AppleSox and Kelowna Face Series-Deciding Game Before All Star Break

The AppleSox and Kelowna cap the pre-All Star schedule, Saturday, with a series-deciding game for the second time over the last six games.

BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX, KELOWNA TO DECIDE ANOTHER SERIES IN GAME 3
The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-21, 15-20), fourth place in the WCL East, lost 9-6 last night to the Kelowna Falcons (24-12, 23-12), despite Wenatchee overcoming a 6-0 deficit into the fifth inning...the AppleSox will have a chance to own two of Kelowna’s three series losses, if they win Saturday night...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (18-21) (.462), 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 fell behind 6-0 through four innings, Friday, and the game started with Hunter Villanueva launching a solo home run to center field off of Brian Gadsby...the AppleSox evened the score through the top half of the sixth inning...Keaton Smith and Jake Hirabayashi and Mitchell Holland each picked up an RBI in the fifth inning. Holland went 4-for-5 with the RBI...in the sixth, two runs scored on wild pitches, and Joey Jansen drove in another to help the AppleSox even the score with Kelowna...the Falcons answered with a run off of Tony Contonio (0-5), in the bottom of the sixth, on an RBI double for Hunter Villanueva...it marked his third hit and third RBI of the game...Kelowna added two in the seventh off of Gage Burland with back-to-back doubles for Scout Villanueva and Lane Lacrone leading the charge in the inning...the game ended on a diving catch by Andre Jackson in right field, which prevented the tying run from coming to the plate for the AppleSox.

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT ELKS
Over the last ten games at Elks Stadium, dating back to Aug. 9, 2013, the AppleSox are 7-3...they have won five in a row...over that stretch, the Sox are averaging 10 runs per game, 14.2 hits per game, and have a home run and three triples...over the last two season on the road in Kelowna, Wenatchee is 6-1, averaging 9 runs per game, 13.3 hits per game, with two home runs and three triples.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 849 games, the AppleSox own a 531-318 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 391-218 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 340-200 (.631) 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 422-275 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 221-173 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

KELOWNA DRAWS SERIES EVEN WITH GAME TWO WIN

The AppleSox and Falcons will battle for the series, Saturday night, after Kelowna won game two 9-6, Friday night.

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-21, 15-20) lost 9-6, after falling behind early in the game to the Kelowna Falcons (23-13, 22-13), Friday, at Elks Stadium.

The AppleSox fell behind 6-0 through four innings, Friday, and the game started with Hunter Villanueva launching a solo home run to center field off of Brian Gadsby.

The AppleSox evened the score through the top half of the sixth inning. Keaton Smith and Jake Hirabayashi and Mitchell Holland each picked up an RBI in the fifth inning. Holland went 4-for-5 with the RBI.

In the sixth, two runs scored on wild pitches, and Joey Jansen drove in another to help the AppleSox even the score with Kelowna.

The Falcons answered with a run off of Tony Contonio (0-5), in the bottom of the sixth, on an RBI double for Hunter Villanueva. It marked his third hit and third RBI of the game.

Kelowna added two in the seventh off of Gage Burland with back-to-back doubles for Scout Villanueva and Lane Lacrone leading the charge in the inning.

The game ended on a diving catch by Andre Jackson in right field, which prevented the tying run from coming to the plate for the AppleSox.

The final game of the three game series is Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. Micael Taylor will take to the hill for Wenatchee.

WP: Alex Webb (2-2)
LP: Tony Contonio (0-5)

APPLESOX GO FOR SERIES AT KELOWNA

Brian Gadsby will get the start for the AppleSox tonight, as they go for a series win at Kelowna.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX LOOK FOR FOURTH-STRAIGHT OVER KELOWNA
The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-20, 15-19), fourth place in the WCL East, won a 13-9 slugfest last night against the Kelowna Falcons (23-12, 22-12), in the Sox third-consecutive win over the division-leading Falcons...the AppleSox will have a chance to own two of Kelowna’s three series losses, if they win Friday night...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (18-20) (.474), 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 unpacked their bats in game one of the three-game series last night (four-of-six-consecutive)...with the win, Wenatchee is now seven games back in the WCL East division...Wenatchee fell behind early, 3-0 after a good first inning for the Falcons...Kelowna brought all of its order to the plate in the first inning and came up with three runs on two hits and three walks...the AppleSox opened on the scoreboard in the second inning, with two runs of their own...Jake Hirabayashi and Nick Nyquist got their first hits of the night, and Drew Helmstadter reached on an error (could’ve easily been scored an RBI single), with Jansen driving in the other run...the Sox took a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning, on a three-run frame, they woild hold that advantage to the final gun...Keston Hiura, Keaton Smith, Hirabayashi, and Nyquist all had two-hit nights...Holland and Helmstadter had three-hit nights...Jansen collected four hits and a team-high four RBI...the AppleSox tried to give the game back in the sixth inning, surrendering four runs, hampering what was once a 10-5 lead, but the Sox went on to score the game’s final three runs, while shutting the Falcons down the rest of the way.

