Cougars part ways with Lees

From news services

Marty Lees was relieved of his duties as baseball coach at Washington State, athletic director Pat Chun announced on Tuesday.

Washington State is 11-39-1 overall, 3-23-1 in conference play this season and concludes the season with home dates against Arizona starting on Friday at Bailey-Brayton Field.

“I met with Marty this afternoon and let him know I would be making a change in the leadership of our baseball program,” Chun said. “We appreciate Marty’s four years of service at Washington State but at this time I felt a change was necessary. Baseball is one of the most storied programs at Washington State and we will work diligently to find someone to return it to a place of prominence.”

Freshmen Kyle Manzardo and Kodie Kolden, both graduates of Lake City High, have appeared in at least 40 games for the Cougars this season.

Manzardo has started 42 of 49 games, batting .270 (47 for 174) with 24 runs scored, nine doubles and 28 RBIs. He has hit two home runs this season.

Kolden has started 38 of 40 games, scored 13 runs and has 20 RBIs this season. Kolden, who primarily played at third base this season, made his first appearance as a pitcher recently for the Cougars, striking out two in an inning of work.

In his four years guiding the Cougars, Lees had a 70-137-2 record, 32-83-2 in Pac-12 play. A national search for the next Cougar baseball coach will begin immediately. Associate head coach Dan Spencer will serve as the interim head coach for this weekend’s series against Arizona.