The AppleSox are proud to announce the selection of a former player. This year’s MLB first year player draft has already seen 1 former AppleSox player selected and there could be more.  Marco Gonzales (Gonzaga) who played for the AppleSox in 2010 was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 19^th overall selection.  This is the highest ever pick for an AppleSox player with the  previous high being Clay Mortensen (Gonzaga) who was selected 36^th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007. It is highly likely that Gonzales will sign with the Cardinals, and will probably secure himself a lucrative signing bonus in the process. Gonzales will probably start playing for the Cardinals system with either a rookie ball or low A team, before beginning his climb to the big league club.

During his time in Wenatchee Gonzales played a critical role pitching for the AppleSox during the 2010 championship season.  Gonzales was highly regarded by his teammates wherever he played.  Several of his former teammates are with the AppleSox this season including Assistant Coach Eric Lane, Joey Harris and Brock Slavin.

The core roster for the 2013 AppleSox is now set with the addition of six players, including one of the top two-way performers in college baseball. Washington State University outfielder/left-handed pitcher Jason Monda, Gonzaga infielder Brock Slavin, Pomona-Pitzer College infielder/right-handed pitcher Jake Bruml, Cisco College right-handed pitcher Stuart Patke, Edmonds College right-handed pitcher Kevin Sheets, and Palomar College left-handed pitcher Vaughn Berberet will join the AppleSox this summer.

“I’m looking forward to having all of these guys in Wenatchee and getting the season started,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “We are fortunate to have great relationships with top programs that provide us with high-quality players every season.”

Monda was named to the Baseball America Preseason All-American Third Team going into the season. He is currently on the watch list for this year’s John Olerud Award, which is given to the top two-way college baseball player in the country. This season he is hitting .293 with a team-high 35 RBIs for the Cougars and is 2-2 with a 1.16 ERA. He is no stranger to summer collegiate baseball, playing for the Brewster Whitecaps in 2011, where he was named a Cape Cod League All-Star. The Olympia product was selected out of high school in the 32^nd round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.

“Jason is a very special player and everything fell into place for him to be available. He will be joining us in a unique situation this summer. He is taking summer classes, so he will only be available on the weekends until July when he can join the team full-time. When he is with us he will be a middle of the order hitter and part of our starting rotation,” said Knaggs.

Slavin joins Gonzaga teammate Joey Harris on the AppleSox roster this summer. The Washington native from Tenino is in his redshirt junior season for the Bulldogs. This spring he is hitting .228 in 37 games. The first baseman comes from a baseball family. His father, Tim, played in the minor league Seattle Mariners organization.

“He was actually set to join us back in 2011, but wasn’t able to come that summer,” said Knaggs. “We have a very young team and it’s nice to add an upperclassman that can provide leadership.”

Bruml, from San Mateo, CA, is in his sophomore campaign at Pomona-Pitzer College. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, being named D3Baseball.com West Region Rookie of the Year and a First-Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection. This season the chemistry major once again earned First-Team All-SCIAC honors after hitting .359 with a team-high 38 RBIs. On the mound he compiled a 7-4 mark in 13 starts with a 3.15 ERA.

“He has already accomplished a lot in his two years at Pomona-Pitzer, a school that has provided us with very good players from in the past,” said Knaggs. “We will rely on him to be two-way player for us, both pitching and playing first base.”

Patke will be the lone Texan on the AppleSox this season. The Austin product is transferring to Abilene Christian University after finishing his redshirt freshman season at Cisco College. The righty went 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA this spring. Former AppleSox player Elliott Cribby serves as Abilene Christian’s pitching coach and former AppleSox assistant coach Sean Winston is also on the school’s coaching staff.

Sheets has the lowest ERA in the entire Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges this season with a 0.85 ERA and a 5-1 record. The sophomore from Brier will join Patke in transferring to Abilene Christian University next season.

“Both of these righties are guys who will be able to come in and pitch at this level,” said Knaggs. “With our connections to the coaching staff at Abilene Christian it made it a natural fit to add these pitchers to our roster,” said Knaggs.

Berberet comes to the AppleSox from Palomar College. He had a team-low 1.08 ERA with a 5-1 record this spring. The southpaw from Fallbrook, CA, also played in the field for Palomar College, hitting .281 in 18 games.

“He is a quality lefty arm that plays against a high level of competition at his junior college in California,” said Knaggs. “He has thrown really well this year and the fact that he is a left-hander is a big plus.”

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

A group of top recruits from UCLA, University of San Diego, and the University of Hawaii will gain experience in Wenatchee this summer before beginning their college careers. Infielder Gosuke Katoh and outfielder Brett Stephens of UCLA, outfielder Hunter Mercado-Hood, infielder Trae Arbet, and right-handed pitcher C.J. Burdick of USD, along with first baseman Jake Bauers of the University of Hawaii will join the AppleSox.

“All of these guys are supremely talented. We have had a lot of success over the years with players straight out of high school. We run the risk that we might lose them to the MLB Draft, but it’s a risk worth taking,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs.

