Merchants Unleash Bats

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-13, 15-13) found themselves in an offensive battle on Tuesday night as the Everett Merchants (18-6) combined with Wenatchee for 40 hits. The Merchants won 14-8.

Both teams shot out of a cannon offensively on Tuesday. Everett placed four runs on the board in the top of the first and Wenatchee answered back with five runs in the bottom half, after Cooper Elliott tattooed a three-run home run over the right field wall to give Wenatchee a 5-4 lead.

The AppleSox added another run in the second to take a 6-4 lead.

In the next three half innings, Everett ran wild offensively. Two runs in the third and fourth innings gave Everett an 8-6 lead. Another five runs in the fifth made the score 13-6.

The AppleSox chased Everett’s starter after a third of an inning and Tyler Frost made it through four innings after allowing 8 runs.

Clark McKitrick came on in relief and allowed the other six runs. Shaun Vetrovec worked the rest of the game out of the bullpen, allowing zero runs.

Every player in Wenatchee’s lineup on Tuesday recorded at least one hit.

The AppleSox have another non-league match up on Wednesday. They welcome NW Star College Prep to Paul Thomas Sr. Field for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

 

EVT    4 0 2  2 5 0   1 0 0     14  24  2

WEN   5 1 0  0 1 0   0 1 0      8   16  3

 

WP – Matt Richard

LP – Tyler Frost

S –

Welcome to Wenatchee, Vanderkin and Krueter

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The AppleSox will have two new faces this week, as Cole Krueter and Kyle Vanderkin make their first appearances of 2014 with the team.

The AppleSox have been hampered by injuries throughout their infield over the past couple weeks. With Tanner Nishioka and Nick Valaika both sidelined for the year, Wenatchee needed to add some faces to help allow infielders return to field their original positions.

Krueter will be headed to U.C. Irvine in 2015 and gets to join his future teammates John Brontsema, AJ Alcantara, Evan Cassolato and Shaun Vetrovec in Wenatchee.

He was released by the Victoria HarbourCats of the WCL prior to making his move to Wenatchee.

HarbourCats Management stated, "Cole wants to get more playing time in, and we believe another team will benefit from his skill-set. We are expecting he will help fill a hole with the Wenatchee AppleSox, where he and his family have connections and where there is a need in the middle infield that we don't have here. Cole would be welcome back any time in his college career to be part of the HarbourCats program, we think the world of him."

Vanderkin is a transfer player who will be joining the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 2015. He was recommended to the AppleSox coaches by Gonzaga's current coaching staff.

Vanderkin was a 2013 Western Region Second Team selection.

AppleSox Win Third Divisional Series

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KELOWNA, BC. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-12, 15-12) were down 2-0 after an inning of play on Sunday and a repeat of Saturday’s tough go, looked like it could be in the cards. Then, Wenatchee struck back for four runs in the third to spur a 5-3 win over the Kelowna Falcons (8-19).  

The first two runs of the game came off of AppleSox starter Drew Rasmussen on three two out hits and during the first two innings, the AppleSox were retired in order; six up, six down.

Finally in the third, Wenatchee broke through offensively. Nate Esposito walked to open the frame and after a ground out, Joe Gillette singled to put runners at the corners.

Sam Brown then singled home Esposito o in the next at bat. Trenton Brooks followed up Brown’s hit with a single of his own and it looked as though the bases would be loaded. Unfortunately for Kelowna, an errant throw back to the infield allowed Gillete to score the tying run and Brown went to third with Brooks moving up to second.

Caleb Wood grounded out to score Brown and then Michael McCann doubled down the left field line to bring home Brooks.

In the fifth inning, Evan Cassolato led off the frame with a double. Nate Esposito then laid down a bunt and beat it up the first base line. Simon Rosenbaum knocked in Cassolato on a fielder’s choice.

Rasmussen allowed five total hits over five innings, Sunday. The last hit he allowed was a solo home run to Andrew Godbold that cut the lead to two.

Calvin LeBrun took over in the sixth inning for Rasmussen and worked for four innings, earning the save. He allowed one hit (a two out single in the ninth) after 3.2 innings of work.

He earned his third save on the season and the AppleSox committed zero errors after suffering seven a night ago. Sunday’s game marked the fifth time the AppleSox haven’t committed an error this season.

