Wenatchee wins in a nailbiter

On a hot and smoky day in Kamloops, the AppleSox just barely beat the NorthPaws by the skin of their teeth. The ‘Sox led 6-2 going into the ninth, and nearly coughed up the lead. However, they still managed to hold on and snuck out the 6-5 win in game one.

Kamloops struck first in the outing, scoring in the first and third innings. Down by a pair of runs in the fourth inning, the ‘Sox managed to load the bases. Then, Bryce Hampton came to the plate.

The ‘Sox shortstop absolutely pulverized a ball into deep left field and single-handedly gave Wenatchee the lead with a grand slam. The swing was Hampton’s first slam as a ‘Sox and his first home run with the team as well.

After that, the ‘Sox sprinkled on some insurance in the sixth and eighth innings just to be safe.

The real headline of the evening was a historic outing from Wenatchee’s starting arm Mitch Haythorn. The kid from Colorado struck out seven batters, giving him 100 career strikeouts on the dot. This puts him in a tight club of four AppleSox pitchers to ever record 100+ punch outs.

After him, it was Chihiro Sato who spun two innings of scoreless relief. Then, the ‘Sox handed it to Noah Sorensen to close out the ballgame. With a four-run lead and the NorthPaws down to their last three outs, it seems like an easy task, right? Think again.

Sorensen gave up two walks, two hits, and two hit-by-pitches in the final frame to load the bases and inevitably score three runs for the NorthPaws. However, he still managed to bear his teeth when he struck out the last batter to finally end the game.

It may not have been the prettiest win, but it’s still a win in the books. The ‘Sox are now set up for the series win tomorrow night in game two of the set. First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m at Norbrock Stadium in Kamloops.

'Sox sweep the Falcons aside in game three

For the fifth time this year, the AppleSox broke out the brooms. With their 9-3 win over the Falcons tonight, they put the cherry on top of their 14th series win of the season.

The ‘Sox scored all nine of their runs in the first three innings, and then coasted their way to the ninth. It was abysmal pitching for the Falcons that handed Wenatchee all of their runs, with Kelowna’s starting pitcher Jacob Beaudoin walking six runners and allowing six runs to score in the first two innings.

After him, Josh Butters coughed up three runs off two hits and three walks. With a 9-1 lead, the ‘Sox just needed to fend off the Falcons for the remaining seven innings.

Colin Fraser was making his first start of the summer for Wenatchee on the mound, and he did not disappoint. He spun six innings of three-run baseball, striking out four batters while allowing six hits.

After him, Levi Grothen took over in the seventh and shut down the Falcons. He allowed no runs off three hits and struck out five batters to close out the game.

Four AppleSox batters recorded multi-hit games, with Ryder Young and James Castagnola smacking multi-RBI games. It was truly an ensemble cast that made up the Wenatchee offense in the sweep decider.

Now, the ‘Sox head north to play the Kamloops NorthPaws to end the road trip. Game one begins tomorrow at 6:35 p.m at NorBrock Stadium in Kamloops.

Wenatchee wins their 14th series of the year!

14 series wins. That’s what the ‘Sox locked up last night with their 8-4 win over the Kelowna Falcons on the road. The game was tied up 4-4 in the ninth inning, and Wenatchee pulled off some late-game magic to steal the win from Kelowna.

The Falcons struck first in the opening frame, capitalizing on numerous errors for the ‘Sox. However, Wenatchee was able to tie it up with an RBI-walk from Kanoa Morisaki in the proceeding frame.

The ‘Sox and Falcons then exchanged blows for the next four innings, inevitably tying the game at four runs going into the ninth. Wenatchee loaded the bases in the final inning, and then scored in the most bizarre way possible. Aidan Lopez popped a ball straight into the air right above home plate. However, the Falcons’ infield was unable to make a catch, and it dropped right in front of the plate, resulting in the go-ahead run scoring.

Immediately after that, James Castagnola teed up a pitch to deep right-center field and cleared the bases with a three-run RBI double.

Now with an 8-4 lead, the ‘Sox slammed the door on the Falcons. Joe Schuyleman pitched in the ninth and sat down the side in order to confirm the win.

Derek Render was the starting arm for the ‘Sox, and he spun an impressive outing. He went six innings, allowing just three hits and only one earned run. After him, Schuyleman pitched the remaining three innings and put the Falcons to bed. He allowed no runs off no hits and struck out the last batter to end the game.

Now with 14 series wins on the season, the ‘Sox are set up for their fifth series sweep in game three against Kelowna. First pitch for the sweep decider is 6:35 p.m tomorrow night at Elks Stadium in Kelowna.

