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.

APPLESOX GO FOR SERIES WIN AT LEFTIES

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (23-20) - (8-8, 2nd Half)
AT
Port Angeles Lefties - (16-28) - (6-11 2nd Half) 
6:35 pm
Civic Field
Port Angeles, Wash.

NEARING THE RECORD
Evan Johnson continues to close in on the AppleSox single-season RBI record...with his RBI double in the first inning last night, he is now 4 RBI away from breaking Mitchell Gunsolus’ 2012 mark of 48 and seven RBI away from breaking the WCL record of 51, set by Vince Fernandez of the Yakima Valley Pippins in 2015. 

KING OF THE ‘K’
Hunter Boyd leads all AppleSox pitchers with 48 strikeouts....Boyd currently is second in the WCL in strikeouts, and only trails Gresham’s Robert Reaser (55). 

SEASON SERIES ‘W’
Wenatchee guaraunteed the season series win last night...its fourth of the year...the AppleSox also beat Kelowna, Gresham, and Victoria.

LEEDHOLM’S LONG RELIEF
Last night, Connor Leedholm tossed a season-high three innings of relief...the UNC Bear wouldn’t give up the ball in the late innings, working behind starter Connor McCord...Leedholm is third in relief pitcher point standings in the WCL behind Victoria’s Travis Kuhn and Yakima Valley’s Connor White...Leedholm has 5 saves and a 4-0 record for 23 points...Tuhn has 25 points and White, 24.

RACK UP THE RUNS
When the AppleSox score four or more runs, they are 22-9 on the season...when scoring three or less, Wenatchee is just 1-10.

COOLING DOWN
Before last night, the last time the AppleSox played a game that started in the 70-degree temperature range was July 3 at Cowlitz in Longview, Wash...first pitch was 74 that day at Story Field.

APPLESOX BREAK TIE AT PORT ANGELES, GRAB GAME ONE

PORT ANGELES, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (23-20, 8-8 second half) toppled the Port Angeles Lefties (16-28, 6-11) 6-3, Tuesday night in the first of a three-game series at Civic Field at Port Angeles.

With the win, the AppleSox moved 1.5 games out of the second half playoff race in the WCL North division. Victoria lost 6-5 to Kelowna in 11 innings. Bellingham is also 1.5 games out of first.

The AppleSox struck first in the first inning on an RBI double for Evan Johnson to left-center field, following the first of three errors at shortstop by Sean Roby.

The AppleSox scored another in the third inning off of Lefties starter Cam Walker, who left after the first out in the inning with an apparent arm injury. Trayson Kubo came in for Walker, and the AppleSox plated a run on Roby’s third error.

Port Angeles answered in the third inning with an RBI double off of Connor McCord (no decision) on the Lefties’ first hit of the night. Roby hit the ball off the fence in center field to make up for one of the runs he allowed.

In the fifth, Wenatchee got another run on an RBI single for Josh Zamora. It came off of Kubo who also walked five batters and struck out eight in his 3.1 relief innings.

The Lefties promptly tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a 2-RBI double for Ian Nowak after an Austyn Tengan single and Jake Portero double.

The Lefties got just two hits the rest of the game, and were held at bay over the final three innings by Connor Leedholm (4-0), who was given the lead in the eighth by the AppleSox on an errant throw following a bunt single by Jordan Prendiz. With Jack Reisinger already aboard on a bunt, the AppleSox moved to second and third on the throw up the right field line. Then, an errant flip back to the catcher at the plate, allowed Reisinger to score from third.

Zosh Zamora then provided an RBI single, and after a Jalen Garcia bunt single, Adrian Vela drove in one more for the 6-3 lead. All three runs were scored off of Port Angeles reliever Mikey Hooper.

Wenatchee is now 8-8 in the second half and closing in on the Victoria HarbourCats. Victoria and Bellingham still play each other head-to-head and Wenatchee finishes the year with a three-game series at Bellingham.

Game two of the series is at 6:35 p.m., Wednesday night at Civic Field. Hunter Boyd will pitch for the AppleSox.

APPLESOX VISIT PORT ANGELES FOR FIRST TIME

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (22-20) - (7-8, 2nd Half)
AT
Port Angeles Lefties - (16-27) - (6-10 2nd Half) 
6:35 pm
Civic Field
Port Angeles, Wash.