KNOCKING THE COVER OFF THE BALL
The AppleSox hit a season-high 19 hits, with a season-high 13 runs, and new single-game high of 8 extra-base hits...Mitchell Holland powered his 3rd home run of the season over Elks Stadium’s left field fence, and seven-of-nine men in the order collected two or more hits...eight-of-nine with one hit...the Sox also scored in six-of-nine innings, a new season high.

HIURA THE HITTER
Keston Hiura might have to host his own All Star Game in the Wenatchee Valley, Monday night...since the All Star teams were announced (and he was left off the list), Hiura has been hitting .471 (8x17), with six doubles, two RBI, and a walk...Hiura has collected an extra-base hit in each of his last five games and eight of his last ten games...he has a five-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in  18 of his last 21 games (23-of-29 this year)...batting .571 (12x21, 3RBI) in last five games, and .450 in last ten (18x40, 2 HR, 10 RBI).

THE BIG FOUR-OH .... OH
The AppleSox won their 400th all-time league game, Thursday night...315 were won in WCL play, and the other 85 in the PIL.

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT ELKS
Over the last ten games at Elks Stadium, dating back to Aug. 9, 2013, the AppleSox are 7-3...they have won five in a row...over that stretch, the Sox are averaging 10 runs per game, 14.2 hits per game, and have a home run and three triples...over the last two season on the road in Kelowna, Wenatchee is 6-1, averaging 9 runs per game, 13.3 hits per game, with two home runs and three triples.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 848 games, the AppleSox own a 531-317 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 391-217 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 340-199 (.631) 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 422-274 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 221-172 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

SLUGFEST GOES TO APPLESOX, WINNERS OF THREE-STRAIGHT

The AppleSox exploded for season-highs in hits, runs, and extra-bases, on the way to a third-consecutive win Thursday, at Elks Stadium in British Columbia.

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-20, 15-19) exploded for 19 hits in a 13-9 win over the Kelowna Falcons (23-12, 22-12), Thursday, at Elks Stadium.

The AppleSox 13 runs and 19 hits each were a new single game high. The AppleSox also hit eight exra-base hits, which trumped their previous season high, set back in June against the Corvallis Knights.

The night started with a tough first inning, in which all nine Kelowna batters came to the plate to face Hunter Wells (5-1). Wells surrendered three runs on two hits and walked three batters in the inning. He would finish after five innings with six walks, and also gave up single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Wenatchee started its scoring in the second inning, when a runner came to score on an error on the left side of the infield, and Joey Jansen hit the first of four RBI on the night.

In total, Jansen was 4-for-6 and also scored a run. The AppleSox had eight-of-nine batters collect a hit, and seven-of-nine had at least two hits.

An additional three runs were scored in the fourth inning on an RBI single for Drew Helmstadter and two RBI doubles – one for Keaton Smith, and another for Keston Hiura. Hiura collected his fifth-consecutive multi-hit night, and Smith went on to go 2-for-6 with both of his hits, RBI doubles.

In the fifth, Nick Nyquist’s second hit of the game resulted in a sixth run for the AppleSox. Helmstadter also knocked in a 2-RBI double, and Jansen collected the second of his 4 RBI.

Helmstadter was 2-for-5 on the night, with 3 RBI - a new personal-best in single game RBI for the AppleSox, this year.

Scoring was simplified in the sixth inning when Mitchell Holland went deep for his third home run of the season. The shot was of the solo variety to left field, and gave Wenatchee a 10-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

Dustin Hamilton took over at that point and nearly gave up the lead in a difficult outing. Four runs scored in the sixth inning and nine batters came to the plate, like the first inning.

AJ Proszek was ejected in the inning, disputing balls and strikes, after a borderline ball call by the home plate umpire during a pivotal at bat of the frame.