'Sox bounce back against the Falcons

After losing the series to Bellingham just a few days prior, the ‘Sox bounced back brilliantly against Kelowna. They shot down the Falcons 10-2 in game one and set themselves up for the series win in game two.

The game began as a staring contest, with both teams trading scoreless frames. However, the ‘Sox broke it open in the third with four runs off a frenzy of hits.

Then, it was Noah Fields who crushed a two-run home run in the fourth inning to add some more insurance for the ‘Sox. Wenatchee then tacked on one in the sixth and three in the seventh to put the game further out of reach.

Harry Pelzman was the starting arm for the ‘Sox, and while he did get into some hot water, he still posted a phenomenal outing. The lefty spun 5 ⅔ innings of two-run baseball while striking out eight batters in total.

After him, it was Chihiro Sato who carried the team the rest of the way, throwing 3 ⅓ scoreless frames with no hits and three strikeouts.

Minus a hiccup in the fifth and sixth, Wenatchee kept the Kelowna bats in check all evening and brought the boom when it mattered most at the plate.

The ‘Sox now have the series win on tap in game two against the Falcons. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m tomorrow at Elks Stadium in Kelowna.

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: Sweeps, Walkoffs, and a Series Loss

Week nine was about as up and down as it gets for Wenatchee. They went from a sweep over the Lefties to a series loss to the Bellingham Bells. Whether it was barely edging out the Lefties in a pair of games, falling short of a comeback against the Bells, or getting blown out by them, this week in AppleSox baseball was an eventful one.

The six-game home stand began with Port Angeles on Tuesday. The ‘Sox took care of the Lefties, shutting them out 2-0 in the opening game. Clint Beck picked up his fifth save of the season, tossing the final three innings and striking out five batters while allowing no hits.

Game two was far closer than it had a right to be. The Lefties were able to tie up the ‘Sox 4-4 heading into extra innings, and began to make them sweat. But, it was Kanoa Morisaki who was the hero and got the walk-off single in the 11th to end the game.

The sweep decider was much more on brand for the ‘Sox. It was kicked off by Aidan Lopez destroying a three-run home run over the right fence in the very first inning. The ball carried 413 feet and gave the ‘Sox an early lead.

Wenatchee tacked on an insurance run later in the evening and then rode a four-inning relief outing from Derek Render across the finish line. The win secured the fourth sweep of the season for the ‘Sox. It also locked up five straight series wins to start the second half.

After that, Wenatchee welcomed their North Division rivals to the valley. In game one against Bellingham, the ‘Sox came out hot. They kept the Bells at arm's length in the 10-5 win, where Mitch Haythorn got the start and struck out eight batters through 5 ⅔. In total, the pitching staff punched out 12 Bells in the first game, setting the stage for a series win on Saturday.

However, the ‘Sox tripped at the finish line. Game two was a nail-biter, with both teams taking turns putting up big innings to trade the lead back and forth. It was a flurry of errors for the ‘Sox that really cost them, leaving their pitchers out to dry.

The ‘Sox were trailing 11-9 going into the bottom of the ninth, and it was Ryder Young who breathed life into the team. The Gonzaga Bulldog smacked an opposite-field solo home run to put the ‘Sox within one, but it was not enough to beat the Bells. They won 11-10 and forced a rubber match in game three.

It all came down to Sunday. While the series decider started as a boxing match, the final score would not reflect that. The error bug struck again, paired with nine walks from the pitching staff and 15 hits from the Bells. The ‘Sox had no answer for their rivals in the final game, losing 18-5 in blowout fashion.  

The series loss is just Weantchee’s second of the year, and snapped their five-series win streak. Now, they head on the road for six games up north of the border. They’ll start with three against Kelowna, and then head further north to play against the Kamloops NorthPaws on the last leg of the trip.

Game one of the road trip will be at 6:35 p.m on Tuesday, July 28 at Elks Stadium in Kelowna.

Wenatchee loses their second series of the season

In the series decider, the AppleSox crumbled against the Bellingham Bells. The game started as a boxing match, but the Bells pulled away in the late stages, crushing the ‘Sox 18-5 in the final game.

Bellingham was slow and steady all game long, scoring in eight of nine innings. The ‘Sox were neck-and-neck with them, only trailing by a run going into the seventh inning.

It was in that seventh inning where the Bells broke it open, scoring five runs to extend their lead. If that wasn’t enough, they tacked on seven runs in the eighth, putting the game even further out of reach.

Sprinkle on an insurance run in the ninth, and the ‘Sox had no chance to catch Bellingham, who led by 13 runs. The story of the evening was five errors by the ‘Sox, putting stress on their pitching staff, which was forced to toss seven different pitchers.