Katoh, out of Rancho Bernardo High School in Poway, CA, is ranked as the No. 1 high school second baseman in the country by Perfect Game USA. He is also ranked No. 203 on Perfect Game USA's list of the top 300 prospects eligible for the 2013 MLB Draft. He was the Palomar League Player of the Year and a first-team All-CIF San Diego Section selection in 2012.

“He is a dynamite infielder who is incredible defensively. He is a guy that we have heard about for a long time and we expect him to be an impact player on our team this summer,” said Knaggs.

Stephens is also a California product from Campolindo High School in Moraga. He is ranked No. 421 on Perfect Game USA's list of top 500 2013 High School Prospects. A talented multi-sport athlete, in football he led his high school to the 2011 NCS Division III championship and a runner-up finish in the Division III State Championship as the team’s quarterback.

“He fits the mold of many of the UCLA recruits that we have had before, which means he is an excellent athlete who has a very bright future ahead of him,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs.

Mercado-Hood is a senior at De La Salle High School in Brentwood, CA. The future Torero is batting .407 with 22 runs scored in his final season as a prep player.  

Arbet is ranked No. 74 on Baseball America’s list of the top high school prospects. As a junior at Great Oak High School in Temecula, CA, he was named an All-Southwestern League second team selection after hitting .352.

Burdick is a San Diego native that will get to play close to home for the Toreros. The 6-foot-5 hurler has been dominant for Serra High School on the mound this spring, posting a 8-1 record with a 0.72 ERA.

“We have had a long relationship with the University of San Diego,” said Knaggs. “They always bring in very talented recruiting classes and we look forward to having these future Toreros contribute for us this summer.”

Bauers, a University of Hawaii recruit from California, is in his final season at Marina High School in Huntington Beach. The powerful left-handed hitting first baseman had a .462 batting average last season as a junior.

“He has really developed over his last couple years of high school and the coaches at the University of Hawaii were really excited to land him,” said Knaggs.

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Both sides of the Apple Cup rivalry will be represented on the AppleSox this summer. The team will receive right-handed pitcher Chris McDowell from Washington State University and right-handed pitcher Trevor Dunlap of the University of Washington.

McDowell, from Mount Vernon, has seen action out of the bullpen during his freshman season in Pullman. This spring he is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. The 6-foot-7 hurler had an outstanding prep career at Mount Vernon High School, throwing two no-hitters including a perfect game as a senior.

“He fits in well with us,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “He is a tall righty with a very good frame that has a ton of potential.”

A junior out of Kirkland, Dunlap has made an immediate impact at the University of Washington after transferring from Columbia Basin College. He has a 3.41 ERA and a 1-3 record in his first season with the Huskies. From an athletic family, his father, Bill, played basketball at Gonzaga.

“He has burst on the scene this year as one of the most consistent pitchers for the Huskies. He is another big kid and has been really impressive this season,” said Knaggs.

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Pictures: Attached photographs of Chris McDowell and Trevor Dunlap are courtesy of the Washington State University and University of Washington Sports Information Departments.

The Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit, and Run competition is coming to Wenatchee this spring. The free event will be held at Paul Thomas Sr. Field on May 19 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and is sponsored locally by the Wenatchee AppleSox, Kimmel Athletic Supply, ESPN Radio 900 KKRT, and Biosports. Kids who sign up and participate in the event will get a free t-shirt.

Pitch, Hit & Run™ is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball®. This grassroots program is designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to compete, free of charge, in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball/softball skills.

“It’s exciting for kids in North Central Washington to be able to participate in this free Major League Baseball sponsored competition,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs, who is organizing the event.

Boys and girls are divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12, 13/14, and have the chance to advance through four levels of competition, including Team Championships at Major League ballparks and the National Finals at the 2013 MLB™ All-Star Game®.

The individual Pitching, Hitting and Running Champions, along with the All-Around Champion in each age and gender group at the Local Competition will be awarded and advance to the Sectional Level of Competition.

All participants must bring a copy of their birth certificate and have their parent or guardian fill out a registration/waiver form prior to the start of the competition. The registration form can be downloaded by clicking here. Please turn the completed registration form back into the AppleSox office. For more information on the event call (509) 665-6900.

Event Details

When: May 19 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Where: Paul Thomas Sr. Field

Registration: Download the form here and turn it into the AppleSox office

Cost: Free

Another piece of the last year’s AppleSox roster will be back to help in the team’s search for a second straight West Coast League title. Returning left-handed pitcher Trevor Lubking of Pacific Lutheran University will be joined by Central Washington University outfielder Ethan Sterkel and Whitworth Universtiy right-handed pitcher Dan Scheibe on the AppleSox this summer.

Lubking was a consistent fixture in the Wenatchee’s rotation in 2012, going 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA. The sophomore from Buckley is the top arm for PLU this spring. The southpaw is 8-3 with a 2.36 ERA and has earned National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division III Pitcher of the Week honors.