Kyle Blankenship pitched the seventh and eighth innings and dialed up a double-play ball twice, to get out of trouble. One was 6-4-3 in the seventh, and the other 5-4-3 in the eighth.

Sean Sparling retired the side in order in the ninth, after his guys scored three more runs in the final three innings for the 13-9 win.

With the win, the AppleSox have taken three-straight from Kelowna, and 3-of-4 on the season. The Sox picked up a game on all teams in the WCL East, who each lost last night.

Tonight is game two (five-of-six consecutive) and Brian Gadsby will make a spot start for the AppleSox, who are low on available arms. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. from Elks Stadium.

WP: Hunter Wells (5-1)
LP: Dalton Blackwell (0-1)

APPLESOX-FALCONS SERIES MOVES NORTH

The AppleSox look to carry their momentum from a series win against the WCL East leaders in Wenatchee, to British Columbia, as a home-and-home set continues, Thursday.

GAME NOTES

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (17-20, 14-19), fourth place in the WCL East, were the first team to win a series against the Kelowna Falcons (23-11, 22-11), since Yakima Valley won a series in the second three=game set of the year for the Falcons...Wednesday marked the first time the Falcons lost the third game of a set this season...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (17-20) (.459), 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 a series Wednesday night for the first time since  July 3-5 when they swept the Klamath Falls Gems...Kelowna lost game three of a series for the first time this season...the Falcons are now 9-2 in series this season and had an eight-series winning streak snapped...Keston Hiura had a multi-hit night for a fourth consecutive game...Hiura had two doubles Wednesday - both for RBI - which brought his total in the first series to five doubles...he went 6-for-12 on the series, and is batting over .500 on the season...Evan Douglas hit his seventh home run of the season -  a three-run shot in the sixth inning...Wenatchee got into some trouble in the ninth inning, after Hunter Villanueva and Justin Flores led off the top of the ninth with back-to-back solo home runs...Wednesday marked the first time this season that an opposing team hit at least one home run, but didn’t win...Brian Gadsby was forced into action in the ninth inning and got the final out of the game, catching Lane Lacrone looking at strike three for the win...Gadsby picked up his second save, and will start in game two for the AppleSox, Friday...a spot start due to Wenatchee being short pitchers.

WELLS, LIIKALA, NAMED 2015 ALL STARS
Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, League President Dennis Koho announced Monday...They will play for the WCL North All Star team, comprised of players from Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Victoria, and Yakima Valley...Kelowna and Bellingham each had five players selected, Walla Walla received four picks, Yakima Valley; three, and Victoria; one.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 847 games, the AppleSox own a 530-317 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 390-217 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 339-199 (.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 421-274 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.665) all-time home record, and is 220-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX WIN SERIES, LIFTED BY HAGGETT

The AppleSox won a WCL East series for the first time, Wednesday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (17-20, 14-19) won 6-4 Wednesday, and took the first series of two-consecutive against the Kelowna Falcons (23-11, 22-11) at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

The AppleSox scored first in the first inning, on a Keston Hiura RBI double. Hiura has been hitting over .500 over the last five games.

Zach Haggett (4-1) was outstanding for the AppleSox, Wednesday. He started the game by retiring the first seven batters he faced. Wade Gulden broke up the seven-consecutive retired with the first single of the game. The Falcons would only get one more hit off of Haggett over 7 2/3 innings. Max Carter singled in the fifth inning for the other hit.

Haggett received more run support from his club in the sixth inning, when Joel Lamont (3-1) walked two batters ahead of Evan Douglas. He promptly homered over the wall in right field to give Wenatchee a 4-0 lead. It was Douglas’ seventh home run of the summer.

Wenatchee added two in the seventh on an RBI double for Keston Hiura – his second of the game – and a wild pitch scored Wenatchee’s sixth run.

Three walks got Haggett into trouble in the eighth inning. He left the game with 120 pitches thrown, and a run came home to score on a wild pitch from Tony Contonio out of the bullpen. The run – charged to Haggett – ended a streak of 25 consecutive scoreless innings for the right-hander.

Contonio got a strikeout to end the inning, but was in trouble in the ninth inning after giving up back-to-back solo home runs to Hunter Villanueva and Justin Flores. A walk of Max Carter, and another of Vinny Esposito, forced the AppleSox to turn to Brian Gadsby, with the score 6-3. An infield single got Kelowna its fourth run, but Gadsby struck out the next batter looking to end the game with the tying run aboard.

