APPLESOX CONTINUE ROAD TRIP IN SWEETS COUNTRY

The AppleSox visit Borleske Stadium for the second time in 2015, Tuesday, after opening their league schedule there on the road, earlier in 2015.

GAME NOTES 6/30
BASEBALL BLURBS 6/30
 

APPLESOX CONTINUE ROAD TRIP IN SWEETS COUNTRY
The Wenatchee AppleSox (10-12, 7-11), fourth place in the WCL East, continue their longest road trip of the season, at the Walla Walla Sweets (10-11, 10-11), in the teams’ second series meeting of the season...all of the first six games of the season are to be played at Borleske Stadium...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (10-12) (.455), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
The AppleSox were locked in a battle north of the border Sunday afternoon...again the Sox were plagued by quick scoring from the opposition...Victoria scored six runs in the first two innings, to take a commanding 6-1 lead into the third...Wenatchee worked its way back into the game with five runs, combined, in the fifth and sixth innings, and another four combined in the eighth and ninth innings, including a three-run ninth-inning rally to send the game to extra innings...a sweep still wasn’t meant to be in Victoria, though, as the HarbourCats loaded the bases on the AppleSox and walked home the winning run with the bases loaded...the AppleSox are now 1-3 in games that end in the final at bat.

TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE
Evan Douglas already has five home runs this season, which is tied with Patrick Flynn of Bend for the league lead...he has two more home runs than any AppleSox hitter from 2014...Ty Jackson, Nick Brooks, and Tyler Frost each had three last season...Andre Real had 6 in 2013...Ryan Howell with six in 2012, and Taylor Sparks with 9.

A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT LIIKALA
AppleSox outfielder Sheldon Liikala is providing a big push for the club in 2015...Liikala is tied for first in batting average at .365 with Mitchell Holland...he also has nine RBI, tied with Holland for second-most behid Evan Douglas’ 11...Liikala has the strongest road trip average so far, on this six-game stand - he went 7-for-13 at Victoria and had a four-hit afternoon, Sunday, the first AppleSox four-hit game of the season.

GREATEST, AND NOT SO GREATEST HITS
For the first time in 2015, the AppleSox out-hit their opponent and lost, Sunday...Wenatchee had 17 hits, a new season-high, but still, a 6-1 defecit after two innings proved too much to overcome on the road...the AppleSox only had 18 hits over three games, their first time around at Borleske Stadium, this summer...none of the 18 hits to open the league season went for extra bases.

IN THE FIRST MEETING...
Each the AppleSox and the Sweets threw shutouts in the first two meetings (of three) at Borleske Stadium, earlier this year...the AppleSox have now been involved in three shutouts this season (2-1), with their only shutout loss coming at the hand of the Sweets...Walla Walla is 1-2 in shutout games this year, with their other loss coming in 1-0 fashion to the Bellingham Bells, June 18...there are only five AppleSox players from the first road series at Walla Walla that had hits and are still active...the AppleSox hit 1.86 in the first series and Walla Walla hit .169... the two teams combined to walk 31 batters, just over 10 per game...Walla Walla only had one extra-base hit, a double...setting the mark for worst combined hitting series this year for the AppleSox and any opponent.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 832 games, the AppleSox own a 523-309 (.629) record...the AppleSox are 383-209 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 331-191 (.634) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 414-266 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 315-160 (.667) all-time home record, and is 218-168 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-28 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX FORCE EXTRAS, FALL AT VICTORIA

Sheldon Liikala had a four-hit afternoon, and the AppleSox a new high - 17 hits - but the Sox late rally was squandered in the eleventh, on a bases loaded walk, to win it for the HarbourCats.

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (10-12, 7-11) took advantage of a 4-four-4 afternoon from Sheldon Liikala, along with a three-run ninth inning rally to force extra innings with the Victoria HarbourCats (10-13, 8-12), yet lost 11-10 in 11 innings at Royal Athletic Park Sunday afternoon.

Liikala had the first four-hit game of the season for the AppleSox. Wenatchee got two, one-out singles in the ninth with the bases loaded after previously trailing 10-7 entering the final inning.

Liikala also came home to score on a sacrifice fly to right field for Ryan Crowe, his third RBI of the game.

In extras, Josh Mitchell of the HarbourCats, and Tony Contonio of the AppleSox went toe-to-toe, until the HarbourCats were able to load the bases in the eleventh inning on a batter hit by pitch, and back-to-back singles, including a bunt single.

Chris Foughner then walked with the bases full to force home the winning run for the HarbourCats after a valiant comeback effort by the Sox fell just short.

Wenatchee trailed 6-1 after two innings of play Sunday, and the HarbourCats were helped by a first inning three-run home run for Kevin Amequita – his first home run of the season.

The Sox used five runs in the fifth and sixth innings, and another four in the eighth and ninth innings to spur their comeback.

The 17 hits on the day were the most in a single game for the AppleSox, this season.

Wenatchee has the day off Monday and will return to the road Tuesday, facing Walla Walla at Borleske Stadium. Starting pitchers are to be determined.

WP: Josh Mitchell (1-2)
LP: Tony Contonio (0-2)

AppleSox Look For Sweep Against HarbourCats

The AppleSox are looking for their second sweep of the year at Victoria, Sunday afternoon.

