Fresh off of leading Wenatchee to their second straight West Coast League Championship, AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs has been named the WCL Coach of the Year.

It is the second consecutive year Knaggs has earned the honor, after being named co-Coach of the Year in 2009. He also received the award in 2005.

“An award like this is a reflection of the players we had here in Wenatchee this summer,” said Knaggs. “It says a lot about Wenatchee and the special situation we have.”

Knaggs, who is considered the dean of WCL coaches, just completed his 10^th season with the team. During his tenure he has coached 525 games for the AppleSox with a 339-186 record. He has guided Wenatchee to four WCL Championships in the last six seasons.

In addition to Coach of the Year, league president Ken Wilson announced the winners of all the WCL’s annual awards. Bend Elks second baseman Tommy Richards was named the 2010 West Coast League Most Valuable Player. Richards (soph-to-be, Washington State) led the league in batting with a .364 average, hit 2 home runs and collected 33 RBI. 

Southpaw Dayne Quist of the Kelowna Falcons was the league pick for West Coast League Pitcher of the Year.  Quist (jr-to-be, UC Davis) led the WCL with a 1.40 ERA and tied for the league lead in wins with 6.  Over 51 1/3 innings, he fanned 50, walked only 18, and went 6-1.

The Moses Lake Pirates are back-to-back recipients of the Jim Dietz Sportsmanship Award. The Pirates, who also won the award last summer, were one of the most improved teams from a season ago.