AppleSox Win Pitching Duel 2-1

Coming off a series sweep in Port Angeles, the Wenatchee AppleSox opened their series against the Kelowna Falcons with a 2-1 win. After both teams' starters were locked in a pitcher's duel, the 'Sox managed to snag two runs off Kelowna's starter to take game one.

Wenatchee was held off the board for the majority of the game, scoring once in the third off a solo homer by All-Star Landon White, and another run in the sixth by a sacrifice fly. Seth Sumner, the man with the lowest ERA in the league, started the game for the Falcons and held the AppleSox to five hits and two runs, all while striking out five through six innings.  

The pitching performance by the ‘Sox was the highlight of the night. The 2025 All-Star Mitch Haythorn threw seven scoreless innings, allowed five hits, and punched out nine batters in his third start of the season.

The AppleSox are on a mission to prove why they’re the best team in the WCL as they look to take their 11th series win of the season against the second-ranked Kelowna Falcons.

First pitch for game two starts at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

It’s Sweep Season! The ‘Sox Take Game Three in a Dramatic Fashion

Despite battling struggles to secure series sweeps this summer, the Wenatchee AppleSox came out on top in game three, defeating the Port Angeles Lefties 5-3. The two clubs were tied for the majority of the ball game, but clutch hitting in the ninth delivered the ‘Sox their third sweep of the season.

Wenatchee took an early lead right away. In his first at bat since a hiatus due to injury, Kainoa Santiago clobbered his sixth home run of the season, putting the AppleSox up 2-0 in the first.

After the Lefties tied the ballgame in the fifth, the ‘Sox were held scoreless until the ninth. With the game tied 3-3, Santiago delivered once again with a sacrifice fly to break up the tie, guiding the AppleSox to the sweep.

Pitching for Wenatchee was immaculate in game three, walking none and surrendering only six hits between two arms. Nicho Crowley received his second win of the summer in his final game in an AppleSox uniform. The Port Orchard native tossed six innings, gave up two runs off two hits, and punched out two.

Awaiting the AppleSox at home are the Kelowna Falcons. The Falcons have been nipping at the ‘Sox’s heels all season long and are slotted three games behind Wenatchee (24-9) with a 21-12 record.

The battle between the two powerhouses begins at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee Earns Their Tenth Series Win of the Summer

For the tenth time this season, the Wenatchee AppleSox secured a series win. Following a 20-1 victory the night before, the ‘Sox continued to stay hot, defeating the Port Angeles Lefties 10-3 in game two.

The ‘Sox did an excellent job of stringing together base hits and taking advantage of mistakes by the Lefties. They tallied 14 hits on the night while capitalizing on nine walks and two Port Angeles errors.

Zach Doyle was the star of the show after going 4-4 on the night. The AppleSox’s new center fielder tallied four runs, two doubles, and worked two walks.

Wenatchee’s arms surrendered eight hits and shut out the Lefties for the majority of the game, surrendering all three of their runs in the sixth. Noah Sorensen earned his first save of the summer after tossing three scoreless innings while punching out four, three of which came in the seventh after he struck out the side.

The ‘Sox enter game three looking for a series sweep, but they have fallen short five times this summer. Wenatchee looks to fix that issue in game three, aiming to secure their third series sweep of the season on Thursday night.

The hunt for the sweep commences at 6:35 p.m. at Civic Field.

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: Blowouts, Fireworks, and All-Stars!

Week six brought the start of the second half, and the ‘Sox started it right! Two series wins, 59 combined runs, and a growing lead in the North Division capped off their first week in the second half of summer.

They began with a reprieve from the conference schedule, playing two non-league games against the DubSea Fishsticks. Wenatchee cooked DubSea to a crisp, beating them 24-2 in game one, and then 9-6 in game two.

University of Portland commit Tyler Jones joined the team for the first time in that initial DubSea game, and he got right to work. Jones was a double away from the cycle, going 5-for-6 with two RBIs and a home run.

Jones was not the only face making his AppleSox debut. Assistant coach Ian Sagdal shook off the rust and donned the ‘Sox jersey for the first time ever in game one. He took over at third base about halfway through the game, and he entertained. Sagdal recorded his first-ever hit and RBI for Wenatchee, while locking down the hot corner in the field.

While neither games counted for the stat sheet nor the standings, they were both wildly entertaining.