BASEBALL BLURBS 6/28

DOUGLAS STAYS HOT, APPLESOX WIN PITCHER’S BATTLE

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (10-11, 7-10) used Evan Douglas’ fifth home run of the season to defeat the Victoria HarbourCats (9-13, 7-12), 1-0 in a pitchers duel, Saturday at Royal Athletic Park.

Douglas uncorked his fifth home run in the last four games, with one out in the second inning. His home run to right field totaled the offense to both sides, and put the AppleSox ahead for good.

Hunter Wells (3-0) got the start for Wenatchee and was marvelous. He struck out nine batters, including five in a row in the second and third innings, to help spark a great pitching night for Wenatchee.

Wells got into one tough spot in the fifth inning, loading the bases, but got out of it with a pop out in shallow left field and a strikeout.

Dominic Topoozian (2-2), the starter for the HarbourCats pitched a good game, despite the one mistake pitch to Douglas. He threw eight innings, surrendering only three hits, but the one run was enough to tab him with the loss.

Brian Gadsby pitched the final three innings for the AppleSox and picked up his first save of the season. He allowed runners on base in the eighth and ninth innings, however, two double plays, including a 2-6-3 DP on a foiled HarbourCat bunt attempt, saved the night for Wenatchee.

The AppleSox have a chance for the sweep, Sunday, with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch at Royal Athletic Park. CJ Gettman will get the start for the AppleSox.

WP: Hunter Wells (3-0)
LP: Dominic Topoozian (2-2)
S: Brian Gadsby (1)

AppleSox and HarbourCats Set For Game Two

GAME NOTES 6/27
BASEBALL BLURBS 6/27

APPLESOX TAKE TO ROAD FOR SIX-GAME TRIP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (9-11, 6-10), fourth place in the WCL East, continue their longest road trip of the season, with the Victoria HarbourCats (9-13, 7-12), after last night’s roller coaster slug fest...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (9-11) (.450), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
The AppleSox hit three home runs last night, on the way to an 11-8 win at Sports Trader’s Diamond...it marked the first time this season that the AppleSox hit multiple home runs in a single game, and the team has now hit seven home runs in total, this season...Evan Douglas went back-to-back with Mitchell Holland in the top of the fiffth inning, and became just the third AppleSox hitter all-time in league play to go deep twice in a contest...Mitchell Holland had a 3-for-5 night and hit his second home run of the season...Micael Taylor worked 6 1/3 innings in relief of Kyle Blankenship, who lasted 2 2/3 innings...Blankenship gave up all eight HarbourCat runs, and Taylor only allowed three hits and retired fourteen batters in a row at one point, while throwing one-two-three innings in the fifth through eighth innings.

2-OUT RBI MACHINE
.469 or 45-of-96 AppleSox RBI this season (including non-league games) have been driven in with two outs...Scott Hilpert is the team’s leader with 7 two-out RBI...12 different active roster players have had at least one two-out RBI at some point this season...5 two-out RBI belong to temporary players who are no longer on the active roster.

SPREAD OFFENSE
The AppleSox 72 RBI on the season have been hit by 15 different players (12 active), and only two active players have yet to record an RBI (Erik Sauve and Jake Hirabayashi)...the AppleSox team leaders in RBI is Evan Douglas with 10...Mitchell Holland has nine, and Sheldon Liikala has eight, while Nick Nyquist checks in with seven.

FOR THE GREATER GOOD
The AppleSox have seven sacrifice hits, and six sacrifice flies...a total of 13 sacrifice plays in league play in 2015...Helmstadter has 3 sacrifice plays (2 hits/1 fly), Ryan Crowe is also tied for the team lead with three (2 hits/ 1 fly).

FREE RIDE ZONE
Wenatchee is tied for fourth in the league for most walks, with 80, and are tied with the Walla Walla Sweets...only Bend (82), Corvallis (86), and Yakima Valley (96), have more walks.

KEEPING IT IN THE YARD
The two home runs given up by AppleSox pitching, sets the lowest mark for total home runs given up by a staff in the WCL (Bend, Meford, Kelowna, all next closest at 4)...Corvallis has given up a whopping 14 home runs, and Victoria, the next most at 13 surrendered, after the three given up last night.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 830 games, the AppleSox own a 522-308 (.630) record...the AppleSox are 382-208 (.649) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 330-190 (.636) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 413-265 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 315-160 (.667) all-time home record, and is 217-167 (.564) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-27 all-time in extra-inning games, and the Sox set a record for free baseball last summer, playing eight extended contests.

LONG BALL POWERS APPLESOX PAST HARBOURCATS

Evan Douglas was the first AppleSox hitter to hit two home runs in one league game since 2004.

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (9-11, 6-10) hit three home runs in a back-and-forth contest with the Victoria HarbourCats (9-13, 7-12), which featured three lead changes on the way to an 11-8 AppleSox win, Friday.

Wenatchee led the game early, after a one-run first inning, thanks to a Keston Hiura RBI double.

Evan Douglas hit his third home run in as many nights, with a three-run shot to deep right field in the third inning. Wenatchee had a 5-1 lead, before Victoria went on to score six runs in its half, to take an 8-5 lead.

