Jump to content

Washington Wild Things

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Washington Wild Things
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League (West Division)
LocationWashington, Pennsylvania
BallparkWild Things Park
Founded1997
League championships1 (1997)
Division championships9 (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Former name(s)
  • Canton Crocodiles (1997–2001)
ColorsRed, black, white
     
Playoff berths
15
1997
1998
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2014
2017
2018
2021
2022
2024
Retired numbers12 (Chris Sidick)
OwnershipStu and Francine Williams
ManagerTom Vaeth
General ManagerSteve Zavacky (Managing Director)
MediaObserver–Reporter MSA Sports Network
Websitewww.washingtonwildthings.com

The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania The team competes in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the West Division, and is owned by Stu and Francine Williams. They play their home games at Wild Things Park, a 3,200-seat stadium built 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.

The Wild Things franchise won the Frontier Cup in their inaugural season in 1997 (as the Canton Crocodiles), defeating the Evansville Otters 2 games to 0.

Season-by-season record

[edit]
Canton Crocodiles (Frontier League)
Year W–L Win % Place Postseason
1997 45–35 .562 2nd in FL East
1998 41–38 .519 2nd in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints 2–1.
1999 33–51 .393 5th in FL East Did not qualify
2000 38–46 .452 5th in FL East Did not qualify
2001 47–37 .560 3rd in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints 2–1.
Total 204–207 .496
Playoffs 6–4 .600 3 Playoff appearances, 1 championship.
Washington Wild Things (Frontier League)
2002 56–28 .667 1st in FL East
2003 54–34 .614 2nd in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Gateway Grizzlies 2–0.
2004 62–34 .646 1st in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Evansville Otters 3–0.
2005 63–32 .663 1st in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints 3–2.
2006 59–37 .615 1st in FL East Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Chillicothe Paints 3–1.
2007 55–40 .579 1st in FL East
2008 48–48 .500 3rd in FL East Did not qualify
2009 43–53 .448 4th in FL East Did not qualify
2010 38–57 .400 5th in FL East Did not qualify
2011 42–52 .447 5th in FL East Did not qualify
2012 44–52 .458 6th in FL East Did not qualify
2013 41–55 .427 6th in FL East Did not qualify
2014 57–39 .593 3rd in FL East Frontier League Playoffs: Defeated Evansville Otters in wildcard game. Lost in 2nd round to River City Rascals 2–0.
2015 42–54 .437 T-9th in FL Did not qualify
2016 46–49 .484 6th in FL Did not qualify
2017 53–43 .552 3rd in FL Frontier League Playoffs: Lost in 1st round to Florence Freedom 3–1.
2018 54–42 .563 1st in FL East
2019 37-59 .385 5th in FL Did not qualify
2020 -- -- -- Season not played due to COVID-19
2021 56-40 .583 1st in FL
2022 62-34 .646 1st in FL West Frontier League Division Series: Lost to Schaumburg Boomers 2–0.
2023 47-49 .490 4th in FL Did not qualify
2024 67-28 .705 1st in FL West Frontier League Division Series: Defeated Lake Erie Crushers 2–0.
Frontier League Championship Series: Lost to Quebec Capitales 3–1.
Total 781–634 .541
Playoffs 16–25 .390 8 Division titles, 12 Playoff appearances.

Current roster

[edit]
Active roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 98 Griffin Baker ‡
  • 23 Malik Barrington
  • 24 Alex Carrillo
  • 16 Jordan DiValerio
  • 30 Aaron Forrest
  •  3 Kobe Foster
  •  8 Dariel Fregio
  • 20 Justin Goossen-Brown
  • 34 Christian James
  • 27 Gyeongju Kim
  • 21 Zach Kirby
  •  9 Nick MacDonald
  • 22 Ryan Munoz
  • 13 Brendan Nail
  • 83 Lukas Young


Utility players

  • 99 Daniel Harris
 

Catchers

  •  5 Ricardo Sanchez
  • 33 JC Santini

Infielders

  • 10 Evan Berkey
  •  4 Tommy Caufield
  •  2 Carson Clowers
  • 28 Andrew Czech
  • 11 Jalen Miller
  • 31 Tyreque Reed
  • 19 Ethan Wilder

Outfielders

  • -- Anthony Boccio §
  •  1 Robert Chayka
  •  6 Wagner Lagrange
  • -- Quincy Latimore ‡
  • 26 Brandon McIlwain
  • 17 Caleb McNeely
  • -- Alexander Ovalles
 