“He is definitely a guy that we plan on having back in our starting rotation again this year,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “He has had a great spring and was really good for us last summer.”

Sterkel, an Ellensburg native, gets to play college baseball in his hometown at CWU. He is hitting .359 with 15 RBIs this spring. Former AppleSox pitching coach Rob Hippi is in his first year in the same position for the Wildcats.

“He originally went to Central Washington to play football as a quarterback,” said Knaggs. “He is an athletic kid who can just about do it all. We might even have him pitch for us in addition to playing in the outfield.

A Richland product, Scheibe is in his sophomore campaign at Whitworth. He is 4-3 this season and his 3.50 ERA is the lowest for the Pirates. Last season he was named first team All-Northwest Conference after striking out 95 batters in 88 innings.

“One of our former players Brandon Harmon was his pitching coach at Whitworth last season,” said Knaggs. “His name came up last spring and he spoke very highly of him. We are glad to have him set to join us this summer.”

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Pictures: Attached photographs are courtesy of the Pacific Lutheran University, Whitworth University, and Central Washington University Athletic Departments.

A total of four players from three different Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges schools will be a part of the AppleSox in 2013. Wenatchee is receiving right-handed pitcher Beau Kerns and left-handed pitcher Mitch Yada from Wenatchee Valley Community College, infielder Stockton Taylor from Everett Community College, and right-handed pitcher Colton Loomis from Community Colleges of Spokane.

Kerns returns to the AppleSox after being a member of the team’s starting rotation in 2012. He went 4-2 with 2.55 ERA and logged a team-high 63 innings last summer. The sophomore out of Lewiston, ID, is 3-1 for the Knights with a 2.31 ERA.

“He was a workhorse for us last summer,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “He is an extremely competitive pitcher who started out as a temporary player but threw so well that he turned into a very valuable contributor.”

Yada was set to be a part of the AppleSox pitching staff last summer, but could not play due to an injury. The Moses Lake product along with Kerns serve as two of the top arms for Wenatchee Valley College this season. The southpaw is 2-1 with a 2.44 ERA.

“Unfortunately he wasn’t able to pitch for us last season, but we are looking forward to him being a part of our pitching staff this year. He is lefty that has impressed me since I first saw him as a sophomore at Moses Lake High School,” said Knaggs.

Taylor, a Brewster native, is in his sophomore year at Everett Community College. He won NWAACC Golden Glove accolades last season and earned all-state honors for baseball during a successful multi-sport career at Brewster High School. He is hitting .365 with 21 RBIs this spring.

“He follows in a long line of Brewster products that have played for the AppleSox. He is a versatile player that can play any spot in the infield and outfield,” said Knaggs.

Out of Cashmere, Loomis will get to play in front of familiar faces this summer. As a senior at Cashmere High School he was named the 1A/B State Player of the Year by the Washington Baseball Coaches Association after going 10-0 with a 0.67 ERA and helping the Bulldogs to a state championship. The freshman is 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA for the Community Colleges of Spokane, where his pitching coach is A.J. Proszek, who will serve in the same capacity for the AppleSox.

“It was impressive watching him at Cashmere High School. He is a strike throwing machine and has a bit of a lower arm slot that can especially eat up right-handed hitters,” said Knaggs.

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Pictures: Attached photographs of Beau Kerns and Mitch Yada are courtesy of Wenatchee Valley College.

A duo of position players from West Coast Conference programs will wear an AppleSox uniform this summer. Gonzaga University is sending catcher Joey Harris and the University of Portland is providing outfielder Ryan Barr to be a part of the of the defending West Coast League champions.

“We have a long relationship with both schools,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “These are programs that have provided us with high-caliber talent for a long time.”

Harris, from Claremont, CA, is in his first campaign with Gonzaga. The left-handed hitter has appeared in twelve games as a freshman with two starts.

“He has seen a lot of action behind the plate which is impressive for a freshman. On top of being solid defensively, it’s a luxury to have a left-handed hitting catcher,” said Knaggs.  

Barr is hitting .235 with nine starts for the Pilots this spring. The freshman from Irvine, CA, was teammates with current UCLA outfielder and former AppleSox player Ty Moore at Mater Dei High School. His senior year of high school he knocked in the winning run to help Mater Dei win the prestigious National High School Invitational.

“He is a good young outfielder that has been in the mix immediately in college. He was a highly recruited player from a special high school program and we are excited to have him,” said Knaggs.

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Pictures: Attached photographs of Joey Harris and Ryan Barr are courtesy of the Gonzaga and University of Portland Sports Information Departments.

A pair of freshman along with a highly ranked recruit from the University of Hawaii will join the Wenatchee AppleSox this season. Left-handed pitcher/outfielder Quintin Torres-Costa, infielder Andre Real, and infielder Kean Wong are set to spend their summer in Wenatchee.  