Vincent DeMarco got the start but only spun 2 ⅔ innings, allowing two earned runs. After him, it was Miles Ducharme, Tate Swanson, Tyler Schuyleman, Luke Patterson, Damien Pantoya, and finally Kanoa Morisaki who took the mound. The six relievers combined for 12 hits, 15 runs, and six walks.  

To make matters worse, the ‘Sox only tallied six hits to Bellingham’s 15. Whether it was hitting, pitching, or even fielding, the ‘Sox were beaten by the Bells.

Wenatchee will look to bounce back when they head on the road for three games against Kelowna north of the border. Game one is at 6:35 p.m PST on Tuesday, July 28 at Elks Stadium.

The 'Sox Drop Game Two

After picking up a win the night before, the Wenatchee AppleSox looked to snatch their 14th series win from the hands of the Bellingham Bells, but they couldn’t get the job done, falling 11-10 in game two. The ‘Sox fell apart at the plate and in the field, striking out 15 times and coughing up five errors. 

Despite struggling at the plate for the majority of the game, Wenatchee’s bats exploded in the first to take an early 7-0 lead. They excelled in plate discipline and strung multiple base hits together to bring their runs across. With the big inning, the ‘Sox seemed to be on track for another series win, but that would soon change. 

After two quick outs in the third, an error by Raphael Dunne put a man on, and it all fell to pieces after that. Wenatchee tallied two more errors to hand the Bells a whopping six runs, nipping all the momentum the AppleSox had in the bud. 

The ‘Sox managed to pick up one run in the fourth off a Bellingham error, but after the first inning, their bats cooled down immensely. Unfortunately for the AppleSox, the Bells continued to strike, tagging three more runs in the sixth after another error. 

Wenatchee came across an additional run in the eighth to tie the ballgame up 9-9. However, the Bells brought home two more runs in the ninth to once again take control. But in the bottom frame of the inning, the ‘Sox found a glimmer of hope after Ryder Young put them down by one after a solo homer, but two quick strikeouts closed out the ballgame. 

Sean McGrath took the mound first for the AppleSox and tossed four innings while surrendering six runs, although none of them were earned. Soon after, Joe Schuyleman gave up another run, but did punch out three. Unfortunately for the Wenatchee native, it wasn’t enough, and he was charged with the loss. 

The ‘Sox look to bounce back in game three and secure the series win on Sunday night. The two North Division rivals face off at 5:35 p.m. 

Wenatchee beats the Bells in game one!

Riding the high of a series sweep, the ‘Sox took care of the Bellingham Bells, winning 10-5 in game one. Wenatchee out-hit their North Division rival and struck out 12 batters in their wake.

The game was blown open in the third inning, when the ‘Sox put up seven runs off five hits and one error. Landon White, Ryder Young, James Castagnola, and Akanni Owodunni got on the hit train, each scorching RBI-singles to put the ‘Sox up big time.

However, the Bells refused to go quietly. They tallied three runs in the fifth when Matt Churchill lined a bases-clearing triple into deep right field to dig into the ‘Sox lead.

After that, the game coasted its way to the eighth, where Wenatchee tacked on two runs of insurance thanks to a Raphael Dunne RBI-single and a Noah Fields RBI-fielder’s choice.

With the stage set in the top of the ninth, Noah Sorensen sat down the side in order and handed Bellingham a game-one loss on the very first night.

Mitch Haythorn got the start for the AppleSox and got the win, pitching 5 ⅔ innings of five-run baseball, striking out eight batters. After him, Colin Fraser handled the next 1 ⅔ innings, allowing no runs and punching out one. Then, it was Sorensen who got the save, striking out three batters in total. `

The ‘Sox are set up for the series win tomorrow night in game two, with first pitch at 6:35 p.m at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

The ‘Sox Sweep the Lefties

After an extra-inning walk-off win the night before, the Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Port Angeles Lefties 4-1 in game three to secure their fourth series sweep of the summer. Despite only tallying five hits, the ‘Sox capitalized on three Port Angeles errors to coast into the victory. 

Wenatchee’s bats exploded in the first inning. After a leadoff double by Raphael Dunne and a walk by Landon White put runners at first and second for the AppleSox, Aidan Lopez clobbered a three-run homer to hand them a 3-0 lead. 

The Lefties tried to claw back with a run of their own in the third, but another run in the sixth by Wenatchee put them back in their place, closing the ballgame’s scoring for both squads. 

The AppleSox’s pitching staff did an exceptional job of limiting free passes, allowing only four walks. Jack Berg took the mound in his first start of the season, tossing two scoreless innings and striking out four batters. However, the star of the show was Derek Render. The right-hander from Utah Tech didn’t allow a single hit in his four innings of work and punched out six to earn his first save of the season. 

