AppleSox Take Series

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (28-22, 24-21) found a way to overcome Wednesday’s shutout loss, as they came back to take the series from the Victoria HarbourCats (20-25), with a 9-2 win.

Ian Buckles gave up a run in the top of the first inning and things looked troublesome for the AppleSox, however, they would answer with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first on RBI hits for Ty Jackson and Michael McCann.

The AppleSox would add four more runs in the bottom of the second inning.

With a 6-1 lead, Buckles was now in the driver’s seat.  After being the first WCL pitcher to three wins with zero losses, Buckles was trying to win his fourth game of the season, Thursday.

A couple one-two-three innings for Buckles helped him continue to stroll through the sixth inning untouched.

By the end of the sixth, the AppleSox had added three more runs and Trenton Brooks had a 3-3 night with two runs scored and 3 RBIs in three separate at bats.

Sam Brown also hit his fourth triple of 2014, good enough to tie with three other AppleSox for a team single season individual record.

In the seventh, Ian Buckles gave up one last run, on a solo home run for Jake Lesinski. It was Lesinski’s first home run in collegiate-affiliated baseball.

Buckles would recover to retire the next three he faced.

Clark McKitrick took over in the final two innings for the AppleSox. He went one-two-three through the HarbourCats in the eighth inning and only allowed a single to center in the ninth. McKitrick ended the appearance with a strikeout to solidify the fourth win on the season for Buckles.

The AppleSox continue their homestand on Friday with a 7:05 p.m. game against Cowlitz.

 

VIC     1 0 0  0 0 0   1 0 0    2  6  3

WEN   0 0 0  0 0 0   0 0 0    9 12 1

 

WP – Ian Buckles

LP – Alex Rogers

S –

HarbourCats Shut Down AppleSox

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (27-22, 23-21) were shutout for the first time this season, as the Victoria HarbourCats (20-24), led by strong pitching, defeated the AppleSox 5-0.

Alex Fagalde, the HarbourCats starter on Wednesday night lasted for eight innings and tallied 122 pitches en route to his second win of the season in as many starts.

Fagalde began the season in the bullpen for Victoria.

Through six innings, the AppleSox had tallied just two hits. Luckily, their starter, Brandon Bailey, offered up three innings of shutout baseball, while striking out seven and surrendering zero walks.

Bailey reached his maximum pitch allotment after three innings and Colton Loomis would follow by offering up scoreless baseball through the sixth.

The HarbourCats broke through in the seventh after an error at shortstop gave Victoria an extra out, which they would cash in later in the inning, as Nathan Lukes would double home the first run of the game and Alex DeGoti would follow up with an RBI single. Both hits came with two outs already on the board.

In the top of the eighth, a Hunter Mercado-Hood single and doubles by Ted Boeke and Bryce Greager would bring home the third and fourth runs of the game.

In the bottom half of the eighth, the AppleSox loaded the bases with two outs and while Fagalde was seemingly being pulled from the game, the HarbourCats coach, Bob Miller, left Fagalde on the mound. He worked out of the jam with a ground out to short on his 122nd pitch.

Trenton Brooks allowed one more Victoria run in the top of the ninth and Casey Schneider shut the door out of the ‘pen for the HarbourCats, cementing the first shutout for any WCL team over the AppleSox in 2014.

 

VIC     0 0 0  0 0 0   2 2 1    5  11  0

WEN   0 0 0  0 0 0   0 0 0    0   6   3

 

WP – Alex Fagalde

LP – Colton Loomis

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Walking Away Winners

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (27-21, 23-20) were walked 17 times en route to a 13-4 win over the Victoria HarbourCats (19-24).

AppleSox starter, Tyler Frost gave up a triple in the top of the first, but came up big and left the runner stranded to move things to the bottom half.

From there, the AppleSox scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and started to run away with Tuesday’s contest.

Ty Jackson hit his eleventh double of the season and is now within one of the West Coast League lead.

Joe Gillette had a few of the AppleSox 17 walks. He walked four times and and drove in four runs as part of a 1-2 night.

Hunter Wells came on in relief in the seventh inning and completed the game, satisfying the minimum inning requirement to earn the save.

Wenatchee has now won all seven meetings with Victoria at Paul Thomas Sr. Field and is riding a four game win streak dating back to next year.

