APPLESOX CLOBBER HARBOURCATS, TAKE SEASON-OPENING SERIES

/
recap.png

VICTORIA, B.C. - The Wenatchee AppleSox wrapped up their season-opening series with a 14-2 victory over the Victoria HarbourCats on Sunday afternoon at River Athletic Park. With the win, the AppleSox took two of the three meetings with the HarbourCats and improve to 2-1 on the season.

Hunter Boyd led the way for the AppleSox by allowing two runs over seven innings on the mound. Boyd struck out eight, five of which were looking, and didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning en route to picking up the win.

The big breakthrough for the AppleSox bats took place in the second inning, when they scored five runs on five hits off HarbourCats' starter Conner Nantkes. Sam Swenson led off with a single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Harvey. After Brady Hinkle singled to put runners at first and third with one out, Joey Magro and JaShaun Simon followed with consecutive singles to score Swenson and Hinkle, respectively. John Sage walked to load up the bases and a Mason Marenco hit into a fielder's choice to score Magro. After Marenco stole second base, he and Simon scored on a flare single to right field by Cory Meyer.

The AppleSox would add singular runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to pad their lead. With two outs, Hinkle was plunked by reliever Garrison Ritter and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Simon hit a grounder to the second baseman that was bobbled and an errant throw home played Hinkle.

In the fourth, Marenco led off with a triple to center field for his third extra-base hit of the season in as many games. Alix Garcia's groundout two batters later scored Marenco and made it 7-0, AppleSox.

An inning later, Harvey was hit by a pitch and stole second to lead off the inning. Magro was also plunked and the two runners moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch. Simon's scarifice fly to right field scored Harvey to give the AppleSox an eight-run lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the HarbourCats broke up Boyd's no-hitter and scored two runs to cut the deficit to six runs. However, the AppleSox wasted no time in getting those two runs back. With one out, Hinkle reached on an error by Victoria's shortstop. Magro doubled to left and he and Hinkle both scored on another error by the shortstop.

The AppleSox added their final four runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Meyer reached on a two-base throwing error by the third baseman in the eigth, then scored on Garcia's RBI single. 

A three-run punch in the ninth capped off the scoring. After Simon singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, he scored on Sage's single. Marenco singled and Meyer reached on another error to load the bases and Garcia singled in two runs with a single. All three runs in the ninth came with two outs.

The AppleSox return to Wenatchee for their home opener against the River City Athletics on Tuesday night. Before then, the AppleSox will hold their annual Fan Fest on Monday night from 5-7 p.m. Fans can attend a live practice, pick up ticket packages and buy concessions and merchandise. The event is free to attend.