6:05 P.M. SPAGHETTI SUNDAY, APPLESOX PLAYING FOR FIRST BACK-TO-BACK HOME SWEEPS SINCE '13

Current WCL Baseball wins leader, Collin Maier (5-1) will get the start for the Wenatchee AppleSox, Sunday, July 9 against the Kelowna Falcons.

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

Spaghetti Sunday
APPLESOX (17-12) - (2-0, 2nd Half) VS KELOWNA FALCONS (17-15 - (0-5, 2nd Half)
6:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

TOP APPLES
For the first time this season, the AppleSox are in sole possession of first place in the WCL North Division...the AppleSox have spent three other days with a share of the Division lead, including tied with Bellingham for first, yesterday...with a 2-0 record in the WCL second half, the AppleSox are the only team in the North with a 1.000 winning percentage, allowing them the top spot in the standings.

GRAND MILESTONE
The AppleSox also set a new team record last night, by hitting their second Grand Slam of the season...Parker Price hit the team’s other back on June 17 at home against Victoria...never before had Wenatchee hit two in league play in the same season...that was before Josh Zamora parked his first league home run of the summer over the left field fence...in total, the AppleSox have hit 16 grand slams all-time and hit three in 2004 (two in non-league play)...the AppleSox are 13-2 in which the team hits a grand slam.

A HOME RUN RECORD FALLS
Wenatchee also saw another home run record fall last night, when Jack Machtolf hit his sixth-inning solo home run...12 AppleSox players have now homered this year, which breaks the team record of 11 from 2014. 

FOLLOW THE LEADER
Collin Maier will be on the mound for the AppleSox tonight...he is Wenatchee’s leading pitcher, and also owns a WCL-best 5 victories in 2017...the AppleSox single-season wins record is 7.

BACK-TO-BACK HOME “SWEEPS”
The last time the AppleSox “swept” back-to-back Home WCL series was in 2013...however one was only a two-game sweep (game three rained out vs. Walla Walla)...the AppleSox won two over the Sweets July 30-31, 2013 and another three over Victoria, Aug. 5-7 for a five-game sweep...the last back-to-back home sweeps of the six-game variety were the same season, 2013, from June 21-23 over the Kitsap BlueJackets and July 2-4 over the Victoria HarbourCats.

APPLESOX WIN FIFTH-STRAIGHT HOME SERIES, ZAMORA DELIVERS GRAND SLAM

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (17-12, 2-0 second half) were able to stake out an early first-place spot in the WCL North second half, with a 9-3 win over the first-half champion Kelowna Falcons (17-15, 0-5 second half) Saturday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The big AppleSox inning came in the fifth, when Wenatchee broke a 1-1 tie. The AppleSox scored first on an Evan Johnson RBI single in the first inning, to bring home Jacob Prater, who doubled to get the offense going.

After Kelowna tied the game with a single run off of starter Steen Fredrickson (no-decision) in the top half of the inning, Johnson delivered a go-ahead RBI single to score Cole McKenzie who was aboard on an error.

Johnson now has 38 RBI to lead the West Coast League. He is just 10 shy of tying Mitchell Gunsolus’ 2012 single-season record 48 runs batted in.

After one of Jake Taylor’s three walks on the night, Josh Zamora came to the plate with two outs, a 2-1 lead, and the bases loaded.

Zamora got all of the second pitch in his at bat, and hit a Grand Slam to left field to give the AppleSox plenty of breathing room, and a 6-1 cushion. It was Zamora’s first league home run, after he hit two in non-league play last week.

The Grand Slam was also the AppleSox second of the season. Connor McCord (3-1) was handed the big lead and worked the next 3 1/3 innings, only surrendering a two-run home run to Kelowna’s Alex McGarry in the eighth.

Wenatchee tacked on single runs in the sixth, on Jack Machtolf’s first WCL home run, a solo shot to right field (second home run on the summer – non-league), and in the seventh on a throwing error.

One more run crossed in the eighth on an RBI single for Prater, who enjoyed a three-hit night.

Michael Spellacy got the final outs of the game, tossing a quick 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Wenatchee has now jumped to 2-0 series leads in each of its five home series. The AppleSox are a combined 10-0 in games one and two at home, and now are 11-3 in home WCL games (14-3 at home, overall), which is the league’s best home record.

The AppleSox play for the sweep on Spaghetti Sunday, when gates open early at 5 p.m., for the 6:05 p.m. first pitch. Collin Maier (5-1), the West Coast League’s wins leader, will be on the mound for Wenatchee.

APPLESOX SET UP SERIES-WINNING OPPORTUNITY TO START HALF, SATURDAY

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

Presented by the Wenatchee Valley Mall
APPLESOX (16-12) - (1-0, 2nd Half) VS KELOWNA FALCONS (17-14 - (0-4, 2nd Half)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

ALMOST A MONTH EXACTLY
The AppleSox nearly spaced their two home walkoffs by exactly a month...Parker Price hit a game-winning RBI single for the AppleSox in their only other walkoff win of the season, June 8 versus the Victoria HarbourCats in the team’s home-opener...Cole McKenzie delivered 29 days later on July 7, to win the series-opener against Kelowna last night...coincidentally the first walkoff was the first of Wenatchee’s nine-straight game-one wins, and last night’s was to keep the streak going.