Wenatchee’s six-game homestand continues as they face off against the second-best team in the league, the Bellingham Bells, on Friday night. The Bells look for redemption as the ‘Sox have already snatched a series win away from them earlier this summer. 

The two rivals face off at Paul Thomas at 6:35 p.m. 

Morisaki walks off game two against the Lefites!

With the lights bright and the stage set, Kanoa Morisaki delivered for the ‘Sox. His RBI-single in the 11th walked off the Lefties and gave Wenatchee the series win.

The ‘Sox got out to a 4-0 lead early in the game, thanks to key hits from Gage Wareham, Landon White, and Aidan Lopez. However, the lead did not last long. A pair of home runs from Sam Matosich and Noah Betanco got the Lefties on the board and tied the game.

It stayed deadlocked all the way to the ninth, with the ‘Sox leaving five runners on base in that span. To make matters worse, Wenatchee went three-up three-down in the bottom of the ninth to push the game to extras.

Extra innings proved to be a staring contest, with the ‘Sox and Lefties taking turns leaving runners on base.

However, the Lefties blinked first when Morisaki climbed to the plate in the 11th. The kid from Honolulu smoked a ball up the middle and said good night to the home crowd, ending the game with a flourish.

Easton Brooks was the standout pitcher for the ‘Sox, tossing 4 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief and striking out seven batters in his wake.

Now with the series win locked up, the ‘Sox will be hunting the sweep in game three. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m tomorrow at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.    

Wenatchee Starts the Homestand Off Right

The Wenatchee AppleSox started their six-game homestand off right, defeating the Port Angeles Lefties 2-0 in game one. The ‘Sox’s pitching staff handled the Lefties all night, holding them to a mere five hits.

The AppleSox’s pair of runs came in the second and the fifth. Akanni Owodunni smacked a double to left to bring home the first run of the ball game, and a sac fly by Ky McGary closed Wenatchee’s scoring for the evening.

The main story Tuesday night was Wenatchee’s bullpen. The trio of arms: Harry Pelzman, Levi Grothen, and Clint Beck struck out 10 batters and kept the Lefties off the board.

Pelzman started it off, tossing five innings, surrendering three hits and three walks, and punching out five to earn his first win of the summer. Grothen followed him up and threw one inning and coughed up one hit while striking out another. Clint Beck closed it out, facing the minimum for all three of his innings, and punched out five in the process, including the side in the ninth.

The AppleSox have already snatched a series win from Port Angeles once before, and they’ll look to do the same thing Wednesday night.

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

Vincent DeMarco wins Pitcher of the Week!

Seven innings. Two hits. Two strikeouts. No runs.

When the dust settled on Vincent DeMarco’s second start of the season, the Victoria HarbourCats had no clue what hit them. The dominant outing undoubtedly won him Pitcher of the Week in the WCL, and showed exactly why the incoming freshman is heading to Saint Mary’s next spring.

DeMarco faced the minimum four times in the game. What’s more impressive is that he never once let a runner reach second base. He did allow two hits and one walk, but those runners never had a chance to get into scoring position.

Punching out only two batters doesn’t seem all that impressive. But DeMarco’s ability to force weak contact and use his defense cannot be understated. The ‘Sox infield and outfield were lock-down all evening, and backed up their rookie-righty.

The outing gave DeMarco his first win of the season and lowered his ERA to 1.35. His summer thus far has been fun to watch, and this performance was no exception.

As the first AppleSox to win Pitcher of the Week this season, the WCL made a wise pick with DeMarco.

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: All Stars, Heart Breaks, and Four Straight Series

The All-Star break may have eaten up much of the week, but the ‘Sox still put on a show. All-Star pitching, a heartbreaking loss, and 12 series wins made up week eight, and Wenatchee soaked up every second of it.

Joe Thornton, Clint Beck, Landon White, Kainoa Santiago, and Raphael Dunne started the week for the ‘Sox, traveling up to Victoria to represent Wenatchee in the All-Star game. White, Santiago, and Dunne may have gone hitless in the event, but Thornton and Beck made up for it on the mound.

The pair of pitchers each got to toss an inning late in the game, and both hung scoreless frames. Thornton sat down the side in order, picking up two strikeouts in his wake. Beck allowed a hit, but still managed to slam the door when it mattered.

That was all she wrote for the ‘Sox in the All-Star game. But the five ‘Sox got to stay put in Victoria when the rest of the team joined them. Immediately out of the break, Wenatchee took on the HarbourCats for three games of North Division play.

