APPLESOX SEASON ENDS ON EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE

AppleSox players pause for a moment of silence, Monday at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The AppleSox payed their respects to teammate Tommy Watanabe, who passed away unexpectedly this past weekend. He was named the team's starting pitcher in the final game of 2017. His jersey was taken to the mound for the moment of silence and Anthem. Watanabe played with Wenatchee through July 22nd. Photo by Alyssa Taylor.

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (29-25, 14-13) finished the 2017 season in a 12-1 loss at home to the Corvallis Knights. More importantly, they were able to pay special tribute to teammate Tommy Watanabe, who passed away unexpectedly this past weekend, after playing with the AppleSox through July 22.

Watanabe was the starting pitcher in the team’s final game, and his teammates took his jersey to the mound one final time for a moment of silence and pregame Anthem.

A Sacramento native, Watanabe was headed to Nevada-Reno this fall, and previously pitched at the College of San Mateo.

The AppleSox organization sends its deepest condolences to Tommy’s family. They, and all who know him, will stay in the team’s hearts forever.

Wenatchee also honored each of its host families in the pregame, and would like to extend a warm ‘thank you’ to all who housed the players and staff this year. Without their willingness to make AppleSox team members part of their families each summer, 18 seasons of AppleSox Baseball wouldn’t be possible.

First and Second-Half South-Champion Corvallis, played to its WCL-leading record, Monday. The AppleSox converted late for their final run, following a single for Wenatchee product, Cody Simmons, and an RBI double for fellow former Wenatchee High School graduate, Jacob Prater.

In total, 42 young men donned the red, white, and blue, for the AppleSox this summer, and earned the team’s best finish since 2014.

Evan Johnson finished tied with Kelowna’s Taylor Wright for the new West Coast League record in Runs Batted In, with 54. They passed the old record of 51, held by Vince Fernandez (2014) of the Yakima Valley Pippins.

Collin Maier tied for the WCL lead with six wins, and the team finished with its best home run total, clubbing 32.

The team’s 16 home league wins (19 overall) were the most since the 2013 squad won 20 games in WCL play at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The AppleSox also set a league single-game scoring record, when they plated 25 at home, back in June against Yakima Valley.

Monday, fans had the opportunity to bid on the replica Wenatchee Chiefs uniforms that they players wore throughout the 2017 season, in honor of the 80th Anniversary of the establishment of the old Wenatchee Chiefs minor league baseball franchise in Wenatchee. A portion of the proceeds went to the Wenatchee High School Interact Club’s Habitat for Humanity Project.

Over 31,000 fans saw the AppleSox play in 2017, and the team couldn’t be more grateful for the support of the local community, sponsors, players, and coaching staff. The AppleSox say ‘thank you’ for a tremendous season, and can’t wait to continue the tradition next June, in the team’s 19th season.

AppleSox to Host Final Game of 2017, Monday - Host Family Appreciation and Chiefs Jersey Auction

The Wenatchee AppleSox (29-24, 14-12) will play host to first and second-half WCL South Champion, Corvallis, Monday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium in Wenatchee, after the Bellingham Bells secured a walk-off, 5-4, win over the AppleSox Sunday night, which eliminated Wenatchee from WCL Playoff contention.

Monday’s game is the third make up of the three-game series that was “smoked out” in Wenatchee last week. The result of the game decides if Victoria or Bellingham will serve as the WCL North Second Half Champion. It will be the AppleSox final game of the 2017 West Coast League season.

Any tickets from last week’s Tuesday-Thursday series vs. the Corvallis Knights can be exchanged for a ticket to Monday night’s game. It is also the last chance for fans to use 2017 MVP punch cards.

The AppleSox will hold Host Family Appreciation Night and the Chiefs Jersey Auction, Monday. Gates open at 6 p.m., with first pitch following at 7:05 p.m.

Sunday afternoon’s game in Bellingham saw the AppleSox jump to an early 4-0 advantage in the first three innings, but Wenatchee couldn’t hold off Bellingham late, as the Bells scored the game’s final five runs to walk off an RBI single for Kyle Stowers in the ninth inning.

If Wenatchee beats Corvallis, Monday, Bellingham will head to the WCL Playoffs as the North second-half champion, and if Corvallis wins, Victoria will represent the North as second-half champions.

Corvallis will play its Divisional round game Tuesday at Yakima Valley at County Stadium in Yakima. Kelowna will take on either Victoria or Bellingham.

The AppleSox would like to thank all 2017 sponsors, host families, and fans for a great season. They look forward to celebrating, Monday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium for one last time, this summer.

APPLESOX AXE BELLS FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION, WIN BY TEN RUNS, SATURDAY

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (29-23, 14-11) evened the series in an 11-1 final over the Bellingham Bells (30-23, 14-12) and eliminated the Bells from WCL North playoff contention, Saturday night at Joe Martin Field.