With the win, the AppleSox have taken their third WCL East Division series in as many tries. They return to action on Tuesday in a non-league contest against the Everett Merchants. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

 

WEN   0 0 4  1 0 0   0 0 0     5  9  0

KEL    2 0 0  0 1 0   0 0 0     3  6  1

 

WP – Drew Rasmussen

LP – Jeremy Newton

S – Calvin LeBrun

Errors Hurt AppleSox

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KELOWNA, BC. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (17-12, 14-12) were hit hard defensively, Saturday night. Eight errors and a seven run fourth inning proved to be too much to overcome against the Kelowna Falcons (8-18), who evened the series.

The AppleSox, who have already lost multiple left side infielders appeared to take another blow on Saturday night as Ty Jackson left the game in the third inning.

Ian Buckles was roughed up for the first time in 2014. He gave up two runs in the first and three in the second. A one-two-three inning in the third preceded the seven run fourth.

Out of the 12 runs surrendered by Buckles, only five were ruled to be earned.

Nathan Hadley would relieve Buckles and gave up one run on two hits. His surrendered run was also unearned.

Shaun Vetrovec threw two innings of no-hit baseball for Wenatchee and Nick Brooks added an inning of one hit baseball.

The AppleSox runs came in the second, fourth and ninth innings. In the second, Michael McCann was brought home on an error at shortstop. Joe Gillette was able to reach base safely. He came around to score in the fourth, when Tyler Frost was hit by a pitch.

Sam Murphy, the Falcons starter, went four and a third innings and gave up six hits and two runs (one earned).

The last major issue for Kelowna came in the top of the ninth, when a new pitcher, Kevin Flemer, walked the bases loaded. He was pulled and Lincoln Herendeen gave up a single to Trenton Brooks that scored Nate Esposito. Caleb Wood then grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Joe Gillette. Both runs were charged to Flemer.

A rubber match game three is set for Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. in Kelowna. Drew Rasmussen will get the start for the AppleSox.

                                 

WEN   1 1 0  0 1 0   3 1 2      4   8  8

KEL    0 0 0  0 0 1   0 0 0     13 16 2

 

WP – Wyatt Mills

LP – Ian Buckles

S –

AppleSox Create Own Fireworks

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Sam Brown connects on a solo home run in the top of the first inning at Elks Stadium on Friday night. Photo Courtesy of Matt Williams

Sam Brown connects on a solo home run in the top of the first inning at Elks Stadium on Friday night. Photo Courtesy of Matt Williams

KELOWNA, BC. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (17-11, 14-11) noticed the absence of Independence Day fireworks on the Kelowna skyline, so they created their own on Friday while taking down the Kelowna Falcons (7-18) by a score of 9-1.

Sam Brown started off Friday’s contest the right way with a solo home run to right field in the top of the first.

The AppleSox jumped out to a 1-0 lead for their starter Tom Zarosinski, who allowed just one hit through his first five innings of work.

Over those five innings, the only issue for the AppleSox was allowing runners on base. The team allowed six runners on via two batters hit by pitch, two walks, a dropped third strike and an error.

Wenatchee added a second run in the second, when Trenton Brooks came around to score on a Joe Gillette sacrifice fly. The run was set up by a beautiful sacrifice bunt from Simon Rosenbaum. He would set up a similar situation in the seventh, when Trenton Brooks scored a second time on a Tyler Frost sacrifice fly.

Sam Brown’s great night wasn’t over following the home run. He hit an RBI triple in his third at bat. The only downside to the play was that the Falcons third baseman and pitcher were able to pull over the hidden ball trick and tag out Brown before the next pitch as he took his lead.

In his next at bat, Brown doubled and set up the chance for the cycle in the ninth, with presumably the easiest of the hits remaining; the single.

In the top of the ninth he drilled a 3-1 pitch toward the gap, but it was barely caught by the Falcons right fielder on the edge of the warning track.

The AppleSox surrendered the Falcons only run in the sixth, after Andrew Godbold got on base with a lead off double to center. He scored on a Brandon Grimsley single.

Colton Loomis picked up the save Friday. He offered up 3 innings of no hit baseball to close the door.

The AppleSox continue the three game set in Kelowna on Saturday, as Ian Buckles takes the mound for another 6:35 start.                                              

 

WEN   1 1 0  0 1 0   3 1 2      9 14 1

KEL    0 0 0  0 0 1   0 0 0      1  3  0

 

WP – Tom Zarosinski

LP – Josh Nuerenberg

S – Colton Loomis

Bells Get First Visiting Sweep in Wenatchee

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-11, 13-11) tried to mount another classic 2014 comeback, this time against the Bellingham Bells (15-5), but Bellingham scored a ninth inning run to secure a series sweep at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.   