A product of Hilo, Hi, Torres-Costa was named the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Player of the Year in 2012. The southpaw was a member of the team that won the 2011 Senior Little League World Series. He is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his freshman campaign with the Warriors.

Real, out of Villa Park, CA, has been a regular in Hawaii’s starting lineup as only a freshman. He came to the Warriors after a successful prep career at Orange Lutheran High School, where he earned all-league honors. The versatile infielder is hitting .234 this season.

“These two freshman are going to come to us already battle tested which is a huge plus,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “Both are really talented players and we expect them to be big contributors.”

Wong, a prep recruit also from Hilo, HI, is the younger brother of Cardinals prospect and former Hawaii standout Kolten Wong. He was named the Hawaii state player of the year as a junior last season. He was teammates with Torres-Costa at Waiakea High School, where they led the school to a state championship in 2012.  

“They say he might even be farther ahead than his brother was at this point which is really saying something,” said Knaggs. “He has outstanding bloodlines and a bright future ahead of him.”

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Pictures: Photographs of Andre Real and Quintin Torres-Costa are courtesy of the University of Hawaii Sports Information Department.

A storied college baseball program is providing players to the AppleSox for the first time as a catcher and pitcher from Long Beach State will be a part of the team in 2013. Catcher Eric Hutting along with left-handed pitcher J.C. Cloney are set to play in Wenatchee this summer.

The school’s official nickname is the 49ers, but the baseball program has been called the Dirtbags since the late 1980s for their style of play. They have made four College World Series appearances and have produced future major leaguers such as Troy Tulowitzki, Evan Longoria, and Jered Weaver.

“We are really excited to be starting a relationship with them. They have a great coaching staff and you can’t say enough about the program’s history,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs.

Hutting has made an immediate impact as freshman, starting in fourteen of the team’s twenty games behind the plate. The Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, native is hitting .205 with 7 RBIs. He comes from a baseball family with two cousins, James Shields and Aaron Rowand, currently playing in the major leagues.

“That says a lot about his skill level if he is starting at Long Beach State as only a freshman,” said Knaggs. “To come to us with that kind of experience after only his first year is tremendous.”

Cloney, from Castaic, CA, is redshirting this season for Long Beach State. Last season as a high school senior he had 100 strikeouts and only 18 walks, leading his team to a league championship.

“He is known for his consistency on the mound,” said Knaggs. “He is currently out with an injury but is projected to be healthy and ready to go this summer.”  

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Pictures: Attached photographs of Eric Hutting and J.C. Cloney are courtesy of the Long Beach State Sports Information Department.

An expanded menu highlights the AppleSox new partnership with the Alley Café as the team’s new concession provider at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

“We are excited to be involved with the AppleSox. We are huge baseball fans and we look forward to being part of the ballpark experience in Wenatchee,” said Alley Café owner Steve Scott.

The Alley Café opened in Leavenworth in 1993 and has operated the Wenatchee Valley College cafeteria since 2006. They take over at Paul Thomas Sr. Field for the Red Lion, who will continue as a premium sponsor and hotel partner with the team.

Chicken wraps, ham and turkey hoagies, and taco salads will be added to the ballpark menu. The AppleSox-Pepsi cups will also return this season.

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

The Wenatchee AppleSox will feature two position players and a pitcher from UC Irvine this summer. Infielder Connor Spencer, infielder Grant Palmer, and right-handed pitcher Andrew Morales are set to join the AppleSox.

The Anteaters have consistently provided players to the AppleSox since Mike Gillespie was hired as the school’s head coach before the 2008 season.  

“They are always a highly ranked program and we are proud of our longstanding relationship that we have had with them,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs.

Spencer has been UC Irvine’s top hitter this season as a sophomore. The Trabuco Canyon, CA, native has started every game and is hitting .426 on the year. As a freshman he had a .306 batting average and earned Big West Player of the Week honors.

“He is a strong kid that can flat-out hit,” said Knaggs. “He packs a punch at the plate and projects to be a middle of the order hitter for us.”  

Palmer, from El Segundo, CA, is in his first season with UC Irvine and is hitting .316 in eleven games. He redshirted last year at El Camino Community College. As a prep at El Segundo High School he helped his team the Pioneer League Championship his junior season.

“He is a middle infielder who is known for his superb defense,” said Knaggs. “It’s great to see that he is getting playing time in his first season at UC Irvine.”

Morales transferred to UC Irvine after playing the last two seasons at Rio Hondo Community College. The junior out of Covina, CA, flourished in junior college, compiling a 21-1 overall record and was named the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Pitcher of the Year. He is a perfect 5-0 this season with a 2.66 ERA.

“He can really pitch and we expect him to be one of our starting pitchers this summer,” said Knaggs.

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

Pictures: Attached photographs of Connor Spencer, Grant Palmer, and Andrew Morales are courtesy of the UC Irvine Sports Information Department.

A new voice will be behind the microphone this season as Spencer Thurling has been hired as the AppleSox new radio broadcaster. Thurling will announce every AppleSox game on the team’s radio home 560 KPQ and online at www.kpq.com.