The AppleSox opened the game with a three-run outburst in the first inning, spearheaded by back-to-back lead off doubles for Michael Spellacy and Jacob Prater. The second drove in Spellacy for the early 1-0 lead. Jalen Garcia also contributed an RBI fielder’s choice in the first inning and Jake Taylor drove in a run on a hit-and-run off of Bellingham starter Zach Pettway.

All AppleSox starters collected at least one hit in the contest.

Freshman Alek Jacob (2-0) was phenomenal on the mound for Wenatchee. He tossed a scoreless first inning, while retiring the Bells in order, and didn’t allow a hit in the first three innings. He only gave up three hits throughout his entire outing, as Wenatchee cruised in game two.

Wenatchee added a run against Bellingham in the third inning when Jalen Garcia scored on a balk, following a single and a passed ball and fielder’s choice.

The AppleSox big inning came in the fourth, when they cashed in for five runs, punctuated by a two-out three-run home run for Adrian Damla to right center field, which followed RBI singles for Evan Johnson and Adrian Vela.

Wenatchee added an RBI single in the fifth inning for Spellacy, and a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for Prater, to complete the 11-run tally.

Garcia robbed a home run on the defensive side of things in the third, following an inning-ending double play in the second.

The AppleSox defense committed one lone error and supported Jacob to the end of his 7.2 innings. He allowed one unearned run in the sixth inning on an RBI single for Austin Shenton, following an Austin Pinorini bunt single, and two-base throwing error, E5.

Michael Spellacy closed the door in the eighth inning with runners on first and second base, thanks to a strikeout, and then punched out two of the final three men in the ninth inning to secure the 11-1 win for Wenatchee.

The AppleSox eliminated Bellingham from WCL playoff contention with the win, and now face a scenario, Sunday, where a win over Bellingham combined with a Victoria loss to Port Angeles clinches the WCL North second half for the AppleSox.

If both Victoria and Wenatchee win or lose, then, Wenatchee will need to win a one-game make up, Monday, versus the Corvallis Knights.

The AppleSox play game three of the series in Belingham, Sunday, at 3:05 p.m. Mike Townsend is on the mound for the AppleSox in a game that could clinch the team’s first WCL playoff appearance since 2013.

APPLESOX FACE NEAR MUST-WIN SATURDAY NIGHT AT BELLINGHAM

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (28-22) - (13-11, 2nd Half)
at
Bellingham Bells - (30-18) - (14-11 2nd Half) 
6:35 pm
Joe Martin Field
Wenatchee, Wash.

APPLESOX PLAYOFF PICTURE
Scenario 1: If we win BOTH of the next two games against Bellingham, Victoria must lose one OR both of its next two versus Port Angeles. IF Victoria sweeps Port Angeles, we will have to make up the third game of the previous Corvallis series, that remains unplayed due to smoke... If the AppleSox won that game, we are in to the playoffs in the North (head-to-head tie breaker with Victoria).

Scenario 2: If we only win one of the next two games vs. Bellingham, Victoria must lose EXACTLY ONE of its games to Port Angeles. In this scenario, to make the playoffs, the AppleSox will have to win a Monday make up game vs. Corvallis to force a three-way tie breaker with Bellingham and Victoria, which Wenatchee would win, based on its winning percentage vs. the North Division in the second half.

What we don’t want: If Wenatchee loses both of the next two games, we cannot make the playoffs. No Monday game would be needed for North teams, but still could be played based on the WCL South Playoff picture and the tiebreakers that it needs.

THE FROSH BATTLE
Tonight, Zach Pettway of UCLA and Alek Jacob of Gonzaga, go head-to-head, or hand-to-hand in a battle of incoming freshmen...the game potentially keeps Wenatchee in better playoff hopes, and could move Bellingham a game away from clinching the North...Pettway was the winning pitcher back in Wenatchee, July 23, allowing two runs over six innnings...that win was the second in a string of three-consecutive for the freshman.

KEEP THEM IN THE YARD
Bellingham has clubbed 8 home runs against Wenatchee in four games this year...Chase Illig, the league-leading home run hitter, has three of the bombs and Kyle Stowers has hit two.

APPLESOX LOSE GAME ONE AT BELLINGHAM, HALF BACK IN THE WCL NORTH RACE

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (28-23, 13-11) fell 7-3 to the Bellingham Bells (30-22, 14-11) in the first game of a three-game series, Friday night at Joe Martin Field.

The AppleSox are now in second place in the WCL North second hald standings, and a half of a game back of the Bells and Victoria HarbourCats with three games left to play.

The AppleSox scored first in the second inning on an RBI single for Michael Spellacy, following walks of Jake Taylor and Jack Reisinger off of Holden Powell.

Bellingham answered in the home half of the second inning, with a solo home run from Kyle Stowers to left field. It was Stowers’ second home run of the season against Wenatchee.

In the third, Bellingham continued on against Steen Fredrickson (1-4) to take the lead on a solo home run by Austin Pinorini.

The 2-1 score held to the sixth inning, and the AppleSox evened the score on Cooper Misic when Jordan Prendiz got on via an infield single and moved to second base on a throwing error. A sacrifice fly moved him to third base and a wild pitch brought home Prendiz to tie the game.