SPEAKING OF GAME 1
Wenatchee is an outstanding 9-1 in game ones this season and 5-0 at home, wearing the traditional white diamond logo uniforms.

WINNING SERIES
With a series win tonight, the AppleSox would surpass last year’s season-series win mark of six...the AppleSox tied the 2016 team’s mark in the first half, after sweeping Port Angeles.

HOME WINNING STREAK
Wenatchee is now 13-3 at home, including non-league games, and has won seven-straight home games (four-consecutive in league play)...the AppleSox 10-3 home record (.769) is better than any other team in the WCL...Walla Walla is second with an 11-5 mark (.688).

CLOSE GAMES
No one in the WCL has played more one-run games than the AppleSox (12), who are 7-5 in those contests.

JUST HOW STRONG IS THE WCL NORTH?
Let’s put it this way...three of the WCL’s top-record teams for the season reside in the WCL North...none of those three teams won the first-half title in the North, and only one of those three will make the WCL Playoffs come August...seems unfair.

WHERE THE RECORD STANDS
Wenatchee’s 16-12 mark is the third-best in the WCL...the only teams with better records are Corvallis (21-10) and Bellingham (17-11)...Victoria, Walla Walla, and Kelowna, have the next best overall season records in the WCL...leaving 5-of-6 WCL North teams in the top-6 of the league standings.

APPLESOX OPEN SIX-STRAIGHT HOME GAMES, STARTING WITH KELOWNA, FRIDAY-SUNDAY

The Wenatchee AppleSox are home for six-straight games against the WCL North's first-half champion Kelowna Falcons. Wenatchee starts with a fresh 0-0 second-half record, Friday night, and will try to lock up the second playoff spot in the North over the next 27 league games. 

The three-game series Friday-Sunday will feature 7:05 p.m. first pitches Friday and Saturday, and a 6:05 p.m. first pitch on Spaghetti Sunday.

Friday night is Moses Lake Night, sponsored by KBSN-AM and KDRM-FM Radio.

Members of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce will receive vouchers good for FREE admission to the game Friday night.  Several Moses Lake organizations will be there soliciting donations and merchandise for sale, including Moses Lake High School Cross Country Booster Club, The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia promoting their Family Fest and Duck Derby happening the next day, on Saturday, July 8th. Also, New Hope for the Man Up Crusade of Moses Lake will be at the game.

Saturday is sponsored by the Wenatchee Valley Mall. Find out more about the Wenatchee Valley Mall’s Kid’s Club, and take home some very cool prizes for the youngsters! 

Sunday is an Alley Café Spaghetti Sunday! Get a plate of Alley Café spaghetti and garlic bread for just $7.50 when the gates open early at 5 p.m., for the 6:05 p.m. first pitch.

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COYOTE TO PARTICIPATE IN WATERVILLE DAYS

Coyote will be visiting Waterville to ride in the Waterville Days Parade at 10 a.m., Saturday!  After the parade, you can visit Coyote at the park.  Don’t miss this fun event in Waterville, including a terrific car show featuring over 40 Porsches, from around the Northwest!

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APPLESOX YOUTH CAMPS COMING UP JULY 11-13

Wenatchee AppleSox instructional clinics are for kids who want to enhance their baseball skills. Participants will learn techniques to improve hitting, fielding, pitching and catching from AppleSox players and coaches. The AppleSox camps are led by our head coach Kyle Krustangel and assisted by his coaching staff and players.

The July 11-13 camp is focused on hitting instruction. The camp costs $89 and runs from 9 a.m. to noon all three days. Registration is at www.applesoxcamps.com - Late Registration will take place at 8:30am at the field, on the first day of the clinic. Add $10 for late registration at the field, on the first day of clinic.

AppleSox players come from a wide range of nationally renowned college baseball programs and are among the best players in their class. They are still developing their skills and techniques, which creates a tremendous learning atmosphere.

We are proud of the quality instruction in all the fundamentals of the game that the AppleSox clinics provide. We look for self-improvement with each player. The coaches will be dedicated to helping young players come closer to reaching their baseball dreams. Our goal is for each player to walk away with a positive experience, better baseball fundamentals, and a smile on their face.

APPLESOX COME BACK AND CLAIM EXTRA-INNING VICTORY FROM KELOWNA TO START SECOND HALF

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-12, 1-0 second half) opened their second half of play with a bang, by erasing a 5-2 deficit in the eighth, and continuing on to beat the Kelowna Falcons (17-14, 0-4 second half) 6-5 to open the series, Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox took the early lead for starter Jacob Price (no decision), on an RBI double for Jake Taylor in the third inning off of James Brooks (no decision).

