WENATCHEE ADDING THREE WASHINGTON NATIVES TO THE ROSTER

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu

Wenatchee adding three Washington natives to the roster

While they may play for different schools, all three future AppleSox are products of the Pacific Northwest. Alex Chamberlain, Patrick Galvin, and Micah Coleman are all joining Wenatchee this summer, and each is bringing a different skill set to the table.

The three Washingtonians will each be getting their first taste of summer ball in Wenatchee. With a junior who tallied triple-digit hits in JUCO, a sophomore who made 18 relief appearances last year, and a junior who swiped 23 bags in Everett, the ‘Sox are acquiring three unique tools for the summer.

So, let’s take a gander at who they are…

Alex Chamberlain - INF - Junior

Clocking in at an impressive 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, the Fall City native will be joining the ‘Sox after this current season with Seattle University. Chamberlain finds his way to the Redhawks after two years with the Columbia Basin Hawks.

During his Hawks heyday, Chamberlain smacked the cover off the baseball. A career 0.327 average, 116 hits, 77 RBI’s, and 24 doubles concluded his plate production with Columbia.

If you glance year over year, you see an eye-catching jump in production. 14 more hits, 15 more RBIs, four more home runs, and 21 more runs scored.

Chamberlain popped off in his sophomore campaign, earning his move to the Redhawks this year. While he has yet to see the field in Seattle, his damage report with Columbia says everything you need to know.

As a right-handed slugger who can develop year after year, Chamberlain could prove productive in a ‘Sox jersey.

Patrick Galvin - RHP - Sophomore

After four years at O’Dea High School in Seattle, Galvin committed to the Redhawks for his freshman year. Standing at a towering 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, he has the prototypical pitcher’s build.

Galvin was the No. 68 overall prospect in Washington back in 2024. Shrink down to righty pitchers, and he checked in at No. 20.

In his inaugural season, the now sophomore made 18 appearances out of the bullpen, giving up 27 hits, 22 earned runs, 19 strikeouts, and 18 walks. This raised his ERA to a less-than-impressive 8.87.

He averaged 1 ⅓ innings per outing last year, making him a short-stint reliever. With a fastball that topped out at 85 miles per hour in high school, he likely will not blow the doors off too many people.

But the 19 strikeouts in his freshman year show the deception that he has in his back pocket. As a developing reliever, Galvin could get plenty of chances to grow in the valley this summer.

Micah Coleman - INF - Junior

One of these three is not like the other, and that would be Coleman. Although he is currently at USC Upstate for his junior year, the Mill Creek native began his collegiate career at Everett Community College for his initial two seasons.

Coleman is now the third Trojan to join Wenatchee. Dylan Dyer, Basil Hendrix, and Hiroshi Johnson are the three current Everett additions that were announced earlier this year.

With the Trojans, Coleman truly shone. In his 95 career games, he only recorded 25 extra-base hits. But, he makes up for it with 102 career hits, a 0.844 OPS, and 23 stolen bases. 16 of those swipes came in his sophomore year.

His plate production stood out, but his fielding was not quite to the same bar. Last year, he led the team in errors (9) while ranking third in chances (186). That dropped his fielding percentage to 0.952, which is not terrible, but definitely shows that Coleman is a bat-heavy infielder.

Now with the Upstate Ingles, he has moved all the way to South Carolina to finish out his college baseball journey. But that will not stop him from returning to his roots in Wenatchee during the summer.

As a contact hitter who can threaten on the basepaths, Coleman serves as a solid infield tool for the ‘Sox. For his first-ever summer ball season, Coleman picked a ‘Sox squad that will put his speed on the basepaths to good use.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

AppleSox Featuring a Host of Specialty Game Nights This Summer

The Wenatchee AppleSox are gearing up for their 26th season this summer and have a host of special game nights coming for fans in the Wenatchee Valley.

Fireworks night, three different bobblehead giveaway nights, two Bark in the Park nights, and the annual Cuffs vs Axes Softball Charity game headline special events at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Join the AppleSox for the first Bark in the Park night, presented by Earthwise Pet Shop, and Opening Day, June 5, as Wenatchee welcomes in the Kamloops NorthPaws for three games. Kids Day is also part of Opening Weekend, Saturday, June 6, with lots of kids-centered fun and activities, sponsored by Wenatchee Youth Baseball.

The Springfield Drifters come to town June 9-11. Wenatchee Insurance Company is sponsoring Pride Night at the AppleSox on June 10, featuring some fun Pride-themed giveaway items. On June 11, join the AppleSox for Hispanic Heritage Night, sponsored by Bustos Media. Locally owned Hispanic businesses will be featured throughout the evening.

The first of three bobblehead giveaways coincides with the second Bark in the Park night, Saturday, June 20, presented by Firehouse Pet Shop. Be one of the first 500 fans to Paul Thomas and receive a Coyote bobblehead with the Firehouse mascot on the side. A special shoutout to Fromm Family Pet Foods for sponsoring this Bark in the Park night.

The annual AppleSox Fireworks Show is after the game on Friday, July 3, as the 'Sox take on the Edmonton RiverHawks. Advanced ticket purchases are strongly encouraged due to popularity.

On July 4, Stemilt Growers partners with the AppleSox to bring fans an opportunity to bring home a Coyote bobblehead, featuring the beloved mascot on an apple crate. This special bobblehead is a tribute to Wenatchee as the Apple Capital of the World.

Gesa Credit Union partners with the AppleSox on July 10 to honor America's heroes, with a Veterans' Day Salute to Service. Veterans receive free general admission tickets, while the local VFW and American Legion Post 10 will also have some tickets available for pick-up.

Make sure to be at the park Saturday, July 25, as the AppleSox celebrate head coach Mitch Darlington achieving 100 victories with the AppleSox. Darlington is only the second coach to ever accomplish the feat (Ed Knaggs, 2001-2014), and the fastest to ever do so. The AppleSox are giving 500 Mitch Darlington bobbleheads to lucky fans entering the gates early. This specialty bobblehead is made possible by Pepsi and Weinstein Beverage Company.

For the final series home series of the season, the AppleSox welcome in the Victoria Harbourcats Aug. 3-5, with two special game nights. Aug. 4 is the Munchen Haus Oktoberfest, bringing Bavarian flavor to the ballpark a bit early.

On Aug. 5, it's Hawaiian Night, with Sunny FM, Journey Travel and Tours, and the AppleSox putting on a special bowling contest for a chance to win a trip to Hawaii.

Don't forget about special AppleSox events this summer, as the AppleSox host the local MLB Pitch, Hit & Run camp from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at Paul Thomas.

There will also be two kids' camps, where youth have a chance to receive instruction from the coaching staff and players. The 11 and under All-Skills youth Camp is 9 a.m. to noon June 29 and 30. The 11 and up All-Skills Youth Camp is from 9 a.m. to noon on July 13 and 14.