LAST MEETING
The last time the AppleSox met the Port Angeles Lefties in Wenatchee, the AppleSox entered the series with an 11-10 record...the series-sweeping game was a come-from-behind win for Wenatchee, and the AppleSox erased a 7-4 deficit in the eighth on the strength of a go-ahead RBI double for Evan Johnson...on June 29 it was Johnson’s 34th RBI of the season (28 days)...in the 26 days since, he’s only driven in 10 runs...the sweep was the AppleSox first since July 2-4 of 2015.

COLD SPELL
Over the last five games, Evan Johnson has the lowest batting average of any AppleSox player with more than two at bats...he is hitting .150 over his last five games (3x20) without an RBI.

HOWLING START
Tonight’s pitching matchup features two Western Oregon Wolves...Connor McCord is making his final start of the summer with the AppleSox and will be shut down after tonight’s appearance (arm care)...McCord went 2-2 with 6 starts in 11 appearances this spring at WOU...he had a 4.37 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched...he struck out 32 and walked 14...Walker was 2-0 in 4 starts over 10 appearances...his ERA was 3.18 in 34 innings pitched...he fired 33 strikeouts to six walks...opponents only hit .226 off McCord this year, and .224 off of Walker. 

REMAINING...
2.5 games separate the likely remaining contenders in the WCL North Second Half playoff race...Victoria (0 games back), opens a three-game series tonight at Royal Athletic Park against first-half champion, Kelowna...then the HarbourCats travel to Longview to take on the South’s red-hot Cowlitz Black Bears...a home series against Bellingham and a trip to Port Angeles (two games) finished the year for the Lefties...Bellingham (also 2.5 games back), opens up tonight at home against Cowlitz...then they visit Kelowna for three games, take on Victoria in Canada for another three, and finish the season at home against the Wenatchee AppleSox at Joe Martin Field. 

APPLESOX DEFEATED IN GAME THREE, DROP SERIES TO BELLS

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-20, 7-8 second half) were defeated 9-2 by the Bellingham Bells (23-19, 7-8), Monday night in a decisive game three at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Chase Illig started the win for the Bellingham Bells with a three-run home run in the first inning. It was Illig’s third of the last two nights. The home run to center field was also his 12th of the season. With the blast, he passed Dan Mayer (2015, Medford Rogues), for the most home runs by an individual in a WCL season.

Mike Townsend (0-2) retired the Bells in order in the second, before they added two more runs in the third inning on an RBI double for Illig and an RBI single for Max Flower.

Wenatchee got one run back on two of its four hits, in the third inning. After a Michael Spellacy single, Dugan Shirer drove in Wenatchee’s first run on a single of his own.

In the fifth, Wenatchee looked to be threatening starter Tristan Garnett (no decision) for Bellingham. The AppleSox loaded the bases with no outs, but Josh Zavisubin (1-0) came in and retired the next three batters, while only allowing a sacrifice fly to Jordan Prendiz to make the score 5-2.

Bellingham scored its last four runs in the sixth, and they all came unearned after a throwing error from third base that would’ve been the final out of the inning soared over the head of the AppleSox first baseman.

With Hugh Smith on the mound, Austin Shenton delivered an RBI single, Max Flower also drove in two on a single, and a fourth run scored on a throw to first base on Shenton’s infield single.

Bellingham saw Zavisubin throw three scoreless innings, while Tanner Van Lith and Luke Manuel helped shut the door out of the bullpen.

Wenatchee got scoreless relief innings from Cameron Kurz, Michael Spellacy, and Connor Leedholm, but couldn’t come up with enough runs to erase the deficit.

The Victoria HarbourCats won Monday, so both Wenatchee and Bellingham are 2.5 games out of first place in the WCL North Second Half, with 12 games left to play in the regular season. Bellingham and Wenatchee will finish the regular season, Aug. 4-6 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham.

Wenatchee hits the road Tuesday to battle the Port Angeles Lefties at Civic Field in Port Angeles. Wenatchee swept the Lefties in three games earlier this year. First pitch Tuesday is at 6:35 p.m.