Now with the vibes high and the Fourth of July just around the corner, the ‘Sox welcomed the Edmonton Riverhawks to the valley for the second time this year. Game one was fireworks night at the ballpark, where the home crowd ballooned to a season-high 2,180 fans. In front of their largest crowd of the year, the ‘Sox unloaded some serious fireworks.

Wenatchee scored in five straight innings to start the game, giving them a 14-run cushion to coast their way to the win. The cherry on top was Raphael Dunne, who got his first home run and first grand slam as a ‘Sox, yanking a ball over the right field fence in the fifth inning.

On the mound, the ‘Sox locked it down. 2026 WCL All-Star Joe Thornton started the game and went four innings of one-run ball. After him, the relief staff combined for 10 strikeouts, one walk, and only one run.  

In game two, the ‘Sox did not let up. They smoked 15 hits at the plate and struck out 15 batters on the mound. Mitch Haythorn was the starting face, and mimicked exactly what Thornton did, spinning four innings with only one run.

Immediately after Haythorn, ‘Sox fans were treated to an unexpected surprise. Starting right-hander Nicho Crowley trotted out from the bullpen and made his first relief outing of the summer.

Rocking the knee-highs and stirrups for the first time, Crowley shoved in relief. He spun three scoreless frames with a whopping seven strikeouts in his wake. With that being his last appearance at Paul Thomas this year, he could not have picked a better way to say goodbye.

Now with the sweep teed up, the ‘Sox just needed one win to get their third of the season. However, the wheels fell off in game three.

The Riverhawks flipped the script on Wenatchee, doing to them what the ‘Sox had done in the previous two blowouts. Edmonton slapped 14 hits and two home runs in their 12-2 win to dodge the sweep. Meanwhile, the ‘Sox only managed five hits, walked five batters, and made five errors in the field.

While they missed the sweep, the series win does continue to grow Wenatchee’s dominance in the North. After their opening win against Port Angeles last night, they now sit at 22-9 overall, two games in front of second place.

To make the deal even sweeter, ‘Sox fans got some exciting news after the Edmonton series! Thornton, Kainoa Santiago, Clint Beck, and Landon White were all selected as WCL All-Stars for 2026.

All four have been immensely impressive thus far, and each dominates in their own side of the game. Whether that’s Thornton leading the team for punchouts, Santiago launching home runs, White climbing the stat sheet, or Beck saving the day game after game.

It truly has been an All-Star-caliber week for the ‘Sox. The second half is looking promising, and it has only just begun.

Wenatchee Pummels the Lefties to Open the Series

After a lackluster performance in game three against the Edmonton Riverhawks, the Wenatchee AppleSox bounced back and pummeled the Port Angeles Lefties 20-1 to open up the series. The ‘Sox tallied 11 hits, an astounding 16 walks, and homered twice to coast into the win. 

Wenatchee got ahead early in the second and never looked back. In two separate innings, the AppleSox would bat through their whole lineup, once in the fifth, where they tallied five runs, and the other in the seventh, all while putting six runs on the board. 

The ‘Sox recorded their fourth grand slam of the season off the bat of Ky McGary. The Phoenix native helped Wenatchee tally four out of their five runs in the second, handing them all the momentum in the ballgame. 

The AppleSox’s pitching staff coughed up seven hits and four walks in the victory, but punched out an impressive 12 batters to keep the Lefties at bay. Levi Grothen earned his second win of the summer, tossing three scoreless innings, surrendering one hit, and striking out two. 

Wenatchee continues to cement itself as the best team not only in the North Division, but the whole WCL, after the win moved their record to a league-best 22-9. 

The ‘Sox look for their 10th series win of the season Wednesday evening at 6:35 p.m. at Civic Field. 

Victoria bound! ‘Sox send four players to the All Star Game!

One Coyote and three Bulldogs. That is who the AppleSox are sending to the 2026 WCL All-Star Game this July in Victoria, and each one has played a vital role in the team’s first-place position in the North Division.

Clint Beck, Joe Thornton, Kainoa Santiago, and Landon White will each be representing Wenatchee this year. All four ‘Sox have been dazzling crowds this season, and now they will do it on the League’s biggest stage.

Whether it’s a relief arm who has saved the ‘Sox time and time again, a young outfielder who is slugging the ball, a starting lefty who has carved up batters, or a first baseman who has hit his stride, these four ‘Sox are far and away All-Star material in 2026.    