Bellingham promptly untied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a Ryan Mendoza RBI single, and Pinorini drove home a run with a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead.

Adrian Damla drove in a run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Wenatchee couldn’t convert in a one-out, corner runner situation. Tanner West came in for Bellingham in relief and struck out the next two batters.

Bellingham piled its final runs on in the seventh inning on a 2-RBI double for Brock Anderson, and Austin Pinorini’s second home run of the game – a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to right field.

Wenatchee was put down in order in the ninth by Josh Zavisubin to complete the game-one win for Bellingham.

Game two is Saturday night and Alek Jacob is up on the mound for Wenatchee at 6:35 p.m. at Joe Martin Field.

APPLESOX WALKOFF GAME ONE, SPLIT DOUBLE HEADER AT CORVALLIS

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (28-22, 13-10) walked off the Corvallis Knights (31-19, 14-9) in the first of a double header at Goss Stadium, 10-7, on the strength of a Jake Taylor three-run home run, and Corvallis split the double header with a 6-3 game-two win, Thursday night.

The double header featured two seven-inning games, after games one and two of a scheduled three-game series in Wenatchee were postponed due to unhealthy air quality in Wenatchee.

The AppleSox played as the home team in both games of the double header, and Wenatchee started hot it game one, jumping to a 4-0 lead on four RBI singles for Evan Johnson, Jalen Garcia, Adrian Vela, and Adrian Damla in the first inning.

Johnson’s RBI single in the first, set the team record for RBI in a single season, passing Mitchell Gunsolus’ 2012 mark of 48.

Wenatchee took a punch back in the second inning on a seven-run frame for the Corvallis Knights, off of starter Hunter Boyd.

The score stayed at 7-4 all the way into the bottom of the seventh inning, When Wenatchee used a 2-RBI double from Vela and an RBI single from Adrian Damla to tie the score, against Tanner Howell (1-2), who was in relief of Cameron Richman and Connor Redmond.

Jake Taylor smashed a walk-off three-run home run over the left-field fence in the next at bat to give Wenatchee the 10-7 win and 15th come-from-behind win of the year.

Michael Spellacy (3-0) finished the sixth and seventh innings behind Boyd for the game-one win.

Game two featured a fast start for Corvallis, who jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Wenatchee in the first two innings against starter McKabe Cottrell (1-3).

Wenatchee was held quiet into the fourth inning, until they loaded the bases with two outs against starter Trenton Toplikar. Reliever Trevor Wells (2-1) came in to get the final out of the frame, and kept Corvallis ahead 5-0.

Wenatchee was down 6-0 into the bottom of the seventh, but scored three runs on a 2-RBI double for Johnson and an RBI ground-rule-double for Damla.

Still, the AppleSox couldn’t finish the comeback and fell 6-3.

Wenatchee moves to Bellingham, Friday-Sunday for a three-game series versus the Bells. First pitch Friday, is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Joe Martin Field.

APPLESOX FACE TOP WCL TEAM, CORVALLIS IN DOUBLE HEADER, AFTER SERIES MOVED SOUTH DUE TO SMOKE

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (27-21) - (12-9, 2nd Half)
VS
Corvallis Knights - (30-18) - (13-8 2nd Half) 
6:00 pm and approx. 8:30 pm
Goss Stadium
Corvallis, Ore.

LEADERS OF THE PACK
Tonight is a battle of first-place North and South WCL teams...fitting, as Wenatchee and Corvallis have won a combined nine of the WCL’s 12 Championships...Wenatchee leads the league with five Championships won, and Corvallis follows with four...Bend, Bellingham, and Moses Lake are the other three Champions.

BROKEN TIES
The AppleSox have a little extra boost in the final six-game race in the WCL North...Wenatchee only needs to equal the record of Victoria...it holds the tiebreaker over Victoria (4-2 season record)...if the AppleSox win the final series at Bellingham 2-1, they hold the tiebreaker by a better intra-division record in the second half...if they Sweep Bellingham, they’ll own a 4-2 advantage on the season series.

DRAW SOME WALKS
The AppleSox are the second-best team in the WCL at drawing walks...with 222, they are only 4 behind league-leading Corvallis...Corvallis’ projected starters for the series have only allowed 8 total walks on the season, while tossing 61 strikeouts...Wenatchee strikes out the fifth-fewest times in the WCL.

LAST TIME THEY WERE HERE...
Even though Wenatchee struggled to a 19-35 record last season, the AppleSox took 2-of-3 games from Corvallis at home after an 0-7 start to the season...Corvallis swept the later series at their place, 3-0, en route to their fourth West Coast League Championship.

LEAN ON YOUR BEST
Hunter Boyd and McKabe Cottrell are two of the AppleSox leading starting pitchers, after the departures of Collin Maier and Connor McCord due to summer playing limits...Wenatchee’s best playoff scenarios include at least a 2-1 series win over Corvallis, before finishing the year at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham.