MASCOT NIGHT, APPLESOX AND BELLINGHAM FACE RUBBER MATCH GAME THREE

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (22-19) - (7-7, 2nd Half)
AT
Bellingham Bells - (22-19) - (6-8 2nd Half) 
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

WIN THE SERIES
The rubber match game-three of the series between Wenatchee and Bellingham is tonight at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium...the AppleSox are 2-2 in rubber match game threes...all four of those games were played on the road...Wenatchee won a rubber match at Victoria, June 7...lost at Bend, June 16, in 10 innings...won at Gresham, June 23, and then lost July 5 at Cowlitz.

TOWNSEND IMPROVING
After allowing six earned runs in an inning and two thirds at Gresham 6/22 in his AppleSox debut, Townsend has only allowed one earned run in each of his last two starts...both starts were against non-league teams (River City and Highline)...this will be Townsend’s first start against a league team since 6/22 at Gresham.

100th MEETING
The Bellingham Bells and Wenatchee AppleSox are meeting for the 100th time in the all-time series tonight...the AppleSox lead the all-time series 59-40. 

MOST ALLOWED
The Wenatchee AppleSox gave up four home runs last night...it was the most home runs the Wenatchee pitching staff had allowed this season.

TOUGH AT THE PLATE
The AppleSox struck out 15 times last night to the Bells...it was the highest strikeout total allowed by the AppleSox to an opposing pitching staff this season.

MASCOT NIGHTS... AND THE MASCOTS DON’T MATCH THE NAMES
The Wenatchee AppleSox mascot, Coyote, is celebrating Mascot Night tonight at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium...Coyote is not an Apple Sock, nor is the Bells’ mascot Dinger (hampster) a Bell.

APPLESOX DROP GAME TWO AS BELLS BATS EXPLODE FOR FOUR HOME RUNS

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-19, 7-7 second half) surrendered four home runs on a windy night in a 12-6 loss to the Bellingham Bells (22-19, 6-8), Sunday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Bellingham took an early 1-0 lead off of Easton Henke (0-2) on an RBi triple for Colby Barrick in the second inning.

Wenatchee responded in its half of the second with two runs, on back-to-back RBI singles from Jalen Garcia and Jack Reisinger. Zach Pettway (3-0) recovered to strand the bases loaded, although he suffered a 40 pitch inning.

The work load didn’t seem to bother Pettway much, who ended up working six innings. It was just the Bells’ fourth time this year, getting a pitcher through six frames. Pettway struck out 12 batters in the outing and allowed only two runs in that second inning.

Bellingham started its slugfest in the third inning, with the reigning West Coast League home run derby champion, Chase Illig, launching a ball over the right field fence for a two-run home run, following a walk.

After a second walk in the inning, Ryan Mendoza launched a two-run home run to right field for a 5-2 lead.

A scoreless fourth led to another two-home run inning for the Bells in the fifth. Austin Shenton, the WCL’s leading hitter, put down a bunt against the shift to reach base for Illig, who his his second home run of the game over the right field fence. The blast was his 11th of the season, which tied Jordan Qsar for the league lead. The next home run for either batter will set the WCL single-season, individual home run record.

Kyle Stowers followed Illig’s second home run, with a solo shot of his own down the right field line.

Belllingham brought home another run in the seventh off of reliever Steen Fredrickson on back-to-back doubles, including an RBI double from Austin Pinorini.

The home runs weren’t done flying, Sunday, after six and a half innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Jake Taylor hit one for the good guys. It was his third of the season, and bashed over the wall in left-center field. The two run shot made it a 9-6 game.

Three more Bellingham runs scored in the eighth, to put a bow on the game-two win for the Bells. Only one of the runs was earned, following an AppleSox error.

Game three of the series is Monday, and it’s Mascot Night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Mike Townsend will get the start for Wenatchee in the rubber match at 7:05 p.m.