Single-game tickets go on sale April 15.

APPLESOX SNAG TWO NIGHTHAWKS FOR THE SUMMER

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu

AppleSox snag two Nighthawks for the summer

From Northwest Nazarene University, the AppleSox are adding two new faces who each have a wide range of experience in college ball. Grayden Lucas and Max Paterson are each heading north for Wenatchee to suit up on the same squad yet again.

Whether it’s a redshirt freshman with an interesting quirk or a redshirt junior who batted 0.284 in JUCO, Wenatchee is getting a talented duo on the diamond.

So, let’s break down who these new additions are…

Grayden Lucas - LHP - Redshirt freshman

Watching Lucas pitch gives many baseball fans flashbacks to Jim Abbot. Why’s that? Well, much like Abbot, Lucas does not have a right hand.

In 2006, the now redshirt freshman from Nampa, Idaho, was born without his right appendage. However, it has not slowed him down for a moment.

He was the No. 7 overall player in Idaho as well as the No. 2 overall lefty pitcher in the state back in 2024. Fresh off the graduation stage, Lucas stayed close to home when he committed to Northwest Nazarene to play ball.

Although he did not play at all with the Nighthawks last year, he did get to work with the Sawtooth Sockeyes during the 2025 summer season.

With the Sockeyes, Lucas made 13 relief appearances, averaging 1 ⅔ innings per appearance. He also struck out 23 batters, walked 15, gave up 11 hits, and just seven earned runs.

Lucas reps a fastball that clocks in at 86 miles per hour and a four-pitch arsenal that clearly fooled college bats in the summer. The quartet of the fastball, curve, cutter, and changeup makes Lucas a versatile southpaw that may get Wenatchee out of jams this coming season.

With still half a season left with the Nighthawks, Lucas will be continuing to develop. He has already made double-digit appearances this year, with nearly 20 strikeouts to boot.

The crafty lefty is clearly a standout southpaw. The ‘Sox will no doubt benefit from the one-armed Idahoan when he inevitably drives north for the summer.

Max Paterson - OF - Redshirt junior

Accompanying Lucas on the drive from Nazarene is Paterson. Although he is older than Lucas by two years, Paterson is just joining the Nighthawks this season.

The redshirt junior from Bothell, Washington, played three years at Everett Community College before making the move to the Nighthawks. While with the Trojans, Paterson stood out in the field, at the dish and on the base paths.

Even though he missed his sophomore year, his two seasons of work gave him a career 0.384 average with 35 RBIs, 59 hits, 11 doubles, and three home runs. His redshirt-sophomore season was by far his most impressive, where Paterson batted 0.459 off of 43 hits, 29 RBIs, and eight doubles.

On top of that, Paterson posted a flawless fielding percentage in his Trojan tenure, recording no errors in 64 career games. Plus, he stole 14 career bags, with 13 of those coming just last year.

He posted these numbers after missing his sophomore year and playing in the same number of games as his freshman season. Essentially, Paterson is a guy who has both handled adversity and developed year-to-year.

Those are two qualities that make him an attractive pick-up for the ‘Sox this summer. With Wenatchee being his first stop in summer league baseball, it will be interesting to see how he fits in on the roster.

But, as a guy who mashed the baseball, locked down the outfield, and traversed the base paths, Paterson may be one of the funnest names to watch this summer in Wenatchee.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

SAINT MARY'S LENDING THREE FIRST TIME APPLESOX TO WENATCHEE

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu

Saint Mary’s lending three first time AppleSox to Wenatchee

From Saint Mary’s College in California, the AppleSox are picking up a versatile trio of Gaels to bolster both the bullpen and the middle infield. Joseph Moreno, Vincent De Marco, and Micah Nicholson will all be spending their first-ever seasons of summer league baseball in Wenatchee with the Sox.

With one graduating high school this year, one getting his first-ever college reps this spring, and one with a year of D1 ball already under his belt, the Sox are getting a wide array of college experience from the Gaels in 2026.

So, let’s break down who these first-time AppleSox are…  

Joseph Moreno - Freshman - LHP

After four years at South Hills High School in California, Moreno decided to make the six-hour drive north to Saint Mary’s College. The current freshman made his collegiate debut with the Gaels back on Feb. 13 when he spun two innings of scoreless baseball against Creighton University.

As a four-year varsity starter, Moreno proved why he is a D1 talent straight out of high school. A 0.95 ERA in his senior year, along with 68 strikeouts, helped him allow only seven earned runs in 12 appearances.

His career stats would be all the more impressive if it weren’t for a disappointing junior season where Moreno posted a comical 84.00 ERA in just one appearance. Despite that, a career 1.75 ERA in four years of varsity baseball is still impressive.

The southpaw helped lead the South Hill Huskies to a 21-8 record his senior year, accounting for four of those wins on the mound. Safe to say, the freshman lefty can deal from the rubber.

With no summer league experience under his belt, Moreno will be getting his first taste of the WCL in the Wenatchee Valley. As one of eight lefty pitchers, Moreno helps balance out this Sox bullpen, which features 30 faces from the right side.

Vincent De Marco - High school senior - RHP

Before he joins the Gaels next year, De Marco will be cutting his teeth up north with Wenatchee. The high school senior is currently at Woodbridge High School in California and has committed to Saint Mary’s for the 2027 season.

Glancing at hisjunior year numbers, you see why the Gaels scooped him up early. He posted a 0.21 ERA over 13 appearances and 111 strikeouts. No, that’s not a typo. De Marco punched out 111 batters in his junior year, averaging just shy of nine strikeouts a game.

Plus, opponents only batted 0.113 against him that year, tallying just 25 hits and two earned runs. Essentially, De Marco is next to untouchable at the 4A level in California.

How that transfers to the WCL is unknown. But the fact that he gave up no doubles, no triples, and no home runs last year speaks volumes to what kind of pitcher he is.

He limits quality contact while also wielding swing-and-miss stuff. That kind of arm is something that does not come around very often, making De Marco a top-tier arm to add to the Sox bullpen.

Micah Nicholson - Sophomore - INF/DH

While he may have been a pinch-hitter for much of his freshman year, Nicholson still made the most of the 30 at-bats that he got. A 0.333 average and 0.433 slugging is just a taste of how clutch he was as a bench bat for the Gaels.

Nicholson got his number called for the first time last year in a series against Vanderbilt, where he went 0-for-1. It was not until a series against San Diego State that the freshman got his first collegiate hit in a pinch-hitting situation.

After that, Nicholson ran with every shot he got. In 10 starts, he smashed seven hits, seven RBI’s, and one double. As a pinch-hitter, he managed three hits, one RBI, and two doubles.