“I’m excited for the opportunity and I can’t wait for the season to get here,” said Thurling. “Baseball is the sport I care about the most and I’m looking forward to the taking on the challenge of providing fans with a great broadcast.”

Last season he interned for the Binghamton Mets, the New York Mets Double-A affiliate, where he co-hosted the team’s pregame show. The Pepperdine University graduate traveled with and served as the school’s women’s basketball broadcaster for two seasons as a student. He currently announces high schools sports in the Denver area for the Colorado Sportscast Network.

“The AppleSox have been blessed with a reputation for bringing excellent talent to town, both on the field and off. Spencer continues that tradition by bring a great talent to our radio broadcasts. Our fans will enjoy listening and getting to know him,” said AppleSox owner/general manager Jim Corcoran.

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series. 

The AppleSox have finalized the 2013 schedule, with the team’s fourteenth season beginning at home on June 5^th against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series. The team will play a 58-game schedule that includes 31 home games.

"We're excited about this year's schedule because our fans will see two brand new West Coast League teams, plus a couple of non-league opponents that haven't visited Wenatchee in several years," said AppleSox owner/general manager Jim Corcoran.

Two expansion franchises, the Victoria HarbourCats and the Medford Rogues, have been added to the WCL and will begin play in 2013.The north division will include the Wenatchee AppleSox, Walla Walla Sweets, Bellingham Bells, Kelowna Falcons, and Victoria HarbourCats. The south division will include the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, Medford Rogues, Klamath Falls Gems, Cowlitz Black Bears, and Kitsap BlueJackets.  

In addition to WCL play, the AppleSox will have four non-league games. The team will host a pair of two-game series against the Everett Merchants and San Francisco Seals.

Single game tickets start at just $6 for adults and $5 for kids. Season tickets are available now and can be purchased by contacting the AppleSox office at (509) 665-6900.

To view the full 2013 schedule click here.

Former AppleSox player Eric Lane has been hired to complete the team’s coaching staff for the 2013 season. Lane returns to Wenatchee after helping the AppleSox capture the West Coast League Championship in 2010. He is currently a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater Gonzaga University.    

“He knows how we operate and is very similar to previous coaches who have filled this role,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “He is a hard worker with a great attitude. It’s a perfect fit to have him back with us as a coach.”

He was a two-time NWAACC Western Division Most Valuable Player at Lower Columbia College and earned All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention after his junior season at Gonzaga.

“I loved my experience in Wenatchee in 2010 and I feel fortunate to return in this role,” said Lane. “The fans and community are outstanding and the AppleSox are a great organization to be a part of.”

The AppleSox open the 2013 season at home on June 5^th with a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights in a rematch of the 2012 West Coast League Championship Series.

The AppleSox have tapped AJ Proszek, the current pitching coach at the Community Colleges of Spokane, to fill the same role in Wenatchee this summer. Proszek will work with AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs, who returns for his thirteenth season leading the team.

“He comes highly recommended from people I really trust and I think he is going to be a great fit for us,” said Knaggs. “I remember him as a player and it is nice that he comes to us with his experience of recently pitching professionally.”

The Chewelah native played in the West Coast League as a member of the Spokane RiverHawks from 2006-2008. He spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Spokane Falls Community College before transferring to Gonzaga University. He was drafted in the 38^th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. He pitched in the minor leagues for the Giants from 2009-2011.

“I’m excited for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with the pitching staff,” said Proszek. “I had a great experience playing in the West Coast League and hope our players this summer enjoy and learn from their time in the WCL like I did.”

Proszek takes over for Rob Hippi, who helped guide the AppleSox to four WCL Championships in his seven years as the team’s pitching coach. Hippi is beginning his first season as the pitching coach for his alma mater, Central Washington University.

Picture:

Attached photograph of AJ Proszek is courtesy of the Community Colleges of Spokane Athletic Department.

The 2013 AppleSox MVP cards have arrived!

Each MVP card costs just $20 and entitles the cardholder to four general
admission tickets to any AppleSox game in 2013.

These MVP cards make GREAT GIFTS for the holidays.
 
They are available at the Applewood Grill, behind the Stanley Center in
Wenatchee or at the AppleSox office during regular business hours.

If your club or organization is looking for a great no-risk fundraising
opportunity, groups can sell the MVP cards and keep $10 for every $20 card
they sell. For more information call the AppleSox office at 665-6900 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs is now offering individual or group baseball instruction at Wenatchee’s Sportsplex. Since joining the AppleSox in 2001, he has led the team to six league championships and is a four-time recipient of the WCL's Coach of the Year Award.

Knaggs served as Wenatchee High School’s head baseball coach for 20 years and was instrumental in bringing back American Legion baseball to the Wenatchee Valley. Before moving to Wenatchee, he spent seven years as an assistant coach at Gonzaga.