APPLESOX GUNNING FOR SERIES WIN VERSUS BELLINGHAM

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (22-18) - (7-6, 2nd Half)
AT
Bellingham Bells - (21-19) - (5-8 2nd Half) 
6:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

HOW MAIER MADE HIS LIVING
Collin Maier wrapped up his 2017 season for the Wenatchee AppleSox last night, and ended up just win win shy of tying the franchise’s single-season wins record...Maier went 6-1 and now leads the WCL in victories...he finished his last two games with season-high strikeout totals, tossing six in each outing...his final pitch in the WCL was a strike to Ernie Yake...Maier got the Bellingham shortstop looking to put a cap on a 7-3 WCL career, that included a 1-2 record in two years as a temporary player for the Bells in 2015 and 2016. 

THANKS, GRESHAM
Last night, the AppleSox were looking at a dream scenario into the ninth inning in Gresham, Ore...with the Bellingham win in hand, all other WCL North teams were set to lose...then the first-place Victoria HarbourCats erased an 8-run deficit in the ninth inning at Gresham and went on to win 14-12 in 10 innings at Oslund Field...Victoria remains a game and a half in front of Wenatchee in the standings.

PRENDIZ FOR PREZ
Jordan Prendiz hit just .133 in June with two hits, none for extra bases, and no RBI...in July, he’s been scorching hot, with the team’s second-best average for the month at .364 (Prater, .392)...Prendiz has 12 hits in July including a 2B, 3B, HR, and 7 RBI...don’t forget about his 3-RBI double a night ago in the nine-run seventh!

DEFENSE WORKIN’
The AppleSox defense got the message after committing 10 errors in three games at Yakima Valley...last night, Wenatchee was error-free and is now 9-1 when not committing an error this year. 

COMING BACK FOR MORE
Wenatchee did trail 1-0 at one point last night...the AppleSox pulled off their 10th comeback win of the season a night ago...Wenatchee is 7-11 when scoring second this season.

APPLESOX RING BELLS IN GAME ONE, RIDE COLLIN MAIER TO VICTORY IN HIS FINAL OUTING

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-18, 7-6 second half) would not let Collin Maier’s final start of 2017 go to waste, as they rolled to a 12-5 win over the Bellingham Bells (21-19, 5-8), Saturday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Maier’s summer has been capped at nine outings, so that he can get adequate rest for his upcoming season at Washington State. The right-hander finished with a 6-1 record on the year, and went 7-3 in three seasons in the West Coast League. Maier was one-win shy of tying the AppleSox single-season wins record.

Pitching against his former team (temporary contracts in 2015 and 2016), Maier delivered a stout seven innings, and struck out six batters, which matched his season high.

After he was hit for a triple and an RBI single in the first inning, the AppleSox got him a big cushion in the second inning, delivering a nine-run frame, in which 13 batters came to the plate against Holden Powell.

The inning started when Jake Taylor was hit by a pitch. Josh Zamora singled and Adrian Vela walked to load the bases for Connor McCord. The sophomore delivered a 2-RBI double and the AppleSox cashed in on two wild pitches and a passed ball.

Up 4-1, Matt Reitano singled home a run, and Zamora, at the plate for a second time, drew a bases-loaded walk. Jordan Prendiz capped the scoring with a 3-RBI double with the bases loaded to put Wenatchee up 9-1.

In the fifth, the AppleSox added two more off of reliever Cooper Misic, on a 2-RBI double for Dugan Shirer.

One more run scored in the sixth for Wenatchee off of Zach Grech. Adrian Vela drove it home on an RBI single.

In the eighth, Michael Spellacy threw a scoreless frame behind Collin Maier. Tommy Watanabe was inserted in the ninth inning, coming off a five-week back injury. The righty struggled to find his groove and gave up three runs, but the AppleSox still took the win on a game-ending punchout, 12-5.

Game two of the series is Sunday at 6:05 p.m. It is another Spaghetti Sunday when gates open at 5 p.m.! Easton Henke (0-1) will be on the mound for the AppleSox.

APPLESOX OPEN THREE-GAME SERIES WITH BELLINGHAM BELLS

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (21-18) - (6-6, 2nd Half)
AT
Bellingham Bells - (21-18) - (5-7 2nd Half) 
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

DOMINATING THE NORTH
The AppleSox are 13-5 versus the WCL North Division this season and have won 13 of the last 15 meetings against North teams...Wenatchee hasn’t lost a series to a north team since the season-opening sweep at Walla Walla. 