Wenatchee turned to reliever Micael Taylor, who carried the Sox all the way to the end. He threw 6 1/3 innings and retired 14-consecutive batters on four-consecutive one-two-three innings, and kept the HarbourCats off the board.

Wenatchee added two more runs in the fifth on back-to-back solo home runs for Mitchell Holland, his second of the year, and Douglas’ fourth (second of the game).

Wenatchee broke through with one more run in the eighth on a Danny Amaral RBI single to tie the game, and took the lead in the ninth on a bases loaded balk for the HarbourCats.

Two more runs came around to score in the ninth inning for the Sox, on two run-scoring bunts.

Victoria got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Taylor (1-0) shut the door for his first win of the season.

WP: Micael Taylor (1-2)
LP: Josh Mitchell (0-2)

SOX OPEN SIX-GAME ROADSTAND AT VICTORIA

The AppleSox face the Victoria HarbourCats in the first of a three-game set, Friday-Sunday at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C.

GAME NOTES 6/26
BASEBALL BLURBS 6/26

APPLESOX TAKE TO ROAD FOR SIX-GAME TRIP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-11, 5-10), fourth place in the WCL East, hit the road for their longest road trip of the 2015 season, which starts with the Victoria HarbourCats (9-12, 7-11), coming off a series loss on the road to the Kitsap BlueJackets...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (8-11) (.421), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
The AppleSox scored first last night at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, but still couldn’t prevent two productive three-run innings for the Pippins...Chris Carns, the Sox starter, was taxed during the three-run fourth for the Pippins last night...the AppleSox were also plagued by two errors in the inning, both at second base...Evan Douglas went deep in the seventh inning for his second home run of the season, a no-doubt-about-it shot to right field...his second in as many nights.

2-OUT RBI MACHINE
.469 or 45-of-96 AppleSox RBI this season (including non-league games) have been driven in with two outs...Scott Hilpert is the team’s leader with 7 two-out RBI...12 different active roster players have had at least one two-out RBI at some point this season...5 two-out RBI belong to temporary players who are no longer on the active roster.

SPREAD OFFENSE
The AppleSox 62 RBI on the season have been hit by 15 different players (12 active), and only two active players have yet to record an RBI (Erik Sauve and Jake Hirabayashi)...the AppleSox team leaders in RBI are Nick Nyquist, Mitchell, Holland, and Sheldon Liikala - all with 7.

FOR THE GREATER GOOD
The AppleSox have seven sacrifice hits, and six sacrifice flies...a total of 13 sacrifice plays in league play in 2015...Helmstadter has 3 sacrifice plays (2 hits/1 fly), Ryan Crowe is also tied for the team lead with three (2 hits/ 1 fly).

FREE RIDE ZONE
Wenatchee is tied for fourth in the league for most walks, with 76, and are tied with the Walla Walla Sweets...only Bend (79), Corvallis (85), and Yakima Valley (90), have more walks.

KEEPING IT IN THE YARD
The two home runs given up by AppleSox pitching, sets the lowest mark for total home runs given up by a staff in the WCL (Bend, Meford, Kelowna, all next closest at 4)...Corvallis has given up a whopping 13 home runs, and Victoria, the next most at 10 surrendered.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 829 games, the AppleSox own a 521-308 (.630) record...the AppleSox are 381-208 (.649) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 329-190 (.636) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 412-265 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 315-160 (.667) all-time home record, and is 216-167 (.564) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-27 all-time in extra-inning games, and the Sox set a record for free baseball last summer, playing eight extended contests.

APPLESOX SWEPT BY PIPPINS

Evan Douglas hit his second home run of the season in the seventh inning - his second home run in as many nights - but the Yakima Valley Pippins held on to sweep the Sox.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-11, 5-10) were swept for the second time at home in 2015, and for the first time by the Yakima Valley Pippins (12-6, 12-6) in a 7-4 finale at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, Thursday.

Wenatchee got off to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a bases loaded walk for Nick Nyquist. It was Nyquist’s first of three RBI on the night.

Yakima Valley answered the AppleSox early run in the fourth inning off of starter Chris Carns (0-2). The Pippins forced Carns into a taxing inning and worked runs across on an error, single, and fielder’s choice. The three-run inning also included two AppleSox errors.

The Pippins added a fourth run in the fifth inning on a Mitch Skaggs RBI groundout, following a Jace Van De Brake double to start the inning.

The AppleSox got two runs back in the sixth inning on Nick Nyquist’s lone hit of the game. The runs were Nyquist’s second and third RBI of the game. Erik Sauve also had his first two league hits of the season for the AppleSox, singles, in the fourth and ninth innings.

Evan Douglas launched his second home run of the season, and second in as many nights in the seventh inning, Thursday. It was hit to right field with two-outs off of Connor Lau, the Pippins lone reliever on the evening.

Lau picked up a save after working three innings, and holding the Pippins lead to the end. Yakima Valley has now won five-consecutive over the Sox, all at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

The AppleSox hit the road for their next six games, starting with a three-game set at Victoria this weekend. Game one is Friday night at 6:35 p.m. Kyle Blankenship gets the nod for Wenatchee.

