Walla Walla, Wash. - Summer baseball at Borleske Stadium will have more ties to the Whitman Baseball program as Colby Watilo, an assistant coach for the Blues, will be the manager of the Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League this summer.

Watilo, who just finished his fourth year on Whitman's coaching staff serving as the pitching coach, has been integral in the Blues recent success.  He has been a part of two conference tournament berths and has helped the Blues to three straight 20-plus win seasons while mentoring standout pitchers including two-time Northwest Conference Pitcher of the Year, Julien Hernandez '24, and Jack Hostetler who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers last summer after his junior season.

While this will be the first time ever that a Whitman coach has led the Sweets, Watilo is no stranger to being the skipper in the summer as he was named Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Manager of the Year in 2023 after leading the Xenia Scouts to their first ever championship series.

Joining Watilo in the dugout for the Sweets is Whitman baseball alumnus and former team captain Leo Rivera '22.  Rivera, who played for the Sweets in 2022 and 2023, joins Watilo's coaching staff as an assistant coach this summer after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Seattle University this spring.

The Sweets start their season tonight on the road against the Springfield Drifters.  Walla Walla's home opener is slated for June 6th at Borleske Stadium.