ALL GOOD THINGS...
We hate to continue the statement, but yes, all good things do come to an end...tonight, Collin Maier is making his final 2017 start for the Wenatchee AppleSox...with fall ball looming for WSU Baseball (late August), Maier will be shut down for rest after tonight’s start...he is currently tied with Yakima’s Taylor Dollard and Gresham’s Andrew Hansen with five wins, for the WCL lead.

GAME-NOTE JINX
In 16 tries, the AppleSox out-hit their opponents for wins in 2017 (16-0)...in the last two games, Wenatchee has out-hit its opponent and lost...two nights back Wenatchee held Yakima Valley to an opponent-low four hits, and last night, the AppleSox out-hit the Pippins 9-7.

OFFENSE OUT OF A RUT
After the fourth inning last night, the AppleSox team batting average for the series against the Yakima Valley Pippins dropped below .200...that was the team’s worst batting average against any WCL opponent this season, in more than one game played...the AppleSox recovered to get the offense momentum into the series with Bellingham...Wenatchee finished 9x24 the rest of the game (.375 average) with five unanswered runs.

NOT GONE, AND NOW FORGOTTEN
The AppleSox are looking to flush the memories of a series with Yakima Valley in which the team couldn’t muster a single home run at County Stadium...the AppleSox have only gone homerless in two series this year...both of those series were against the Yakima Valley Pippins...Wenatcheee has hit a team-record 27 home runs on the season.

APPLESOX CAN’T COMPLETE COMEBACK BID, SWEPT BY PIPPINS

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-18, 6-6 second half) were swept by the Yakima Valley Pippins (20-19, 7-5), after nearly coming back from an early 6-0 deficit in a 6-5 final, Friday night at County Stadium.

The AppleSox bats were off to a cold start in the game, and Wenatchee was unable to work a hit off of Josh Tedeschi (2-3) in the first four innings of the contest.

Meanwhile, the Pippins struck for three runs in the first inning off of McKabe Cottrell (0-2) on a 2-RBI double for Daniel Cope and a throwing error, E9 that scored a third run for Yakima Valley.

The Pippins added another three in the third inning to complete their scoring, on a bases-loaded 2-RBI double by Mitch Ellis. He was caught trying to move to third base on a throw to the plate to end the inning.

The AppleSox defense committed four errors in the game, but Cottrell settled down to hold the Pippins to just one hit over the next three inning, to complete a resectable six-inning outing.

He gave his offense a shot, which fought back for two runs in the fifth inning, after Jack Machtolf got the team its first hit with a steamed double over the Pippins’ left fielder. Jack Reisinger and Jacob Prater each drove in runs with RBI singles.

In the sixth, off of reliever Liam Herlihy, Wenatchee added another two runs, after an error and a Jalen Garcia single. This time Michael Spellacy drove in one on an RBI single, and Reisinger drove in his second in as many innings, to cut the deficit to two.

In the seventh, Wenatchee tallied one more run of of Herlihy, after a leadoff single for Prater. A wild pitch and a groundout got him into position to score on a Jake Taylor single.

Wenatchee struggled to get the offense going in the eighth and ninth innings against Pippin closer Connor White, who retired six of the seven batters he faced. He only allowed a one-out walk in the ninth to Evan Johnson.

White earned the save (7) to tie Travis Kuhn (Victoria) for the most in the West Coast League.

Hugh Smith was also dominant in the seventh and the eighth innings for the AppleSox. He surrendered just one hit and walked a man over the two frames.

The Victoria HarbourCats lost Friday night at Bellingham, so the AppleSox remain 1.5 games out of first place in the WCL North Second Half, and are a game ahead of the Bellingham Bells, who come to Wenatchee Saturday to start a three-game series with the AppleSox at 7:05 p.m.

APPLESOX AIMING TO SALVAGE GAME THREE AT COUNTY STADIUM, YAKIMA

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (21-17) - (6-5, 2nd Half)
AT
YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS - (19-19) - (6-5 2nd Half) 
7:05 pm
County Stadium
Yakima, Wash.

CLOSE AT COUNTY
The average winning margin in the last five games at County Stadium in the meetings between the AppleSox and Pippins is 1.8 runs...the winning team also has scored no more than five runs in those contests, and they have been played in an average of 2 hours and 13 minutes each.