For more information and scheduling, call (509) 860-1937 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Wenatchee finished the season number 6 in the end-of-season rankings, compiled by Allan Simpson of Perfect Game USA.  The Sox, who won the West Coast League Championship August 18th, finished 41 and 19 for the season.

Perfect Game called the Sox season a “mastery of the West Coast League”.  They also listed right handed pitcher James Kaprelian from UCLA as their top AppleSox prospect for the season, describing him as “dominant as prep talent in WCL; with excellent command of solid fastball/curve mix, plus great presence.”          

Perfect Game researched 25 summer collegiate leagues from around the country.  Other West Coast League teams in the national listing included Corvallis at #21 and the Bellingham Bells at #39.

Sparks helps the Wenatchee AppleSox down the Corvallis Knights 8-3

Taylor Sparks knocked in three runs, sparking the Wenatchee AppleSox (4-2) to an 8-3 victory over the Corvallis Knights (3-2) on Saturday at Paul Thomas Field at Wenatchee. He homered in the fourth inning.

Tony Bryant also put together a nice outing. The Corvallis Knights managed just two hits off of the Wenatchee AppleSox's pitcher, who allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out four during his 2-2/3 innings of work.

Derek Callahan recorded his second win of the year for the Wenatchee AppleSox. He allowed three runs over six innings. He struck out two, walked one and surrendered seven hits.

Trevor Frank was charged with his first loss of the year. He lasted just three innings, walked two, struck out five, and allowed five runs.

The AppleSox also broke another team record this year with a total paid attendance of 44,009!

The Sox would like to thank our fans and sponsors for all your continued support.  We look forward to seeing you in our 14th season in 2013.

A special thanks to Justin Allegri, Kevin Burke, Grant Olsen and Ian Dunn for stepping in as AppleSox broadcast announcers so our listeners could hear every exciting inning on KPQ!

WENATCHEE WINS PLAYOFF GAME NUMBER ONE!

The Wenatchee AppleSox held off a ninth inning rally by Corvallis to hang on and beat the Knights 9 to 8 in West Coast League championship series play Wednesday night.  The Sox return to Wenatchee to host Corvallis for game #2 of the best-of-three series on Friday.

The first pitch Friday is scheduled for 7:05.  Plenty of great seating is available for the contest and tickets will go on sale when the gates open at 6 PM.  That is the only place tickets will be available for playoff games.

If a third game is needed to determine the league champion, that game will be played Saturday in Wenatchee at 7:05.

The AppleSox beat the Bellingham Bells Monday by a score of 6 to 3, winning the best-of-three WCL division championship. The Sox now move on to the league championship series.

Game one will be played Wednesday in Corvallis with the first pitch at 6:40 pm.  The series then returns to Wenatchee for game #2. That game is scheduled for Friday, August 17^th, at 7:05 pm at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. Game #3 (if needed to determine the best-of-three series) will be played in Wenatchee this Saturday, August 18^th, at 7:05 pm.

Tickets for both Wenatchee games will be available at the ballpark ticket booth when the gates open at 6 pm the night of each game.

After splitting both regular season series, it was only expected that the best-of-three divisional series between the Wenatchee AppleSox and Bellingham Bells would require all three games to declare a champion.

The Bells took Game 1 in Bellingham to open the divisional round after Adam Gunn tossed a five-hit, complete game shutout, but the Sox answered back in a must-win game last night, winning 4-1. The two teams have now split the season series at five games apiece -- so it's only appropriate for it to come down to one game to decide who goes on to the league championship series.

After the Bells pushed Wenatchee's season to the brink, there is still baseball to be played in Wenatchee after all. The winner of tonight's contest will square off against West Division Champion Corvallis on Wendesday.

The game tonight between Wenatchee and Bellingham will be played at 7:05 PM PST at Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium. Tickets are available here and will also be sold at the stadium's ticket booth, which opens an hour and five minutes prior to game time.

***The team is encouraging everyone to wear WHITE to tonight's game.

The 2012 West Coast League East Division Playoffs are set, and the No. 13 Wenatchee AppleSox and Bellingham Bells will face off in a best-of-three series beginning on August 11.

The AppleSox (36-17) and Bells (32-21) have ranked among the top two teams in the East Division virtually all summer and will now put two storybook seasons on the line on Saturday. The playoff format allows the No. 2 seed to host the opening game of the series so the two teams will begin the set at Joe Martin Field at 7:05 PM PST Saturday.

The series will then return to Wenatchee and Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium for Game 2 on Sunday, August 12, and, if need be, Game 3 on Monday. All start times will be at 7:05 PM PST -- even the Sunday contest, which typically draws a 6:05 PM start time.

The Sox and Bells split both regular season series at two games apiece.

The winner of the divisional series will go on to face the winner of Corvallis and either Klamath Falls or Cowlitz in the league championship -- also a best-of-three series. Klamath Falls can clinch a berth tonight with a win or a Cowlitz loss. If Cowlitz wins and Klamath Falls loses, the Black Bears would be Corvallis' opponent due to tie-breaker rules.