Gadsby earned his second save of the season.

Kelowna’s loss marked the first time they’ve lost the third game of a series this season, and broke up eight-consecutive series won for the Falcons (seven in game three).

The two teams will now take their battle north to British Columbia and face off in Kelowna. First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., and AppleSox All Star Hunter Wells is scheduled to take to the mound.

WP: Zach Haggett (4-1)
LP: Joel Lamont (3-1)
S: Brian Gadsby (2)

SERIES-DECIDING GAME THREE WITH KELOWNA, WEDNESDAY

The AppleSox and Falcons will decide the first of two-consecutive series, Wednesday night, in a game that is expected to be a pitchers' duel. The two starters to either side have a combined 6-1 record.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-20, 13-19), fourth place in the WCL East, look to win the first of two series in a six-game home and home stretch with the Kelowna Falcons (23-10, 22-10), who fell last night 6-3, after a great AppleSox comeback last night at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (16-20) (.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 NIGHT
Game two had an inauspicious beginning last night...Wenatchee was no-hit through 5 2/3 innings, by Kelowna starter Nat Hamby...Kelowna had just taken a 3-0 lead in the top half of the fifth inning...RBI through the first five innings belonged to Hunter Villanueva and Joey Crunkilton...Wenatchee got hits in bunches from that point on...Drew Helmstadter got the Sox first hit with two-outs in the fifth, and Danny Amaral followed it up with an RBI single, scoring Kyle Vanderkin, who walked earlier in the inning...the walk was one-of-three for Vanderkin, Tuesday...Amaral’s RBI was the first of three...Wenatchee had to wait until the bottom of the seventh to tie the score, as Helmstadter got another two-out single for Wenatchee...Amaral followed it up with an RBI triple to right field, and a relay throw got over the head of Kelowna’s third baseman to bring Amaral all the way around to score on the play...Colton Loomis, a Cashmere Native, pitching on Cashmere Night at the ballpark tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth inning...he was picked up by a defense that set a new single-game season-high with 3 double plays turned in last night’s game...the double plays came with bases loaded and no outs in the fifth inning, to end the top of the eighth, and get first two outs in the ninth...AppleSox took the lead in the eighth after Evan Douglas walked and Keston Hiura doubled...Mitchell Holland hit a go-ahead RBI single, then Sheldon Liikala added an RBI bunt single, and Amaral a walk...Loomis got the win, capping the ninth with a K.

TURNING AROUND THE DIVISIONAL RECORD
The AppleSox started divisional play at 2-8...last night was their third win in divisional action...Wenatchee has not won back-to-back games in divisional play this year.

ABOUT RUBBER-MATCH GAME THREES
Wenatchee is 0-2 in the rubber match game of series this year...the only two times the AppleSox faced a rubber match this year were both against Walla Walla and both on the road...both games were losses in walkoff fashion.

WELLS, LIIKALA, NAMED 2015 ALL STARS
Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, League President Dennis Koho announced Monday...They will play for the WCL North All Star team, comprised of players from Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Victoria, and Yakima Valley...Kelowna and Bellingham each had five players selected, Walla Walla received four picks, Yakima Valley; three, and Victoria; one.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 846 games, the AppleSox own a 529-317 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 389-217 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 338-199 (.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 420-274 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 319-164 (.665) all-time home record, and is 220-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX EVEN SERIES WITH COMEBACK WIN

The AppleSox were led by a three-RBI performance from Danny Amaral, and great defensive play helped seal a win down the stretch, Tuesday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-20, 13-19) came-from-behind late in Tuesday night’s conterst to defeat the Kelowna Falcons (23-10, 22-10), 6-3 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

Early on it looked like the AppleSox could be in trouble for the second-consecutive night. Kelowna led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, and Wenatchee was no-hit by Kelowna starter, Nat Hamby, for 5 2/3 innings.

Drew Helmstadter broke up the string of 5 2/3 hitless innings with a two-out single in the fifth. Danny Amaral followed with an RBI single that scored Kyle Vanderkin, who was aboard earlier in the inning with a walk.

In the sixth, Hamby stranded a Sox runner, and Wenatchee moved to 1-for-5 on the night with runners in scoring position.