While much of his playing time has been in the DH spot, Nicholson still has a stellar glove to complement the bat tool. In 11 games at second base, Nicholson only botched one play last year, giving him a 0.969 fielding percentage.

With a year on his resume, only one error, two multi-hit games, two multi-RBI games, 10 hits, and a 0.872 OPS, Nicholson is a young middle-infielder with versatile capabilities. While he still has room to grow, his ability to hit in the clutch and play the field makes him a useful tool for the Sox to lean on this summer.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

From Strangers to Family: AppleSox Seek Host Families

The Wenatchee AppleSox are less than two months away from starting their 26th season, and the club is looking for a few more host families to house players for the summer from late May through mid-August.

AppleSox players are enrolled in colleges across the country and will begin coming to the Wenatchee Valley in late May. Because the players are far from home, they stay with host parents for the two-and-a-half-month season.

"Host families are such an important part of the AppleSox experience," said AppleSox General Manager Allie Schank. "Between games, road trips, clinics, and community events, the players stay active, but the relationships they build with host families are something they remember long after the summer ends."

Hosting an AppleSox player is a unique opportunity to become part of the team. Though families and players meet as strangers, they become bonded through friendship as the season progresses.

"They're good kids," said longtime host parent Sharon Hogan, who hosts with her husband, Craig. "I remember when I was making my pitch to Craig, I told him 'baseball is life, let's help these kids out,' and it's been wonderful."

The Hogans mentioned they met families who traveled from Hawaii to see their kid play. Sharon said they made three different trips. First, the parents came, then the grandparents, then the whole family came.

"By the end of the summer, it was a big party," Sharon said. "We went over last spring to Hawaii and watched him play... and all the people who said 'you were his host family? Oh my goodness!' It was a wonderful experience."

Meanwhile, Tim and Fran Butterfield are entering their eighth year as a host family.

"There have been guys that come here that are amazing," Tim said. "It's very refreshing to see these young men come in, and they're focused, they're not getting in trouble, they're making something out of their life."

Like the Hogans, the Butterfields say they value the connections they make beyond extending a bed to players.

"We've been to school graduations, weddings, college graduations," Tim said. "We've traveled to multiple locations to go see these kids after the season ends."

Host parents receive many benefits for hosting an AppleSox player. They'll receive free season tickets, and kids or grandkids can register for the AppleSox kids camps for free. Host families also receive discounted membership options at the Wenatchee Racquet Athletic Club, usage of complimentary Mission Ridge passes, plus access to special events.

If you live in the Wenatchee Valley, have a spare room, and would be interested in hosting a player, call the team office at 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com.

WENATCHEE WELCOMES THREE MUSTANGS TO THE VALLEY

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu

​Wenatchee welcomes three Mustangs to the Valley

For the 2026 summer season, the AppleSox are adding three members of the Cal Poly Mustangs to the roster. Gavin Spiridonoff, Kelley Crawford, and Sean McGrath will all be suiting up in Wenatchee for the ‘Sox this summer.

While one has yet to graduate high school, the other two have already gotten to work in their freshman year at Cal Poly. This makes all three young talents who could potentially shine under the Wenatchee sun.

So, let’s take a peek at who these Mustangs are…

Gavin Spirdonoff - Freshman - 2B

Out of Santa Margarita High School in California, the Sox are picking up a middle infielder who excels on both sides of the ball. Through 16 games played thus far at Cal Poly, the freshman second baseman is batting 0.267 and posting an OPS of 0.762. This is off 12 hits, four doubles, and one home run.

In the few games that Spirdonoff has played in, he has used his bat to make himself heard. On top of that, he has been stellar in the field, posting a 0.963 fielding percentage with one error.

Of course, you flashback to his high school days, and this does not surprise you. A 0.315 average and 0.922 OPS, paired with a Trinity League Gold Glove award, show just how impactful he is at the second base slot.

Plus, Spirdonoff is already familiar with summer ball. Last year, he spent the offseason with the Kelowna Falcons, a WCL opponent of the AppleSox.

​In five games with the Falcons, Spirdonoff only batted 0.176 off of three hits, two of which were doubles.

With quite a bit of college experience under his belt, Spridonoff makes the Sox’s middle infield significantly deeper moving into 2026.

Kelley Crawford - High school senior - RHP

Fresh off the graduation stage, Crawford will be hitting the road to come north to Wenatchee. The current high school senior has committed to Cal Poly for the 2027 season and will be dipping his toes into the WCL before he gets his start.

His career with Junipero Serra High School in California shows just how effective the righty is on the mound. A career 2.16 ERA, 29 hits, and 50 strikeouts is just a taste of his impact from the rubber.

Currently, his fastball clocks in at 84 miles per hour, with his slider dropping down to 73. His fastball is not going to overpower many D1 bats, but that velocity dip may prove deadly against college hitters, especially in the WCL.

With Crawford being an incoming freshman, he will be using his summer stint in Wenatchee to get his bearings. The 2026 season could be a great chance for him to learn and develop with older college talent on the Sox.

Sean McGrath - Freshman - RHP

Like Spridonoff, McGrath has already gotten to work with the Mustangs in California. Through four appearances, the freshman right-hander has only thrown 7 ⅔ innings.

During that time, he has conceded 18 hits, 12 earned runs, and four walks. This has settled his ERA at 14.09 and given him an opponent batting average of 0.450.

His numbers thus far at Cal Poly would shock you if you peek back at his high school days. A career 0.99 ERA, coupled with 197 punchouts, shows just how lethal McGrath was at San Marin High School. His senior year was by far the most eye-catching, with a 0.30 ERA and 83 strikeouts.

For McGrath, the decision to commit to Cal Poly was an easy one.

“It is a great area with a great baseball program,” he said in a statement to Cal Poly Athletics.

As a standout high school arm, his time with the Mustangs will help sharpen his edge and get him in summer shape for the AppleSox. This will be McGrath’s first year playing summer baseball, and he has landed on a Sox squad that can benefit from his potential from the right side.   

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

THREE ISLANDERS WASHING UP IN WENATCHEE IN 2026

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu

Three Islanders washing up in Wenatchee in 2026

All the way from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the Wenatchee AppleSox are bringing three Islanders onto the roster for the 2026 season. Damien Pantoya, Nicho Crowley, and Isaiah Afework will all be donning a Sox jersey this coming summer.​

With these three offseason pickups, the Sox have added some serious firepower both at the plate and in the pen. Whether it is a Texas native who fanned 18 batters last summer in the West Coast League, or two Washington sluggers who are returning to the Pacific Northwest, the Islanders are lending three top-end talents to the Sox this summer.

So, let’s see what these new additions are bringing to the table in 2026…

Damian Pantoya - Redshirt Freshman - RHP

Despite entering his third year in Corpus Christi, Pantoya has yet to touch the diamond once for the Islanders. In 2024, he did not play a single game. Then, in 2025, an injury kept him on the bench for the entire season​.

