APPLESOX ROSTER EXPANDS WITH REGIONAL ADDITIONS, MOSES LAKE NATIVE

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox continue to roll out the 2017 roster, with the next round of incoming players coming from schools around the Pacific Northwest, including Western Oregon, Central Washington, Montana State-Billings, Yakima Valley Community College and Whitman, head coach Kyle Krustangel announced Monday.

Five of the six newcomers from around the PNW will pitch for the AppleSox this summer. One of those pitchers is from nearby Moses Lake, Wash.

“For both the Division I and non-Division I guys that we signed this time around, we feel like we got the best players from those teams,” said AppleSox head coach Kyle Krustangel. “As a guy who came from a D-III school, playing in the WCL is like playing in the big leagues. Getting the chance to play in front of 2,000 fans night-after-night is an unforgettable experience, and it’s a chance for all of these guys to showcase their skills at the top level.”

Krustangel will see one of his now-current, soon-to-be former Yakima Valley Community College Yaks come to the Wenatchee Valley this summer.

Hunter Boyd, a junior-to-be, is a right-hander from Moses Lake, a city with many AppleSox fans and sponsors. Boyd started seven games for the NWAC-Champion Yaks a season ago, and posted the third-most wins on the team, with three.

“I’m thrilled to have Hunter Boyd,” Krustangel said. “He is a top-notch guy who is currently uncommitted for next year, and has seven offers from great schools. He is a guy that will work hard, and is excited to pitch close to Moses Lake. He’s a team leader at YVCC and was a major reason we won an NWAC Championship last season.”

Montana State-Billings offers a pair of juniors-to-be to the AppleSox, in Steen Fredrickson and Jalen Garcia. Both will pitch, and Garcia will also primarily play in the outfield.

Fredrickson is a two-time all-conference selection from Ashland High School, in Oregon. He has won two-straight GNAC regular-season titles with the Yellowjackets.

Garcia transferred to MSU-Billings this past season, after spending a season at Corban University. He is a product of Billings Christian School in Montana, where he enjoyed a three-sport playing career that included time on the school’s football and basketball teams, along with his three all-state baseball selections.

Alongside Boyd, and two Montana State arms, is Connor McCord, a current freshman at Western Oregon University.

McCord also has playing experience at first base, and is a product of Corona Del Sol High School out of Gilbert, Ariz. So far, he owns the third-lowest ERA of any of the Wolves pitchers, and is batting .357.

Griffin Davis also joins the pitching staff, out of Central Washington University. He is a Spokane native, and will be a senior for the Wildcats next year.

Davis spent time at Walla Walla Community College prior to inking with the Wildcats last fall.

Adrian Vela, from Whitman, rounds out the most recent AppleSox roster announcement. He is a middle infielder, who has three years of collegiate playing experience, and will help anchor things defensively for the AppleSox.

He was an All-NWC First and Second Team selection each of the last two seasons, and hails from Bothell, Wash.

The Wenatchee AppleSox open their 18th season of play June 2, 2017 at Walla Walla, and play their home opener in Wenatchee Thursday, June 8, 2017. For more information, fans can visit www.applesox.com.