The seventh inning provided more excitement for Wenatchee, as again with two outs, Helmstadter and Amaral sparked a rally for Wenatchee. Helmstadter started with a single, and was drive in on an Amaral RBI triple to right field that got over the head of Joey Crunkilton. A relay throw from shallow right field got over the head of Kelowna’s third baseman and bounced into the Wenatchee dugout, bringin Amaral all the way home on the play, while evening the score at 3.

Max Carter (0-1), was charged with the loss after allowing the first two runners of the inning aboard, on a walk and double. Keston Hiura had another two-hit night for Wenatchee – including his third double of the series. Mitchell Holland drove in Evan Douglas as the go-ahead run with a hard single over Lance Lacrone’s head at short.

Two more runs came to score in the inning on a bunt single for Sheldon Liikala and RBI bases-loaded walk for Danny Amaral.

Colton Loomis (1-1) relieved AppleSox starter Gage Burland, who did a great job of holding the Sox in the contest, with only the three runs allowed all night (one driven in on an RBI). Loomis had some troubles with the strike zone but was picked up by a stout Wenatchee defense.

The AppleSox turned a single league game-high 3 double plays Tuesday, including one for Burland with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and no outs. Another got Loomis out of the top of the eighth, and the third followed a four-pitch walk in the top of the ninth. Loomis capped the game with a strikeout, and the Cashmere native clinched the win on Cashmere Night at the ballpark.

The series concludes Wednesday, with Kid’s Day, presented by Fred Meyer. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., and Zach Haggett (3-1) will pitch for the AppleSox.

WP: Colton Loomis (1-1)
LP: Max Carter (0-1)

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (15-20, 12-19), fourth place in the WCL East, dropped last night’s series-opener against the Kelowna Falcons (23-9, 22-9), 7-1 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (15-20) (.429), 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
Wenatchee was hit hard in the first inning by Kelowna a night ago...RBI singles and doubles accounted for two runs, while a balk forced home a third run in the frame...Micael Taylor was handed his first loss as a starter last night, now going to 1-3 on the season...his command of the zone was spotty at times, throwing 87 pitches, with 47 crossing for strikes...Kelowna teed off on him for two additional runs in the fourth inning, an RBI single and solo HR from Hunter Villanueva, his third home run of the season...Matt Hearn, Kelowna’s second baseman had a great night at the plate, Monday, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk...Hearn and his teammate Brandon Grimsley each had a stolen base, and Ryan Crowe caught two Falcons stealing to open the series...Sean Sparling pitched after Kyle Blankenship provided initial relief...Blankenship walked five, and as a staff the AppleSox walked nine and struck out four last night...the AppleSox lone run came in the sixth inning on a Keston Hiura RBI double, that scored Evan Douglas...Hiura had another multi-hit night, with both of his knocks being doubles.

PREVENTING THE HOME RUN
The AppleSox gave up a home run last night in the fourth inning...just the fourth time an opponent has hit one on Wenatchee this seaosn, the lowest total for any pitching staff in the WCL.

OFF DAY NOT SERVING ITS PURPOSE
Wenatchee is now 1-4 when playing after an off day. The AppleSox are 4-1 prior to the off day, with their only win after an off day in backwards fashion, June 20 against Walla Walla after dropping the series finale at Victoria June 28, 11-10...Four times the potential for a multi-game winning streak was snapped by the off day this season...a momentum killer.

WELLS, LIIKALA, NAMED 2015 ALL STARS
Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, League President Dennis Koho announced Monday...They will play for the WCL North All Star team, comprised of players from Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Victoria, and Yakima Valley...Kelowna and Bellingham each had five players selected, Walla Walla received four picks, Yakima Valley; three, and Victoria; one.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 845 games, the AppleSox own a 528-317 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 388-217 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 337-199 (.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 419-274 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 318-164 (.665) all-time home record, and is 220-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

HUNTER WELLS, SHELDON LIIKALA NAMED 2015 ALL STARS

Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, Monday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox had two players named to the WCL North All Star team by WCL President Dennis Koho, Monday

Hunter Wells, who just finished up his sophomore year at Gonzaga, leads the AppleSox in wins with four, and also has the most strikeouts of any AppleSox pitcher with 35. His ERA of 1.17 is best amongst AppleSox starters.

Wells was the one of the first two pitchers to reach 4 wins in WCL play, this season. He started the year throwing a one-hit, eight-inning, shutout at Walla Walla in his first league appearance. Since then he has posted a 4-1 record, which included a Fourth of July victory.