Clint Beck

With one of the best pitching staffs in the WCL, it can be hard to single out a particular culprit. However, Beck’s fingerprints are all over the ‘Sox’s league-leading 3.84 ERA.

After the first half of the year, Beck has made seven appearances out of the pen. His efficient 2.30 ERA is among the squad’s best, and his four saves lead the team. Those four rescues rank him fifth in the entire WCL, making him one of the best relief arms in the league.

Beck has fanned 12 batters thus far, while only walking three. With only 11 hits conceded, his WHIP has settled at an impressive 0.89.

No one is quite as effective as Beck out of the pen. Should the North Division get into hot water, trust Beck to save the day.

Kainoa Santiago

He may not have gotten much playing time this spring at Gonzaga, but Santiago has more than made up for it with the ‘Sox this summer. He was one of the first names to join the team at the start of the year, and has been consistently the best bat in the lineup.

The freshman leads the team for RBIs (23), walks (26), doubles (5), home runs (5), OPS (1.034), is second for hits (29), second for on-base percentage (0.483), second for slugging (0.551), and is fourth for average (0.326).

Translation: Santiago mashed the baseball in the first half. On top of that, he made just one error in the field, making him nearly flawless defensively.

You will be hard-pressed to find a flaw in Santiago’s game. A solid glove, consistent hitting, slugging, and insane discipline at the plate. As a multi-tool kid, he will no doubt be opening the toolkit when he arrives in Victoria.

Joe Thornton 

With 29 punch outs this season, Thornton is a no-brainer. The lefty from Tonasket has been dominant, and his 1.80 ERA is just the tip of the iceberg.

Thornton has allowed 17 hits in total this summer, averaging less than three per outing. Mix in just two walks per game and you see exactly why opposing teams have struggled. The Gonzaga Bulldog has a disdain for free passes and seldom coughs them up.  

His 29 strikeouts rank him seventh in the WCL and first on the ‘Sox. Plus, a 1.16 WHIP ranks him second on the team (right behind Beck). Among starting arms for Wenatchee, Thornton has given up the second-fewest earned runs.

Looking at everything, it becomes clear that Thornton is one of the best southpaws in the WCL. His ability to carve up batters, limit quality contact, and compete against the league’s best hitters all spell All-Star material.

Landon White

As the third Bulldog on this list, White is a perfect pick to round it out. His start to the year was arduous indeed, but the total production cannot be argued with.

In his first eight games, White batted 0.125 with only three hits to his name. However, after that, White went on a heater. He smacked 20 hits, five doubles, one home run, eight multi-hit games, and 11 RBIs in his next 13 starts.

His bounce-back performance now has him sitting comfortably on the ‘Sox statsheet. He is tied for first in doubles (5), second for average (0.338), third for slugging (0.456), third for OBP (0.451), fifth for hits (23), and fifth for RBIs (14).

That 0.338 average ranks White 11th overall in the WCL and shows just how consistent he has become. He may have tripped out of the gate, but he has never lost his stride. As one of Wenatchee’s best bats, there is no one better to send to Victoria.

Edmonton dodges the sweep in game three

For the fifth time this year, the ‘Sox were set up for the series sweep and just could not take care of business. After blowing out the Riverhawks the previous two nights, Wenatchee lost 12-2 in the penultimate game of the series.

The AppleSox fell victim to the very same woes that plagued Edmonton the prior two games. The ‘Sox managed only five hits, struck out seven times, and committed five errors in the field.

On top of that, the pitching staff coughed up 14 hits, five walks, and two hit-by-pitches. The AppleSox did punch out 14 batters, but that would prove to be the only bright spot of the night.

Gianluca Montanaro was the standout bat for Edmonton. He went 4-for-6 with a three-run home run early on to light the fire for the Riverhawks.

Carson Boesel got the start for Wenatchee on the mound, ending his day with four innings pitched, three earned runs, no walks, and five strikeouts. After him, Colin Fraser, Harry Pelzman, Chihiro Sato, Tate Swanson, and Joe Schuyleman attempted to stop the bleeding.​

However, they had no answer for the red-hot Riverhawks, who came into game three with a vengeance.

With the home stint concluded, the ‘Sox head on the road to play the Port Angeles Lefties. The series opens on Tuesday, July 7, with first pitch at 6:35 p.m.

‘Sox Win Big on the Fourth

The Wenatchee AppleSox won big on Independence Day, defeating the Edmonton Riverhawks 10-1 in game two. The victory gives the ‘Sox their first series win of the second half and their third series win against the Riverhawks this summer. 