However, Pantoya does have summer league experience to make up for his absence from the field. In 2024, he spent a summer with the Ridgefield Raptors in the WCL. Ridgefield plays in the WCL South division, the opposite of the Sox, who play in the North division.

During his 10 games with the Raptors, Pantoya struck out 18 batters, allowed 17 hits, 17 walks, 10 earned runs, and posted an ERA of 5.00. During that 2024 season, Ridgefield finished second in the WCL South with a 21-7 record. But, they got chased out of the playoffs after losing both their postseason matchups.  

Given that Pantoya only started three of his 10 games with the Raptors and averaged just shy of two innings per appearance, he could serve as a decent bridge arm for the Sox in 2026. With an opportunity to touch the turf for the first time this spring, Sox fans should keep their eyes peeled to see what progress Pantoya makes.

Nicho Crowley - Junior - RHP & C

As a Bremerton native, Crowley stayed close to home straight out of high school. His first two years were at Olympic College right next door, where he shone as a two-way player.

At the plate, Crowley’s freshman year had the ball popping off his bat. In 42 games, he clapped 38 hits, 19 RBI’s, batted 0.349, and posted a 0.869 OPS. He did this as a catcher while recording only two total errors in his two years.  

Then, you look at his time on the rubber. While it is not as impressive as his time behind the dish, it still shows his versatility. In 10 appearances and five starts, Crowley struck out 28, walked 14, gave up 17 runs, and had an ERA of 4.83.

In his sophomore year, his role on the roster shifted. While he only got 15 at-bats in his second year, he made up for it by making 12 appearances on the mound as a starting pitcher.

As one of the Rangers’ starting arms, Crowley struck out 103 batters, gave up 44 hits, 33 walks, 18 earned runs, and posted a 2.16 ERA. On an average of six innings per start, Crowley averaged eight strikeouts per game while only giving up around four hits per game.

Entering his first season in Corpus Christi, Crowley has already proven himself to be a dominant starting arm. On top of that, he showed in his freshman year that he has power at the plate to complement his pitching.

No matter where the Sox play him this summer, Crowley has the potential to dominate on both sides of the battery.

Isaiah Afework - Junior - Outfield

Much like Crowley, Afework is a Washington native heading down south for 2026. After two years at Tacoma Community College, the Federal Way native will be spending his time in Corpus Christi before heading to Wenatchee this summer.

Although Afework is joining the Sox for 2026, this is not his first rodeo in the WCL. Last year, he spent his summer with the Victoria HarbourCats, one of the AppleSox’s north division opponents.

While in Victoria, Afework got most of his starts in center field. In his 40 games played, he collected 32 hits, 20 RBI’s, six doubles, and three home runs. This gave him a 0.248 average and a 0.733 OPS.

In 2025, he was on a HarbourCats squad that was tied for first place in the WCL North, going 20-8 in the regular season. While they may have dominated in the regular season, the Cats fell flat on their face in the postseason.

After going 1-2 in the playoffs, they matched the AppleSox’s postseason showing and were beaten out by the Edmonton Riverhawks and Bellingham Bells.

If his production with the Cats is any indicator, then the Sox may have snagged themselves a solid outfield bat. He already has himself a starting spot with the Islanders, and with an entire spring season to progress, his bat may be fully baked by the time he winds up in Wenatchee.  

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

A TRIO OF COYOTES SPENDING THE SUMMER IN WENATCHEE

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu

A trio of Coyotes spending the summer in Wenatchee

They may be 1,500 miles away, but that is not stopping three members of Weatherford College in Fort Worth, Texas, from spending their summer season in Wenatchee. Brittain Urbaniak, Jonathan Christner, and Clint Beck will be joining the AppleSox for 2026 after they finish this coming season with the Coyotes.

With two sophomore right-handed pitchers and a redshirt-freshman first baseman, the Sox are adding depth to both the pen and the corner infield.

So, let’s take a closer look at each of these Texas natives…

Brittain Urbaniak - Redshirt Freshman - 1B

The 6-foot-3 first baseman does not have to travel far for his classes at Weatherford, since he is a hometown kid from Fort Worth.

After being the No. 27 ranked third baseman in Texas, Urbaniak found himself moved across the diamond in his first year as a Coyote. He played only five games with Weatherford last year, all either as a pinch hitter or at first base.

In those five games and 12 at-bats of work, Urbaniak popped four hits, one home run, one triple, two RBIs and batted an impressive 0.333. In a small sample, he posted a 1.107 OPS, showcasing his power and production in a short time.

After those initial five appearances, Urbaniak rode the pine for the remaining 42 games on the schedule. This gave him his redshirt standing for this coming season with the Coyotes.

Given that the body of work is rather small from Urbaniak, it is safe to say there is a question mark on how productive he will be in Wenatchee. But, with a full season on the horizon, Sox fans could expect him to blossom into a slugging corner infielder who can bring the boom in the summer.

Jonathan Christner - Sophomore - RHP

Like Urbaniak, Christner did not see much action in his freshman year. The Haslet, Texas native made three appearances in the first nine games of the year. Then, he proceeded to sit out for the remaining 44 matchups.

But, in those three relief appearances, Christner racked up 5 ⅓ innings pitched, giving up nine hits, four earned runs, two walks, and striking out five batters. This brought his ERA to a slightly inflated 6.75.

Out of high school, Christner was the No. 82 ranked right-handed pitcher in Texas. He was also the No. 500 overall prospect in the nation. Then, you consider his limited reps at the JUCO level thus far, and you see that his name has not exactly jumped off the page early on in his career.​

However, entering his sophomore campaign in Weatherford and with the Sox on the horizon, Christner has the potential to develop into a competent relief arm that can add depth to any bullpen.

Clint Beck - Sophomore - RHP

To complement Christner on the mound, the Sox picked up Beck to add another weapon to the right side. Much like the other two Coyotes, Beck only played four games last season in Weatherford, all within the first nine games.

In that short window, the Belton, Texas native struck out four batters, walked four, allowed five hits, and gave up two earned runs, which set his ERA at an effective 2.70. The longest outing of his freshman year came against Salt Lake Community College on Feb. 8 where he went three innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs.

In that showing, Beck gave up the most hits and all of his earned runs of the year. What does that mean for him as a pitcher? It is hard to tell.

Four games do not reveal much about a player, let alone a pitcher. But the dip in effectiveness when asked to pitch three innings shows Beck's lack of experience.

Lucky for the Coyotes and the Sox, he has a full spring and summer ahead of him to grow, mature, and develop. What his role on the Sox will be is unknown, but he helps make this Sox staff even deeper.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

APPLESOX SNAG THREE YOUNG PITCHERS FROM EVERETT

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu 

AppleSox snag three young pitchers from Everett

For the 2026 season, Wenatchee is adding three young arms to their bullpen, all three from Everett Community College. Dylan Dyer, Basil Hendrix and Hiroshi Johnson will be spending their upcoming summer with the Sox. 