APPLESOX AND CORVALLIS TO MOVE DOUBLEHEADER ALL THE WAY BACK TO OREGON

WENATCHEE, Wash. – As air quality conditions in the Wenatchee Valley, and now Yakima Valley, remain in the “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” ranges, the Wenatchee AppleSox and Corvallis Knights have made a final decision to move Thursday’s double header to Corvallis, Ore. at 6 p.m.

Conditions in Wenatchee have exceeded 200 on the Department of Ecology’s air-quality index in Wenatchee, and are over 150 in Yakima.

Because of these readings from the Department of Ecology, both Corvallis and Wenatchee agreed to move the game to Oregon, to try and ensure that this situation impacts the league playoff race as minimally as possible, while also ensuring player and spectator safety.

Because Corvallis and Wenatchee are able to make up just two of the three games, if the remaining game of the series holds playoff implications in the North or South Divisions, the teams will meet again for one more make-up game on Monday, August 7th at 7:05 PM.

AppleSox fans will be alerted as soon as possible if the additional makeup game is necessary. The team may not know this until as late as Sunday night.

Although playing at Corvallis’ Goss Stadium, Wenatchee will play as the home team in the double header, Thursday. The AppleSox will continue on to Bellingham after the double header for a three-game series with the Bellingham Bells, Aug., 4-6.

APPLESOX SERIES-OPENER VS CORVALLIS POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY 5:05 p.m. DOUBLEHEADER DUE TO AIR QUALITY

The Wenatchee AppleSox series-opening game versus the Corvallis Knights has been postponed to Wednesday, Aug. 2, due to poor air quality in the Wenatchee Valley. The game will be played, Wednesday, as part of a doubleheader with Corvallis, starting at 5:05 p.m.

Fans who purchased tickets to Tuesday’s game will be able to redeem them for admission to Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader will be seven-inning games, the first of which starts at 5:05 p.m. Game two will follow the conclusion of game one, after both pitchers have been allowed a reasonable warmup period.

The AppleSox are currently tied for first in the WCL North and finish the series with the Corvallis Knights Wednesday, Aug. 2 and Thursday, Aug. 3, before heading to Bellingham Saturday-Sunday.

APPLESOX TO HOLD SILENT AUCTION FOR CHIEFS JERSEYS AT AUGUST 3RD GAME

AppleSox bullpen catcher and Wenatchee native, Cody Simmons, models the 1937 replica Wenatchee Chiefs uniform the AppleSox have been wearing this season.

The Wenatchee AppleSox will send fans home with jerseys after Thursday night’s regular-season home finale versus the Corvallis Knights. A silent auction will be held throughout the game, Aug. 3, to give fans an opportunity to win the game-worn jerseys. First pitch of Thursday’s game and all three games in the series against the Knights are at 7:05 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Wenatchee High School Interact Club, to help fund their Habitat For Humanity project.

The Wenatchee AppleSox have been paying tribute to the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Minor League Baseball in the Wenatchee Valley, by wearing throwback 1937 Wenatchee Chief uniforms once-per-home series this season.

The Wenatchee Chiefs were a minor league baseball team that played in the Class B Western International League (1937-1954) and founding member of the Northwest League (1955-65).

The Chiefs utilized Recreation “Rec” Park downtown, and bleacher seat tickets cost only 5 cents for games during the teams’ early years. If you wanted to sit in the grandstand, your ticket was a hefty 40 cents!

The franchise operated for a total of 25 years (the Western International League suspended play for World War II from 1943 through 1945) and was a minor league affiliate for the New York Yankees (1938-40), the Cincinnati Redlegs (1957-58), and the Chicago Cubs (1961-65).

The 1937 replica jerseys were designed by BSN SPORTS.

McKabe Cottrell Named WCL Pitcher of the Week

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (27-21, 12-9 second half) were led to a pivotal series sweep at Port Angeles this week by freshman McKabe Cottrell, and the WCL has named him Pitcher of the Week for his efforts, league president Brian Sloan announced, Monday.

Cottrell is the second AppleSox player to take home a Player of the Week honor for the AppleSox this season (Evan Johnson, week of June 1). He is also the first true freshman to win a Player of the Week honor since the AppleSox began tracking Player of the Week results in 2014.

This is also the first time since the AppleSox began tracking Player of the Weeks, that Wenatchee has had two Player of the Week honors in the same season. Cottrell is the first to take home a Player of the Week accolade in July or August.

Cottrell was unbelievable in a complete-game shutout win at Port Angeles, July 27. The victory secured a sweep for the AppleSox, who are now .5 games out of first place in the WCL North Second-Half playoff race. Cottrell took a Perfect Game into the sixth inning at Port Angeles, before it was broken up on a two-out bunt.

He ended up only allowing two hits, and struck out 10 batters for the team’s first complete-game shutout since 2011 (Owen Jones).

Cottrell also kickstarted a string of three-straight victories for true-freshman AppleSox pitchers. Alek Jacob won his first collegiate game July 29 vs. Walla Walla, and Mike Townsend followed it up with his first collegiate win, July 30 in the 2-1 series victory over the Sweets.

