APPLESOX NAME FINAL FOUR TO COMPLETE PRIMARY ROSTER

The final four players to complete AJ Proszek's 25-man roster have been announced.

The final four players to complete AJ Proszek's 25-man roster have been announced.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox named four more players to the 2015 roster, as two Spokane Falls Community College athletes, one Westmont catcher, and one Oregon State outfielder are all set to join the team, Head Coach AJ Proszek announced Tuesday.

The four additions will help complete the 2015 primary roster. Sophomore Zach Haggett, who previously pitched with Wenatchee on a temporary basis, and freshman Evan Douglas, will be the additions from Proszek’s team at Spokane Falls. Junior Ryan Crowe will work with the pitchers as one of this season’s back stops, and redshirt junior Joey Jansen, an outfielder from Oregon State, rounds out the group.

Haggett, a native of Boise, Idaho, joins last week’s addition, Kyle Blankenship, as a temporary pitcher who will fill a full-time role this season.

“He’s been with me for two years now,” Proszek said. “He’s a great kid, a hard worker, very competitive, and throws a lot of strikes. One of his biggest upsides and main reasons that I’m giving him the opportunity to come out and play for us, is his strike-throwing ability. I think he has the ability to compete at this level and have some success.”

Haggett pitched in two league games for Wenatchee in 2014. He earned a save in the AppleSox second league win of the season at Yakima Valley. In total, he recorded 3 2/3 innings on the mound, surrendered seven hits, walked three, and struck out two.

He is 3-2 this season at Spokane Falls Community College, through 42 innings pitched. He has allowed 10 earned runs and has a 2.14 ERA. Haggett has thrown one complete game, and struck out 17 batters while walking eight.

Douglas, a native of Spokane and Shadle Park High School, is an infielder who is rounding out his first season at Spokane Falls with AJ Proszek and company.

“He’s been great for us this year,” Proszek said. “The upside for him is hitting. He’s the best hitter on our club right now. He’s another good kid who loves the game of baseball, and is going to have a lot of success.”

Douglas is currently batting .315 with 24 games played for Spokane Falls. He has 29 hits, 14 of which are extra-base hits (10 doubles, one triple, three home runs), and 21 RBI. Douglas has walked 15 times and has a team-leading 11 stolen bases.

Crowe, a native of Ladera Ranch, Calif., played at San Juan Hills High School and Santa Barbara Community College before joining Westmont.

“For me, it’s huge to have a catcher with experience and leadership,” Proszek said. “Especially with us being fairly young on the mound, things kind of work hand in hand. He’ll have a chance to teach the younger guys how to go about it. Having that experience back there makes a pitcher’s job a whole lot easier.”

Crowe is batting .235 this season, with 33 games played. Crowe has 24 hits, three doubles and a triple. Crowe has 14 RBI, has walked 16 times and only has struck out eight times. He has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Jansen, a native of Kennewick, Wash., graduated from Kamiakin High School, and played at Columbia Basin College before transferring to Oregon State. He played for the AppleSox in 2013, but ended up getting injured.

“He’s a great individual,” Proszek said. “From the time I spent around him a couple years ago, I know he works his tail off. I have no problems with bringing him back and adding him to the outfield list. For some of the younger guys, he will be a great role model to replicate in what it means to be a Division I athlete, and how they go about their business.”

Jansen is batting .167 on the season, through 34 games and two starts. He has two hits in 12 at bats this season for the Beavers. He has stolen one base and been walked twice.

Wenatchee opens its season with a two-game nonleague series against the San Francisco Seals, June 4-5, at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. Tickets can be purchased by calling 509-665-6900, or by visiting: http://www.applesox.com/tickets/