With two being sophomores and one being a freshman, none of the incoming AppleSox have played summer league baseball in their careers. But, before they get their Wenatchee welcome, they still have a full season of JUCO baseball to play in Everett. 

So, let’s take a look at who these new bullpen arms are…

Dylan Dyer - Sophomore - RHP

Although he has one year under his belt, Dyer’s freshman campaign does not paint the clearest picture. In just seven appearances and 8 ⅓ innings pitched Dyer was barely utilized last season by the Trojans. 

In that small sample size, the Seattle native gave up seven hits, seven walks and five earned runs. That spiked his ERA to 5.40 and had his WHIP settle at 1.68.

However, there is only so much to take away from just eight innings of work. Plus, no stats are available for Dyer’s senior season with Nathan Hale high school in Seattle. This all places a huge question mark on the right-hander’s capabilities on the mound.

What can be taken away from his senior year is that Dyer and Nathan Hale high school clinched a postseason spot in the 2A State Playoffs. However, they were quickly chased out of the tournament after losing 6-2 to Archbishop Murphy in round one. 

Now in his sophomore year, Dyer could make a few more cameos in Everett as he gets ready for his summer stint in Wenatchee. Sox fans should keep a close eye on the 6-foot-2 sophomore to see just how productive he is with the Trojans in 2026.

Basil Hendrix - Sophomore - LHP 

While Dyer made all seven of his appearances in relief, Hendrix started all 13 of his games on the mound. With 68 innings of work on his resume, Hendrix averaged about five innings per start. 

Although he averaged only five, he managed to pitch over six innings in six separate games. One of those was a complete game against Edmonds Community College where he spun nine innings of one-run baseball off only five hits. 

He also struck out 76 batters in those 13 starts while only walking 23 and allowing 53 hits. This efficiency made him a deadly starting arm for the Trojans in Everett. 

The Woodinville native will start his sophomore year with the Trojans, but has set a high bar for himself after his freshman showing. When he joins the Sox in the summer, he could be a solid starting arm that can carry Wenatchee deep into games. Or, Hendrix could be a lethal relief man to bridge the gap to the AppleSox’s closers. 

Regardless of his upcoming role, Hendrix has a full spring to develop in Everett before he heads east to take the mound in the summer. 

Hiroshi Johnson - Freshman - RHP

Fresh out of Redmond high school, both the Trojans and AppleSox are adding a bullpen arm with serious potential. The incoming freshman anchored the Mustang bullpen in Redmond last year, making eight appearances (all in relief). 

Through 33 ⅔ innings pitched, Johnson struck out 30, walked 11, gave up 31 hits but only allowed eight runs. This rang up his ERA to an impressive 1.66 after his senior season.

What’s more impressive is that he gave up no doubles, triples or home runs while having a 0.216 batting average against him. His ability to limit quality contact and hold offenses to low danger opportunities shows why Johnson started all four years on varsity for the Mustangs. 
His velocity does not necessarily jump off the page, clocking in at 81-84 miles per hour. However, the 30 strikeouts and lack of power contact show that his secondary pitches are crafty enough to get the job done. 

With his college career just beginning, it will be interesting to see if the velocity climbs and how exactly Johnson develops in Everett. Nonetheless, he could prove to be a beneficial bridge arm for both Everett and Wenatchee.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

THREE BULLDOGS HEADING TO WENATCHEE IN 2026

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu 

Three Bulldogs heading to Wenatchee in 2026 

In 2026, the Wenatchee AppleSox are opening their doors to three Gonzaga Bulldogs. All three will be making their first appearance in an AppleSox jersey after this coming season in Spokane. Landon White, Ryder Young and Kainoa Santiago are all making the two and a half hour drive west to Wenatchee for the 2026 summer season. 

In addition to being first-time AppleSox, all three are joining the Zags for the first time this year. Whether it is a freshman coming off a state championship run, a sophomore who batted nearly 0.500 in JUCO, or a junior with a career 1.214 OPS, both the Zags and Sox are adding quality talent to the diamond. 

With the pleasantries out of the way, let’s dive into these three Bulldogs… 

Landon White - Sophomore - 3B

In just his first year of JUCO, White proved why he deserved the call-up to Spokane. With Mt. San Antonio College in California, the now sophomore third baseman absolutely mashed the baseball. 

116 hits, 33 doubles, seven home runs, 75 RBI’s, a 0.481 average, and a 1.242 OPS in 51 games made White stand out on the Mounties roster. 

Those numbers at the dish made him the 3C2A JUCO player of the Year for California. That honor is mainly due to his ranking first in the conference for doubles, second for hits, seventh for RBI’s, and ninth for batting average. 

How he performs with the Zags is still up in the air. Gonzaga is retaining infielders Mikey Bell and Hudson Shupe, who both were lethal at the plate last year. However, they lost three members of the infield, opening the door for White to shine at the corner infield slot. 

Safe to say, White is excited to get to work in Spokane. 

“I chose Gonzaga due to their academic prestige and how consistently well their baseball program develops players for the next level,” White said in a statement to Gonzaga Athletics.

Ryder Young - Junior - UTL  

As impressive as White was in one year of JUCO, Young made his mark over two years at Chaffey College.

A career 0.411 average, 1.214 OPS, 146 hits, 103 RBI’s, 107 runs, 36 doubles, and 23 home runs constituted his tenure with the Chaffey Panthers. With those stats, Young broke program records for home runs, doubles, RBIs, and runs. 

What stood out about his two-year stint at Chaffey was his year-over-year growth. 30 more hits, 29 more RBI’s, nine more homers, and two more doubles. He managed to one-up each of these categories in just four more games played in his second year. 

Being a utility player, Young similarly has a good path to playing time in Spokane. With the Zags losing numerous position players to graduation and the transfer portal, Young can win himself a spot. His ability to play both ends of the field means he could be a useful swiss-army knife, both for the Bulldogs and the Sox. 

And while he is a first-time AppleSox, he is not new to summer league baseball. Last summer, Young played six games with the Orange County Riptide in the California Collegiate League. In only 12 at-bats, Young recorded two hits, giving him a batting average of 0.167. 

While his playing time was stunted in Orange County, he should be getting plenty of work on the diamond in Wenatchee in 2026. 

Kainoa Santiago - Freshman - OF

Despite being ranked No. 16 in Oregon, Santiago has no stats available for his senior year at Jesuit High School in Portland. Plus, his junior year stats do not paint the full picture. 

In just five games played, Santiago batted 0.462, smacked six hits, five RBI’s, two doubles, a triple, and a home run. While the sample size is incredibly small, the power and production in that short amount of time speaks volumes. 