Brooks turned in a solid seven innings for Kelowna and only allowed a second run in the fourth inning on an RBI single for Dugan Shirer. That single tied a 2-1 score, after Kelowna scored a pair in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI triple and RBI single.

The Falcons cashed-in a two-run home run in the fifth inning off of Mike Townsend to break the 2-2 tie. It was the first home run of the season for Matt Bottcher.

Taylor Wright clubbed his WCL-leading eighth home run to deep right field in the seventh inning off of Cam Kurz. Kelowna led 5-2 through seven innings.

Wenatchee mounted its comeback in the eighth inning, on singles for Josh Zamora and Michael Spellacy, that got them in position to score on a two-out 2-RBI triple for Jordan Prendiz. That cut the deficit to 5-4, and Prendiz ended up scoring later on a wild pitch to tie the game at 5.

With runners on the corners and two outs, following an error, Kelowna called on Shea Barry to strike out Evan Johnson to keep the game tied.

Wenatchee turned to red-hot reliever Connor Leedholm in the ninth inning. He fired a scoreless frame, and matched the effort in the 10th to complete 14 hitless innings of relief to start his summer.

He was pitching in relief of Michael Spellacy, who was a position player originally, which required Leedholm to hit to lead off the bottom of the tenth. He drew a five-pitch walk to get aboard, and moved first-to-third on a Jordan Prendiz single to left-center field.

After one more pitching change, Cole McKenzie, who was a late replacement for Dugan Shirer, knocked the first pitch from Chase Wiger into left field for the game-winning single. It completed the comeback and the AppleSox first win of the WCL second half.

Leedholm earned the win, to improve to 3-0 with 2 saves on the season.

The AppleSox also won a ninth-straight series-opening game, and are now 9-1 in game ones this year.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m, at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

APPLESOX OPEN WEEKEND, SECOND HALF OF SEASON WITH KELOWNA ON MOSES LAKE NIGHT

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

Moses Lake Night
APPLESOX (15-12) - (0-0, 2nd Half) VS KELOWNA FALCONS (17-13 - (0-3, 2nd Half)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Jacob Price

MOSES LAKE NIGHT WITH THE APPLESOX - Sponsored by KBSN-AM and KDRM-FM
Members of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce will receive vouchers good for FREE admission to the game.  Several Moses Lake organizations will be here, including Moses Lake High School Cross Country Booster Club, The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia promoting their Family Fest and Duck Derby, Saturday, July 8th, and also New Hope for the Man Up Crusade of Moses Lake.

KELOWNA GOING TO PLAYOFFS
As the first-half champions in the WCL North, Kelowna has already locked up a spot in the WCL Playoffs, come August...the Falcons have never won a WCL Championship and it is the team’s first playoff appearance since 2015.

LEADERS AT THE HALF
The AppleSox hold leads in four of the six major WCL statistical categories at the halfway mark...Evan Johnson is tied for the league lead with 7 home runs, and holds the outright advantage with 36 runs batted in...Collin Maier solely leads the league with 5 pitching victories...Hunter Boyd has tossed the league’s highest strikeout total with 38.

GAME-ONE FUN
The AppleSox are a tremendous 8-1 in first games of series, and have won eight straight after losing the 2017 season-opener back on June 2 at Walla Walla...during that stretch, Wenatchee has had four game ones at home in league play, and has won each of those first games wearing the white, diamond logo uniforms.

REDHAWK POWER SURGE
Jake Taylor (2) and Jacob Prater combined to hit three of the AppleSox four home runs at Cowlitz (Adrian Vela)...the two Seattle U players are a combined 10x24 over the last five games and Prater is the hottest on the team, with a .500 average over the last five games.

FIRST VS THE FALCONS
Wenatchee has not yet faced Kelowna this season...the AppleSox are 5-5 in their last 10 meetings with Kelowna...last year in six meetings, neither team was able to win two-consecutive games and the series ended in an even 3-3 split...Wenatchee will visit Kelowna later this month, July 14-16 for a three-game series up north...Kelowna is the all-time most frequented opponent for the AppleSox (68-27).

APPLESOX GAME WEDNESDAY AT COWLITZ MOVED TO 5:35

LONGVIEW, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox series finale against the Cowlitz Black Bears has been moved to a 5:35 p.m. first pitch at David Story Field. 

The game, originally scheduled for first pitch at 6:35 p.m. will start one hour early. Fans can hear the action at www.applesox.com/listen-live - Travis Van Noty, the Black Bears' broadcaster will be on the call tonight, as the AppleSox broadcaster Trevor Williams is out sick. 

APPLESOX CLAIM FIREWORKS NIGHT FROM RIVER CITY ATHLETICS

WENATCHEE, Wash. – It was a perfect 6-0 homestand for the Wenatchee AppleSox, who held on to a late 5-4 win over the River City Athletics, Saturday night, for Fireworks Night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, presented by Numerica Credit Union.

