Mal Walton Junior Varsity Baseball Tournament
Tournament Dedicated to Coach Mal WaltonThis Junior Varsity Baseball Tournament is dedicated to Mal Walton in recognition of all the time he has put towards promoting baseball in Whatcom County. Mal Walton was originally from Oklahoma City, OK. He played professionally in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization before coming to Whatcom County. After coming to Bellingham, he played and starred for the Bellingham Bells semi-pro team for several years and was on the last baseball team that made it to the National Tournament in Wichita, Kansas. He then began his teaching career at Bellingham High School and coached for many years. He won many Western Conference titles there. He is the former manager of the Bellingham American Legion and Bellingham Bells programs. In 1981 Walton guided the American Legion Post #7 Baseball Team to three tournament championships and 2nd place at the State Tourney. Finishing the year with an overall record of 63-11-1, his team led the nation in most wins by an American Legion Baseball Team. In 1982, he led his team to two tournament championships and a fifth place finish at the American Legion State Tourney, capping off the season with an overall record of 52 wins and 15 losses. Walton coached the Bellingham Bells from 1983-84. From 1990-1993 Coach Walton coached the Mt. Baker High School Baseball team and took his teams to State Regional play. From 1978 to the 2014, Walton was the Chairman of the Northwest All-Star Game. In 1991 Mal Walton was inducted into the Washington State Baseball Hall of Fame. Walton served as the President of the Whatcom County Pony Baseball League for 5 years.
***(Picture from above) Ceremonies mark the opening day game between the Bellingham Bells and the Seattle Elks in May 1949. The stadium at Battersby Field, located near Whatcom Middle School, has since been torn down. WHATCOM MUSEUM OF HISTORY & ART
The following trophies are presented at the tournament:
1st place Team Trophy
Perpetual 1st place Trophy & Plaque
2nd place Team Trophy
3rd place Team Trophy
4th place Team Trophy
Individual participant ribbons
Eight Team MVP Trophies (chosen by the coaches on overall 3 games) Tournament MVP
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS:
1981 Sehome
1982 Sehome
1983 Sehome
1984 Oak Harbor
1985 Ferndale
1986 Ferndale
1987 Sehome
1988 Bellingham
1989 Burlington-Edison
1990 Lynden
1991 Burlington-Edison
1992 Burlington-Edison
1993 Sehome
1994 Sehome
1995 Stanwood
1996 Burlington-Edison
1997 Stanwood
1998 Sehome
1999 Burlington-Edison
2000 Stanwood
2001 Stanwood
2002 Stanwood
2003 Ferndale
2004 Lynden
2005 Sehome
2006 Sehome
2007 Burlington-Edison
2008 Sehome HS
2009 Sedro Woolley
2010 Ferndale
2011 Ferndale
2012 Sedro Woolley
2013 Burlington-Edison
2014 Burlington-Edison
2015 Lynden
2016 Sedro Woolley
2017 Burlington-Edison
2018 Burlington-Edison
2019
MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS:
1981 David Lynch, OF/P, Sehome, U of New Orleans, Texas Rangers, LA Dodgers, Cin Reds, Cleveland Indians
1982 David Beardsley, OF, Sehome High School
1983 Chad Evans, 2B, Sehome High School
1984 Shane St. John, C-OF, Oak Harbor High School
1985 Chris Bennett, SS, Ferndale High School
1986 Leonal Alaniz, C, Ferndale High School
1987 Joe Dawson, P-OF-C, Sehome High School
1988 Ryan Blair, P-SS, Bellingham High School, Walla Walla CC, Portland State University
1989 Jared Verrral, OF-DH, Burlington-Edison High School
1990 Corey Feenstra, P-OF, Lynden High School
1991 Jeremy Brester, P-3B, Burlington-Edison High School
1992 Jason Brester, P-1B, Burlington-Edison High School-San Fransico Giants, Seattle Mariners
1993 Simon Dubiel, SS, Sehome High School, Central Washington University
1994 Keith Koskela, P, Sehome High School, Grand Junction College, Central Washington University
1995 Stanwood H.S.
1996 Rob Mainard, P/INF, Burlington-Edison High School
1997 Stanwood H.S.
1998 Zapper McGrath, OF, Sehome High School, Washington State University
1999 Brian Miller, C, Burlington-Edison High School
2000 Loren Brokaw, SS, Stanwood High School
2001 Blake Wickstrom, IF/P, Stanwood High School
2002 Tylor Hawley, C, Stanwood High School
2003 Nick Suter, P, Ferndale
2004 Taylor Martin, P/OF, Lynden High School
2005 Dane Thompson, P/OF, Sehome High School
2006 Connor Long, P/OF , Sehome High School
2007 Cole Whited, P/OF , Burlington-Edison High School
2008 Ben Wilson P/3B, Sehome High School
2009 Clayton Johnson OF Sedro Woolley
2010 Cory Clark OF Ferndale
2011 Richmond Baardson Ferndale
2012 Mason Swenson P/3B Sedro Woolley
2013 Christian Lopez C Burlington-Edison
2014 Sean Ferdig P/3B Burlington-Edison
2015 Dallas VanDiest 3B Lynden
2016 Chance Whipple P/C Sedro Woolley
2017 Eli Fautheree P/C Burlington-Edison
2018 Nolan White P/Inf Burlington
2019
TOURNAMENT RULES:
1. Each game will consist of six innings. Extra innings will be allowed. In case of rain, four innings shall be a complete ball game.
2. A. No inning will start over 1 hour and 45 minutes. Umpires will be timing. * Exception with the championship game will be a full game with no time limit.
B. Players that have participated in five or more varsity games (including practice games) are ineligible.
3. The home team will be determined by a coin-toss. Lynden will always occupy 3B dugout on "Game Field."
4. Pitchers are allowed seven innings total in the two day tournament and cannot make more than three appearances. Extra innings will not count on the pitcher's seven innings for the tournament, but will count as an appearance. Pitch Count rules apply.
5. A ten run rule will be in effect after the 4th inning.
6. The DH rule can be used for anyone on the field.
7. 9th and 10th graders only.
8. Infield and outfield routine will be allowed one time per day for each team
This tournament is put on by the Lynden High School baseball program. If you have any questions about this tournament please contact us at whitec@lynden.wednet.edu.