The AppleSox will send Brandon Bailey to the mound on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. It is Cherry Creek Radio/Salvation Army food drive night, so if fans bring a bag of canned food to the stadium, they will receive free tickets to the game compliments of Cherry Creek Radio.

 

VIC     0 0 1  0 2 0   0 0 1    4    9   2

WEN   4 3 2  0 0 0   4 0 x   13  12  0

 

WP – Tyler Frost

LP – Mikey Wright

S – Hunter Wells

Big Week of Activities; Paul Thomas Sr. Field

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There will be lots of great baseball and festivities for the fans this week as the AppleSox welcome the Victoria HarbourCats to town and look to continue to race for the WCL East crown.

While temperatures are expected to rise once again, AppleSox fans will tell you Paul Thomas Sr. Field is a comfortable spot to be after 7 p.m., especially on hot days.

Wednesday, fans also have the opportunity to help out local food banks as the Salvation Army and Cherry Creek Radio will sponsor a food drive.

If fans bring a bag of canned food items to the ballpark, they will receive free tickets to the game compliments of Cherry Creek Radio.

Food banks especially appreciate this support during summer months when it is hard to keep up a strong supply of non-perishable food items.

Thursday will be another special night as the AppleSox will be auctioning off their 15th anniversary home jerseys at Apple Valley Honda night!

Proceeds will go to the Royal Family Kids Camp charity and you will want to be sure to be at the ballpark to guarantee a chance to bid in the silent auction for one of your favorite team jerseys!

Tuesday night will be Cougar Night at the AppleSox. If fans wear Washington State University gear they will receive $1 off tickets to the game. The Cougar Cruiser will also be at the game providing WSU-themed give away items to fans in attendance!

Remember, sealed water bottles are always acceptable at Paul Thomas Sr. Field and stadium seating is in the shade at the ballpark, perfect for a warm summer evening with your family and friends!

We can't wait to see you at the ballpark this week! Go AppleSox!

Extra Inning Rally Helps AppleSox Avoid Sweep

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BEND, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (26-21, 22-20) went to extra innings for the third time in the last ten days, as they beat the Bend Elks (26-16), 3-2 in 14 innings, to come up the victors on Sunday.

With the win, Wenatchee remains undefeated in Sunday contests.

Drew Rasmussen was the AppleSox starter and turned in a solid performance, giving up the lone two runs to Bend. The first run came across in the opening inning as a throwing error on an attempted double play sailed by Rasmussen at first allowing a run to score.

In the fifth, Jo Carroll hit a solo home run over the fence to give Bend a 2-0 lead.

The AppleSox would respond in the sixth as AJ Alcantara was able to drive in a run with a ground out on the infield to cut the deficit to one.

Then, in the ninth, Nick Brooks set up extra frames by sending his second home run in as many nights over the left field fence, tying the game at two.

That score would stick until pitcher Hunter Wells, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in extra innings, came to the plate in the fourteenth inning with runners at first and third and two outs.

The Elks intentionally walked Kyle Vanderkin to set up a chance to face Wells who had yet to log an at bat on the season.

Wells made the Elks and their reliever, Adrian Martinez, pay as he beat out an infield single to give the AppleSox the go ahead score.

Trenton Brooks, who entered earlier in extra innings and held the game in a tie, stayed on in the fourteenth and completed his win as a wild play following a double for Jonathan Brooks, resulted in Brooks being thrown out at third by Cooper Elliott who relayed a throw to Evan Cassolato in shallow right field.

Brooks would record the final out on a pop fly.

Altogether, Nick Brooks had a 5-6 performance including the game tying and extra inning-forcing home run.

The AppleSox have a day off Monday and return to action Tuesday as they welcome the Victoria HarbourCats to Paul Thomas Sr. Field for a three game series.

Tuesday is Cougar Night at the AppleSox. If fans wear Washington State University gear, they earn $1 off admission to the game. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

 

WEN   0 0 0  0 0 1   0 0 1   0 0 0   0 1      3  14  1

BEN    1 0 0  0 1 0   0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0      2   9   1

 

WP – Trenton Brooks

LP – Adrian Martinez

S –

Comeback Bids Come Up Short

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BEND, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (25-21, 21-20) tried to mount multiple comebacks against the Bend Elks (26-15), Saturday, but ultimately they would fall just short in an 8-7 loss.  

Bend opened the scoring in the second inning with two runs. The AppleSox would answer in the third with two runs of their own. Michael McCann assisted by helping drive in a run with an RBI bunt single on the infield.

