McKabe Cottrell Named WCL Pitcher of the Week

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (27-21, 12-9 second half) were led to a pivotal series sweep at Port Angeles this week by freshman McKabe Cottrell, and the WCL has named him Pitcher of the Week for his efforts, league president Brian Sloan announced, Monday.

Cottrell is the second AppleSox player to take home a Player of the Week honor for the AppleSox this season (Evan Johnson, week of June 1). He is also the first true freshman to win a Player of the Week honor since the AppleSox began tracking Player of the Week results in 2014.

This is also the first time since the AppleSox began tracking Player of the Weeks, that Wenatchee has had two Player of the Week honors in the same season. Cottrell is the first to take home a Player of the Week accolade in July or August.

Cottrell was unbelievable in a complete-game shutout win at Port Angeles, July 27. The victory secured a sweep for the AppleSox, who are now .5 games out of first place in the WCL North Second-Half playoff race. Cottrell took a Perfect Game into the sixth inning at Port Angeles, before it was broken up on a two-out bunt.

He ended up only allowing two hits, and struck out 10 batters for the team’s first complete-game shutout since 2011 (Owen Jones).

Cottrell also kickstarted a string of three-straight victories for true-freshman AppleSox pitchers. Alek Jacob won his first collegiate game July 29 vs. Walla Walla, and Mike Townsend followed it up with his first collegiate win, July 30 in the 2-1 series victory over the Sweets.

AppleSox fans can expect to see Cottrell start game two vs. Corvallis, Aug. 2, in the team’s final regular season home series.