WP: Mitch Yada (2-1)
LP: Chris Carns (0-2)
S: Connor Lau (1)

APPLESOX WRAP UP HOME SERIES, THURSDAY

The AppleSox and Pippins square off in game three of the home series, at 7:05 p.m., at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

GAME NOTES 6/25
BASEBALL BLURBS 6/25

APPLESOX ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HOME SWEEP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-10, 5-9), fourth place in the WCL East, will look to fend off a sweep at the hands of the Yakima Valley Pippins (11-6, 11-6), after the Pippins ended up on the winning-end of a 10-8 offensive shootout a night ago...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (8-10) (.444), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
Yakima Valley jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after three innings of play, Wednesday...the AppleSox jumped back into the contest in the fourth, with a five-run inning, as the team combined to hit for a “mini-cycle,” collecting a single, double, triple, and home run in the scoring frame...the AppleSox went on to take a lead in the fifth, but would lose that lead in the sixth and seventh innings...the Pippins never looked back and guaranteed themselves a series win in game two...they will go for their first sweep of the AppleSox, tonight.  

AMARAL’S EXTRA-BASES
Last night, with his first two doubles of the season, Danny Amaral became the first AppleSox player to hit for extra bases twice in the same game...Wenatchee had four extra-base hits in total...Keston Hiura also had a triple to lead off the fourth inning, and Evan Douglas hit his first home run of the season later in the same inning.

STRIKE-THROWING TROUBLE
AppleSox pitchers struggled to attack the zone for strike one last night...the team converted on just 28-of-51 first-pitch strike opportunities...that is about a 55 percent mark...the Pippins were able to work into 11 three-ball counts.

HOME COOKING
Wenatchee’s offensive power at home continued to be on display after Wednesday night’s game...the Sox have now scored 48 runs at home in league play, as opposed to just 18 runs on the road...the Sox have 16 extra-base hits at home, compared to 7 on the road, and have struck out nearly the same at home, despite playing far fewer games on the road (67 times at home, 60 on the road).

FOR THE RECORD
The AppleSox 8-10 record to start 2015 once again ties for the worst start through franchise history, this time through 18 games (attained two other times: 2007, 2000)...last year the AppleSox were 12-6 at this point in the season, and their best start is 16-2 through 18 games in 2011.

SERIES SWEEPS WITH THE PIPPINS
The AppleSox have swept one series against Yakima Valley July 17-19, 2014...the AppleSox outscored the Pippins 22-7 in that series on the road...Yakima Valley has its first opportunity to sweep a series in the all-time record books with Wenatchee...if successful, both sweeps to either side of the series will have occurred on the road...Wenatchee has been swept once in league play this year, by Corvallis, and has done the sweeping once, against Medford...both sweep-involved series were played at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 828 games, the AppleSox own a 521-307 (.630) record...the AppleSox are 381-207 (.649) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 329-189 (.636) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 412-264 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 315-159 (.667) all-time home record, and is 216-167 (.564) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-27 all-time in extra-inning games, and the Sox set a record for free baseball last summer, playing eight extended contests.

PIPPINS AND APPLESOX HIT BIG IN GAME TWO SHOOTOUT

While it got the Sox back in the game, a five-run fourth inning wasn't quite enough for Wenatchee, Wednesday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-10, 5-9) fell 10-8 in an offensive shootout with the Yakima Valley Pippins (11-6, 11-6) at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, Wednesday.

The Pippins had the big bats early, with eleven hits in the first three innings, which helped the squad jump out to an early 5-0 lead.

Led by Mitch Skaggs (4-for-5, 2 runs, 4 RBI, BB, SB), the Pippins tied a franchise-best mark with 19 hits Wednesday night.

It wasn’t without some push back from the AppleSox offense though. Wenatchee rattled off five runs of its own in the fourth inning, to tie the game at five. The AppleSox even took a 6-5 lead at one point in the fifth.

Evan Douglas hit his first home run of the season as part of the five-run fourth inning, and new face Danny Amaral went 3-for-5 in his AppleSox debut, with 2 RBI.

It was a four-run seventh inning that did the AppleSox in. The Pippins again saw big production from Skaggs, who had a 2-RBI single in the frame, the difference-making runs in the contest.

Keston Hiura also had a triple in the game for Wenatchee. The nine-inning slug fest lasted for nearly four hours, as neither pitching staff could take much of a handle on the game. Wyatt Mills did pick up his West Coast League-leading sixth save, to cap it for Yakima Valley.

The Pippins won the series Wednesday, and have now won 4-straight over Wenatchee dating back to 2014. The series concludes at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, Thursday, with a first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

WP: Kelly Fitzpatrick (1-1)
LP: Anthony Contonio (0-1)
S: Wyatt Mills (6)

KID'S DAY, WEDNESDAY

The AppleSox will look to even the series with the Yakima Valley Pippins, June 24, on Kid's Day at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

GAME NOTES 6/24
BASEBALL BLURBS 6/24

APPLESOX TRYING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM GAME ONE LOSS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-9, 5-8), fourth place in the WCL East, will try to even the series with the Yakima Valley Pippins (10-6, 10-6), after the Pippins scored the first six runs of the series last night, on the way to a 6-3 win...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (8-9) (.471), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
The AppleSox lost game one after the Pippins mounted six combined runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, Tuesday...Wenatchee scored three runs of its own in the eighth inning, helped out by two pivotal errors for Yakima Valley, and a 2-RBI single for Sheldon Liikala, and an RBI 2B for Evan Douglas...Wyatt Mills closed for Yakima Valley and earned his league-leading fifth save.