LEAVING THE YARD
This season, the Yakima Valley Pippins are the only team the AppleSox have played and not homered off of (have not yet played Bellingham and Corvallis)...in five games, including a 25-8 win, the AppleSox have not hit a home run off of a Pippins pitcher...Wenatchee has clubbed 27 home runs this year, a new team single-season record, and 14 different AppleSox have hit at least one.

NORTH/SOUTH
The AppleSox are struggling against the South Division this season, with an 8-12 record...the AppleSox are tremendous inside their division, racking up a 13-5 record...the North appears to be the stronger division also, with four of the top six composite records for the entire season.

SEEKING REDEMPTION
McKabe Cottrell is back to pitch at County Stadium for the first time since the Freeman Scotties were eliminated from the WIAA 1A State Baseball Championships in the semifinal round by Cedar Park Christian...the Scotties committed five errors in the game...in two other semifinal games at County Stadium during Cottrell’s time at Freeman, the Scotties scored just one run...Freeman HS ended up winning third at the Tournament, by defeating Cashmere 5-3.

IN THIS SPOT LAST SEASON
Last year, down 2-0 at County Stadium, the AppleSox shut out the Pippins 3-0 to salvage a game in the series...it was the final game for the AppleSox before the All Star Break...if Wenatchee could match the effort tonight, it would be the team’s second shutout win of the season.

APPLESOX FALL IN GAME TWO, DROP SERIES AT YAKIMA IN PITCHERS’ DUEL

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-17, 6-5 second half) lost 5-2 against the Yakima Valley Pippins (19-19, 6-5), and the Pippins took the quick pitchers’ duel Thursday night at County Stadium.

Like game one, both starting pitchers were in their element. A hiccup in the second for Connor McCord (3-2) resulted in the first two runs of the game scoring for the Yakima Valley Pippins. Yakima Valley loaded the bases with no outs, including an infield bunt on a sacrifice try, that resulted in a single.

Dustin Yates drove in the first run on a sac fly, and a throwing error by McCord on a pickoff attempt brought home the second of the inning. Still, McCord got out of the frame with just a 2-0 deficit.

McCord threw 1-2-3 innings in the first, third, and fourth innings. Wenatchee got its first run in the top of the sith inning, on an RBI groundout for Jake Taylor after a single for Jacob Prater and a double for Evan Johnson. Prater went 3-for-5 and Johnson was 2-for-4 on the night.

Yakima Valley extended its lead off of McCord in the sixth, on a night when only two of his five runs came earned. McCrod gave up a two-out RBI double and single to Lucas Denney and Steve Sordahl. The fifth run off of him was in the seventh, on an RBI single for Dillon Plew. It was Plew’s third RBI of the series.

Pippin starter AJ Landis (2-3) was tough to get to for Wenatchee. They could only muster the one run off of him, and he departed after 6 2/3 innings.

Reliever Pete Minella got the save (1), allowing one run over the final 2 1/3 innings. Adrian Vela delivered on a bloop RBI single down the right-field line to give cut the Pippins deficit to three.

After Cameron Kurz struck out the side in the eight, the AppleSox couldn’t claw back in the ninth. Jordan Prendiz was hit by a pitch, but left aboard, and Yakima Valley took the 2-0 lead in the series.

Game three is Friday night at County Stadium. Left-hander, McKabe Cottrell (0-1) will get the start for the Wenatchee AppleSox at 7:05 p.m.

APPLESOX CARRYING LATE MOMENTUM FROM LAST NIGHT TO GAME TWO

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (21-16) - (6-4, 2nd Half)
AT
YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS - (18-19) - (5-5 2nd Half) 
7:05 pm
County Stadium
Yakima, Wash.

EFFICIENCY AT ITS FINEST
Michael Spellacy holds the Wenatchee AppleSox longest hittting streak at nine games...he also has hit safely in 15-of-16 games this summer for the AppleSox...the 2017 Puyallup High School graduate is one of four true freshmen on the 2017 AppleSox roster and has also pitched in seven games this year with a 1-0 record and a 3.72 ERA.