AppleSox fans can expect to see Cottrell start game two vs. Corvallis, Aug. 2, in the team’s final regular season home series.

APPLESOX WIN SERIES WITH SWEET COMEBACK, MOVE WITHIN A GAME OF PLAYOFF HUNT

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (27-21, 12-9 second half) came from behind for the second-straight time, in an 8-5 series win over the Walla Walla Sweets (23-25, 8-13), at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Sunday night.

The AppleSox fell behind in the top of the first inning after two Walla Walla singles, and a throwing error by the catcher Matt Reitano on an attempted pick off at first base.

After Walla Walla scored its first run, starter Mike Townsend (1-2) retired 14-consecutive Sweets hitters, to give his offense a chance to get back into the game.

Wenatchee plated one run in the fourth inning after chasing starter Isaac Esqueda from the contest through three innings, on one hit and three walks. The AppleSox scored on an RBI groundout for Jordan Prendiz, following an Adrian Damla double and Adrian Vela single.

The run came off of Andrew Miner, who lasted 1.2 innings in the contest. Walla Walla took back a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out, 2-RBI single from Danny Sinatro. Townsend recovered to throw a scoreless sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Wenatchee plated two in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single for Adrian Vela and a wild pitch.

The AppleSox also scored two runs in the sixth inning on a go-ahead RBI single for Matt Reitano to center field, and an RBI double for Jacob Prater down the left field line.

The AppleSox also added three important insurance runs in the eighth inning, which all came unearned off of former AppleSox pitcher Dylan Riddle on an RBI bunt single for Prater and a 2-RBI double for Damla.

Michael Spellacy threw the final three innings behind Townsend, and tossed scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, Walla Walla did plate two on a 2-RBI single for Jake Suddleson, who was pinch hitting for Sinatro.

Spellacy finished the night with back-to-back flyout outs to center field.

Victoria and Bellingham also both lost Sunday night, so the AppleSox moved to second place in the WCL North Second Half, just a half of a game behind Victoria, and one game ahead of the Bellingham Bells.

The AppleSox have an off day, Monday, and then play a three-game series against the Corvallis Knights, who have the WCL’s best record, Tuesday-Thursday at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. All three games start at 7:05 p.m.

APPLESOX BATTLING FOR SERIES WIN, IN MIDST OF PLAYOFF PUSH

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (26-21) - (11-9, 2nd Half)
VS
Walla Walla Sweets - (23-24) - (8-12 2nd Half) 
6:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
 

FOR THE RECORD
Evan Johnson drew even with 2012 AppleSox talent Mitchell Gunsolus for the team record for RBI in a single season, with his 47th and 48th RBIs last night...Gunsolus was the 2012 WCL MVP and got his 48 RBI in 54 games...Johnson now stands three RBI away from tying the 2014 WCL MVP Vince Fernandez (Yakima Valley Pippins) for the league record, 51 RBI in a regular season...currently Chase Illig of Bellingham is two RBI behind Johnson, with 46 on the year. 

SHIRER’S SOLO SLAM
The 7th inning blast last night for Dugan Shirer was not only his first HR at the collegiate level...it was his first home run at the high school level and beyond...at W.F. West HS in Chehalis, Shirer never homered...he also never went yard at the College of Southern Idaho or WSU.

SAVING GRACE
Connor Leedholm drew even with Dustin Hamilton (2015, AppleSox) for the most saves by an individual in an AppleSox uniform, since Tyler Kane (2013) was the saving pitcher in six AppleSox wins.

STILL CLOSE
The AppleSox and Sweets played their fourth-consecutive one-run game, Saturday night...Wenatchee finally ended up on the winning end...the AppleSox expanded their one-run game record to 9-9 this year.

RALLY SOX
Wenatchee has now come from behind in half of its wins this season...after erasing deficits twice last night, the AppleSox have posted 13 come-from-behind victories this year.

101 CONTESTS
Head Coach Kyle Krustangel and Assistant Coach Cash Ulrich have coached together in 101 baseball games during this calendar year...they have won 62 of the 101 games...that’s a .614 winning percentage...they’re hoping to take both Yakima Valley College and the Wenatchee AppleSox to the playoffs this calendar year.

ADDED SIGNIFICANCE
The AppleSox have not played .500-or-better baseball since 2014 when the team went 30-24 and finished one game shy of a playoff spot behind the Bend Elks in the then Wild Card race... tonight, with a win, the AppleSox would guarauntee no worse than a .500 record for the season...the AppleSox were 24-30 in 2015 and 19-35 last season.

APPLESOX OVERCOME EARLY DEFICITS, EVEN SERIES

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (26-21, 11-9 second half) came back from two deficits to take down the Walla Walla Sweets (23-24, 8-12), 7-6 to draw even in the three-game series at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Saturday night.

The Walla Walla Sweets jumped to the early lead on Alek Jacob (1-0) in his collegiate debut. The Sweets scored three runs on two AppleSox errors and RBI singles for Nick Nyquist and Jake Suddleson.