CLOSE CONTESTS
As stated on page one, five of the first ten all-time meetings between the AppleSox and Pippins were decided by two runs or fewer...so far, this season, Wenatchee is 1-4 in one-run games and Yakima Valley is 2-3...last season the AppleSox were 9-8 in one-run games and the Pippins were 8-7, ranking fifth and fourth in the WCL for one-run game records, respectively.

BULLPEN TAKING FORM
Outside of Micael Taylor’s lost lead, Saturday night, the AppleSox bullpen has been stout of late...Gadsby (10.2), Sparling (6), Hamilton (4.2), Contonio (3), Loomis (4.2), have combined to throw 29 consecutive scoreless innings. out of the ‘pen.

AFTER FACING THE LEADOFF MAN...
AppleSox pitching has been potent, once it gets through the first hitter of each inning...leadoff hitters average .275 off Sox pitching...with runners on base, opponents are only hitting .231 (50x216)...with runners in scoring position, .218 (32x147)...with the bases loaded, .200 (5x25, 0HR)...with scoring position and 2-outs, .141 (9x69).

HOME SWEET HOME
While the offense has been struggling lately, the offensive AppleSox are much better within the friendly confines...the Sox hit .252 (60x238, 12 x-base, 34 RBI) at home, and only .187  on the road (36x193, 7 x-base [2HR], 17 RBI).

TROUBLE WITH LEFTIES
The AppleSox pitching staff has been nailing down right-handed hitters, holding them to a .228 average...against left-handed hitters the AppleSox have given up both of their home runs on the season, and a .266 average...this stat might not come as a surprise for a team that utilizes only one left-handed pitcher (Dustin Hamilton, reliever).

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 827 games, the AppleSox own a 521-306 (.630) record...the AppleSox are 381-206 (.649) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 329-188 (.636) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 412-263 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 315-158 (.667) all-time home record, and is 216-167 (.564) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-27 all-time in extra-inning games, and the Sox set a record for free baseball last summer, playing eight extended contests.

YAKIMA VALLEY TAKES GAME ONE

The Pippins used a fourth-inning home run on the way to a 6-3 series-opening win, Tuesday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-9, 5-8) fell 6-3 in the first game of a three game set with the Yakima Valley Pippins (10-6, 10-6) at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, Tuesday.

Andrew Bernstein (1-0), Yakima’s starter, was brilliant after allowing a leadoff single to Joey Jansen. Bernstein went six innings, allowing only two hits and no runs, en route to his first win of the season.

CJ Gettman (1-1), ran into his first bit of trouble in the top of the third inning. A Jace VanDeBrake RBI single broke the scoreless tie. Branson Trube then drove in a run, and Yakima Valley manufactured a run home, while the AppleSox were preoccupied trying to catch a base stealer at second, to make the score 3-0, in favor of the Pippins.

In the fourth inning, a two-run home run for Dayton Provost, his second of the season, gave the Pippins a 5-0 advantage. It was a lined shot over the right center field fence. Trube added another RBI in the fifth on a double.  

Wenatchee had to wait until the eighth inning to pick up its only runs of the game. A two-RBI single for Sheldon Liikala down the third base line, and an RBI double for Evan Douglas. The AppleSox were also aided by two errors in the inning.

Wyatt Mills shut the door in the ninth, however, picking up WCL-leading save number five, after retiring the AppleSox in order.

Game two of the series is Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m., and Zach Haggett will pitch for the AppleSox.

WP: Andrew Bernstein (1-0)
LP: CJ Gettman (1-1)
S: Wyatt Mills (5)

APPLESOX AND PIPPINS OPEN UP MID-WEEK SERIES

The Pippins and AppleSox finished first and second, respectively in the WCL East last season.

GAME NOTES 6/23
BASEBALL BLURBS 6/23

APPLESOX TO PLAY FIRST DIVISIONAL HOME SERIES OF 2015
The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-8, 5-7), fourth place in the WCL East, play host to last year’s East Division Champions, the Yakima Valley Pippins (9-6, 9-6)...the Sox escaped Bellingham by avoiding a sweep, Sunday, after holding the Bells to a season-low three hits...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (8-8) (.500), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
The AppleSox avoided a series sweep at Bellingham, Sunday....Hunter Wells earned his team-leading second win of the season, and the AppleSox stifled the Bells, winning 5-1, after holding Bellingham to its lowest hit total of the season (3)...Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland, and Keaton Smith all had doubles in the game, and the Sox fourth extra-base hit came on a ninth inning home run for Hiura, his first of the season...team’s second....Colton Loomis and Brian Gadsby combined to throw four shutout innings out of the ‘pen for the Sox.

CLOSE CONTESTS
As stated on page one, five of the first nine all-time meetings between the AppleSox and Pippins were decided by two runs or fewer...so far, this season, Wenatchee is 1-4 in one-run games and Yakima Valley is 2-3...last season the AppleSox were 9-8 in one-run games and the Pippins were 8-7, ranking fifth and fourth in the WCL for one-run game records, respectively.