FAST WORK ON THE ORCHARD
At County Stadium (nicknamed the Orchard), the AppleSox have played the last four meetings with the Pippins in an average of two hours and 13 minutes each...last night’s game totaled two hours and 28 minutes.

PIPPINS RECENT SUCCESS
Currently the AppleSox series with the Yakima Valley Pippins is tilted the Pippins’ direction...Yakima Valley has won 7 of the last 10 meetings between the two teams...Wenatchee started with a 6-1 lead in the all-time series and now trails 16-12.

MCCORD MAKING HIS MARK
Connor McCord’s last start was against the Cowlitz Black Bears at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, July 13...he went seven innings and only gave up three hits, but was tabbed with a no-decision...the seven innings marked the longest start of the season for the sophomore left-hander.

JUST OUT-HIT ‘EM
The Wenatchee AppleSox are 16-0 this year when out-hitting their opponnent...the AppleSox were stifled last night in the first five innings, and only collected two hits off of Taylor Dollard.

APPLESOX TRY FOR LATE COMEBACK, FALL JUST SHORT IN GAME ONE AT YAKIMA

YAKIMA, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-16, 6-4 second half) dropped game one 5-4 at the Yakima Valley Pippins (18-19, 5-5), despite mounting a late ninth-inning rally, Wednesday night at County Stadium.

Both starting pitchers worked quickly in the series-opener. Taylor Dollard (5-0) lasted 6.2 innings, for his longest outing of the season. With his victory, he also tied AppleSox starter Collin Maier for most wins in the WCL.

Dollard gave up no runs in the first five innings on just two AppleSox hits. Boyd (3-2) was also mostly dominant for the AppleSox, but did allow two home runs. The first, in the second inning, was a 2-run shot for Dustin Yates. The second, in the third inning, was a leadoff solo home run for Lucas Denney.

Wenatchee plated two unearned off of Dollard in the sixth inning, on an error at shortstop, following a Jacob Prater hit by pitch and Evan Johnson double.

Michael Spellacy pitched two innings of relief, and after a 1-2-3 seventh, he gave up two runs in the eighth on a pinch-hit 2-RBI single for Dillon Plew. The hit gave Yakima Valley a 5-2 lead.

The insurance runs proved pivotal in the ninth, when William Adair was trying to nail down his first save of the season.

After retiring six-straight out of the bullpen, including the leadoff man in the ninth, The AppleSox used a walk of Jalen Garcia and a single for Adrian Damla to put two aboard. A fly ball for the second out moved Garcia to third base.

Jack Reisinger and Spellacy each followed with clutch 2-out singles to cut the deficit to one at 5-4, and put the tying run (pinch runner, Jordan Prendiz) at third base.

Dugan Shirer popped out to second base, and Yakima Valley was just able to hold on for the 5-4 win.

Wenatchee plays game two at Yakima Valley, Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at County Stadium, and Connor McCord will get the start for Wenatchee.

APPLESOX OPEN 12-STRAIGHT LEAGUE GAMES, FIRST VISIT YAKIMA

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (21-15) - (6-3, 2nd Half)
AT
YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS - (17-19) - (4-5 2nd Half) 
7:05 pm
County Stadium
Yakima, Wash.

CENTURY MARK
AppleSox head coach Kyle Krustangel is back in Yakima, where he coaches during the collegiate season at Yakima Valley College...Krustangel has won 67 games at YVC and another 33 with the U19 Senior Legion Yakima Beetles, who he coached last summer...in total Coach Krustangel has 100 coaching victories in the Palm Springs of Washington, in three baseball seasons...every team he has coached for that has won at least one game in Yakima has made their respective postseason. 

LAST TIME HERE
The last time tonight’s starting pitcher Hunter Boyd, Head Coach Kyle Krustangel, and Assistant Coach Cash Ulrich stepped foot on County Stadium turf, they were guests of honor...the Yakima Valley Pippins invited them to honor Yakima Valley College’s 2016 NWAC Championship at the Pippin’s 2016 Home-Opening Night...the game, June 6, 2016, went to the Pippins who were hosting the Bend Elks...Yakima Valley won 3-1.