Fresh out of the gate, the ‘Sox got their hearts broken. The HarbourCats took them down 9-7 in the opening bout, despite hot performances from Dunne, White, Ryder Young, and Zach Doyle, who went 4-for-4.

The ‘Sox may have struck first in the game, but Victoria did not let it last. After taking the lead in the third, the Cats continued to sprinkle on insurance throughout. Wenatchee kept it interesting, scoring three runs in the ninth to potentially stage a comeback. However, they came up short, leaving the tying run on base and dropping the first game of the series.

The ‘Sox took the loss personally, evident by their 7-2 win in game two. It was a team affair, with almost the entire lineup chipping in. Dunne impressed as always, smoking a two-run triple in the ninth inning to pound the nail into the coffin.

Pitching returned to their winning ways, with Beck tossing two scoreless frames of relief and getting the win. The All-Star picked up his third win of the season and dropped his ERA to 1.74.

With the series on the line, the ‘Sox did not blink. The highlight of the night was Ky McGary crushing a two-run home run to left field in the fifth inning, extending the ‘Sox’s lead and giving them much-needed momentum in the series decider.

While the Cats did manage to score a run in the eighth, it was too little too late. Noah Sorensen got the final two innings in relief, and did just enough to carry Wenatchee across the finish line.

Vincent DeMarco got the start in that final game, and put up the best outing in the entire league. The incoming freshman spun seven scoreless innings with only two hits. He only struck out two batters, but that didn’t really matter, with his defense locking down the diamond behind him.

DeMarco’s scoreless dominance won him Pitcher of the Week honors for the WCL, and gave him his first win of the summer. On top of that, the youngster’s ERA has now dipped to 1.35. In just his second start of the season, DeMarco is proving why he will be pitching with Saint Mary’s next spring.  

The lights-out performance from DeMarco was a perfect cherry on top to a stellar week for the ‘Sox. With only three weeks left in the regular season, Wenatchee is eyeing who their first-round opponent will be in playoffs.

The runway is slowly but surely running out for the summer, and the ‘Sox don’t show any signs of slowing down. They get back to the action this week, playing the Port Angeles Lefties for three games at home before welcoming the Bellingham Bells for three more games at home this weekend.

The first game of the Lefties series kicks off at 6:35 p.m on July 20 at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

The Bonds Beyond Baseball

Every summer, as college baseball seasons wrap up around the nation, summer ball leagues are just getting started. Year after year, college players from all over the country arrive in Wenatchee to play for the AppleSox and continue developing their skills on the field. However, it takes more than the team itself to make this new and unfamiliar city feel like home to the players. 

What often gets overlooked is the important role host families play in shaping players' experiences when they’re off the field. Host parents open their homes and families to players each season, giving them not only a place to stay for the summer but also ensuring that they have a support system and a place to call home, even when they may be hundreds of miles away from their own. 

While host families play a crucial role in creating a comfortable home away from home for players, many find that the hosting experience is equally as impactful for them. For Sharon Hougan, six seasons of hosting have taught her that there is much more to the experience than offering up a spare room in her house. Seven years ago, Sharon overheard a conversation among strangers discussing hosting AppleSox players, and she’s never looked back since. When asked about why she decided to host for the first time, Sharon explained, “I heard these people talking about having these boys stay with them, and I thought ‘that sounds so cool, how do you get to do that?’ so [AppleSox] interviewed me and I decided to do it, and the rest is history!” Years later, Sharon has become a familiar face within the AppleSox family, known for bringing homemade pre-game apple cinnamon rolls for players and rarely missing a game. She explains that her involvement in the organization is truly something she cherishes: “Everybody is just so friendly, so welcoming, and it’s just so special.”

For players, having a place to stay for the summer is a necessity, but host families that go the extra mile to create lasting relationships truly make all the difference. For third-year AppleSox player Kanoa Morisaki, that bond was established soon after his arrival for his first season here in Wenatchee. After moving in with his host family, Shirley and Larry Auvil, midway through the 2024 season, Kanoa recalls being pleasantly surprised with how quickly they welcomed him into their home, making him feel like he’d been there all season long. “They took me in about halfway through that first season and made me feel like I had been there all along… it was great,” he said. “It felt like I became comfortable with them pretty instantly, and they’ve always just treated me like one of their own grandkids.”

Two summers later, Kanoa continues to return to the same host family, saying that their relationship has only grown stronger with time. Along with providing him a place to stay, he also says the Auvils have made Wenatchee feel like a second home and a place that he knows he can always come back to in the future, even after his time with the AppleSox.  

