visitcaliforniawinterleague.com
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The California Winter League is the longest running professional showcase league of its kind. Since its inaugural season in 2010, the CWL has seen over 850 of its players sign professional contracts. Each year, it is the premier destination for free agent baseball players who are looking to be scouted and signed.
Stay up-to-date with the California Winter League atcaliforniawinterleague.com or by following the CWL on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Fans can buy tickets every gameday at the stadium box office. Palm Springs Stadium is located at 1901 E Baristo Road in Palm Springs. Fans can also tune in on the California Winter League YouTube to watch every 2024 stadium game live.
For more information, visitcaliforniawinterleague.com or call (760) 778-4487.