QUALIFYING MARKS
Both Keston Hiura and CJ Gettman have qualified as members of the league batting and pitching leaderboards...Hiura ranks eighth in batting with a .375 average (9x24, HR, 3RBI)...Gettman is the league’s fourth-best pitcher with a 0.68 ERA over 13.1 IP, and a 1-0 record...the Pippins have a pitching leader, Darrion Simmons (9th), 1.33 ERA, 1-2, 20.1 IP.

HALF THE OFFENSE
Over the last five games, only two AppleSox hitters are hitting above .200, and they are both from UC Irvine...Keston Hiura is hitting .353 (6x17, HR, 3RBI), and Mitchell Holland is at .435 to lead all hitters (10x23, HR, 5 RBI)...coincidentally, both hit home runs at Bellingham for the Sox’ first round-trippers of the season...they have combined for 16 of the teams 33 hits over the last five games and eight of 19 RBI.

AFTER FACING THE LEADOFF MAN...
AppleSox pitching has been potent, once it gets through the first hitter of each inning...leadoff hitters average .287 off Sox pitching...with runners on base, opponents are only hitting .222 (46x207)...with runners in scoring position, .207 (29x140)...with the bases loaded, .200 (5x25, 0HR)...with scoring position and 2-outs, .143 (9x63).

HOME SWEET HOME
While the offense has been struggling lately, the offensive AppleSox are much better within the friendly confines...the Sox hit .268 (55x205, 11 x-base, 31 RBI) at home, and only .187  on the road (36x193, 7 x-base [2HR], 17 RBI).

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 826 games, the AppleSox own a 521-305 (.633) record...the AppleSox are 381-205 (.654) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 329-187 (.642) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 412-262 (.614) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 315-157 (.670) all-time home record, and is 216-167 (.566) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-27 all-time in extra-inning games, and the Sox set a record for free baseball last summer, playing eight extended contests.

First AppleSox Youth Camp, Tuesday

AppleSox Youth Clinics return for another season, Tuesday June 23.

Today is the last day for $79 online registrations for the AppleSox first youth camp of 2015!

For complete information on AppleSox Baseball Youth Camps, visit: applesoxcamps.com

Don't Miss out! Late registrations will be accepted tomorrow at the park at 8:30 a.m.

APPLESOX TAKE GAME THREE ON FATHER'S DAY

The AppleSox didn't allow much for Bells hitters, Sunday afternoon, holding Bellingham to a season-low three hits.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-8, 5-7) won their first day game of 2015, by a score of 5-1, after falling behind early to the Bellingham Bells (10-5, 10-5), to avoid the series sweep at Joe Martin Field.

Bellingham was only able to muster three hits on the afternoon, two of which were obtained by Jesse Kuet. The Bells were stifled early by Hunter Wells (2-0), who threw five innings, giving up the Bell run, a Beau Branton RBI single in the second inning.

Colton Loomis also tossed three scoreless innings in the contest, and Brian Gadsby fired away in the final frame.

The AppleSox pushed across three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead, on RBI singles for Ryan Crowe, Mitchell Holland, and Sheldon Liikala. All runs in the fifth were scored with two outs, on four hits.

The Sox chased Grant Schneider (1-1), during that fifth inning but still teed off the Bells bullpen as well. In the seventh inning, Holland doubled home Keston Hiura, who reached base after being hit by pitch.

Then it was Hiura in the ninth, supplying one last surge on the weekend, with a solo home run to right field. It was Hiura’s first home run of the season, and the cap to a 2-for-3 day that included a double for the UC Irvine outfielder.

The three hits for the Bells marked a new low on the season for the defending-WCL Champions. The AppleSox also snapped a six-game losing streak to Bellingham, with the win.

Wenatchee returns home Monday for a day off, and will face Divisional foe, Yakima Valley, Tuesday-Thursday at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. All games will start at 7:05 p.m.

WP: Hunter Wells (2-0)
LP: Grant Schneider (1-1)

BELLS WALK OFF APPLESOX FOR GAME TWO WIN

The Bells scored the final five runs of Saturday's game, including two in the ninth, to win it 5-4.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-8, 4-7) held a 4-0 lead at one point Saturday, but couldn’t hold off the Bellingham Bells (10-4, 10-4), who scored the next five to win 5-4 at Joe Martin Field.

With the win, the Bells also guarantee a series win over Wenatchee, and have won six-straight over the AppleSox.  

Wenatchee got things going offensively in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Scott Hilpert worked a walk out of the nine spot in the order. His RBI, coupled by a Joey Jansen 2-RBI single, gave the AppleSox a 3-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fourth.

In the fifth, the Sox added another on a bases loaded walk of Keaton Smith, which scored Mitchell Holland.

It was the beginning of a walk parade for both sides at Joe Martin Field. The AppleSox offered up reliever Dustin Hamilton in the fifth, after Kyle Blankenship walked home a pair of Bells runners with the bases loaded.

Hamilton got into two tight spots in the fifth and sixth innings, with runners making it to second and third with only one out in each frame. Both times, Hamilton was able to back out of the corner without any runs scoring.

With the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning against reliever, Micael Taylor (0-2), the Sox pitcher got a ground ball on the infield, but a close and possibly controversial, safe call at first base kept the inning going and plated a Bells run to make the score 4-3.