For first-year host family Shawn and Kit Evenhus, that sense of belonging is exactly why they decided to host in the first place. Having once been a WCL player himself, Shawn understands firsthand how important a good host family is in creating a positive summer experience for players, both on and off the field. Years before hosting was ever a thought, Shawn played for the AppleSox in their 2001 season, as well as other summer collegiate league teams, where he experienced what it was like to live with a host family. This year, he and his wife have decided they want to take advantage of the opportunity they now have to return that hospitality.  

As parents of young kids, one of whom is just into baseball, Kit and Shawn saw hosting as a way to bring positive role models into their home while simultaneously paying forward the positive experience Shawn had during his time playing summer ball. “We wanted to be one of those host families who make it a really great experience for the player and also just get to have that fun experience for our kids,” Kit said. For the Evenhuses, hosting is a way to give back to a program that Shawn was once a part of while creating new experiences and memories for their own family.  

While most AppleSox only spend a brief moment of their baseball careers in Wenatchee, the lasting relationships formed between hosts and players often outlast the season itself. Regardless of families’ individual motivations to host, one aspect of the experience remains the same: everyone involved gains something meaningful from this unique and special experience.

12 Series Wins for the ‘Sox!

Coming off a 7-2 victory the night before, the Wenatchee AppleSox entered game three looking to secure their fourth series win in a row and their 12th in total of the summer. And they did just that, defeating the Victoria HarbourCats 3-1.

Wenatchee took an early 1-0 lead in the first after an RBI groundout by Gonzaga’s Ryder Young. After giving up the run, Victoria’s starter, Erik Rico, struck out the side in the second and tossed a three-up, three-down inning in the third to keep the ‘Sox in check. However, their bats heated back up in the fifth, tagging two more runs of cushion from Ky McGary’s second home run of the season, taking their lead to 3-0.

Tremendous pitching by the ‘Sox held the HarbourCats to a single run and four hits. Vincent De Marco received the win after starting the game for the second time this summer. The incoming freshman at Saint Mary’s tossed seven scoreless innings, excelled in holding Victoria to quick and easy outs, and surrendered only two knocks to the HarbourCats.  

Noah Sorensen took the bump after De Marco in the eighth and gave up the HarbourCats’ only run. The Poulsbo native struck out two in his outing, but got into some trouble in the ninth after walking a pair. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Sorenson was able to get Victoria’s Dryden Fuoco to pop out to third to close out the ballgame.

After a successful road trip, the AppleSox head back to Paul Thomas for a six-game homestand. They’ll host Port Angeles first before facing off against the team with the second-best record in the WCL, the Bellingham Bells.

The Lefties come to Wenatchee Tuesday with first pitch scheduled at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee Bounces Back with 7-2 Victory

After a disappointing game one loss, the Wenatchee AppleSox snapped back in game two with a 7-2 victory over the Victoria HarbourCats. The ‘Sox went three-up, three-down four times, but hot hitting in the seventh put them back into the ballgame.

Victoria took an early 2-0 lead and kept the AppleSox off the board for the majority of the game. However, a solo home run in the seventh by Zach Doyle rejuvenated Wenatchee’s bats as they proceeded to take a 3-2 lead.

The ‘Sox added four more runs of insurance, two of them coming off the bat of Raphael Dunne in the ninth. The San Diego native legged out a triple to shut down the HarbourCats' hopes.

Sean McGrath took the rubber first for the AppleSox and surrendered both runs to Victoria, only one of which was earned, but struck out six on the way. Wenatchee sent four more arms after McGrath, with Clint Beck earning his third save of the season after tossing two scoreless innings and punching out one batter.

The AppleSox now head into game three looking for their fourth series win in a row and their 12th in total.

The deciding game of the series commences at 3:05 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park.

AppleSox Drop a Heartbreaker in Game One

Coming off the All-Star break, the Wenatchee AppleSox were shut down 9-7 in game one against the Victoria HarbourCats. Though they tallied 11 hits, the ‘Sox struggled to bring runners home, leaving nine men on base in the loss. 

The ‘Sox got on board first in the third, scoring two runs on a solo homer by Raphael Dunne and an RBI single by Landon White. However, Victoria answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to swing the momentum their way. 

Victoria continued to add insurance throughout the ballgame, and Wenatchee struggled to keep up. Nevertheless, the AppleSox found some hope in the ninth. After scoring three runs and cutting the HarbourCats' lead to two, the ‘Sox had the tying run at second base, but two quick outs by Victoria finished them off. 

Wenatchee’s pitching staff had a rough start. Starter Mitch Haythorn surrendered eight hits and seven runs, five earned, in three and a third innings. The ‘Sox used four more arms after Haythorn to limit the damage, but it was too little too late, and the HarbourCats took the victory.​

Even with the loss, the AppleSox continue to hold the best record in the WCL at 26-11, with Bellingham the closest team behind them in the North Division, three and a half games back.​

Wenatchee looks to avoid its second series loss of the season in game two at 6:35 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park.