Wells will be joined by outfielder Sheldon Liikala in Bellingham, July 20.

Liikala has owned the longest hitting streak of any AppleSox hitter this season, which stretched to 12 games when including non-league play.

Liikala has a .311 average and 13 RBI, which are both top-three numbers for the AppleSox. He has been a versatile outfielder all season for Wenatchee, seeing time in most all of the team’s games.

The All Star Game is scheduled for July 20 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Wash. Festivities will open with a home run derby, and the game has a scheduled first pitch of 7:05 p.m. The North will be managed by Jeff James of the Bellingham Bells and the South by Brooke Knight of the Corvallis Knights. The North club is made up of Bellingham, Kelowna, Victoria, Walla Walla, Wenatchee and Yakima Valley while the South team is composed of Bend, Corvallis, Cowlitz, Kitsap, Klamath Falls and Medford.

KELOWNA FIGHTS PAST APPLESOX IN SERIES OPENER

Falcons defeat AppleSox in game one despite two doubles from Keston Hiura.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (15-20, 12-19) were defeated 7-1 in the opener of a series against the Kelowna Falcons (23-9, 22-9), Monday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

Kelowna opened scoring in the first inning, with three runs off of AppleSox starter Micael Taylor (1-3). Max Carter collected an RBI single, and Joey Crunkilton added an RBI double. Hunter Villanueva also scored in the inning on a balk.

Villanueva also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning off of Taylor. It was a deep shot to left field. Lane Lacrone also added an RBI single, to score Matt Hearn, who was aboard via a double.

Hearn went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI.

The AppleSox trailed 6-0 going to the bottom of the sixth, and scored their only run of the game on a Keston Hiura RBI double. Evan Douglas scored on the scorched ball to left field.

One more run was earned off of Kyle Blankenship, who came in to relieve Taylor in the fifth inning, when Hearn hit his RBI single in the seventh. The play scored Brandon Grimsley, who was aboard on the fifth walk of the game surrendered by Blankenship.

Sean Sparling pitched the final couple innings and change for Wenatchee. The pitching staff combined for nine walks and four strikeouts. Wenatchee was 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

WP: Kendall Motes (2-0)
LP: Micael Taylor (1-3)

APPLESOX OPEN IMPORTANT SIX GAMES WITH DIVISION LEADERS

The AppleSox play a home-and-home six game series starting with three at Paul Thomas Sr. Field against the Kelowna Falcons, Monday.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX OPEN IMPORTANT SIX GAMES WITH DIVISION LEADERS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (15-19, 12-18), fourth place in the WCL East, have a chance to flipt their fortunes, with six consecutive games against the Kelowna Falcons (22-9, 21-9), starting Monday...the teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (15-19) (.424), 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 salvaged a game in a three-game series against the Cowlitz Black Bears last weekend, on Saturday...the Sox won 8-3 and generated some offensive run support for starter Chris Carns, who was hit hard in the first inning for two runs, but rebounded for his best outing of the summer...he only allowed those two runs over six innings, and was forced out in the top of the 6th when he was hit by a line drive in the AppleSox dugout, while Wenatchee was batting...Dustin Hamilton earned a three-inning save for his efforts Saturday...Hamilton gave up just one run and struck out a season-high seven batters, while helping hold the Black Bear offense to just seven hits...Cowlitz also committed five errors, while the Sox were errorless and stole a new single game record nine bases to close the series.

WELLS, LIIKALA, NAMED 2015 ALL STARS
Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, League President Dennis Koho announced Monday...They will play for the WCL North All Star team, comprised of players from Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Victoria, and Yakima Valley...Kelowna and Bellingham each had five players selected, Walla Walla received four picks, Yakima Valley; three, and Victoria; one.
 
FUGITIVES
The AppleSox stole nine bases Saturday, which set a new team record for stolen bases in a single game, and also set a new high watermark in the league for stolen bases in a game, this season...Bellingham was next closest with eight steals in a game, and Corvallis has pulled off seven in a single contest this year.