What is known about his senior year is that Santiago and the Jesuit Crusaders battled their way to the semifinals of the Oregon 6A State Championship. The Crusaders blew out Lincoln High School in the opening round 9-0, and then barely edged out Sandy High School 3-2 in the quarterfinals. 

However, they came up short against Grant High School, losing 8-2 in the semifinals.  

As a left-handed outfielder, Santiago joins a Gonzaga lineup that has lost depth in the outfield. With Sam Stem and Max Coupe departing, Santiago could potentially become a mainstay of the corner outfield. However, as a freshman, he has an uphill battle to win a spot. 

But, regardless of his playing time, Santiago is excited to get to work with the Bulldogs. 

"I chose Gonzaga because of the amazing academics, as well as the great coaching that helps with baseball development as well as human development," Santiago said in astatement to Gonzaga Athletics.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

TWO JUCO CONNECTIONS ADDED TO 2026 ROSTER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jackson Dodd - applesoxmedia@gmail.com

TWO JUCO CONNECTIONS ADDED TO 2026 ROSTER

The AppleSox organization announced on Thursday the addition of two players with junior college connections to the 2026 AppleSox roster. Trevor Young and Brooks Pinski, who both appeared on last season’s roster, will join the ‘Sox this summer. 

Young was a consistent presence on the mound last summer, coming into relief 12 times throughout the season. The righty was lights-out as well, picking up eight scoreless outings and two wins. His best performance came against Victoria, earning a win, after throwing two scoreless innings, giving up only one hit, and striking out two. 

The Bothell native is a redshirt sophomore at Everett Community College. He has yet to make an appearance on the rubber this season, but is sure to see action soon. Last spring, Young appeared 11 times and recorded a 1-1 record. He punched out 25 batters while only giving up 13 walks in 20 innings of work. 

Pinski returns to Wenatchee after a short three-game spell last season. He joined the ’Sox toward the end of the summer, just as they were gearing up for their final set of games and in need of additional pitching depth. Pinski only appeared for a few innings, but he did record two scoreless outings in relief. 

The Manson native is entering his sophomore season at Spokane Falls Community College and has only seen the mound once this spring, throwing a scoreless inning with a strikeout. In 2024, as a senior at Manson High School, Brooks was ranked the No. 20 right-handed pitcher and the No. 47 overall player in Washington, while also being named Pitcher of the Year.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

APPLESOX ADD THREE MORE RETURNING ARMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jackson Dodd - applesoxmedia@gmail.com

APPLESOX ADD THREE MORE RETURNING ARMS 

The AppleSox organization announced Monday the addition of three players to the 2026 roster. Returning arms Mitch Haythorn, Dylan Schlenger, and Easton Brooks will join this summer’s team. This week’s roster additions come from UNC (N. Colorado), Eastern Illinois, and Utah Tech. 

Haythorn was a star on the mound last summer, leading the league in strikeouts (54) and recording a division best 3.32 ERA over 49.2 innings of work. After starting opening day for the ‘Sox and staying through the playoffs, Haythorn picked up a team best 4 wins over 11 games, all of which were starts. Even more impressive, Haythorn had five separate outings where he gave up only one run. His success last summer was rewarded, being selected as an All-Star and the Top Prospect for the North Division at the 2025 WCL All-Star Game. 

The Eaton native is in his first year at UNC (N. Colorado) after a year redshirting at Oklahoma. Haythorn has seen little action this spring, tossing only 0.2 innings, but is sure to see more time on the rubber as the season progresses. As a senior in high school, he pitched 45 innings while posting a 1.99 ERA with 88 strikeouts. After recording an 11-0 season, Haythorn was named First Team All-State for the second year in a row. Before graduating, he was the No. 4 right-handed pitcher and No. 6 overall player in Colorado as well as a top-500 overall player nationally ranked by Perfect Game. 

Schlenger joined the AppleSox late in 2025, but made the most of his five appearances. After the AppleSox were in need of extra arms at the midway point of the season, Schlenger was called in to fill the gap. He recorded a 3.21 ERA with eight strikeouts over 14 innings pitched. In each of his five outings, Schlenger held the opposing bats to two runs or less. 

The Woodway native is in his junior season at Columbia Basin after recording a 5-4 record last spring. Schlenger looks to build off a strong sophomore season where he posted a 3.24 ERA with 58 strikeouts and only 24 walks over 83.1 innings. He was primarily a starter for the Hawks, but did come into relief twice, picking up a save along the way. 

Brooks returns for his second season in Wenatchee after an impressive last summer. Like Haythorn, Brooks stayed with the ‘Sox all season; however, his role shifted from reliever to starter as the summer progressed. Nevertheless, the shift didn’t phase him, as he recorded a 2-1 record after the change. Brooks posted a 2.52 ERA with 39 strikeouts and only 14 walks over 35.2 innings of work. The righty picked up six scoreless outings over the season with his best outing coming against Edmonton. He tossed seven scoreless innings against the Riverhawks while only giving up three hits and earning nine strikeouts. 

The Herriman native is now a sophomore at Utah Tech after 14 appearances on the mound as a freshman in 2025. Over those outings, he recorded a 4.50 ERA with 13 strikeouts over 12 innings. This spring, Brooks has already picked up his first win over two outings. Though he never hit for the ‘Sox, he has had an appearance at the plate where he recorded an RBI.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

APPLESOX ADD THREE RETURNERS FROM KNIGHTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jackson Dodd - applesoxmedia@gmail.com

APPLESOX ADD THREE RETURNERS FROM KNIGHTS

The AppleSox organization announced on Thursday the addition of three players to the 2026 roster. Joe Schuyleman, Luke Sterkel, and Alec Johnson return to the AppleSox after appearing on the 2025 season’s roster. The three, all familiar with Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, are all former or current Wenatchee Valley College student athletes. 

Schuyleman returns to his hometown after punching out 11 batters in 11.1 innings over seven relief outings. Last summer, he signed with the AppleSox on a 10-day contract, but returned later in the season to increase their bullpen depth. In his first game back, Schuyleman earned a win in non-league play against the Redmond Dudes on July 3rd. 

The Wenatchee native had 11 appearances on the mound, six of which were starts as a freshman at Wenatchee Valley. He had a 4-2 record with 35 strikeouts over 51.1 innings pitched. Schuyleman recorded a 2.07 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 10 outings as a senior at Wenatchee High School in 2024. 

Sterkel made just four appearances on the mound last season but impressed, recording a 2.77 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 13 innings. He started three games, highlighted by his best outing on June 17, when he earned the win against Dub Sea after tossing five innings, striking out four, and allowing just one run on three hits. 