Wenatchee picked up an early lead in the first and never looked back. They tallied 15 hits and took advantage of two Edmonton errors to coast into the win. 

Ky McGary was a force to be reckoned with on the basepaths and at the plate Saturday night. The Grand Canyon commit stole three bags and scored twice all while picking up two hits alongside two RBIs. 

In the second, the Riverhawks would tie it up with one run; however, the ‘Sox’s pitching staff held them scoreless for the rest of the contest to keep them out of the fight. Nicho Crowley had an incredible outing in relief, tossing three scoreless innings while surrendering two hits and striking out seven. 

The win helped the AppleSox start the second half of the season off on the right note, handing them their ninth series victory of the summer while also bringing their record to a league-best, 21-8. 

In the previous two times they’ve faced, Edmonton has avoided getting swept, but the ‘Sox are on a mission to fix that issue in game three on Sunday night. 

First pitch for game three is at 5:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. 

'Sox explode on fireworks night! They beat Edmonton 14-2 in game one!

To kick off the second half of the season, the AppleSox unleashed some fireworks on the Edmonton Riverhawks in game one. Wenatchee crushed the Riverhawks 14-2 in the opening bout, scorching 11 hits, two doubles, and one home run in the blowout.

The ‘Sox struck early and often, scoring three runs in the first, two in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, and six in the fifth. While the bats were on point, it was mainly walks and hit-by-pitches that allowed the ‘Sox to score.

Edmonton walked 12 and hit three batters, allowing Wenatchee to crowd the bases almost every inning. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, the AppleSox were near flawless on the mound.

The Wenatchee staff struck out 14 batters, allowed only seven hits, and walked just one man. Pitching was the beating heart of the win, and it allowed the offense to get to work inning after inning.

Raphael Dunne, Landon White, Ky McGary, and Kanoa Morisaki each had multi-hit games, combining for eight RBIs and making up most of the production. Dunne was your player of the game, launching a grand slam in the fifth inning and ending the night with five RBIs and two hits.

The ‘Sox snapped Edmonton’s seven-game win streak and punched them in the mouth in game one. Wenatchee has yet to lose a series to the Riverhawks this year, and they are now primed for another series win tomorrow night.

First pitch for game two is at 6:35 p.m at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

The Wait Is Over: AppleSox Fireworks Night Is Almost Here

For many Wenatchee locals, dedicated AppleSox fans, and families in the area, spending a night of Fourth of July weekend at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium watching the fireworks is a highly anticipated event. Whether attendees frequent AppleSox games all summer long or they are new to the scene entirely, fireworks night here has been known to create an energetic and unique environment as well as memories for years to come. With a beautiful view of the valley, a strong sense of community, and an exciting post-game fireworks show, baseball itself becomes only one piece of the Independence Day celebration.  

Although fans fill the stadium for the fireworks show, players often notice a difference in atmosphere at the park long before the first pitch is thrown. Returning players look forward to the tradition because of the distinct energy and excitement the crowd brings to each July 3rd game. Third year AppleSock, Joe Thornton explains, “It’s just different seeing the fans lined up all along the hillside and feeling the energy from the crowd. Theres something special about baseball around the Fourth of July. I don’t know if it’s the Sandlot or what, but it just hits different”.  When asked about his favorite personal memory of a July 3rd game, Thornton recalls a night from last season where he and fellow AppleSox pitcher, Easton Brooks, participated in the between-inning ketchup and mustard race. “I totally got to beat him,” Thornton said with a laugh. “That was fun.” Lighthearted moments like these shared between players and fans illustrate that fireworks night at the ballpark is about so much more than the game itself.  

While players get to experience the night’s festivities from the field, those behind the scenes have a one-of-a-kind perspective of what sets fireworks night apart from other games on the schedule. Applesox Public Address Announcer Avery Cooper observes the stadium from a different viewpoint, high in the press box with sweeping views of the ballpark and a strong sense of involvement in each game. Cooper expresses his excitement for the upcoming Fourth of July series in saying, “We’ve seen the Edmonton Riverhawks quite a bit and this is going to be a really good match up against them and an amazing fireworks show afterwards”. He encourages fans to come out to the game, addressing the sizable turnout in past years. “The past few times we’ve had the fireworks show, it’s been record-breaking crowds and we definitely expect to see more of that this year”. This year’s July 3 matchup adds even more excitement in that the Applesox are set to host Edmonton, a notoriously competitive team that often provides entertaining competitive games.  