Tickets for the Sunday game are now available here and at the Town Toyota Center Box Office in Wenatchee. General admission tickets will also be made available at the Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium ticket booth, which opens an hour and five minutes prior to game time.

***Should a deciding Game 3 be needed, those tickets will be made available online as soon as possible.

The Wenatchee AppleSox (No. 13 in Perfect Game USA's rankings of the top collegiate summer league teams) and Kitsap BlueJackets are set to square off tonight at 7:05 PST in the final regular season series for both teams at Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium.

The Sox (34-17) have clinched first place in the West Coast League's East Division and are coming off a split of the series with Bellingham. This marks the fifth straight year Wenatchee has clinched the pennant.

Kitsap (14-37) struggled to keep the wheels turning after sweeping their season-opening series with Cowlitz. That series is the only one the BlueJackets have won this season.

The Sox and BlueJackets played their first series of the season June 26-28 in Bremerton, Wash., and the Sox swept all three games, 10-6, 6-4 and 7-2, respectively. The series between the two squads dates back to 2005, and Wenatchee leads it 26-16. The Sox have won the last eight.

East Division Playoffs are Set

With the split of the series with Bellingham, the Sox clinched the East Division title, and Bellingham (31-20) has clinched the final playoff spot with Kelowna's loss to Walla Walla on Sunday. The divisional playoffs are a best-of-three round that will be played on August 11-13.

The first game (August 11) will be played in Bellingham, as the second-seeded team hosts the first game. The series will then move to Wenatchee for Game 2 (August 12), and, if need be, Game 3 (August 13). The times for Game 2 and 3 (if played) will be at 7:05 P.M. PST.

Purchase your tickets here or at the Town Toyota Center box office. General admission tickets will also be made available at the Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium ticket booth, which opens one hour prior to game time.

Hippi to Coach in Final Regular Season Series

The Wenatchee/Kitsap series marks the end of an era. AppleSox pitching coach Rob Hippi will be coaching in his final regular season home series.

Hippi will be making his return to his alma mater, Central Washington University, to serve as the pitching coach for the Wildcats. The move will bring Hippi out of retirement, but he said he's excited to have the opportunity to give back to his alma mater and was flattered CWU came after him.

Hippi has spent the past seven seasons as the pitching coach for Wenatchee.

The No. 16 Wenatchee AppleSox and Bellingham Bells will square off in a big divisional battle tonight at 7:05 to begin a four-game set at Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium.

The Sox (32-15) are coming off a series road sweep of the Kelowna Falcons and have clinched a playoff spot in next week's divisional series. Bellingham (28-18) currently sits 3.5 games back after falling to Walla Walla 4-3 in the series finale.

The Sox and Bells split the season-opening series in Bellingham at two games apiece. The series has the same implications this time around. It's a battle for supremacy in the East Division.

Bellingham can clinch a playoff spot automatically if they sweep the series with Wenatchee.

The Sox come into this series riding a wave of momentum -- winning their last five contests in fairly convincing fashion. Wenatchee combined for 45 runs in four games against Kelowna.

Series Sweep Sweeter for Sox This Time Around

The Sox hadn't swept a league series since June 26-28 when the Sox took all three games from Kitsap. But this sweep meant more to Wenatchee for a couple of reasons. Aside from clinching a playoff spot, two Sox plastered their names in the West Coast League record books.

In the Monday contest against Kelowna, Tyler Kane set the single-season record for saves with his 12th. However, it didn't end there. Mitchell Gunsolus entered last night's contest tied for the league record in hits (66) and runs scored (39) but broke both in the top of the 7th inning.

Purchase Tickets Here

Purchase your tickets for tonight's contest here or at the Town Toyota Center box office. Tickets will also be available at Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium, which opens one hour prior to game time.

The No. 9 Wenatchee AppleSox are back home for West Coast League competition for the first time in over a week as they welcome the Walla Walla Sweets to conclude a four-game set.

Just as the July 2-5 series was split, this series has been done the same way -- the first two games were played in Walla Walla, and the final two will be held at Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium. For the Sox, returning home couldn't come soon enough.

Wenatchee dropped the first two games in Walla Walla in heartbreaking fashion. In the series opener, the Sox (27-14) had a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 8th, but the Sweets (18-24) tied things up. After the Sox went down quietly in the top of the 9th, Walla Walla's Kris Paulino drove in Beau Fraser for the winning run.

In last night's affair, the Sox were trailing 3-2 with bases loaded and one out, but Josh Rapacz grounded into a game-ending double play, and the Sweets escaped with another victory.

The losses have made things extremely tight, as it pertains to the East Division playoff race. Bellingham has taken two games from Kelowna in their series, and now the Bells sit just one game back of the Sox for first place -- the closest the race has been since early June.

Wenatchee will travel to Kelowna for a four-game set on July 29 before returning home for another key divisional series with Bellingham, before ending the regular season with a three-game series against Kitsap.