The AppleSox scored early with a 2-RBI double for Jack Machtolf in the second inning. Cody Simmons added an RBI single to make it 3-0 and Jordan Prendiz hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0, Wenatchee.

In front of a seaso-high 1,702 fans, Mike Townsend was impressive in his second start of the summer. He struck out four batters in the first two innings and suffered his only blip on the radar in the third on a bases-clearing double for Taylor Sellers with the bases loaded.

Townsend continued on to pitch five innings in the winning effort and struck out seven batters while walking just one.

Jacob Price was impressive in his debut. The Wenatchee local took over for three scoreless innings of relief and fanned four in what would’ve been a hold for tonight’s winning pitcher.

The AppleSox added a run way back in the third inning that gave the pitching staff plenty of support, and a 5-3 lead.

Cam Kurz entered in the ninth inning looking to shut it down for the Fireworks Show. Two batters reached on him immediately and got to second and third with nobody out. Kurz got a hard ground ball with the infield in, and Adrian Damla successfully looked off the runner at third while going to first for a force out, but the runner from second crowded third, and forced Blake Loftus to break for the plate. Loftus scored just under a tag, to make it 5-4 AppleSox.

With one out and the tying run at third base, Kurz settled down and got a big pop fly to very shallow right field. Machtolf made a leaping catch over the sliding second baseman Prater for out number two. He stayed on his feet to prevent the tying run from being sacrificed home.

Kurz struck out the final batter, Bryce Beck, for the win on a 1-2 pitch, and the AppleSox capped a perfect homestand and made it seven-straight wins.

The Fireworks went off as planned, and the AppleSox fans in attendance left happy Saturday.

Wenatchee has Sunday off and will be in Cowlitz Monday-Wednesday to complete its WCL North first half schedule. First pitch Monday is at 7:05 p.m.

APPLESOX SET FOR FIREWORKS NIGHT, 7:05 PM, TONIGHT

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (14-10) VS RIVER CITY ATHLETICS
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Mike Townsend

THE PLAYOFF HUNT
To catch the current WCL leader, the AppleSox need to win their final three first-half games (at Cowlitz, Monday-Wednesday) and have the Kelowna Falcons lose two of their last three games July 3-5 to the Yakima Valley Pippins...if the AppleSox lose one of the next three, Kelowna must lose all three to the Pippins (Falcons hold tiebreaker)...in that scenario, Bellingham must also win three of the last five games against Walla Walla.

THAT’S A WINNING STREAK...
Wenatchee has now won its last four league games (six overall)...the 6-straight wins is now the longest such streak for the AppleSox since 2013.

ZAMORA IN NON-LEAGUE PLAY
Josh Zamora is swinging a hot bat in non-league play...the AppleSox middle infielder has two home runs this week in non-league play...one against the Everett Merchants, and another last night against the River City Athletics.

HOME WIN TOTAL
Including non-league play, the AppleSox won 14 home games last season...the hometown nine is already up to an 11-3 record at home this year, with 17 home games still left to play. 

TURN THE PAGE
The AppleSox went 16-10 record in June (non-league included)...the sixth time in 18 seasons they have won 16 or more in June...the team record was 22 June wins in 2012.

GOING FOR 100
Tonight’s game could mark the team’s 100th home non-league win...on Fireworks Night to boot!

ON FIREWORKS NIGHT
The AppleSox are 8-9 all-time on Fireworks Night and 3-1 against non-league opponents...Wenatchee has won its last two (last year against Kelowna and 2015 versus Klamath Falls)...this is the earliest for a Fireworks Night in team history...in 2014 the game was played on July 2...every other year, the game was played on July 3.

FIREWORKS NIGHT, SATURDAY!

Come see the Wenatchee AppleSox light up the scoreboard and the sky, Saturday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium against the River City Athletics on Fireworks Night, presented by Numerica Credit Union.

Great baseball action between the AppleSox and the River City Athletics gets going at 7:05 p.m., Saturday, at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium on the campus of Wenatchee Valley College. After the game, there will be a postgame fireworks show for fans in attendance.

General admission tickets ($7) can be purchased online at www.applesox.com/tickets or directly by clicking: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/3704859/fireworks-nightapplesox-vsriver-city-wenatchee-wenatchee-applesox-baseball .

For children’s tickets ($6 – kids under 12) or premium seats ($10 or $9 – kids under 12), fans can purchase them directly at the box office, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, when gates open at 6 p.m.

A limited number of premium seats are still available for Saturday’s game!

The AppleSox are currently 13-10 and only 1.5 games out of first place in the WCL North Division. The River City Athletics are the AppleSox second non-league opponent of 2017.  

AppleSox Home on Fireworks Weekend to Face River City Athletics

Photo by Alyssa Taylor

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (14-10) VS RIVER CITY ATHLETICS
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Steen Fredrickson

THE PLAYOFF HUNT
To catch the current WCL leader, the AppleSox need to win their final three first-half games (at Cowlitz, Monday-Wednesday) and have the Kelowna Falcons lose two of their last three games July 3-5 to the Yakima Valley Pippins...if the AppleSox lose one of the next three, Kelowna must lose all three to the Pippins (Falcons hold tiebreaker).