This unmatched atmosphere is not only noticed by players and staff – it’s also what creates lifelong fans, forms family traditions, and keeps regulars coming back each summer. Some of those fans that have returned to Applesox fireworks nights year after year include Stephanie Embernate and her family. When asked whether she and her family were planning on attending this year’s fireworks night, Embernate commented, “Yes! We come every year and we are definitely planning on coming to this year’s game.” She also described the special feeling of energy on fireworks night, saying, “The energy is different-1000%. It’s packed, everyone is so excited and it’s just so much fun”. The Embernate family’s excitement reflects everything that has made the Applesox’s July 3 fireworks night one of the club’s most popular annual events.  

As another fireworks night approaches quickly, players, staff, and fans anticipate a night full of community, tradition, and baseball. While the main attraction remains the fireworks, the family atmosphere and ballpark traditions are what create the truly special community here at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.  

Wenatchee Wins on Wednesday

With a blow out 24-2 win the night before, the Wenatchee AppleSox continued to stay hot in game two. The ‘Sox secured a series win after defeating the Dub Sea FishSticks 9-6 on Wednesday night. 

The FishSticks surrendered 11 free passes to the ‘Sox, and they took advantage of every one. The AppleSox picked up two runs in the second, blew the game open in the third with six, and rounded out their scoring with one final run in the fifth. 

Newcomer Zach Doyle and Ky McGary both scored twice, accounting for four of the AppleSox’s nine runs. McGary had quite a game, going 2-4 with an RBI triple and scored on the same play after an error by the FishSticks.

Every arm for the ‘Sox gave up at least one run, and the five of them only combined to strike out four while walking the same amount. Tyler Schuyleman started the game, sending Dub Sea down in order in the first and second innings. However, his day was done after letting up two runs in the third.

Harry Pelzman received the win after relieving Schuyleman. The Redwood City native tossed two-and-a-third innings while striking out two, walking none, and allowing one run. 

The FishSticks chipped away at Wenatchee's lead all game, leaving eight men on base and recording 11 hits. In the ninth, Dub Sea were finally shut down with bases loaded by Levi Grothen to give the ‘Sox a series win. 

The AppleSox come back to Paul Thomas on Friday, July 3rd for their annual firework night against the Edmonton Riverhawks. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. with the firework show commencing soon after the conclusion of the game. 

'Sox crush the Fish Sticks 24-2 in game one

In their first non-league game of the season, the ‘Sox showed exactly why they are the first-place team in the North Division. Wenatchee blew out the DubSea Fish Sticks tonight, 24-2, in game one of the series.

The ‘Sox combined for 26 hits in total, tallying runs in seven of eight innings. They scored one in the first, two in the second, three in the third, three in the fourth, three in the fifth, two in the sixth, and lastly, a comical 10 in the eighth.

Throw a dart, and you’ll hit someone who had a great game for the ‘Sox. Seven members of the team had multi-hit and multi-RBI performances, including Jonah Shields, Ky McGary, Tyler Jones, Ethan Mar, Harlan Rowe, and Gage Wareham.

Jones was making his AppleSox debut and did not disappoint. The sophomore went 5-for-6 with two RBIs, a triple, a home run, and six runs scored… No, that's not a typo.

The two-way player was a double away from the cycle in his first game as an AppleSox. He truly made up a bulk of the offense for Wenatchee all night long.

Pitching was stellar as always. It was a bullpen day with the ‘Sox using eight different faces out of the pen. Joe Schuyleman, Damien Pantoya, Patrick Galvin, Tate Swanson, Chihiro Sato, Kelley Crawford, Vincent De Marco, and Colin Fraser all made cameos in that order.

The staff combined for 14 strikeouts, only eight hits, and just two runs. The Fish Sticks really had no response for the ‘Sox pitching staff, which boasts the best ERA in the WCL.

After the non-league victory, the ‘Sox will finish out the mini-series against the Fish Sticks tomorrow night. First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

Landon White wins WCL Player of the Week!

For the first time this summer, Landon White is the WCL Player of the Week. He is the second AppleSox to win the award, following Kainoa Santiago a few weeks ago.

White is the obvious pick for the league’s best player. His numbers jump off the page and show how valuable he was to the ‘Sox.