Bend would score runs in each of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The AppleSox allowed a run to score in the fifth on two errors, in which the Elks base runner was able to circle the diamond.

The AppleSox got a solo home run from Tyler Frost in the fifth to make the score 4-3. Frost went 2-4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.

Nick Brooks tried to add to the total in the eighth with a solo home run of his own. A second run would later score on a balk.

Calvin LeBrun was the AppleSox starter and he lasted five innings. Nathan Hadley saw the other three frames in relief.

A questionable double play call in the seventh ended up possibly preventing the AppleSox from cashing in on another run scoring opportunity.

Game three and the series finale is scheduled for Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. Drew Rasmussen will pitch for the AppleSox.

 

WEN   0 0 2  0 1 1   1 2 0      7  11  2

BEN    0 2 1  1 1 2   1 0 x      8  13  3

 

WP – Austin Guzzon

LP – Calvin LeBrun

S – Jesse Pratt

Defense Is AppleSox Achilles Heel

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (25-20, 21-19) were cruising along, Friday, until a six error sixth inning gave the Bend Elks (25-15) a 7-4 lead that they would never relinquish.  

Wenatchee scored early enough on Friday night to get out to a 4-0 lead at Vince Genna Stadium. One run in the second and three in the sixth gave the AppleSox and their starter, Ian Buckles, a sizable advantage.

The AppleSox, however, were not prepared to surrender six errors in the sixth. In the bottom half, following a single, walk and double, the AppleSox were still leading 4-1.

Multiple scenarios would follow, in which the AppleSox could’ve exited the inning with a 4-2 or 4-3 lead. When the chance came for the AppleSox to head to the seventh tied at four, a fly ball was dropped in the outfield. Two more errors and two more runs would follow, tabbing Ian Buckles with a loss.

The AppleSox were led by a 2-3 night for Nate Esposito. Kyle Vanderkin walked in all four of his at bats and made some instrumental defensive plays. He was one of few on the infield not bitten by the error bug.

Kevin Sheets and Louis Cohen shut the door on the AppleSox in the eighth and ninth innings. They are two of the Elks staples in the bullpen.

The AppleSox are now four games back of Bend in the wild card race, and two games behind Yakima in the WCL East.

The three game set continues, Saturday. Left-hander Calvin LeBrun will make his second start of the season with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.

 

WEN   0 1 0  0 0 3   0 0 0      4  8  6

BEN    0 0 0  0 0 7   0 0 x      7  6  0

 

WP – Patrick McGuff

LP – Ian Buckles

S – Louis Cohen

AppleSox Win Series; Within One of Yakima

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (25-19, 21-18) uncorked their offense on the Kelowna Falcons (13-26), Friday en route to a 12-1 win at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.  

The AppleSox were led by their consistent starter, Brandon Bailey. Bailey has been limited in length of appearance this year, following a long freshman season for Gonzaga and a Tommy John surgery his senior year of high school.

However, Ed Knaggs, the AppleSox head coach believed that Bailey’s start on Thursday might’ve been his best of the season.

The statistics would certainly agree, as Bailey offered up four and two thirds innings of hitless baseball on Thursday.

While Bailey got it rolling, the AppleSox offense turned things up a notch. Three runs in each of the third and fourth innings helped Wenatchee to a 6-0 lead.

In the sixth inning, Ty Jackson hit his third home run of the season over the left field fence, to give the AppleSox a 10-0 lead.

Two more runs would come around to score in the eighth, as Wenatchee brought John Pomeroy into the ballgame with a 12-0 lead.

Pomeroy had a few command issues, but only allowed one run to score and struck out two batters as the AppleSox went on to win 12-1.

Simon Rosenbaum broke a streak of 13 games without a hit in league play, Thursday, as he collected a double and a single to help the AppleSox to the win. He will leave the team for the next few series as he goes overseas to play for the Israeli national team.

Hunter Wells threw well out of the bullpen for the AppleSox, also holding Kelowna scoreless.

The AppleSox will travel to Bend tomorrow to start a three game series with the Elks, as Wenatchee is now just one game away from first place in the WCL East. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

 

KEL    0 0 0  0 0 0   0 0 1      1    5   3

WEN   0 0 3  3 0 4   0 2 x     12  14  0

 

WP – Brandon Bailey

LP – Joshua Nuernberg

S –