“This is the most talented roster the Packers have seen since I took over in 2014,” said an enthusiastic coach Joey Gomes this week, as his team prepared to begin their two-month Pacific Empire League Season.
“We’ll need to be as well! “ added the coach. “The Pacific Empire League [PEL] members have all improved their respective rosters. I have no doubt this league is the most competitive league in the West Coast. Many of our players report to Healdsburg after opening night because they’re playing in the NCAA D1 Regional Tournament.”
The coach was particularly excited about his pitching stable. He pointed to five hurlers in particular, all with 95 mph-plus fastballs: Richie Roman and Alex Solis (both of University of Houston), Will Jordan and Logan Addison (both of Texas Tech), and Keegan O’Hearn (University of Michigan).
Gomes said about 10 players have turned down the celebrated Cape Cod Baseball league to play for the Prune Packers this summer. Both are collegiate summer wooden bat baseball leagues, training grounds for Major League Baseball teams. The more-established Cape Cod league, formed in 1923, claims more than 1,000 of their former players (including Aaron Judge) went on to MLB teams.
The PEL on the other hand was formed in 2023. It is composed of six West Coast teams—the Humboldt Crabs, the Lincoln Potters, the Medford Rogues, the Solano Mudcats, the West Coast Kings and the Healdsburg Prune Packers.
This will be only its second full season. The Prune Packers won the championship last year, defeating the Potters in a three-game series.
“The success of our inaugural season has set a high standard for the future,” said league president Natalie Norman, of Windsor. “These teams not only compete at high levels but also provide comprehensive opportunities for growth—from athletic development to visibility for major league scouts.”
“#PackerNation can expect to see a tough and talented group of young men this summer,” said Gomes, ready to lead his team to a fifth-straight championship season.
The Prune Packers play home games at Rec Park. First game is Friday, June 6, 6pm against the non-league South Bay Storm. Tickets are $10 adults, $6 for children 5-10. See prunepackers.org/schedule.