THAT’S A WINNING STREAK...
Wenatchee has now won its last four league games (five overall)...the mark ties the AppleSox longest league winning streak from a season ago, when the team won four-straight (Corvallis and Walla Walla) from June 11-15, after an 0-7 start.

EMPTY THE DUST PAN
Last night’s sweep for the AppleSox was their first since July 2-4 of 2015...727 days separated the two sweeps for Wenatchee, and the last team they swept, the Klamath Falls Gems, is no longer a member of the West Coast League.

JOHNSON’S GAME-WINNER
When he knocked his two-out double to left-center field last night, Evan Johnson secured his 8th RBI of the three-game set against Port Angeles...Johnson went 7-for-12 in the series and hit four doubles...his two-out RBI in the eighth is also his team-leading 8th 2-out RBI of the year...he is also now tied for second in the league with 9 doubles this season and his .412 batting average ranks second.

WHERE HE RANKS
The AppleSox can now also boast the WCL leader in strikeouts, after Hunter Boyd K’d eight last night for his league-leading 35th punchout of the season...both Boyd and fellow starter Collin Maier are also tied for the league lead with 4 wins each.

APPLESOX IMPROVE TO 5-0 ON HOMESTAND

Josh Zamora homered to lead off the third inning for Wenatchee. He finished with three hits. Photo by Alyssa Taylor

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox erased an early 4-0 deficit to win Friday night’s non-league game 8-5 over the River City Athletics, Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The Athletics scored their four runs off of Steen Fredrickson in the first inning. RBI singles for Bryce Beck and Tyler Detloff got it started, and McKlane Elgin drove in two with his single.

Wenatchee answered back with two runs in its half of the first from Alex Gonzales. He doubled to cut the deficit to 4-2.

River City could only get one more run in the fourth inning on a passed ball.

Josh Zamora homered off of Easton Henke, the Athletics starter, to open the third inning. It cut the Athletic’s lead to 4-3, and was Zamora’s second home run of the non-league season.

Wenatchee tied the game on an error in the fourth, with Jordan Prendiz scoring on a Zamora single. It was the second of three hits for Zamora on the night.

In the fifth, Wenatchee took the lead for good with a three-run frame. They chased Henke with the bases loaded. The reliever, Trent Sellers, hit a man and walked a pair of batters for a 7-5 AppleSox lead.

Sellers recovered to throw a quality four innings of relief, only giving up one other run in the seventh inning on an infield single, that allowed a runner to grab an extra base from third, to score.

Michael Spellacy covered for Wenatchee with two scoreless innings of relief. Jalen Garcia pitched the final two innings to pick up a save.

The AppleSox play River City again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. It is Fireworks Night presented by Numerica Credit Union. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m.

APPLESOX COME BACK, SWEEP SERIES WITH LATE RUNS

The AppleSox swept their first series since July 2-4, 2015, Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Evan Johnson drove in 8 of the team's 25 runs in the series.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-10) rallied from down 7-4 to beat the Port Angeles Lefties (9-16), 8-7 in the team’s first series sweep since 2015 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Thursday.

Evan Johnson drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a double to the left-center field gap. It was his WCL-leading 34th RBI of the season, and followed a walk of Jack Reisinger, pinch run first-to-third baserunning from Jordan Prendiz on a Jacob Prater single, and a Dugan Shirer sacrifice fly that tied the game at 7.

Both the tying and winning runs were scored off of Port Angeles’ Garrett Smith (0-2).

Wenatchee also scored two in the seventh to trim a 7-4 deficit. One run scored on a bases-loaded double play, and another came home on a throwing error, E2, to try and catch Jake Taylor stealing second base with two outs.

The AppleSox had the chance to score late thanks to another two hitless innings of relief from Connor Leedholm (1-0). The senior has thrown 10 relief innings this summer without allowing a hit.

He got the fina out on a game-ending 1-6-3 souble play that grazed him on the mound and was re-directed to shortstop Michael Spellacy. Leedholm’s eighth inning was a 1-2-3 frame that included back-to-back strikeouts.

Hunter Boyd ended up with a strong seven innings, despite surrendering five runs in the second inning, including a grand slam to Seth Freed.

Freed also teed off for an RBI double in the fourth. Brody Kato also drove in a run in that frame to make it 7-4, Lefties.

After the fourth, Boyd fired three scoreless innings and retired eight of the nine batters to face him. He only allowed a walk in the seventh inning, but erased it on a 6-4-3 double play that started on a glove flip from Spellacy to Prater.

Port Angeles starter Keiran Shaw (no-decision) was strong. He allowed two runs in the first to the AppleSox on a 2-RBI double for Adrian Damla. Damla also singled home a run in the third, before a Taylor RBI double that made it 5-4, Lefties.