Manager

  • -- Tom Vaeth

Coaches

  • -- Alex Boshers (pitching)
  • -- Ryan Whithorn (bench)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated July 16, 2024
Transactions

Highlights

[edit]
  • First ever perfect game in Frontier League history, (Matt Sergey, August 24, 2014)
  • Frontier League Organization of the Year Award (2002, 2004, 2005)
  • Second team in Frontier League history to make playoffs four straight years (Evansville, 1997–2000)
  • Led Frontier League in wins four straight seasons
    • 2002 (56–28)
    • 2003 (54–34)
    • 2004 (62–34)
    • 2005 (63–32)
  • In 2005:
    • 35–12 second half of season (Since July 18)
    • 23–5 the month of August
    • 13-game winning streak (July 27 – August 9)
    • 11-game winning streak (August 12 – August 23)
    • 14 straight home wins (August 3 – August 23)
  • Hosted the Frontier League All-Star Game in 2005 and 2013

New Frontier League records up to 2005

[edit]
  • Only perfect game in Frontier League history (August 24, 2014, thrown by Matt Sergey)
  • Wins in a season: 63 (old record – Washington Wild Things, 2004)
  • Triples: 46 (old record – 33; Springfield, 1999)
  • Runs: 645 (old record – 612; London, 1999)
  • At Bats: 3,357 (old record – 3329; Rockford, 2004)
  • Hits: 999 (old record – 962; Rockford, 2004)
  • RBI: 567 (old record – 550; London, 1999)
  • Base on Balls: 433 (old record – 427; Dubois County, 2002)
  • Saves: 34 (old record – Washington Wild Things, 2004)
  • Total chances: 3740 (old record – 3,687; S/O 2004)
  • Individual saves by a closer, Jonathan Kountis

Managers

[edit]
  • 2002–2003: Jeff Isom (110–62)
  • 2004–2007: John Massarelli (239–143)
  • 2008: Greg Jelks (48–48)
  • 2009: Mark Mason (43–53)
  • 2010–2011: Darin Everson (80–110)
  • 2012: Chris Bando (44–52)
  • 2013–2014: Bart Zeller (72–74)
  • 2014: Bob Bozzuto: (36–18)

Following the 2003 season, Jeff Isom resigned as manager and moved to the Joliet Jackhammers of the Northern League. After the 2007 season, Massarelli and the Wild Things parted ways. He took 2008 off and was named the first manager in Lake Erie Crushers history. In 2008, Greg Jelks was named the new manager of the Wild Things, but failed to lead them to the playoffs and finished the season at 48–48.

Mark Mason returned to the Wild Things in 2009 as manager after coaching the Paints for two seasons. In November 2009, Mason left the Wild Things to become pitching coach of the Atlantic League's York Revolution. On February 16, 2010, they announced Darin Everson as their new manager. After the 2011 season, Darin Everson and the Wild Things parted ways following an 80–110 record over two seasons. On October 18, 2011, the Wild Things hired former MLB catcher and Triple-A coach Chris Bando as the 6th manager in Wild things history. In March 2013, Bando announced that due to complications from hip surgery in January he would resign as manager. Recently hired Bench coach Bart Zeller, who had managed the Joliet Slammers the last two seasons and won a championship, was promoted to manager. During the 2014 season at 31–19 headed into the All-Star break, manager Bart Zeller resigned due to health concerns. He was scheduled to manage the Eastern All-Stars. After the break, Bob Bozzuto took over as manager.

Notable alumni

[edit]

Championships and awards

[edit]
  • 2002 Frontier League Eastern Division Champions
  • 2002 Frontier League Organization of the Year
  • 2002 Jared Howton, Most Valuable Pitcher
  • 2002 Jeff Isom, Manager Of the Year
  • 2003 Josh Loggins, Most Valuable Player
  • 2004 Frontier League Eastern Division Champions
  • 2004 Frontier League Organization of the Year
  • 2004 John Massarelli, Manager Of the Year
  • 2005 Frontier League Eastern Division Champions
  • 2005 Frontier League Organization of the Year
  • 2006 Frontier League Eastern Division Champions
  • 2006 John Massarelli, Manager Of the Year
  • 2007 Frontier League Eastern Division Champions
  • 2018 Frontier League Eastern Division Champions
  • 2021 Frontier League Eastern Division Champions
  • 2022 Frontier League West Division Champions

References

[edit]
[edit]