In the bottom of the ninth, Taylor stayed on and Bellingham loaded up the bases with nobody out. A wild pitch scored the game’s tying run, and a Bronson Larsen single in the next at bat gave Bellingham the come-from-behind series win.

Sunday, the AppleSox play their first day game of the season. A 3:05 first pitch at Joe Martin Field. Hunter Wells will head to the hill for Wenatchee.

WP: Brice Longanecker (1-0)
LP: Micael Taylor (0-2)

BELLS TAKE GAME ONE, FEND OFF LATE APPLESOX RALLY

Mitchell Holland hit the AppleSox first home run of 2015 to lead off the eighth inning, Friday.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-7, 4-6) rallied late Friday night, but still fell 5-3 to the Bellingham Bells (9-4, 9-4), in game one of the weekend set at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham.

Wenatchee drew first blood Friday night, with a run scoring in the first inning on a Bells error at first base. Bells starter Kyle Rossman, settled down from there, holding the Sox scoreless over the next three innings.

Bellingham scored its first run in the third inning on a Chris Carns (0-1) wild pitch. Carns was making his first start of the season for the AppleSox.

Bellingham added a go-ahead run in the fifth on a Dustin Breshears single, making the score 2-1. Zach Johnson (1-0), who entered the game in the fifth inning for the Bells, was able to continue forward with the lead, until Bellingham rattled off three more in the sixth.

The Bells’ three-run scoring frame was marked by two singles and a fielder’s choice, and Bellingham owned a 5-1 lead heading to the seventh inning.

Mitchell Holland cranked the first AppleSox home run of 2015, to lead off the top half of the eighth inning. His shot to left was the first of two runs scored in the inning. Shelon Liikala came around to score in the inning on an Andrew Helmstadter RBI single. Liikala, who reached base in the inning via a walk, saw his 12-game hitting streak end Friday, going 0-for-4, with the run scored and the walk.

The AppleSox tried to complete the comeback in the ninth, but were stopped short by Jacob Howard, who picked up save number one on the season. It wasn’t an all-around efficient save for Howard, who let the tying run aboard, but got out of the night with a flyout to center field.

The AppleSox will look to even the series Saturday night, with first pitch once again scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Joe Martin Field.

WP: Zach Johnson (1-0)
LP: Chris Carns (0-1)
S:  Jacob Howard (1)

SOX GET FIRST HOME SWEEP SINCE 2013

The last time the AppleSox got a sweep at home was Aug. 5-7, 2013 against the Victoria HarbourCats.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-6, 4-5) swept the Medford Rogues (5-7, 5-7), with a 3-2 win, Wednesday night. It was the first sweep at home for the AppleSox since August 5-7, 2013.

Mitchell Holland drove in his fourth run of the season in the fourth inning off of Rogues starter, Max Bethel (0-1). The RBI single for Holland, brought home Ryan Crowe and Wenatchee was on top.

Holland helped Joey Jansen around in the third inning on a hard-hit ball to third base that was ruled to get past John Kinne, due to a fielding error. Wenatchee led 2-0.

Zach Haggett (1-0), was brilliant from the start, Wednesday. He retired the first twelve men he faced, in order. Medford had a scoring chance in the fifth on their first hit, a double to center field, from Bily Fredrick, however, a strong relay throw for Keaton Smith brought catcher Ryan Crowe up the third base line, in time to collide with the runner Andrew Martinez, who was out on the play.

Rogues manager Josh Hogan was ejected arguing the call.

The AppleSox, meanwhile, had a 3-0 lead thanks to a fielder’s choice RBI in the fourth, credited to Jansen.

Medford cracked the board in the sixth with a  moon shot solo home run to right field, for Jimmy Wright. It was the first Medford home run on the season not hit by Dan Mayer or Nathan Etheridge, and it marked the team’s seventh round-tripper. Medford added one more run in the inning to make it 3-2.

The AppleSox pitching staff then had to fight the rest of the way. Haggett got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh with one out. He forced an infield fly popout for Jimmy Wright, and then got Brock Pradere to strike out swinging.

In the eighth, Kyle Blankenship tossed a scoreless frame for the AppleSox, after walking a runner aboard and hitting a Rogue batter in the head with an errant fastball. The player, Martinez, was ok and able to stay in the game. Blankeship worked out of the inning with a strikeout of Chris DeVito.

Sean Sparling earned his first save of the summer, after he struck out Pradere again in the ninth inning to win the game and deliver the sweep for the AppleSox. Dan Mayer, who pinch hit in the inning, was left on base.

The AppleSox have a well-deserved off day Thursday, and travel to Bellingham, Friday, to take on the Bells in a weekend set. Chris Carns will make his AppleSox debut on the mound, Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Joe Martin Field.

WP: Zach Haggett (1-1)
LP: Max Bethel (0-1)
S: Sean Sparling (1)

APPLESOX SEEK FIRST HOME SWEEP SINCE 2013

The AppleSox have a chance to sweep a team for the first time since August, 2013, at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, tonight. It's also Kid's Night and the game is sponsored by Numerica Credit Union.

