AppleSox Announce 2022 Coaching Staff Additions

The Wenatchee AppleSox have hired Mitch Darlington to be their sixth head coach in team history. Wenatchee Valley College head coach Aaron Vaughn has also been hired as associate head coach.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Mitch and Aaron to the AppleSox organization,” General Manager Allie Schank said. “An obvious benefit to hiring Mitch and Aaron is that they work nearby, but they also have tremendous personalities that will benefit this organization on and off the field.”

Darlington has coached elite high school players and helped prepare them for collegiate careers at the Baseball Northwest Championships since 2018. He served as an assistant coach at Big Bend Community College from 2017-19.

Darlington graduated from Cashmere High School in 2012 and went on to play baseball at Big Bend Community College before moving on to Central Washington. He works as the athletic director and physical education teacher at Mansfield High School and resides in Chelan.

"Having grown up in the Wenatchee Valley, watching the AppleSox play as a kid and now being able to coach the team is a dream come true,” Darlington said. “I know the passion and pride that our community takes in AppleSox baseball and I look forward to the challenge of exceeding those high expectations."

Vaughn was hired by Wenatchee Valley College on Aug. 8 to head coach their baseball team and will help Darlington and the AppleSox front office recruit the 2022 team. He worked as the pitching coach and strength coach in his three seasons at Big Bend prior to joining the Knights. Vaughn played collegiately at Northwest Nazarene before signing with the Houston Astros and playing a year in their minor leagues in 2014.

Ian Sanderson head coached the AppleSox in 2021 but will not return after accepting a position as the pitching coach at Oakland University. If a summer collegiate team employs an NCAA coach, whether as the head coach or as an assistant, then the summer team is not allowed to field any junior college players due to recruiting conflicts of interest. The AppleSox thank Sanderson for his time with the team and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

The AppleSox will look to hire one more coach to fill out the final spot of their coaching staff.

The AppleSox’ 2022 schedule will be announced later this fall. Fans can ensure their seat to every home game with season tickets by emailing allie@applesox.com. Season tickets run as affordable as $133 and include invitations to free team events in the offseason. The AppleSox are also seeking host parents to house 2022 players. Host parents receive free season tickets as a thank you from the team for their support of AppleSox baseball. To purchase season tickets or sign up to be a host parent, please email allie@applesox.com.