‘Portland Pickles’ baseball in Southeast wins first West Coast League title

Published 12:00 am Sunday, September 29, 2024

Down to their final out and facing a 5-4 deficit, the Portland Pickles came through with a walk to tie the game, and then an opponent error to walk off the West Coast League championship game Friday, August 16th, at Southeast Portland’s Walker Stadium, earning the franchise’s first-ever league title.

The visiting Wenatchee AppleSox, winners of the North Division, broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the ninth when James Castagnola roped a double down the right field line to bring home a run. However, as Portland has done all season, it fought back in the bottom of the ninth, giving Portland the win, 6-5, and its first WCL title in franchise history.

It was Tanner Griffith, who plays college ball at St. Mary’s and is from California, to come through in the clutch. “This is just a dream come true,” Griffith said, as his team celebrated with bottles of champagne being popped on the mound. “To bring the first one to Portland and to be a part of it – these fans have been supporting us through it, and no better way to end it for them.”

Walker Stadium, at S.E. 92nd and Holgate, went into a frenzy, as fans rushed onto the field to celebrate with the players, amidst green smoke and raised chairs.

“I’ve been here nine years with coach (Jim) Hoppel, and I’ve been the manager here for four, and every year we’ve gotten closer and closer,” Pickles Manager Mark Magdaleno recalled. “Right now, we are at the pinnacle of the West Coast League, and that’s because we have solid ownership, solid organizational skills, and we pick the right guys.

“This party’s gonna go forever,” Magdaleno grinned. “This is good for the City of Portland. There’s so many things people say about the City of Portland. We’re not all from Portland, but we represent it in a way that’s going to bring respect to the city.”

Since 2018, the Pickles have been a mainstay in the WCL, most notably with their flamboyant social media presence and their mascot, Dillon T. Pickle. Now, the Pickles are more than a social media darling, they’re WCL champs – after winning a franchise record 44 games this summer.