The kid from Gonzaga batted 0.545 when the dust settled, hitting three doubles, a home run, seven RBIs, drawing six walks, and posting a 1.461 OPS. White made up the bulk of the ‘Sox offense and helped them go 4-2 overall on the week.

The sophomore also crafted a six-game hit streak and on-base streak during the week, never once having a bad performance. After his red-hot streak, White’s season numbers have seen a nice little boost.

His average has spiked to 0.339, his OPS has climbed to 0.929, he has racked up a team-leading five doubles, and is now fourth on the team with 21 hits.

White joined the team late in the first half and got off to a slow start when he arrived. Now, you’d never have guessed that the first baseman batted below 0.200 in his first seven games.

The young Bulldog from California has really found a groove in the valley, and the ‘Sox can only hope his barrel stays hot in the second half.

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: The 'Sox are playoff bound!

Just like that, the first half of the 2026 season is over. Week five marks the midway point of the summer, and the ‘Sox finished it with quite a bit of flair. Their second sweep, their first series loss, and a postseason berth make up just the tip of the iceberg for this week in AppleSox baseball.  

Wenatchee spent the entire week on the road, playing Yakima Valley to start the trip and finishing against the Sweets in Walla Walla. As soon as they pulled into the Orchard, the ‘Sox made their presence known.

Kanoa Morisaki stood out in game one, slapping a double and a triple with three RBIs to help power Wenatchee to a 9-4 win. Kainoa Santiago stayed hot by launching a solo home run, his fourth of the year.

Game two swung even further in Wenatchee’s favor. The ‘Sox came from behind to win 11-5 after trailing 2-0 early on. This time it was Landon White who led the charge. The slugging first baseman crushed a solo home run and a double, culminating in four runs batted in.

With the sweep on tap, the ‘Sox did not blink. They pummeled the Pippins 16-6 in the deciding game and picked up their second sweep of the season. While it was a team affair, Joseph Coupland caught everyone’s eye. In just the second inning, Coupland hit a ball to the next county, a two-run home run to cap off his three-RBI performance.

After eight straight series wins and two sweeps, the ‘Sox felt untouchable. However, the unstoppable force found itself faced with an immovable object in Walla Walla.

The Sweets kept the ‘Sox at arm’s length in the first two nights, winning by a run in each game. Walla Walla could not have picked a better time to stunt Wenatchee’s momentum. Going into the series, the ‘Sox were just two wins away from clinching the top spot in the North Division.

However, the pair of losses proved a disappointing obstacle for Wenatchee. Lucky for them, the Bellingham Bells lost their first two games as well, leaving the door open for a clinching win in game three.

Wenatchee learned from the first two games and did not squander the opportunity. They blew out the Sweets 13-6 in the final game, crushing 17 hits, four doubles, and a home run. The pitching staff understood the assignment and struck out nine batters, with Jacob Gabler closing out the ninth for the win.

With their 19-8 record in the first half, the AppleSox are officially the top team in the North Division. They have also clinched a postseason berth, securing their spot in the playoffs come August.

The team as a whole excelled during the week. But, White’s week was in a league of its own. The kid on loan from Gonzaga won player of the week in the WCL, batting 0.545 with three doubles, a home run, seven RBIs, nine runs scored, six walks, and a 1.461 OPS.

He hit consistently, hit for power, hit in the clutch, and got on base. That is almost always a formula for a player-of-the-week-type performance.

This first half has been one of the best for the ‘Sox in years. While they did hit a snag against the Sweets at the end, their dominance can not be denied.

Wenatchee now comes home for two games of non-league play against the DubSea FishSticks on June 30 and 31. After that, they stay home to play the Edmonton Riverhawks for the third time this year.

Game one of the DubSea series begins at 6:35 p.m on Tuesday at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

'Sox beat the Sweets and win the North!

For the first time since 2024, the AppleSox are the first-half champions in the WCL North Division. They took down the Walla Walla Sweets 13-6 in game three of the series and have now punched their ticket to the postseason.

Wenatchee struck early and often, hanging four runs in the first inning off four straight hits. To complement it, they held the Sweets scoreless until the fifth inning.

The ‘Sox added two runs in the fourth, four in the sixth, one in the seventh, and two in the eighth. Basically, the ‘Sox refused to take their foot off the gas.

Raphael Dunne, Landon White, Joseph Coupland, and Cooper Brass combined for 12 hits and five RBI’s, helping spark much of the offense. Coupland crushed a two-run home run in the sixth to extend the lead, showing off the power at the plate.