Wenatchee came right back with four runs of its own in the bottom half of the first inning off of Scott Parker (2-4). The AppleSox rattled off four-straight hits to start the game, including RBI singles for Evan Johnson and Jalen Garcia.

The RBI for Johnson was the first of two on the night, which tied him with Mitchell Gunsolus (2012) for the most RBI in an individual’s single season for the AppleSox.

The Sweets regained control of the contest in the third inning on an error at second base that scored two more runs. Walla Walla brought one of the runs all the way home from first base for a 5-4 lead.

Wenatchee grabbed the lead for good in the fourth inning when Dugan Shirer delivered an RBI walk with the bases loaded, and Johnson grounded out for his second RBI of the night and a 6-5 lead.

Shirer extended the lead to two on Matt Amrhein in the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field. The home run was the first of Shirer’s collegiate career, and the team’s 30th of the season. Shirer also became the 17th different AppleSox player to hit a home run this season.

Walla Walla inched a run closer against Hugh Smith in the seventh inning, on an RBI single.

Connor Leedholm took over in the eighth inning with a 7-6 lead and struck out the Sweets’ side. In the ninth, he faced some adversity after an error at third base and a single. With runners at first and second, Leedholm fielded a comebacker for out number two, and won the game on a fly ball to center field, which stranded runners at second and third base.

It was Leedholm’s fifth save of the season, and the win evened the series for the AppleSox, who are still 1.5 games behind the Victoria HarbourCats, who won Saturday night over Cowlitz. Bellingham also defeated Kelowna and remains 1.5 games behind the HarbourCats, tied with the AppleSox.

The series finale between the Sweets and AppleSox is Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. Mike Townsend will get the start for the Wenatchee AppleSox.

APPLESOX GOING FOR SERIES TIE ON FOSTER FAMILY NIGHT

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (25-21) - (10-9, 2nd Half)
VS
Walla Walla Sweets - (23-23) - (8-11 2nd Half) 
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

TOO CLOSE TO CALL
The last three meetings between the AppleSox and Walla Walla Sweets have been decided by just one run, and Walla Walla won each of those contests...the AppleSox have only won three of their last ten games against the Sweets and have lost six-consecutive games, which is the longest such losing streak in the series history for the AppleSox.

SOMETHING ABOUT SOUTHPAWS
Wenatchee has got to get it figured out against left-handed pitchers...Wenatchee is 4-7 versus southpaws this year and will face two Walla Walla left handers to finish off this important three-game series. 

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Alek Jacob makes his AppleSox debut tonight...the Spokane native has started for North Central High School each of the last four seasons, three times being named First Team All-Greater Spokane League....as a senior, he was named All-State in the 3A...in 2016 as a junior, he led the league in strikeouts and earned Second Team All-State honors...over the last two summers, he played for the Spokane Expos, tossing a four-hit shutout against the Spokane Dodgers in 2016 and was named All-State in 2017.

LESS THAN SWEET
Wenatchee is 17-8 versus the WCL North, but would be 17-4 if it wasn’t for the Walla Walla Sweets...the Sweets won the season series last night, but the AppleSox can still take the current series...Wenatchee is 1-6 in its last seven home games against all WCL opponents.

APPLESOX FALL JUST SHORT, IN MULTIPLE COMEBACK TRIES VERSUS WALLA WALLA

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (25-21, 10-9 second half) couldn’t convert for multiple runs in two late bases-loaded situations and fell 5-4 to the Walla Walla Sweets (23-23, 8-11) in the first game of a three-game series at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Friday night.

Trailing 5-2, the AppleSox loaded the bases in both of the eighth and ninth innings against Walla Walla reliever Cameron Deere. In the eighth, with no outs, Evan Johnson hit into a 6-4-3 DP and the AppleSox only got one run back for a 5-3 deficit.

In the ninth with one out, the AppleSox popped out on the infield, and could only score a run on an error at third base by former AppleSox third baseman Nick Nyquist.

The game ended on a debatable strike three call that was ruled to have crossed the zone at Jacob Prater’s chest, for the loss.

Wenatchee was held at bay for three innings by former pitcher Dylan Riddle (4-1). One run scored off the 2016 reliever in the fourth inning on an error at second base on a dropped fly ball in shallow right-center field.

The AppleSox first run of the night was on an RBI groundout in the second inning for Jake Taylor, following a leadoff double in the inning by Jalen Garcia. The AppleSox chased Walla Walla starter Darius Vines after just three innings, with just the lone run against him.

Garcia (2x4) and Michael Spellacy (2x4) were the only AppleSox hitters to get hits, Friday, off of the Sweets.

Walla Walla plated two runs off of Steen Fredrickson (1-3), on RBI singles in the second inning. They also scored three off of Fredrickson when he walked home a man in the fifth inning with the bases loaded, and exited before reliever Cameron Kurz allowed two more RBIs, which were his responsibility.

Kurz ended up throwing the final 3.1 innings in relief and struck out four batters without allowing a run of his own. The performance kept the AppleSox offense in striking distance.