AppleSox pitching shines in the All-Star game!

Last night, under the bright lights of Wilson Group Stadium in Victoria, the Wenatchee AppleSox had five names representing them in the WCL All-Star Game. Landon White, Raphael Dunne, Joe Thornton, Clint Beck, and Kainoa Santiago all ventured the six-hour drive north to represent the ‘Sox on the league’s biggest stage.

White and Dunne were in the starting lineup, batting fifth and sixth, respectively. Both got two at-bats, and both ended the night hitless. Dunne struck out in both his cameos, and White just could not sneak anything past the infield.

Flash forward to the fourth inning, and Thornton got his chance to shine. The two-time All-Star summited the mound and proceeded to do what he has done all year… shove.

Three-up and three-down went the South Division, with Thornton striking out Matthew Major swinging and Payton Knowles looking to end his shutdown inning.

Heading into the fifth inning, both White and Dunne took a seat on the bench, and ‘Sox fans had to wait until the eighth to see Beck take the mound. While his outing was less efficient than Thornton's, the future Gonzaga Bulldog showed exactly why he was an All-Star. Beck spun a scoreless frame, allowing only one hit that he managed to strand on first base.  

Earlier, in the sixth, Santiago took over for Ethan Reynolds in right field. With three at-bats, Santiago similarly went hitless in the evening.

Late in the eighth inning, he did manage to smoke a ball on a line to second base. However, Yakima Valley’s Daichi Furuhata dove to snatch the ball out of the air and take a hit away from the Gonzaga kid.

The game itself was a neck-and-neck affair all the way into the ninth. In the final frame, the South clawed a run across, giving them a 5-4 lead.

With their backs against the wall, the North was down to their last three outs. A quick pair of putouts seemed to crush any remaining hope. However, an error from Troy Sanders rekindled hope for a potential comeback.

Bottom of the ninth, two outs, a runner on, and down by a run. No better stage for Santiago to perform on. However, the lights proved too bright, as Santiago struck out on three pitches, handing Rafael Espinoza from the Portland Pickles the save.

While the ‘Sox may have gone hitless, the pitching was lights out all evening. Beck and Thornton each showed why the ‘Sox have the best ERA and are the best pitching squad in the WCL.

Now that the All-Star festivities have concluded, the ‘Sox will be joining their All-Stars in Victoria to take on the HarbourCats for three games. Game one starts at 6:35 p.m on Friday, July 17, at Wilson Group Stadium.  

3 AppleSox Alums Continue their Road to the Show

The MLB Draft wrapped up Sunday afternoon, and two AppleSox alums were selected while another was signed soon after. Wyatt Queen and Garrett Ahern heard their names called, and Justin Feld signed on Monday following the draft.

Queen was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round with the 340th pick. He only made one appearance in an AppleSox uniform in 2023. Fresh out of high school, the Marysville native tossed three-and-a-third innings and punched out four, holding the Bellingham Bells to four hits and a mere one run in his first and only start.

“We had no idea what he was going to be like, 18 years old at the time, and we were in the middle of trying to clinch a playoff spot,” recalls AppleSox Head Coach Mitch Darlington. “He had the most confidence I’ve ever seen out of a high school kid. Queen showed up 45 minutes before game time, grabbed a jersey, and handled the Bells in front of a crowd of up to 3,000 people. I told our assistants on the way home that he was going to be special.”

In his freshman campaign at Everett, Queen posted an incredible 0.94 ERA and punched out 65 batters to hand him a 9-1 record. After a phenomenal first year, the 6’2" right-hander took his talents to Oregon State, where he spent the rest of his collegiate career. As a Beaver, Queen became a stellar reliever, finishing his career with a 2.89 ERA and a 4-3 record. The flamethrowing junior also tacked on four saves and 139 strikeouts in his two years in Corvallis.

The New York Yankees selected Garrett Ahern in the 16th round with the 488th pick. In 2024, he was the ace of the AppleSox’s pitching staff, leading them to the North Division title and to the WCL Championship Game. The Gilbert native posted a 2-1 record over eight appearances, all of which were starts. He had excellent control, keeping free passes to a minimum, allowing only 10 while striking out 31.

“Garrett is a high character and very mature pitching mind,” stated his Wenatchee teammate and now AppleSox pitching coach Quincy Vassar. “He came to us after his freshman year at GCU and carried himself as a veteran college arm. His ability to adapt and shape his strategy as well as his pitching approach set him apart from other pitchers and allowed him to excel as a starter. I have no doubt he will be successful in his professional career and contribute to any team he plays for.”