The Wenatchee pitching staff clutched up throughout the night, combining for nine punchouts, six runs, and only two walks. Carson Boesel got the start but ran into some trouble after giving up five runs in the fifth.

Lefty Grayden Lucas took the reins from him and put the Sweets in a blender. He spun three innings, allowing just one run with four strikeouts and no walks.

Jacob Gabler took the mound in the ninth and slammed the door for the win. With the tie-breaker over the Bells, the ‘Sox are officially your first-half champions, and playoff-bound come August.

With the first half over, Wenatchee will welcome the DubSea Fishsticks to the valley for two games of non-league play. Game one starts at 6:35 p.m on June 30 at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium in Wenatchee.

AppleSox Clinch First Half North Division Title

The Wenatchee AppleSox are the West Coast League North First Half Champions for the second time in the two-half playoff era following their 13-6 win over the Walla Walla Sweets Sunday. 

The title gives the AppleSox their 17th playoff berth in franchise history after a 19-8 campaign in the first 27 games of the season. Their record tied the Bellingham Bells, but the ‘Sox hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bells following a two-game-to-one series win in Bellingham in early June. 

The AppleSox dominated most of the First Half, with a series record of 8-1. They earned two series sweeps, one against Kamloops in the home opening series June 5-8, and another on the road against Yakima June 23-25. 

The ‘Sox started off their season on the road in Edmonton, splitting the first two games of the season before rain forced the postponement of the series finale. Following three close games in Bellingham, and another tough series at home against Kamloops, Wenatchee dropped the first game against Springfield before finishing strong in the final two games of the opening home stand to take the series 2-1. 

Wenatchee continued their strong first half in Nanaimo, clinching the series in the first two games before dropping the closing game of the series. Wenatchee bounced back by taking three of four from Edmonton at home, and finishing their last homestand of the First Half 5-2 after taking another series from Nanaimo two games to one. 

Walla Walla handed the ‘Sox their only series loss in the First Half in the final series before the break, but Wenatchee’s win on Sunday clinched the playoffs. 

With the First Half Championship, the AppleSox clinch the #1 seed in the West Coast League North Division Playoffs. They will take on the #4 seed, who will be determined in the Second Half, in the playoffs. Wenatchee will host Game 2 and Game 3 if necessary. 

The Playoffs start Aug. 7. The AppleSox return home for a five game homestand, starting off with two exhibition games against the Dub Sea Fish Sticks Tuesday, June 30. The AppleSox continue their homestand with Fireworks Night on July 3 against the Edmonton Riverhawks. You can get your tickets now at applesox.com. 

AppleSox lose their first series of the year!

For the first time this year, the AppleSox have lost a series. With their 3-2 loss tonight, the ‘Sox have snapped their eight-series win streak and handed the Sweets a series victory.

Wenatchee could have clinched first place in the North Division tonight, considering Bellingham’s 6-2 loss to the HarbourCats, but tripped over their own shoelaces. The ‘Sox mustered only four hits, struck out six times, and left seven runners stranded.  

Pitching was the one silver lining for Wenatchee, with Mitch Haythorn tossing his first start of the season and allowing only one run through 4 ⅓ innings. Haythorn also struck out six batters, the most he’s fanned this season.

After Haythorn, Jonathan Christner took the mound. The righty from Weatherford Junior College entered the game with a fetterless 0.00 ERA; however, it would not stay that way for long. Christner coughed up two runs in his outing, his first earned runs of the summer, bumping his ERA to 1.23.

Then, it was Clint Beck who finished the night, pitching 2 ⅓ frames scoreless with one strikeout. The ‘Sox acquired their two runs from a long third inning, where Wenatchee got the bases loaded and walked home the first run. The second run was scraped across thanks to catcher's interference on Joseph Coupland.

Other than that, the ‘Sox offense was cold as ice. Only down by a run, the AppleSox needed to rally in the ninth to potentially tie the game. However, righty closer Issac Hallam struck out the side in order to end the game, sending Wenatchee to the bus not knowing what hit them.

After the pair of losses to start the series against Walla Walla, the stage is set in game three for the ‘Sox to secure first place in the North. If either the Bells lose or the ‘Sox win, then Wenatchee will clinch the top spot in the division. However, they will need to get past the Sweets first.

Game three begins tomorrow afternoon at 6:05 p.m at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla.