THROWING SMOKE
Hunter Boyd has struck out the third-most batters in the WCL this season...with 45 K’s, he is three away from the league lead (48)...he threw four innings of two-run six hit ball in the winning effort over the Yakima Valley Pippins, 25-8, back on June 12...it was the first of 3-consecutive wins for Boyd.

REMEMBER THE TIME
The Yakima Valley Pippins certainly don’t want the flashback, but the AppleSox had a ton of fun back on June 12 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium...after falling behind 6-0 in the top of the first, the AppleSox went on to score 25 of the games next 27 runs, en route to a league-record 25-run game...Wenatchee set the following team records in the unbelievable win...previous mark in parantheses...Runs 25 (Kelowna, 22, 2013)...RBI 21 (Everett, 19, 2004)...Hits 26 (Kelowna, 24, 2006 and 2013)...singles 22 (Kelowna, 21, 2013)...combined runs 33 (Kelowna, 32, 2013)...winning margin 17 (Spokane, 14, 2005)...runs in an inning 12 (Everett, 2000 and Kelowna, 9, 2012)

APPLESOX STUNNED LATE, DROP NON-LEAGUE CONTEST WITH HIGHLINE

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-15, 6-3 second half) fell 8-5 in a non-league contest to the Highline Bears, Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. A lucky fan did win a Hawaiian vacation package for two, in a postgame contest.

The AppleSox took a lead in the pitcher’s duel in the fourth inning on a leadoff solo home run in the inning for Jalen Garcia. It was Garcia’s first non-league home run, to go along with two league blasts.

Highline tied the game in the fifth inning on an RBI single for Chase Hodkinson, following an AppleSox error.

Mike Townsend (no decision) and Daniel Peugh (no decision) were each effective in their starts. Peugh allowed only the home run in five innings, and Townsend gave up only one run through six frames.

Wenatchee grabbed Townsend a 4-run lead in the sixth on a fielder’s choice RBI and a bases-clearing 3-RBI triple for Jacob Prater to center field off of Karl Stahlfeld.

In Townsend’s seventh inning of work, Highline scored four runs, stemming from a double, error at second base, and RBI single for Johnny Sage. After Townsend hit a batter, Wenatchee turned to Easton Henke out of the bullpen and he was able to limit the damage to three runs, on just one more RBI single for Matt Stuart.

Highline mounted it’s big inning in the eighth, to overcome a 5-4 deficit and claim the 8-5 lead. The Bears strung together four hits, around a walk, including two doubles. Cole Chambers delivered a 2-RBI single to put Highline ahead for good.

Cameron Kurz threw a scoreless, 1-2-3 eighth inning for the AppleSox.

The Bears shut down Wenatchee in the eighth and ninth innings with Stahlfeld and Cole Connolly. Connolly allowed the first two men of the ninth aboard, but erased them with a 5-4-3 double play. A sliding feet-first catch in center field by Johnny Sage wrapped up the win for the Bears.

HAWAIIAN NIGHT, TUESDAY, AND APPLESOX WELCOME HIGHLINE BEARS

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (21-15) - (6-3, 2nd Half) - 3-0 WCL Non-League
VS
HIGHLINE BEARS - 0-1 WCL Non-League
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.

The Wenatchee AppleSox, Journey Travel and Tours, and Sunny FM will celebrate Hawaiian Night, Tuesday, July 18, and a lucky fan will take home a dream Hawaiian vacation package, including airfare, hotel, rental car, and a snorkeling and Catamaran tour. First pitch versus the Highline Bears is at 7:05 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The package, provided by Journey Travel and Tours, is to the big island of Hawaii. The roundtrip airfare, sets the contest winner and one guest up for FIVE nights at the beautiful Mauna Lani Point resort. While on the trip, they will enjoy driving around in a convertible rental car and also be taken on a Catamaran snorkel tour.

Fans can expect in-between inning live Hula performances, produced by Momi Palmieri, a Windermere Real Estate Broker and Hula instructor, and each inning a ticket will be drawn to enter fans, 18 and older, into a postgame contest for a chance to win the inclusive vacation to Hawaii.

The final postgame competition will be hosted by Sunny FM’s Dave in the Morning on the field, after the final out of the non-league contest.

Fans must be present for the chance to win. Rules and regulations will be explained in detail at the game.