The sweep for the Bells is the first of its kind for a visiting WCL team at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. Two teams swept the AppleSox at home before 2005 in PIL play, however, Bellingham is the first to come up with a sweep in Wenatchee in WCL play.

The Bells had a 6-0 lead after the top of the eighth. They scored three in the seventh and eighth after Griffin Canning left the game after six innings of three hit and zero run baseball. He struck out eight and walked just one.

In the bottom half of the eighth, the AppleSox rallied and scored six runs of their own. Evan Cassolato came to the plate twice in the inning and singled both times. His infield single in his second at bat helped plate the tying runs for the AppleSox. Tyler Frost was thrown out trying to stretch the base paths and reach third.

The Bells starter, Eder Erives, worked seven innings of three hit and zero run baseball. He struck out four and walked two.

Walker Olis was the hero for Bellingham. He knocked the RBI single down the left field line, good enough to create the game winning score for the Bells.  

Trenton Brooks nearly hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth, jumping on an off speed pitch, but the deep shot flew foul to the right of the foul pole down the right field side.

David Bigelow was able to hang on after allowing the tying runs across in the eighth to retire the AppleSox in the ninth on a ground out on the infield.

Today, the AppleSox have an off day. They return to action on Friday, July 4th at Elks Stadium in Kelowna vs. the Falcons. 6:35 is the scheduled first pitch.                                         

 

BEL     0 0 0  0 0 0   3 3 1      7 13 2

WEN   0 0 0  0 0 0   0 6 0      6  7  0

 

WP – David Bigelow

LP – Trenton Brooks

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2014 All Star Fan Vote

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AppleSox fans, don't forget cast your ballot in the 2014 West Coast League All-Star fan vote! Vote for the AppleSox player that YOU think should be on the all-star team.

Ballots are available at the AppleSox souvenir stand at the ballpark during every home game through July 12th. 

 Help send your favorite AppleSox player to the West Coast League All Star Game in Klamath Falls on July 21st!

 

 

Bells Continue to Roll

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-10, 13-10) were defeated by the Bellingham Bells (14-5) again on Tuesday. The final score was 6-2 and the Bells guaranteed themselves a series win.  

The Bells scored two runs in the second inning off of Brandon Bailey, the AppleSox starter. He ended up working for four innings before his limited pitch count became a factor.

Calvin LeBrun worked out of the bullpen for the AppleSox and was unusually roughed up on Tuesday. Danny Miller hit a two run home run off of him in the sixth and another two came around to score in the eighth.

Grant Goodman turned in a good start for Bellingham. He offered up five innings of one hit baseball and the AppleSox were able to score one run in the fourth inning and another in the seventh.

Evan Cassolato had the only RBI of the game on an infield ground out.

Fireworks night is Wednesday at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. The AppleSox will offer up a first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Griffin Canning will get the start and tickets will be sold at 6 p.m. starting at six dollars.   

                                              

BEL     0 2 0  0 0 2   0 2 0      6  8  2

WEN   0 0 0  1 0 0   1 0 0      2  4  1

 

WP – Grant Goodman

LP – Brandon Bailey

S –

Alumni Night: July 12th

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On July 12th the AppleSox invite you to join us as we celebrate our alumni! The game against the Walla Walla Sweets will feature special pregame festivities for our former players!

If you know any former AppleSox players, please be sure to share this information with them! We want to have as many of our great local superstars at the ballpark on that Saturday evening.

Former players are invited to a meet-and-greet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on July 12th at the Pepsi Pavilion inside Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

Fireworks Night: July 2nd

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The AppleSox are hosting the only major professional fireworks show in Wenatchee on July 2nd, following their 7:05 game with the Bellingham Bells.

The night will be a fun-filled evening, you, your family and friends can all enjoy!

Tickets are available online at www.applesox.com/tickets or by visiting the Paul Thomas Sr. Field box office. The ticket office at the stadium will be open at 6 p.m. tonight and 6 p.m. tomorrow.

General admission seats cost $6 and if available, premium seats will be sold for $10.

Seats go quickly so be sure to buy your tickets as soon as possible and arrive at the ballpark early on Wednesday!

Fans are always welcome to sit along the grassy hills down the right and left field lines. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome for those spectators.

The AppleSox can't wait to see you at the ballpark for a booming night of baseball!