The AppleSox were held scoreless in the middle three innings on no hits from Shaw.

Wenatchee’s sweep was the first for the AppleSox this season, and first since July 2-4, 2015 in a home series sweep over the Klamath Falls Gems. Thursday’s win also marked the fourth-straight in league play for the AppleSox. It is now the team’s longest winning streak of the season.

Wenatchee sits one game out of first place in the WCL North, with three first-half games remaining in league play.

The AppleSox are home Friday and Saturday to face the River City Athletics in non-league action. Both games start at 7:05 p.m., and Saturday night is Fireworks Night, presented by Numerica Credit Union.

APPLESOX, CHELAN COUNTY PUD, CELEBRATE JULIO CRUZ AT JUNE 29 GAME

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (13-10) VS PORT ANGELES LEFTIES (9-16)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Hunter Boyd (3-0, 2.73) vs. PA: R- Andrew Zmuda (0-1, 2.07)

WENATCHEE, Wash. – Former Seattle Mariner, Julio Cruz, will have his own day in Wenatchee, and at the Wenatchee AppleSox home game versus the Port Angeles Lefties, Thursday June 29 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Cruz, nicknamed “Juice,” and also known as “The Cruzer,” held the Mariners career record of 290 stolen bases, following his six years in a Mariners uniform (1977-83), until Ichiro broke it in 2008.

The Chelan PUD is celebrating Julio Cruz Day in Chelan County, Thursday June 29, and as a major part of the festivities, Cruz will be honored at the Wenatchee AppleSox Game against the Port Angeles Lefties. He will will be available to sign autographs for fans from 6:30-6:50 p.m., after gates open at the ballpark and will throw-out the ceremonial first pitch just before the 7:05 game.

The first 100 fans through the gates, which open at 6 p.m., will receive a mini-baseball to commemorate the event, courtesy of the Chelan County PUD.

Earlier in the day, Cruz will talk baseball with youth players from around the community and take part in the AppleSox Youth Baseball Camp from 9 a.m. – noon at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. He also will meet with the AppleSox Baseball team before their batting practice for Thursday night’s game.

Fans can visit with the PUD at the game, at the sponsor booth, located next to the guest services window and the press box. The PUD will be talking with customers about a way to steal away for up to two nights of free camping at the PUD’s Beebe Bridge Park – and other great benefits they offer. They’ll also have a special prize drawing.

City of Wenatchee council members and Mayor, as well as Chelan County commissioners have proclaimed June 29 as Julio Cruz Day in recognition of his accomplishments on the field and his continued devotion to baseball. Julio was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame on September 2004.   

APPLESOX WIN ANOTHER HOME SERIES, MOVE ONE GAME OUT OF FIRST PLACE

Cole McKenzie opened the scoring, Wednesday night with a solo home run in the third.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (13-10) came back from an early deficit to beat the Port Angeles Leftied (9-16), 9-3 for another series win at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, Wednesday.

The AppleSox improved to 4-0 in series play at home this season, after falling behind an early 2-0 deficit.

Cole McKenzie provided the spark to a 10-batter third inning, by leading off with a solo home run down the right field line to get the AppleSox within a run. The next three batters against Port Angeles starter Trayson Kubo (1-2) walked, setting up a bases loaded situation in which Adrian Damla was able to drive in the tying run with a single.

Adrian Vela produced an RBI groundout for a 3-2 lead, and then a passed ball made it 4-2 AppleSox.

Wenatchee starter Connor McCord (2-0) settled in to retire 9 of the next 11 to face him, and quieted the Lefties bats, while the offense continued to work.

The AppleSox struck for another four runs in the sixth inning off of Luke Fralely. A 2-RBI double for Evan Johnson added to his league-best RBI total, which now stands at 33 (just 15 away from the AppleSox single season record).  Vela drove in another run in the inning and Alex Gonzales added a fourth tally on an RBI groundout.

In the eighth, a Taylor Adams home run, got Port Angeles a run closer, at 8-3. It was hit off of reliever McKabe Cottrell who offered two solid innings for the AppleSox.

Wenatchee got a run back in its half of the eighth on a fly ball that was allowed to drop on the right side of the infield, due to miscommunication by the Lefties. Vela picked up a single and RBI on the play.

Cameron Kurz closed the book on game two, with an 8-pitch, 1-2-3 ninth inning. The AppleSox improved to 8-3 at home and are now just one game out of first place in the WCL North with four league games remaining on their first-half schedule.

Hunter Boyd (3-0), will start for the AppleSox on Thursday Night, Julio Cruz Night, as the AppleSox go for a sweep at 7:05 p.m. Cruz, the former Mariner, will be on hand to sign autographs in the pregame, as well as throw out the ceremonial first pitch, while the Chelan PUD and AppleSox celebrate Julio Cruz Day in Wenatchee.

