Wenatchee AppleSox Baseball Club

The Wenatchee AppleSox have put the finishing touches on their 2011 coaching staff by hiring Sean Winston as an assistant coach. Winston comes from Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., where he is in his first year as an assistant coach.

“He fits the mold for the position,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “He is a young aspiring coach who isn’t afraid to work.”

No stranger to the West Coast League, Winston played against the AppleSox as a member of the Spokane RiverHawks in 2009.

“The Wenatchee fans were always fun to play in front of when I visited as a player,” said Winston. “This is a great opportunity and I’m really looking forward to this summer.”

The Richland, Wash., native attended Richland High School and helped the Bombers capture the 2005 4A State Championship. He went on to play at Lower Columbia College under AppleSox pitching coach Rob Hippi for two years before transferring to Hawaii Pacific University. He was named first-team All-Pac West after his junior and senior seasons with the Sea Warriors.

“I’m excited to have a guy who knows about the AppleSox, having played in our league and being from the area,” said Knaggs. “I remember him being a thorn in our side as a player, so it will be nice to have him on our team.”

Winston will be taking over for last year’s popular assistant Fletcher Vynne, who joined the military in September. Vynne recently graduated from Officer Candidate School for the Navy and is about to begin flight school in Florida.

“When I played in Wenatchee for the RiverHawks I remember the fans cheering for the first base coach before every inning,” said Winston. “They loved it when he hustled over to the first base coaching box and it created a great atmosphere.”

Responsibilities for Winston will include hitting coach, first base coach, and scouting.

The addition of Winston completes the AppleSox 2011 coaching staff, with WCL Coach of the Year Ed Knaggs returning for his eleventh season and pitching coach Rob Hippi back for his sixth season.