Victoria won Friday, and Bellingham lost, in other WCL games. Wenatchee and Bellingham are now each 1.5 games behind the HarbourCats for first place in the Second Half playoff race.

Game two of the series is set for Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Alek Jacobs, an incoming Gonzaga freshman, will make his AppleSox debut.

APPLESOX OPEN PIVOTAL LATE-SEASON HOMESTAND, HOST SWEETS FRIDAY

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (25-20) - (10-8, 2nd Half)
VS
Walla Walla Sweets - (22-23) - (7-11 2nd Half) 
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

CHEERS TO THE WEEKEND
The AppleSox are home starting a six-game homestand against the Walla Walla Sweets and Corvallis Knights...it begins with a weekend series with the Walla Walla Sweets...the AppleSox are a combined 12-7 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday games this year and have four wins on each of those calendar days. 

COTTRELL’S GEM
McKabe Cottrell threw the first AppleSox complete game shutout since 2011, last night...Owen Jones was the last AppleSox pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout (June 9, 2011 vs. Kitsap), and also holds a share of Wenatchee’s single-season wins record...Cottrell also became the third AppleSox pitcher this year to toss 10 strikeouts, joining Hunter Boyd and Jarrod Molnaa...it was McKabe’s first collegiate win and the first start to reach eight innings for the AppleSox this season. 

GETTING IT RIGHT AT HOME
There’s no better time than now for the Wenatchee AppleSox to improve their recent home record...Wenatchee has won six of its last nine road games, but is just 1-5 at home in its last six home contests...for the AppleSox to stay in close contention in the North, they will likely seek a series win in the first three-game series of the six-game homestand...the AppleSox are 5-2 in home series play this year...they hadn’t lost a home series until their last two tries.

MINIMIZING MISTAKES
Last night, the AppleSox were error free for an 11th time this year...Wenatchee is 10-1 when committing zero errors in games this season.

McKABE COTTRELL TWO-HITS LEFTIES, APPLESOX SWEEP SERIES, TIGHTEN PLAYOFF RACE

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (25-20, 10-8 second half) slammed the door on the Port Angeles Lefties (16-30, 6-13) in a 5-0 series-sweeping, complete-game shutout by freshman McKabe Cottrell, Thursday night at Civic Field at Port Angeles.

Cottrell (1-2) tossed Wenatchee’s first complete-game shutout since June 9, 2011, when Owen Jones (Portland) shutout the Kelowna Falcons over nine innings at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The Gonzaga freshman, Cottrell, struck out 10 batters, and joined Hunter Boyd and Jarrod Molnaa as the only other AppleSox players to strike out 10 in a game this season.

Wenatchee moved just a half a game out of first place in the WCL North Second Half, following Victoria’s loss to Kelowna, 9-7 across the Strait of Juan De Fuca at Royal Athletic Park.

The night started with McKabe Cottrell retiring the first 17 batters to face him. He was successful on 14-of-17 first-pitch strikes from the git-go.

Cottrell struck out two batters in each of the first and second innings, and received some tremendous plays behind him in the third inning, on a sliding catch in right field by Jalen Garcia, and an in-between chopper played in front of second base by Jacob Prater.

Prater also put the AppleSox in front in the third inning, with an RBI single, following a single and an error. Evan Johnson drove in the AppleSox second run of the night in the same inning, on an RBI groundout.

For Johnson, it was his 46th RBI of the year. It placed him in sole possession of the WCL lead, ahead of Bellingham’s Chase Illig and also places him two shy of tying Mitchell Gunsolus’ 2012 team record 48 runs batted in. Johnson needs an additional 5 RBI to tie Vince Fernandez (2014, Yakima Valley) for the most RBI in WCL history.

Adrian Vela padded Cottrells lead in the fourth, with a no-doubt solo home run over the left field fence. It was the only home run of the series to either side at Civic Field.

Cottrell had a perfect game going through 5.2 innings, and Port Angeles broke up the bid with a bunt single from Aki Buckson. Cottrell was unable to cover first, as his momentum after the pitch took him towards the third base line. First baseman Adrian Damla lunged to try to apply a tag to the runner, but it was too late.

Wenatchee but a couple more runs on the board in the seventh for a 5-0 lead on a sacrifice fly RBI from Prater into shallow right field. Jack Reisinger also drove in a runner on a single, with men at the corners. The AppleSox chewed through three Port Angeles relievers in the inning, after starter Aaron Charles (0-2) was lifted after his nine-strikeout outing.

Cottrell continued to frustrate the Lefties into the ninth inning. He allowed one more hit on a two-out double to Austyn Tengan, but got his final man of the night to pop out to right field, to complete the series sweep and season sweep (6-0) of the Port Angeles Lefties.

The win was Cottrell’s first at the collegiate level, and team’s second shutout of the year.

Wenatchee improved to 10-1 when not committing an error this season. In total, Cottrell retired 27 of 29 batters to face him, and did not issue a walk.