The Ellensburg native is also entering his sophomore season at Wenatchee Valley and is looking to build off a successful freshman campaign. Last spring, Sterkel punched out 44 batters and recorded a 3.75 ERA over 48 innings in 12 appearances (eight starts). As a senior at Ellensburg High School, he posted an impressive 1.24 ERA with 14 strikeouts in five games in 2024. 

Johnson returns for his second season with the AppleSox after pitching lights out last summer. He recorded a 1.35 ERA with 22 strikeouts and only four walks over 20 innings in five games. Johnson went 2–0 on the season, recording five scoreless innings in each outing.

The Enumclaw native is a sophomore at Loyola Marymount after transferring from Wenatchee Valley. He earned NWAC East Region First Team honors after posting a 1.53 ERA with 70 punchouts and 18 walks in 11 games (all starts) in 2025. In 2024, Johnson earned First Team All-State Pitcher and recorded an 8-0 record with a 0.22 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 11 games as a senior at Enumclaw High School.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

APPLESOX REVEAL FIRST THREE MEMBERS OF 2026 ROSTER

APPLESOX REVEAL FIRST THREE MEMBERS OF 2026 ROSTER

The AppleSox organization announced on Monday the addition of the first three players to the 2026 roster. Kanoa Morisaki, Joe Thornton, and Drew Welk will join this summer’s team. All of them are returning players; Morisaki and Thornton come back to Wenatchee after appearing on last summer’s roster, while Welk returns after an appearance in the 2024 season. 

Morisaki will once again lend his versatile skillset to the AppleSox in 2026. A key playmaker in his two previous seasons in Wenatchee, Morisaki has filled in wherever needed: in the infield, behind the plate, and on the mound. After sharing time between shortstop and catcher in the 2024 season, Morisaki returned to the ‘Sox in 2025 as their main man behind the plate. The switch-hitter went on to make 23 starts at catcher and four relief appearances on the mound, where he posted a 2-0 record with a 0.75 ERA and 13 punchouts. 

The Honolulu native was solid at the plate as well, batting .225 with 18 hits and seven RBI. Morisaki is a junior at Cal State Bakersfield, where he splits time between catching and pitching. He finished the season with a 3.60 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 20 innings in one start and 13 relief appearances. 

Thornton showed impressive swing-and-miss stuff in 2025, punching out 17 batters in 20.1 innings over nine outings. Despite battling a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season, he went on to have one of the lowest ERAs on the team (1.77) and led the team in saves (3). Thornton was one of Wenatchee’s most reliable relievers, not allowing any runs in six different outings. His success over the season did not go unnoticed, as he was named an All-Star for the 2025 season.

The Tonasket native also shone as a two-way player, hitting .400 through ten at-bats and drawing three walks. He is in his first season at Gonzaga after spending two seasons at Spokane Falls. Thornton transferred after slashing .341/.416/.408 with 10 extra-base hits in 49 games last spring. On the mound, he was just as impressive, finishing the season with a 2.02 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 13.1 innings in 11 appearances. 

Welk appeared just once in non-league action in 2024, but he made it count on June 3, earning a win over the Redmond Dudes by throwing five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, and striking out five.

The Gig Harbor native is a junior at Saint Louis after transferring from Bellevue College. Welk looks to build on a strong sophomore year, during which he posted a 1.63 ERA with 42 strikeouts and earned two saves in 27.2 innings. As a freshman, Welk appeared in 10 games and tossed 15.2 innings with 18 punchouts and a 3.45 ERA. 

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.

Contact applesoxmedia@gmail.com for more information.

AppleSox Welcome New Coach Ian Sagdal

The Wenatchee AppleSox are thrilled to announce that Ian Sagdal has officially joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2026 season. A native of Wenatchee, Sagdal brings a wealth of playing experience from his collegiate and professional years to the ‘Sox.

“Ian is an A+ hire for us,” said AppleSox Head Coach Mitch Darlington. “His prior playing experience, not only at the Division 1 level but also professionally, will be a huge asset to our players. Ian being a Wenatchee local and former standout at Washington State was a huge factor in this hire. He knows the rich history of success with the AppleSox organization and will be the perfect fit for this coaching staff.”

Born and raised in East Wenatchee, he excelled in youth leagues before going on to distinguish himself at the high school level. In his sophomore season, Sagdal batted an impressive .476 and was named All-Columbia Basin Big Nine First Team second baseman. As a senior, he kept the hot bat alive, hitting .435 and earning All-South Puget Sound League honorable mention as a shortstop. Sagdal also showed incredible success on the mound, throwing his first ever no-hitter. 

“Ian was very determined that he was going to be a professional baseball player,” stated his high school coach, Brandon Schmitten. “He worked relentlessly all the time and was one of the hardest workers I’ve been around. When he first joined the team, he was small, but in his sophomore and junior seasons, he worked through an eight-inch growth spurt and became a beast. The thing I remember the most about Ian was that he was a great shortstop and hitter, but you could really see his grit and determination on the mound, where he eventually became our #1 starter.”

After graduating in 2011, Sagdal decided to stay in state and play for the Washington State Cougars for four years. At WSU, he established himself as a key infielder and a consistent presence in the lineup. Sagdal was thrown right into the lineup once joining, as he had 50 starts his freshman year. As a sophomore, he batted .253 with 23 hits, three of which were triples, which tied for the most on the team. In his junior season, Sagdal established himself not only in the field and at the plate but also on the basepaths, where he was a perfect five-for-five in stolen bases.

However, his senior year, in particular, was marked by standout performance. Sagdal led the Cougars in batting average (.298), home runs (6), RBIs (34), doubles (13), runs scored (35), and stolen bases (13), becoming the first player in over two decades to lead the team in all of those categories. He also tied for second in the PAC-12 conference for triples (5) and was ninth in slugging percentage (.498). Sagdal bounced around the infield in his time with WSU, playing every position, but settled in at second base as a senior, where he earned All-PAC-12 Conference honorable mention.

Following the conclusion of his senior season, Sagdal got the call to the Big Leagues in the 16th round of the 2015 MLB Draft, as the Washington Nationals selected him as the 494th overall pick. He spent six years in the minors, advancing as high as the Double-A level with the Harrisburg Senators. During his time with the Senators, Sagdal played alongside notable Major League players like Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon. Through his six years in the minors, Sagdal batted .277 with 556 hits, earning three MiLB Organization All-Star Awards.

After his rookie contract expired, Sagdal decided to continue playing ball and joined the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the American Association. After having a successful season there, batting .317, he moved onto a winter league team called the Mayos de Navojoa in the Mexican Pacific Winter League, where he would play his last season of baseball.

When he retired, Sagdal took a three-year break from the game, but it didn’t last long, as he got the itch to come back to baseball after coaching an 11u team in Woodinville. After that, he was hooked and quickly became a part of the Edmonds Community College coaching staff, where he currently serves as an assistant coach. When he’s not coaching, Sagdal is spending time with his wife, Hailey, and their corgi, Rally.