KESTON HIURA TURNING IT UP
Keston Hiura had a productive night Saturday, going 4-for-4 with an RBI (to account for five of the AppleSox runs batted in at Cowlitz last weekend), and two stolen bases to bring his season total to seven steals...he is now the team’s leader in steals (7), average (.326), RBI (21), triples (3), tied for first in runs scored (21), doubles (7), sacrifice flys (2), second in home runs (3), walks (15), games played (25), and third in hits (30)...he also holds the league’s third-best concecutive on-base streak (17 games, June 24-current), behind only Tyler Davis (31 games), and Kyle Nixon (25 games)...he is the only AppleSox hitter to hit above .300 in either the last five or ten games, and he has shattered that mark by posting .400+ batting averages in each of those stretches (.400 in last five, and .421 in last ten)...he has twice as many RBI as any other teammate over the ten-game stretch, with 12, and twice as many over five games, with 8...he is also the team’s leading hitter with runners in scoring position (.350), team: .257.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 844 games, the AppleSox own a 528-316 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 388-216 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 337-198 (.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 419-273 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 318-163 (.665) all-time home record, and is 220-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

Sox Steal Record Nine Bases, Win 8-3

The AppleSox stole a team-record nine bases on the way to an 8-3 win, Saturday.

LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (15-19, 12-18) took the final game of a three game set with the Cowlitz Black Bears (16-19, 13-17), by a score of 8-3, Saturday night at Story Field.

The win ended a stretch of 12 AppleSox games played without an off day. The Sox had highs and lows during that span, but emerged with a confidence building win, to lead into an important upcoming six-game home and home set with the Kelowna Falcons.

Chris Carns (1-3), settled down very nicely for Wenatchee after allowing two Cowlitz runs in the first inning of the contest. Carns threw six innings, giving up just the two runs. His start was potentially cut short after six innings, because he was hit by a line drive in the AppleSox dugout in the top half of the sixth inning. He immediately was removed from action, and received care in Longview.

He was backed by a five-run fifth inning attack from the AppleSox offense, which included three of the team’s nine steals – a new single game team record.

Evan Douglas and Keston Hiura each provided sacrifice flys in the inning, and Nick Nyquist and Drew Helmstadter each chipped-in with two-out RBI. A balk also forced home a run.

Hiura finished going 4-for-4. His only half inning without a hit was in the fifth when he sacrificed. Hiura joins four AppleSox players atop the all-time single game hit records with four, after his performance Saturday. He also hit his third triple of the season in the eighth inning, now placing him one three-bagger shy of tying the team’s single season record.

Wenatchee added two insurance runs in the sixth on a two-RBI single from Sheldon Liikala. He scored Hiura and Mitchell Holland, who got aboard via a single and hit by pitch.

In the seventh, Jake Hirabayashi singled, took second on an error in left field, and stole third base before a errant throw from Cowlitz’s cather went down the third base line. He scored on the play, moving himself around the base paths. It was the fifth error of the night for Cowlitz’s defense, which entered play with a league-low .937 fielding percentage.

Dustin Hamilton, from nearby Castle Rock, Wash. got to pitch the final three innings in front of friends and family. He earned a save for his three-inning effort, giving up one run in the eighth on an RBI single for Bowen Ogata.

Hamilton struck out a new single game high seven batters, including his last man, who was down looking at the game’s final strike.

Wenatchee returns home for a day off Sunday, and returns to the diamond for six-straight against the WCL East leading Kelowna Falcons. The first three game set is at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, Monday-Wednesday this week, and the home and home pairing concludes in Kelowna, Thursday-Saturday before the All Star Break.

WP: Chris Carns (1-3)
LP: Jake Nelson (2-1)
S: Dustin Hamilton (2)

WENATCHEE WANTS TO END TOUGH ONE-RUN GAME STRETCH

The AppleSox have played seven-consecutive road games decided by one run.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

WENATCHEE WANTS TO END TOUGH ONE-RUN GAME STRETCH
The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-19, 11-18), fourth place in the WCL East, played yet another one-run game Friday night against the Cowlitz Black Bears (16-18, 13-16), who scored all of their four runs in the ninth inning, following a combined shutout for Zach Haggett and Tony Contonio through the first eight innings...it was the AppleSox sixth-straight one-run loss and seventh in the last eight...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (14-19) (.424), 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 played a fourth-consecutive one run game, Friday night...the team’s record for most consecutive one-run games is five, played June 27-July 2 (2-3)...the team has lost a season-high four-straight one-run games...Wenatchee led 3-0 into the ninth inning, scoring its three runs off just two hits, but five walks and three batters hit by pitch helped make up for the lack of offense...Tony Contonio was pitching in relief of Zach Haggett, who threw seven shutout innings...Contonio got out of the eighth fine, and face a runners at second and third situation with two outs and a 2-2 count on the batter at the plate...the batter, Mitch Bavacqua, singled, as did the next two, and Cowlitz scored four runs in the ninth to cement the comeback.