The 6’6’’ righty spent all three of his years in college baseball at Grand Canyon, recording a 12-8 record in 37 outings. As a sophomore, he was tied for first on the team and fourth in the WAC with six wins. Ahern displayed phenomenal swing-and-miss stuff, punching out a career total of 145 batters over 145 innings. His strikeout rate of 9.79 per nine innings as a sophomore in 2025 ranks fifth in GCU’s D-1 history. In his final season with the Lopes, the junior was highly ranked among the Mountain West leaders in six different categories. He was tied for third in fewest runs allowed and fewest walks allowed, fourth in fewest earned runs allowed, tied for fourth in fewest hits allowed, and tenth in ERA and opponent batting average.

Feld signed with the Chicago White Sox on Monday afternoon. He didn’t see much action in Wenatchee, as he appeared in only two games, both of which were starts. Feld came to the ‘Sox in late July when they needed extra arms to provide bullpen depth in the playoffs. The Everett native posted a 3.18 ERA and struck out three over five and two-thirds innings of work.

As a freshman in Tacoma, Feld earned an impressive 9-2 record while striking out a total of 88 batters. To cap it all off, he tossed two complete games to earn First Team All-NWAC and All-American honors. The 6’0’’ righty then moved over to Gonzaga and became one of the Bulldogs' best starters. In his three years there, he picked up a 15-9 record with 162 punchouts. In his final season, he had an 8-2 record with a career-high 66 innings and was awarded All-WCC First Team honors.  

The three right-handers now take their talents to three different American League organizations as they look to continue their astounding careers.

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: Sweeps, Walk Offs, and Nail Biters

Seven weeks in, and the ‘Sox just continue to entertain. A sweep, a walk off thriller, and three straight series wins is just the beginning of the saga.  

The week began in Port Angeles, with the ‘Sox taking on the last-place Lefties on the road. Game one set the tone immediately, where Wenatchee smoked the Lefties 20-1. The ‘Sox may have only gotten 11 hits, but 12 strikeouts from the pitching staff was more than enough. Vincent De Marco made his first start of the summer, tossing three innings of one-run ball with five punchouts.

Game two was more of the same. The ‘Sox kept the Lefties at arm’s length, winning 10-3 with 14 hits. Four of those hits came from Zach Doyle, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four runs scored. Doyle has been on a heater since arriving in Wenatchee, and this game was really the highlight of his week.

After dominating in the preceding two showings, things got shaky in the sweep decider. Wenatchee won 5-3, relying on two runs in the ninth to barely edge out the win. They smacked only eight hits and struck out just four batters. The ‘Sox used two pitchers on the day, Sean McGrath to start it and Nicho Crowley to finish it. Crowley shoved six innings in relief, allowing just two runs, six hits, and two strikeouts. The outing was Crowley’s last of the season and was a solid sendoff for the summer.

With high vibes from the sweep, the ‘Sox came home ready to beat Kelowna. They did just that, barely beating the second-place Falcons 2-1 in the opening bout, with Landon White launching his second home run of the year. Mitch Haythorn got the start and threw his best performance of the summer. Seven innings, scoreless, only one walk… and nine strikeouts. No, that's not a typo. Nine punchouts for Haythorn.

After proving their first place dominance the night before, the ‘Sox slipped up in game two. They were neck-and-neck with the Falcons all night… until the ninth. A pair of RBI walks in the final frame extended Kelowna’s lead and put the pressure on Wenatchee.

They did get some traffic in the ninth, but could not scrape them across to spark the comeback.  

With their backs against the wall in game three, the ‘Sox kept it entertaining. Kelowna and Wenatchee traded the lead back and forth, winding up tied 4-4 in the ninth. With ducks on the pond, Landon White clutched up, walking it off with a single to score Raphael Dunne from second.

Dunne scoring was a familiar sight; the freshman All-Star went 4-for-5 with one RBI, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. The youngster has been exceptional since arriving and demonstrated why in the payoff game.

After going 5-1 on the week, Wenatchee remains atop the WCL. Three straight series wins is a perfect way to send the ‘Sox to the All-Star break. Joe Thornton, Kainoa Santiago, Clint Beck, Landon White, and Raphael Dunne will each be representing the team in Victoria, and each has been extraordinary all year.

The ‘Sox take the next four days off for the All-Star break, and then play the Victoria HarborCats for three games of road baseball after that. Fans can watch the WCL All-Star game on MLB.tv, MLB.com, and the MLB App. First pitch will be at 6:35 p.m PST on July 15.

The ‘Sox start their series with the HarborCats on July 17 and end it on July 19. First pitch in game one is at 6:35 p.m in Victoria.