Wenatchee returns home to open a six-game homestand, Friday night. The first team into town is the Walla Walla Sweets, who swept the AppleSox to open the season. Wenatchee is looking for revenge at 7:05 p.m. with Steen Fredrickson on the mound.

APPLESOX SET FOR SECOND SEASON-SERIES SWEEP

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (24-20) - (9-8, 2nd Half)
AT
Port Angeles Lefties - (16-29) - (6-12 2nd Half) 
6:35 pm
Civic Field
Port Angeles, Wash.

TAKING THE LONG WAY AROUND
At 3 hours and 42 minutes, last night’s game was the longest of the season...game two of the series outlasted the third game of the year for the AppleSox at Walla Walla (12 innings)...a 7-6 loss for the AppleSox.

SO CLOSE...
Tonight, the AppleSox have a chance to do something that they have been unable to do in their first five inaugural season series against WCL franchises...the AppleSox have gone 5-1 in season series against new members to the West Coast League five times (Corvallis, Cowlitz, Klamath Falls, Kelowna, and Kitsap)...against Corvallis, the AppleSox lost the first WCL meeting in 2005, before winning the final five on the season...versus Cowlitz, the AppleSox won the first five 2010 meetings, before falling in game six on the road, 7-1...against Kelowna, Wenatchee only lost game two of the six played in 2005...Kitsap won game five in 2005 after the AppleSox won a 16-inning marathon battle in game four, for the longest game in team history (7-6)...and Klamath Falls fended off the six-game season sweep in 2011 with an 8-5 win at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium in extra innings...the AppleSox are 0-2 in comleting the season sweep over new teams to the WCL when leading 5-0 in the season series...one loss occurred on the road (Cowlitz), the other at home (Klamath Falls).

SIMPLY SPELLACY
After giving up two runs in two thirds of an inning in his AppleSox pitchingdebut June 18, vs. Gresham, Michael Spellacy has come back to allow only four earned runs over the next 15.2 innings...that number is good for a 2.30 ERA...the two-way middle infielder has thrown the fourth-most innings of any AppleSox reliever, behind Hugh Smith, Steen Fredrickson, and Connor Leedholm.

THE HOME STRETCH...
The AppleSox now open the final 10 games of their regular season schedule, 1.5 games out of first place in the WCL North Second Half...Victoria will not play games on August 3rd and 4th, giving the AppleSox a chance to make up a half game on the HarbourCats in the standings...Wenatchee will have to fend off Bellingham, who is also 1.5 games off of first place....Bellingham leads the season series 2-1...the AppleSox finish the regular season at Bellingham Aug. 4-6, and will likely need a series win, if the rest of the playoff chase falls in the AppleSox favor.

APPLESOX BREAK NINTH-INNING TIE, BEAT PORT ANGELES IN GAME TWO

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (24-20, 9-8 second half) overtook the Port Angeles Lefties (16-29, 6-12) 10-6, and broke a ninth-inning tie en route to a game-two win, Wednesday night at Civic Field at Port Angeles.

The AppleSox were tied 6-6 with Port Angeles, entering the ninth inning, and scored four runs off of Lefties’ reliever Spencer Johnson (0-1). The go-ahead run in the inning, Jake Taylor, scored on a stolen base to third, and subsequent throwing error by the catcher, after reaching second on a walk and passed ball.

Matt Reitano also scored in the inning on a wild pitch, and Cole McKenzie delivered an RBI double in the frame. Wenatchee also grabbed an extra run, by baiting a throw to second base and getting in a run down between first and second on an intentional runner caught stealing play to end the frame. Cole McKenzie scored.

Michael Spellacy (2-0) worked the final 4.2 innings for the AppleSox and posted six strikeouts. He inherited a bases loaded situation in the fifth inning, with one out and got out on a 4-6-3 double play.

After allowing two runs in the sixth, for a 6-5 deficit, he recovered to strike out two of the next three batters.

Matt Reitano tied the game in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly RBI to left-center field.

Spellacy got the AppleSox out of a runner at third situation in the eighth, after two steals, by striking out the final man (Ian Nowak) of the inning.

In the ninth, he allowed a leadoff single, but wrapped up the win with two more strikeouts. They were his fifth and sixth punchouts of the relief appearance.

Wenatchee fell behind early in the game, 2-0 on an RBI for Jake Portaro, who hit into an E6, and on an RBI single for Nowak.

The AppleSox got a run back in the fourth inning on a throwing error E2, that allowed Jalen Garcia to score from third base.

After the Lefties scored two more in the fifth inning on four hits off of AppleSox starter Hunter Boyd, Wenatchee answered with a big top half of the sixth. A throwing error E9 allowed the first run to score, followed by a 2-RBI double for Cole McKenzie to tie the game at 4-4. Jacob Prater broke the tie with an RBI single.

The AppleSox play game three of the series and have a chance to make it a perfect 6-0 on the season against the Lefties, Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. at Civic Field.

The AppleSox remain 1.5 games behind the Victoria HarbourCats in the WCL North Second Half race, after Victoria also won, Wednesday. Bellingham also won, and is an identical 1.5 games behind Victoria.