AppleSox Add Four from UC Irvine

Three freshmen and an incoming high school recruit will join the Wenatchee AppleSox from UC Irvine this summer. Outfielders Evan Cassolato and Adam Alcantara, infielder John Brontsema, and right-handed pitcher Shaun Vetrovec are set to join the AppleSox.

The Anteaters have consistently provided players to the AppleSox since Mike Gillespie was hired as the school’s head coach before the 2008 season. Gillespie recently won his 1,000th game as a Division I head coach.  

“UC Irvine is an outstanding program and we are fortunate to get such high-quality players from them every summer,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs.  

Cassolato, from Encinitas, CA, is in his first season seeing action at UC Irvine after redshirting last year. The left-handed hitting outfielder helped Cathedral Catholic High School win California Interscholastic Federation championships in 2011 and 2012. In addition to his success on the field, he was named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team in 2011 and 2012.

Alcantara is a freshman for the Anteaters out of Alta Loma, CA. He was an All-CIF second-team choice as a senior at Bishop Amat High School, where he also was named to the All-Serra League first-team his senior season after hitting .367 and driving in 21 runs.

“Both guys are quality outfielders that can run and defend very well,” said Knaggs. “They are the kind of players that can hit at the top of the lineup.”  

Brontsema, out of Santa Barbara, CA, is the son of former UC Santa Barbara coach Bob Brontsema. The freshman infielder hit .391 and was an all-city selection last year as a senior at Santa Barbara High School.

“He comes from the long line of UC Irvine infielders that we have had in Wenatchee,” said Knaggs. “Each infielder we have ever had from the Anteaters are fundamentally sound and know how to play the game right.”

Vetrovec is a senior at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, CA. The UC Irvine-commit is set to join the Anteaters in the fall after playing for the AppleSox. He earned first-team All-Sunset League accolades his junior year after going 5-4 with a 2.20 ERA.

“He is not only a top-flight recruit, but also a very bright kid,” said Knaggs. “He has a great future in front of him we look forward to having him pitch in Wenatchee this season.”

The 2014 season will begin at home on June 4th with a two-game series against the San Francisco Seals. The AppleSox will play a 59-game schedule this summer that includes 32 homes games.

Single game tickets start at just $6 for adults and $5 for kids. Season tickets are available now and can be purchased by contacting the AppleSox office at (509) 665-6900.

Alumni Night Schedule for July 12th

It’s hard to believe we’ve been celebrating summer with AppleSox baseball for 15 years. The AppleSox are planning a special night to honor and bring back as many of those players and coaches who have been a part of the experience. Saturday, July 12th is the special night. In a pre-game ceremony those AppleSox “alumni” in attendance will be recognized on the field.

Getting in touch with over 300+ players is quite a challenge. Coach Knaggs is asking for help in reaching out to former Sox. If you are a former player, host family, or fan who is in contact (phone, email, facebook, etc) with anyone who has put on the AppleSox uniform could you please make them aware of the date and contact Coach Knaggs with their email or number?

As part of the anniversary the AppleSox have assemble an All-Time team of players!   Coach Knaggs, with the help of statistician Bruce Bennett and former coaches, has put together a team of players who were the best at their position (including five starting pitchers, a relief pitcher, closer, utility, and Designated Hitter). This group of players will be announced at the beginning of the 2014 season.

We look forward to the start of another summer of AppleSox baseball. Please contact Coach Knaggs with any questions or player contact information you may have. See you out at the ballpark!

For more information or to share alumni contact info, please contact the AppleSox office at (509) 665-6900 or email knaggs.e@hotmail.com

AppleSox Release 15th Anniversary Logo

The Wenatchee AppleSox will wear commemorative jerseys in 2014 which will include a new 15th anniversary logo. The jerseys will be auctioned off at the end of the season with the proceeds being donated to charity. Fans will be able to purchase limited edition 15th anniversary t-shirts and sweatshirts at games this year.

"It’s incredible how quickly time flies. It seems like yesterday that we were preparing for the first game in team history,” said AppleSox owner/general manager Jim Corcoran. “Here we are fifteen years later and we thought creating this logo and including it as part of our on-field look this season would be a fun way to celebrate the anniversary.”                       

The 2014 season will begin at home on June 4th with a two-game series against the San Francisco Seals. The AppleSox will play a 59-game schedule this summer that includes 32 homes games.

Single game tickets start at just $6 for adults and $5 for kids. Season tickets are available now and can be purchased by contacting the AppleSox office at (509) 665-6900.

Season Highlights Lubking Strikes out 10

Trevor Lubking (Pacific Lutheran University) came into the game on July 3rd with the expansion HarbourCats in search of his first win of the season. Lubking was coming off of a gut wrenching loss in Medford, in a game that saw Lubking come within 2 outs of a no-hitter. In that loss Lubking only surrendered 1 hit, but it was a walk-off home run as the Rogues won 2-1.

Even on a night laden with a landslide of runs and fireworks show, Trevor Lubking was simply a cut above the rest. The southpaw hurled 6 shutout innings giving up just 5 hits. Perhaps those gusts of wind that helped propel several AppleSox balls deep in to the sky were created by the HarbourCats impression of a single bladed ceiling fan. Lubking pounded the strike zone all night by throwing 78 of his 108 pitches for strikes. All of those swings and misses accounted for 10 strikeouts.