GAME NOTES 6/17
BASEBALL BLURBS 6/17

SOX SEEK FIRST HOME SWEEP SINCE 2013
The Wenatchee AppleSox (6-6, 3-5), fourth place in the WCL East, handed the Medford Rogues (5-6, 5-6) their fifth-consecutive loss last night in an 8-3 win, and the middle of the order combined to collect six of the team’s eight hits...the AppleSox won the series last night and now have a chance to complete their first home sweep since Aug. 5-7, 2013 over the Victoria HarbourCats...Wednesday is Kid’s Day brought to you by Fred Meyer...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (6-6) (.500), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
The AppleSox won their second-consecutive game by a score of 8-3 over the Medford Rogues...Wenatchee used a six-run fourth inning (highest single scoring inning of the season) to take a lead that they would not relinquish...Mitchell Holland went 3-for-4 to lead all batters in total hits, Keston Hiura drove in 2-RBI and was the only multi-RBI Sox player, while Sheldon Liikala extended his hitting streak to 12-consecutive games, and eight-consecutive in WCL play.

GET HIM ON, MOVE HIM UP, DRIVE HIM IN
The AppleSox bats drove in four of the team’s six RBI, with two outs last night...Keston Hiura had both of his on a two-out single, Mitchell Holland followed with another on a single, both in the fourth inning.

MIDDLE OF THE ORDER LIVES LARGE
The three-four-five spots in the AppleSox lineup may be safe for awhile...Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland, and Sheldon Liikala are a combined 13-26, 9R, 6RBI over the last two games, as the three-four-five hitters....the combo is batting .500 with a .593 on-base percentage.

IF IT’S DECIDED BY A RUN...
The AppleSox and Medford are different teams in one-run games...the Rogues are 3-1 in one-run games, and the AppleSox are 0-3...the Sox have played a 4th one-run game, but it was in non-league play, a 7-6 win in extra innings over the Spokane Expos.

AMONGST THE LEADERS
Sheldon Liikala sits at ninth in batting in the WCL, with a .379 average entering play...Bend’s Tyler Davis leads at .463...his eight-game league hitting streak is tied for second-best with Bend’s Christian Cavaness, and Kelowna’s Ben Gamba, all chasing Tyler Davis at 10 games.

IN TIGHT SPOTS
Wenatchee has a .304 average with runners in scoring position, and it skyrockets to .378 with runners in scoring position with two outs...Sox pitchers are holding opponents to .224 with runners in scoring position, and .170 with scoring position and two outs. (Bases loaded: Sox: 0-7, 6 RBI - opponents: 4-18

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 822 games, the AppleSox own a 519-303 (.633) record...the AppleSox are 379-203 (.654) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 327-185 (.642) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 410-260 (.614) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 314-157 (.670) all-time home record, and is 215-165 (.566) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-27 all-time in extra-inning games, and the Sox set a record for free baseball last summer, playing eight extended contests.

SOX USE BIG FOURTH INNING, MIDDLE OF LINEUP, TO WIN SERIES

Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland, and Sheldon Liikala combined to go 6-12, with three runs scored and three RBI, as CJ Gettman picked up his first win, Tuesday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (6-6, 3-5) won their first West Coast League series of 2015, in an 8-3 contest, securing a chance for a sweep against the Medford Rogues (5-6, 5-6), Wednesday night.

Unlike a night ago, the Rogues started the night off, offensively with two runs in the first inning, both unearned, following an error on the infield.

In the second inning, Wenatchee manufactured a run after Mitchell Holland led off the inning with a double into the left field bullpen. Sheldon Liikala then moved him up to third with a groundout to the right side. Nick Nyquist also turned a ball on the right side of the infield for an RBI groundout to first, which evened the game at one.

Starter CJ Gettman (1-0) had to expend a lot of pitches in the first three innings, but really settled in during frames four and five, throwing just 21 pitches, while only allowing one runner on base. He was caught stealing by Andrew Helmstadter. Gettman lost his 16-consecutive scoreless innings streak at 16 2/3 innings, following the two-out runs for Medford in the first.

Wenatchee got Gettman the runs he needed in the fourth inning, taking advantage of three Rogue errors. Medford entered Tuesday night as the top defensive team in the West Coast League, by fielding percentage. The AppleSox also chased Medford starter Gabe Gentner (0-1) in the inning. The Rouges used five relievers for a second-straight night.

All of the AppleSox runs in the fourth came across unearned, but Holland, Keston Hiura, Nick Nyquist, and Kyle Vanderkin all got hits in the inning as well. The AppleSox three, four, and five hitters (Hiura, Holland, and Sheldon Liikala) combined to go 6-for-12 on the night with three runs scored, and three runs driven in.

Liikala extended his hitting streak to twelve games in the seventh inning with a double. Helmstadter added the AppleSox eighth run on a sacrifice fly to score Holland, who got aboard via a single up the middle to open the inning. Holland went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. His UC Irvine teammate, Hiura, was the only AppleSox player with 2 RBI.

Brian Gadsby pitched the final 2 2/3 innings in relief of CJ Gettman and helped secure the AppleSox win, while throwing three strikeouts along the way to bring his season total to six.

Wenatchee has a chance to sweep the series Wednesday night. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and Zach Haggett (0-1, 6.00) takes to the hill for the AppleSox.

WP: CJ Gettman (1-0)
LP: Gabe Gentner (0-1)