Tickets to all games can be purchased here or at the Town Toyota Center box office in Wenatchee. Tickets will also be made available at the Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium ticket booth, which opens one hour prior to game time.

Great news came on Tuesday, when it was announced Wenatchee AppleSox have placed four players on the 2012 West Coast League's East Division All-Star team.

Today, the West Coast League released its list of players who have been selected to play in the 2012 West Coast League All-Star Game presented by NAPA, which will be played on July 24, 2012. The AppleSox selected were infielder Mitchell Gunsolus, outfielder Ty Moore and pitchers Derek Callahan and Tyler Kane.

This season, Gunsolus has ranked near the top of the WCL in batting average the entire season. The Gonzaga product is hitting .353 with 28 RBI. His batting average ranks fifth in the WCL, while his 28 RBI leads the league.

Ty Moore, who just recently turned down an offer to play with the New York Yankees organization to follow through with his commitment to UCLA, joined the AppleSox in mid-June but made an immediate impact. Moore is hitting .272 with nine RBI -- two of which came in walk-off wins versus Kitsap. Moore has had a solid defensive presence for the Sox in center field.

Derek Callahan and Tyler Kane have essentially been thunder and lightning on the mound for the AppleSox this season. Callahan leads the league in strikeouts (43) and is currently in the starting rotation for the Sox with a 1.67 ERA. Kane, who has primarily been used as a closer, holds a 1.40 ERA and just tied the WCL record for saves in a single season (11).

Here is the full list of players selected for the 2012 West Coast League All-Star Game presented by NAPA:

EAST DIVISION

C - Nate Causey L/R - Bellingham

Jerry McClanahan R/R - Kelowna

1B- Greg Friesen L/R - Kelowna

2B - Jace Conrad R/R - Kelowna

3B - Andrew Ely L/R - Bellingham

SS - Mitchell Gunsolus L/R - Wenatchee

Patrick Johnson S/R - Kelowna

OF - Jarel Lewis R/R - Bellingham

Ty Moore L/R - Wenatchee

Spencer O’Neil L/R - Walla Walla

Kyle Pearson R/R - Kelowna

P - Corey Carma RHP - Bellingham

Sean Hartnett RHP - Bellingham

Andrew Olson LHP - Bellingham

Cord Cockrell RHP - Kelowna

Brandon Marris RHP - Kelowna

Phil Maton RHP - Kelowna

Arturo Reyes RHP - Walla Walla

Hunter Virant LHP - Walla Walla

Derek Callahan LHP - Wenatchee

Tyler Kane RHP - Wenatchee

WEST DIVISION

C - Austin Barr R/R - Corvallis

Josh Graham R/R - Klamath Falls

1B - Bo Walter R/R - Bend

Josh Wong R/R - Klamath Falls

2B - Parker Miles R/R - Klamath Falls

3B - Austin Byler L/R - Klamath Falls

Caleb Whalen R/R - Corvallis

SS - Tanner Nielson R/R - Klamath Falls

OF - Nate Blackham L/L - Corvallis

Austin Diemer R/R - Cowlitz

Connor Hormann L/R - Corvallis

P - J.R. Bunda RHP - Bend

Darin Gillies RHP - Bend

Travis Radke LHP - Bend

Devon Barker LHP - Corvallis

Rob Dittrick RHP - Corvallis

Jorge Perez RHP - Corvallis

Cole Irvin LHP - Cowlitz

Mikey Murray LHP - Cowlitz

Felipe Perez RHP - Cowlitz

Colin Feldtman RHP - Kitsap

Following a thrilling 11 inning win against the Kelowna Falcons on Sunday night, the No. 10 Wenatchee AppleSox are back in action in a non-league contest versus the Portland Bucks tonight at 7:05.

Wenatchee (25-11) is coming off a series win against the Falcons and remains in the driver's seat for the East Division's top spot in the West Coast League playoffs. The Sox currently sit three games ahead of Bellingham for first place in the division.

This will be Wenatchee's third set against a non-league foe this season. The Sox are 4-0 in non-league games this season, defeating the Central Oregon Bucks and Portland Dukes twice.

Game tickets can be purchased in advance here or at the Town Toyota Center box office. General admission tickets will also be made available at the Paul Thomas, Sr. Baseball Stadium ticket booth, which opens one hour prior to game time.

Gonzaga Teammates Leading League in Hitting/Pitching Categories

Mitchell Gunsolus and Derek Callahan have had their names atop the leaderboards in various statistical categories this season. Gunsolus, who at one point led the league in batting average, currently has the most RBI (28) in the league. Gunsolus is batting .353 this season, which ranks fifth in the league. His collegiate teammate, Callahan, leads the WCL in strikeouts (43). Callahan holds a 1.67 ERA and a 3-2 record through the 2012 campaign.

Kane Ties West Coast League Record

With Tyler Kane's save on July 14th against Kelowna, the University of Washington product tied the WCL record for most saves in a single season (11). Kane boasts a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings pitched with 18 strikeouts to only three walks.