Medford Rogues Celebrate Growing Fanbase, Focus Turns to 2026

Medford, Oregon- The Medford Rogues wrapped up their 2025 summer campaign with a 29-23 record, finishing fifth in the highly competitive Pacific Empire League under first-year head coach Kevin Olmstead.

The season ended Sunday with a 10-7 road loss to the Humboldt Crabs in Arcata, California. Despite the defeat, more than 50 Rogues fans traveled south to cheer on their team at Arcata Ball Park, a testament to the strong community support the club received all summer.

In their second year as a PEL member, the Rogues made strides early, highlighted by a 3-2 victory over the defending league champion Healdsburg Prune Packers on June 26. That win put Medford at 18-8, a high point of the season. The Prune Packers—stacked with Division I talent—were widely regarded as the team to beat and finished with a 36-5 record.

While the Rogues managed to notch wins against every league rival except Humboldt, the Crabs had their number in 2025. Led by Medford native and Sacramento State sophomore Cameron Sewell—who previously played for the Rogues in 2023—Humboldt swept the final three-game series in Arcata. The Crabs concluded the regular season with a 37-8 record and will face Healdsburg in the league’s postseason showdown.

Coach Olmstead’s emphasis on aggressive base running paid off, as the Rogues shattered their stolen base record by the midway point of the season, ultimately swiping 187 bags. That chaos on the basepaths became a signature element of the team’s identity.

Individual standouts helped shape the summer storyline. Right-hander Dylan Fanelli became a fan favorite, both for his dominance on the mound—4 wins and 27 strikeouts—and his mid-inning dance antics to “YMCA,” earning him a spot in local lore at Harry & David Field.

At the plate, Frankie Rutigliano led the team with a .365 average, followed by Johnny Alley (.341) and Jordan Marian (.337). Local products also made key contributions. Catcher/outfielder Troy Osborne, a Grants Pass native and longtime Rogue, posted a .302 average before heading to the University of Portland this fall. Former Crater High Comet Caleb Randolph led the pitching staff with 38 strikeouts, closed out multiple league games, and finished with a 4.10 ERA and two saves.

Two Rogues made the leap to the professional ranks this summer, with Bronson Chapple and Grants Pass native Caughlin Shults signing contracts in the Frontier League.

Attendance rose for the second straight season, with the Rogues averaging 903 fans per game, up from 854 in 2024. Over 370 season tickets were sold before opening night, and fans were treated to both competitive baseball and stunning Rogue Valley sunsets.

While the Rogues narrowly missed the playoffs, the competition was fierce. The Pacific Empire League remains one of the most stacked collegiate summer leagues on the West Coast. For several weeks, Medford even ranked among the top ten teams on the coast, alongside historic programs like the Corvallis Knights (WCL) and Santa Barbara Foresters (CCL).

Despite a challenging second half marked by pitching struggles and missed opportunities with runners in scoring position, the future looks bright for the franchise. Coach Olmstead, nicknamed “Captain Chaos” for his high-energy approach, will spend the offseason as an assistant coach with Reinhardt University in Georgia, but is confirmed to return to Medford for the 2026 campaign.

For the first time in five years, all Rogues games were broadcast live through the Rogues Streaming Network on YouTube, bringing the action to fans far and wide.

As the dust settles on the 2025 season, excitement already brews for next summer. With growing fan support, rising talent, and a coach committed to building the program, the countdown to 2026 is officially underway.

Source: Bryan Welch / Rogues Media