2001
The Washington Wild Things were founded in December of 2001 when a group
of local business men and women decided to purchase a team to play at the
new ballpark being constructed just off I-70 in Washington County.
The group began negotiations with the owners of the Canton Crocodiles in the early fall of 2001. They completed the deal in early December, and opened up for business at a store front at the Washington Crown Center, where they remained while the ballpark (under construction) was being built.
2002
In April of 2002 the management team moved to Falconi Field and the team inaugurated the field with a home-opener against the Canton Coyotes on May 29, 2002.
The Washington Wild Things, under the direction of Kent Tekulve (Director of Baseball Operations), Jeff Isom (Field Manager), and coaches: Joe Charboneau, Lance Robinson, and Mark Mason, completed the regular season as league leaders in wins with 56 victories and 28 losses. The team was crowned the Eastern Division Champions, but they fell short in the Championship Round of the Playoffs (Best of 5), falling to the Richmond Roosters 3 games to 1.
Manager Jeff Isom was awarded the Roger Hanners Manager of the Year Award, and pitcher Jared Howton was honored with the Bryan Tollberg Most Valuable Pitcher Award.
Four players were named to the 2002 All-Star Team: SS Brad Hensler, C Shaun Argento, SP Jared Howton, and RP Robert Garvin.
The Washington Wild Things were also named Organization of the Year by the Frontier League.
2003
In 2003 The Washington Wild Things coaching staff consisted of Kent Tekulve (Director of Baseball Operations), Jeff Isom (Field Manager, and coaches Joe Charboneau and Mark Mason.
The team was anxious to return to the playoffs, and they set out to do just that. They completed the season tied with the Chillicothe Paints with 54 victories, and they advanced to post season play.
Gateway ended the Wild Things' quest for the Championship, by defeating Washington in the playoffs 2 games to 0 (best of 3 series).
Wild Things' catcher and outfielder, Josh Loggins received the Morgan Burkhart Award from the league.
2004
The Wild Things third season held a different coaching staff, with the exception
of Mark Mason. John Massarelli joined the Wild Things as field manager,
and Ryan Ellis, a former second baseman for the team, turned his efforts
to coaching.
The Wild Things again, advanced to the playoffs, but lost three straight to the Evansville Otters in the first round of the playoffs (best of 5).
The Wild Things received many honors, however: Two players were named to the 2004 League All Star Team. 2B Brian Stoecklein and OF Jack Headley.
Manager John Masarelli received the Roger Hanners Award for Manager of the Year after leading his club to a first place finish in the East Division and establishing a league record for wins in a season.
Wild Things' general manager, Ross Vecchio was named Executive of the Year, and
Wild Things were once again named Organization of the Year by the Frontier League.
2005
For the fourth straight season the Wild Things advanced to the playoffs and despite a 3-2 playoff series loss to the Chillicothe Paints the team made Frontier League history. Led by second-year manager John Massarelli the Wild Things won a league record 63 games, besting their own previous mark from the 2004 season.
In July, the Frontier League’s played its annual All-Star game at Falconi Field and five Wild Things were named to the East team’s roster: Pitchers Jim Popp and Ryan Douglass, Catcher Randy McGarvey, Infielder Lance Koenig and Outfielder Mike Arbinger. In front of a sellout crowd of 3595, Arbinger won both the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award as the East defeated the West 5-4.
As the regular season concluded the franchise set two new attendance records by selling out Falconi Field for 35 consecutive games and seeing over 150,000 people enter the stands during the course of the season. In September, the Frontier League named the Wild Things their Organization of the Year for the third time in the franchise’s four year history.
2006
The Wild Things enjoyed great success in their fifth season at Falconi Field, completing the season with a 59-37 regular season record, and capturing the East Division Crown for the fourth year. The team advanced to post-season play for an unprecedented fifth consecutive season.
The 2006 season proved to be memorable for a number of reasons. The team is unquestionably the winningest team in Frontier League with a 294 victories in their five year history. Manager John Massarelli received the Roger Hanners Manager of the Year Award for the second time, making him the only Frontier League Manager to ever repeat and win the prestigious honor more than once.
Pitching Coach Mark Mason was named the league’s Coach of the Year for his performance with the Wild Things.
The Wild Things led all of professional baseball in triples, chalking up 58 in 96 games. Chris Sidick broke the Frontier League record for triples with 16.
2007
The season began when the Wild Things’ organization sold complex naming rights to their new partner, CONSOL Energy. The Washington facility would be known as CONSOL Energy Park….and energy abounded!
The Wild Things advanced to post-season play for the sixth consecutive year…a feat very few teams have achieved. Even though the Frontier League Crown eludes the Washington club, they remain the winningest team ever in Frontier League History.
Several familiar faces returned to the Wild Things dugout, including top pitchers Aaron Ledbetter, Tom Cochran, and Patrick Stanley, as well as local product Patrick Sadler, who was making the transition from one of the top relievers in the league (in 2006) to the starting rotation.
Centerfielder Chris Sidick, the league’s all-time leader in triples and arguably the best outfielder in the league returned and second baseman Kyle Werman, who was considered to be a “spark” for the team returned after a 2006 season-ending injury.
Some new faces on the squad included relief pitchers Gus Hlebovy and Ian Heisel. In the in-field new bats were added, including first baseman Nathan Messner, designated hitter, Robbie Knap, catcher Mario Garza, and Jarod Rine.
Messner, Knapp, and Garza proceeded to hit double-figure homeruns as the team established a new team record with 89 homeruns. Rine became the first Washington player to lead the league with 33 stolen bases.
At the All-Star break The Wild Things were six games atop the East Division.
Washington was well represented at the 2007 Frontier League All Star Game: Tom Cochran, Aaron Ledbetter, Ian Heisel, Robbie Knapp, and Nathan Messner were all selected to play for the North Squad (Ledbetter was the starting pitcher).
John Massarelli, the Wild Things’ field manager earned his 500th managerial victory at CONSOL Energy Park in August. Aaron Ledbetter garnered his 30th career victory and received the Pitcher of the Year award from the Frontier League.
The Wild Things, who maintained control of the Eastern Division after the first week of the season, clinched their fifth East Division Title in the six years on August 24th when they defeated the Gateway Grizzlies.
The turnstiles continued to turn at CONSOL Energy Park with the Wild Things establishing a new team attendance record with 177,495 fans for the 2007 baseball season. The team, once again, played to over 100% capacity, selling out 34 games and selling out the 200th game in franchise history during the 2007 playoffs.
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