Reflecting on his new role, Sagdal expressed his excitement: “I can’t wait to be around that home park. I have so many fond memories of watching the games and collecting foul balls so that I can use them for my own batting practice. Every time I’m back there, I find there’s something about that field and that crowd that just gives you goosebumps. And I’m just so happy that Mitch Darlington is trusting me and bringing me in to continue to put championship product on that field.”

Sagdal will join assistant coaches Xander Orejudos and Quincy Vassar on head coach Mitch Darlington’s staff. Darlington is now entering his fifth year as head coach with Wenatchee and looks to bring another playoff run back to the ‘Sox. He looks forward to another year at Paul Thomas, the ballpark atmosphere, and the fans.

Wenatchee's Season Comes to a Close

The AppleSox’s season comes to an end after a 4-3 loss in extras against the Bellingham Bells Sunday night. 

Evan Cloyd went 2-4 and scored twice in the ballgame. JeeHee Lee went 1-3 with an RBI to give Wenatchee the lead in the fourth. 

Karsten Sweum returned to the ‘Sox for the start, tossing three innings with a hit, two walks, and three strikeouts. Dylan Schlenger came in relief, pitching four innings and giving up two runs on three hits, one walk, and three punch-outs. Cam Hoiland came in the eight, throwing 2.1 innings with one run, three hits, and two walks. Garet Hagy was charged with the loss after surrendering a walkoff single in the tenth; he pitched a third inning with two hits and a run given up. 

Wenatchee took a 2-0 lead in the fourth after Izzy Madariaga and Cloyd scored. However, Bellingham tied it after earning two runs of their own in the eighth. After the bases were loaded in the ninth, Davis D’Errico was hit by a pitch to put the ‘Sox up a run. Bellingham then tied it with a sac fly to take the game to extras. 

After the AppleSox bats went down in order in the top of the tenth, Bellingham walked the game off with an RBI single, bringing the game to the final score.

Bellingham took game one of the series 7-6 in Wenatchee Friday evening, but the ‘Sox forced a game three after a 7-6 win Saturday night. With the loss Sunday, Wenatchee’s season comes to a close. 

The AppleSox will return next summer for another season of WCL baseball. 

AppleSox Force Game Three

A 13 inning effort by the ‘Sox forces game three after the 7-6 win Saturday night against the Bellingham Bells. 

Cade Martinez went 3-5 with an RBI to close the gap in the sixth. Adam Haight went 2-5 with a two RBI single to tie the game in the eighth. 

Mitch Haythorn earned the win after tossing 3.2 innings giving up two runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Adam Haight came in relief pitching 4.1 with two hits, one run, and four K’s. Jeter Schuerman closed the ninth with two walks and two strikeouts. Kanoa Morisaki pitched the rest of the game, throwing four innings while only giving up a hit and earning five punchouts. 

Wenatchee got ahead early with one run in the first after a double by Haight brought home Izzy Madariaga. The Bells took a 5-1 lead until the sixth when the AppleSox snapped back with two runs of their own. The ‘Sox took the lead in the ninth after a double by Kanoa Morisaki scored Noah Fields. However, Bellingham tied the game at 6-6 to bring the game to extra innings. 

After three scoreless innings, the AppleSox got a run on the board after Theo Kim scored from an error at second. Morisaki then sent three-up three-down in the bottom of the 13th to close the ballgame. 

The ‘Sox look to take the series and advance to the North Division Championship Series Tuesday with a win Sunday night. 

AppleSox Drop Playoff Opener 7-6

A comeback effort falls short in the opening game of the best of three playoff series as Wenatchee loses to Bellingham 7-6. 

Cam Hoiland went 3-4 with a solo homer to lead off the ninth and bring Wenatchee within a run. Evan Cloyd went 2-4 with a two-run single in the seventh to make it a 7-5 game. Noah Fields went 1-4 with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3 in the sixth. 

Easton Brooks took the L after tossing 6.1 innings giving up four runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Garrett Hagy tossed a scoreless inning and gave up three walks. 

Bellingham took a 3-0 lead through two innings. Wenatchee fought back with three runs in the 6th to tie it at 3-3. Brooks gave up a triple, an RBI double, and a two-run home run in the 7th to make it a 7-3 game. Wenatchee scored two in the seventh on Cloyd’s single, and came within a run in the ninth but fell short. 

Wenatchee has a chance to even the series in Game two of the best of three series at Bellingham at 6:35 p.m. Saturday. 

Last season, the ‘Sox lost the opening game against the Bells on the road and won the next two games to advance to the North Division Championship series.

Kucy, Martinez Lead AppleSox To Sweep To Close Regular Season

Ryan Kucy tossed six innings of relief and the Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Kelowna Falcons, 8-4, on Wednesday night at Elks Stadium.

Wenatchee (31-23, 15-12 second half) earned its fourth sweep of the summer and ended the regular season by winning four of its final five games. The AppleSox never trailed in the entire series, scoring two runs in the top of the first before retaking the lead with a three-run fourth.

Ryan Kucy entered in the fourth inning and crossed the finish line. He only allowed two runs in relief, both in the fifth, before silencing the Falcons over the final four innings. He struck out six and retired nine straight hitters from the fifth through the seventh.

Cade Martinez recorded two hits for his 20th multi-hit game of the summer. The 2025 West Coast League All-Star moved into a tie with Evan Johnson (2017) and Sam Brown (2014) for the second-most in team single-season league regular season play. Martinez also finished the summer leading the AppleSox in hits (60), doubles (11), walks (27), hit by pitches (10) and stolen bases (nine). His two-out 2-RBI single in a three-run fourth proved to be the game-winning hit.

The AppleSox stole a run two batters before Martinez came through. After back-to-back walks and a ground to put runners at second and third to open the inning, Jack McWilliams struck out but reached first on a passed ball that allowed the go-ahead run to score. That came shortly after Kelowna had scored once in the first and then the tying run in the bottom of the third.

The Falcons made it a one-run game with a two-spot in the fifth but the AppleSox added insurance in the ninth with three more runs. Kanoa Morisaki hit a pinch-hit single, Martinez reached on an error and Cam Hoiland was hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Evan Cloyd hit a 2-RBI single to right field and then Theo Kim was hit by a pitch three batters later with the bases loaded to bring in the final run of the night.

The 2025 campaign marked the AppleSox’ third straight 30-win season and their seventh in franchise history. Wenatchee has qualified for the postseason for the fourth straight season and 17th time. It will face the Bellingham Bells in the best-of-three North Division Series this weekend. Game 1 is at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium Friday night before Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3 take place at Joe Martin Field the next two nights. Tickets for Friday night’s game can be purchased now at applesox.com