APPLESOX GO FOR SIXTH FIRST-HALF SERIES WIN

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (12-10) VS PORT ANGELES LEFTIES (9-15)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: L- Connor McCord (1-0, 3.85) vs. PA: R- Trayson Kubo (1-1, 2.31)

OVER THE PLATEAU
The AppleSox are now two games above-.500 for the first time this year, after failing to get over the hump on their first four tries at a 2-above .500 record...the win came at the right time, with five games remaining in league play for Wenatchee in the first half.

MAIER THE LEADER
Collin Maier is now tied with Kade Woods (YVP), Holden Powell (BEL) and Niall Windelar (KEL) for most wins in the West Coast League...the right-hander earned his fourth last night, and has a win in each of his four starts. 

GOOD LUCK...
The WCL’s longest consecutive-hitless innings streak belongs to Connor Leedholm, who has thrown 8 hitless innings to start 2017.

ANOTHER GAME ONE
Last night the AppleSox won their seventh-straight series-opening game...the AppleSox haven’t been in a hole in a series, since their season-opening Weekend at Walla Walla, June 2...the AppleSox are 7-1 in game ones this year.

NOT GONNA CATCH HIM
With 31 RBIs, Evan Johnson is now 20 away from tying the WCL single-season record, and 17 from tying the team single-season record...the next-closest WCL hitter has driven in 19 runs.

ANOTHER TEAM RECORD DOWN
Last night, Evan Johnson became the third AppleSox hitter of the season to post a 5-RBI night...he, Alex Gonzales, and Parker Price, have become the 10th, 11th, and 12th players in team history to drive in five runs in a game.

STILL WINNING VS. NEWBIES
Last night, Wenatchee said hello to the Port Angeles Lefties for the first time in team history...Wenatchee is now 12-3 against West Coast League teams it met for the first time, after the 8-3 final last night. 

HOT VS THE NORTH
Wenatchee is 4-1 in its last five against the WCL North.

JOHNSON DRIVES IN FIVE, GARCIA HOMERS, APPLESOX WIN ANOTHER GAME ONE

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (12-10) followed an easy formula Tuesday night in an 8-3 win over the Port Angeles Leftied (9-15), as Jalen Garcia homered and Evan Johnson drove in five runs in the game-one win.

The AppleSox fell behind 1-0 in the second inning, when an error extended the frame on starter Collin Maier (4-1). An RBI double gave the Lefties their only lead.

Wenatchee recovered in the third for a four-run frame. Johnson erased the deficit with his first of two, 2-RBI doubles off of Brandon Reynolds (0-1). Garcia brought him home with a two-run home run, the opposite way to right field.

Port Angeles trimmed the Wenatchee lead with solo home runs for Mike Ciancio and Ian Nowak in the fourth, but those were the last runs the Lefties could muster off of Maier and the rest of the AppleSox staff.

Maier threw five, three-run innings for his team-leading fourth win, and was backed up by Hugh Smith for three solid innings (five strikeouts), and an eighth hitless inning of the summer by Connor Leedholm.

Wenatchee added its insurance in the fourth on a second 2-RBI double for Johnson, wjo also drove in a run with a single in the sixth and finished with a four-hit night. It was Johnson’s 10th multi-hit night of the year, and eighth multi-RBI game of the season.

With 5 RBIs, he became the third player this summer to tie the team record for RBI in a single game. Johnson also has 31 RBI, which is first in the league, ahead of the next-best hitters (19 each).

Dugan Shirer added the AppleSox eighth run on an RBI single in the seventh off of Port Angeles reliever Issac Olson. Michael Spellacy also went 3-for-3 in the game.

The AppleSox are now 7-1 in game ones this year, and have won each of their last seven. The team is also 7-3 at home in league games.

The AppleSox can win the series Wednesday night, with Connor McCord (1-0) up on the mound. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

APPLESOX CONTINUE HOMESTAND, LEFTIES IN TOWN FOR FIRST TIME

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (11-10) VS PORT ANGELES LEFTIES (9-14)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Collin Maier (3-1, 3.17) vs. -H- TBA (0-0)

TOSS THE UNIFORMS?
Kinda an awkward situation...the Wenatchee AppleSox are a combined 0-7 in their road blue uniforms and special-edition Wenatchee Chief threads this year...the good news is the AppleSox are in their Diamond-logo white uniforms tonight...the team is 3-0 in league games in those uniforms an 4-0 if you count Sunday’s non-league win.

JOHNSON & APPLESOX HR HISTORY
Evan Johnson hit his 7th home run of the season, Friday...in a season there have only been two AppleSox players hit more than 7...Taylor Sparks hit 9 in 2012 and Adam Nelubowich hit 8 in 2011...Johnson’s HR total in 21 league games, he has matched the 2000 and 2006 teams’ totals for home runs in an entire season (30 and 42 games).