Wenatchee drops game one to the Sweets

With eight straight series wins locked up, the AppleSox rolled down to Walla Walla looking to win game one of the series. However, the Sweets managed to edge out Wenatchee 4-3 in the opening game.

The matchup was a pitching duel up until the fourth when Walla Walla tallied two runs off an error from Wenatchee’s James Castagnola. Starting left-hander Joe Thornton finished the day with only two runs given up, five hits, five strikeouts, and four walks through four innings pitched​.

Meanwhile, Walla Walla’s Charles Rogers III spun four innings of scoreless baseball off only two hits and three strikeouts.

Down by two, the ‘Sox were not about to go out with a whimper. They waited until the seventh to wake up the bats, when Joseph Coupland launched his second home run in as many days. His long ball sparked the rest of the offense, prompting Colin Beazizo to drive home a run off an RBI single to right field.

The Sweets snatched those back right away, when Landon Young tripled to deep left-center in the bottom of the seventh to regain the 4-2 lead. Then, freshman Kainoa Santiago climbed to the plate in the eighth and delivered an opposite-field lead-off home run to put the ‘Sox within one run.

With the stage set for the comeback, Wenatchee was 90 feet away from tying the game. The ‘Sox got runners on the corners with two outs and were down to their last strike. Santiago battled to stay alive, but inevitably watched a painted slider on the outside edge for strike three that ended the ball game.

After getting punched in the mouth in game one, the ‘Sox look to bounce back tomorrow. First pitch is 7:15 p.m at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla.

Wenatchee Picks Up Their Second Sweep

After securing the series win in game two, the Wenatchee AppleSox looked to sweep the Yakima Valley Pippins in game three, and they did just that. Wenatchee crushed the Pippins 16-6 to receive their second sweep of the season. 

The ‘Sox got ahead early in the second after a two-run blast by Joe Coupland put them up 2-0. However, Wenatchee would really blow the game open in the fourth, tallying a whopping 10 runs. The AppleSox recorded five hits while taking advantage of seven free passes and two errors to hand themselves a commanding 12-0 lead. 

Following Wenatchee’s big inning, the Pippins responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and one run in the fifth, but the AppleSox would add more insurance in the sixth after a sacrifice fly by Jonah Shield. 

The ‘Sox stayed hot in the eighth, adding on three more runs to move their lead to 16-3. As the game came to a close, Yakima Valley’s bats started to show some life, tallying two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to bring the ball game to its final score of 16-6. 

The AppleSox’s pitching staff was on point Thursday night, punching out 11 batters while only walking two. Wenatchee’s starter, Nicho Crowley, tossed five innings, giving up four hits while punching out seven and walking none. In his first game with the AppleSox, Vincent DeMarco struck out four and allowed only one hit in two-and-a-third innings of work. Derek Render closed out the ball game for the ‘Sox, surrendering only one run. 

Despite sweeping the Pippins, the ‘Sox are still tied with the Bellingham Bells for first place in the North Division. Both teams have an 18-6 record as they approach the last series of the first half. Whichever team that takes sole control of the North Division by Sunday will receive the first seed in the 2026 postseason. 

Wenatchee continues their road trip with a three game set in Walla Walla. Game one starts at 6:35 p.m. at Borleske Stadium. 

‘Sox Secure Eight Straight Series Wins

With a 11-5 victory over the Yakima Valley Pippins, the Wenatchee AppleSox secured their eighth straight series win. The ‘Sox continue their hot streak as they have yet to lose a single series this season. 

Down 2-1 going into the fifth, Wenatchee would blow the game open, putting up five runs and taking control of the ball game. A pair of RBI singles, an RBI double, and an RBI groundout would give the AppleSox a 6-2 lead. 

The Pippins responded with one run in the fifth and sixth, but a solo homer by Landon White in the seventh would give the ‘Sox all the momentum moving forward. A walk with bases loaded and a bases-clearing double by White in the eighth would close Wenatchee’s scoring for the evening. 

The Pippins tallied one run in the ninth after stringing multiple base hits together, but they were thwarted soon after, and the ‘Sox would take a 11-5 victory in game two. 

Wenatchee’s pitching staff gave up a combined 10 hits while striking out four batters and walking only three. Clint Beck received his fourth save of the season after helping the AppleSox get out of numerous jams throughout his four innings of work. 

The ‘Sox look for their second sweep of the season at 6:35 p.m. at Yakima County Stadium.