PLAYOFF PICTURE
It’s time to start talking about the WCL First-Half playoff picture...below are the WCL North teams, the number of games they have remaining in league play in the first half (in parantheses) and the max number of wins they can acheive for the half if they win out...**note, Bellingham and Walla Walla play their next six league games against one another:

13-8 - Bellingham (6) - 19 wins
13-9 - Kelowna (5) - 18 wins
10-8 - Walla Walla (9) - 19 wins
11-10 - Wenatchee (6) - 17 wins
10-13 - Victoria (4) - 14 wins
9-14 - Port Angeles (4) - 13 wins

...with this info, Port Angeles has already been eliminated from first-half contention (Kelowna holds tiebreaker)...a Victoria loss or Kelowna win would already enact tie-breaking scenario for the HarbourCats...essentially, it is a four-team race between Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, and Wenatchee...the WCL follows the following tie-breaking forma in the event of a first-half tie:

1. Head to head record
2. Winning percentage within the division
3. Head to head average run differential
4. Total run differential average based on half
5. Coin flip

...best scenario for the AppleSox?...win out, and have Bellingham and Walla Walla split their six games...if Kelowna also loses two of its next five games, the standings would be:

Wenatchee (17-10) 1st-Half Champ
Bellingham (16-11)
Kelowna (16-11)
Walla Walla (16-11) (best they can possibly get to if they also sweep Gresham).

APPLESOX WIN NON-LEAGUE GAME ON STRENGTH OF ZAMORA’S BAT

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (11-10) took down the Everett Merchants 7-5, for a non-league win, Sunday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. They were led by true freshman Josh Zamora, who tied the game in the seventh with a solo home run, and provided the go-ahead RBI in the eighth on a single.

Zamora took back a 5-4 deficit from the Merchants with his first collegiate home run. It was a big blast over the left field fence. Jack Machtolf also homered earlier in the game, clearing the fence in right-center field for a 2-0 lead, after Connor McCord starting the scoring in the first with an RBI single.

The AppleSox led 3-0 after three innings thanks to an Alex Gonzales RBI double and two 4-6-3 double plays turned by Zamora and Michael Spellacy in the middle infield.

Steen Fredrickson (no-decision) got the start and offered five innings. He ended up allowing three runs in the fourth to the Merchants, who tied the game in the early going.

Wenatchee got back to work in the sixth, breaking the 3-3 score with a Cody Simmons RBI single, but Everett answered in the top of the seventh with two runs off of Jalen Garcia, who was in relief of Fredrickson.

Garcia had to exit with the bases loaded and one out. Cameron Kurz walked and hit a man for the 5-4 Everett advantage. Kurz recovered to stop the damage there, with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Zamora’s seventh inning blast tied the game at 5 and allowed Kurz to throw 2/3 of a scoreless eighth. McCord moved from first base to get the final out in the inning, and stranded runners at first and second.

After a Spellacy single and Simmons HBP to start the eighth, Jack Machtolf sacrificed them over. That’s when Zamora singled through the left side of the infield to put the AppleSox up 6-5.

In the ensuing at bat, the AppleSox called for a squeeze and Jordan Prendiz laid down a good bunt to get Wenatchee a 7-5 insurance tally.

Connor McCord pitched the ninth inning and promptly retired the first two men he faced. A double and a walk got him into momentary trouble, but an unassisted groundout to Zamora ended the game in an AppleSox victory.

Wenatchee has the day off Monday, and will face WCL opponent Port Angeles on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium with a first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

APPLESOX FACE FIRST NON-LEAGUE OPPONENT, SUNDAY

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (11-10) VS EVERETT MERCHANTS
6:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Steen Fredrickson

THE FIRST TIME SINCE...
The last time the Everett Merchants were in Wenatchee was July 8, 2014...the AppleSox lost the meeting 14-8...it was the AppleSox only loss that season in non-league play. 

FAMILIAR FACES
Current AppleSox players Evan Johnson and Adrian Vela each played for the Everett Merchants...Johnson played for the Merchants last summer, while Vela played for them in 2015...neither faced the AppleSox while a member of the Everett club...Johnson hit .385 in 33 games for the Merchants last summer...was the teams leading hitter...Vela hit .213 in Everett in 15 games in 2015.

LONG TIME AS SKIPPER
The head coach of the Everett Merchants, Harold Pyatte has served in his current role for 44 seasons...over twice as long as the AppleSox have existed!

APPLESOX IN NON-LEAGUE PLAY
All-time, Wenatchee is 111-41 in non-league play...97-34 at home...and only lost one non-league game a season ago (Alaska Goldpanners)....the AppleSox have not played away from Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium in non-league play since 2004.

EVAN JOHNSON CHASING APPLESOX HOME RUN HISTORY
Evan Johnson hit his seventh home run of the season, Friday...in an entire season there have only been two AppleSox players ever hit more than seven...Taylor Sparks hit nine in 2012 and Adam Nelubowich hit eight in 2011...so far, Johnson’s HR total in 21 league games, he has matched the 2000 and 2006 teams’ totals for home runs in an entire season (30 and 42 games).