AGAIN
For a 15th time, the AppleSox played the closest of games...15 of the first 33 games this year being decided by one run, and 17-of-33 by two runs or less...the AppleSox are 3-11 in one-run league games and 1-0 in non-league one run games...a 4-11 overall record...the Sox are 2-8 on the road in one-run games and 2-3 at home...0-2 in games decided by two runs...have played four-consecutive one-run games...played five-straight from June 27-July 2...9-of-13 decided by one run in last 13...only one WCL team has played more one-run games (Walla Walla: 17, 9-8)...the AppleSox are tied with Klamath Falls and Yakima Valley for fewest one-run wins...this season, seven games have ended in either the AppleSox or opponent’s final at bat of the game...the Sox are 0-6 in walkoffs in league play, with the lone final at bat win, a 7-6 bases loaded walk of Nick Nyquist to win June 6 vs. the Spokane Expos at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

ALL ANTEATERS
In the last two games, all AppleSox RBI have been hit off UC Irvine bats...Keston Hiura posted all four of the team’s RBI Thursday, and Mitchell Holland earned both driven in Friday on a 2-RBI double to right center field...over the last five games, the duo has combined for 11 hits, two home runs, and nine RBI...the AppleSox have only 37 hits in the last five, two home runs, and 20 RBI...Holland (.227) and Hiura (.316) are joined by Danny Amaral (.300) as the only three sox hitting above .300 in the last five games.

WALKOFFS
The AppleSox have now been walked off six times this season...Walla Walla acheived the feat in 3-of-4 wins against the Sox this season, and Bellingham, Victoria, and Cowlitz have each done the walking off once.

EVERYBODY’S WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND
The AppleSox are 6-4 on Saturday-Sunday games, as opposed to 8-15 on weekday games.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 843 games, the AppleSox own a 527-316 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 387-216 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 336-198 (.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 418-273 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 318-163 (.665) all-time home record, and is 219-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX PLAY ANOTHER CLOSE GAME, EDGED 4-3

Cowlitz posted a four-run comeback in the ninth, Friday, to steal one from Wenatchee.

LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-19, 11-18) scored three runs on two hits, and tossed eight shutout innings, but the Cowlitz Black Bears (16-18, 13-16),  still executed a ninth-inning comeback to win 4-3, Friday night at Story Field.

Friday’s game was off to a slow start – pushed back 30 minutes to 7:05 p.m. – after umpires got stuck in a traffic jam on their way to the park.

Wenatchee struck first in the third inning, with a 2-RBI double from Mitchell Holland, following walks of Jake Hirabayashi and Danny Amaral to open the inning. The double was one of two hits on the night for Wenatchee, which was enough for much of the game.

Layne Bruner settled down and pitched well for Cowlitz, meanwhile, Zach Haggett did the same for Wenatchee. It wasn’t Haggett’s sharpest start of the summer, but he was able to toss seven shutout innings, while holding Cowlitz to six scattered hits and an 0-for-8 mark with runners in scoring position. ‘

The AppleSox hit Cowlitz for another run in the eighth. The Black Bears expended four pitchers in the inning, and Jake Hawken (2-1) got the final out of the inning after a wild pitch scored the AppleSox third run. Wenatchee was walked three times in the eight and hit by a pitch en route to the run.

Tony Contonio (0-4), threw a scoreless eighth inning, before Cowlitz was able to work him into some tough situations in the ninth. The first batter in the inning walked, and then AJ Graffaino hit an infield single, and reached second on a throwing error. The lead runner, Bowen Ogata advanced to third on the play.

Contonio struck out the next two batters, without a run coming home to score. Then Cowlitz strung together three consecutive singles, including a game-winning single from Isaac Benard, which gave Cowlitz its second one-run win in as many days.

The series wraps up Saturday night at 6:35 p.m., as Chris Carns takes the mound for Wenatchee. The AppleSox will wrap up a string of 12-consecutive games played.

WP: Jake Hawken (2-1)
LP: Tony Contonio (0-4)

AppleSox Aim to Even Series

The AppleSox and Black Bears face off under the lights tonight at Story Field.

GAME NOTES 7/10
BASEBALL BLURBS 7/10

APPLESOX AIM TO EVEN SERIES
The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-18, 11-17), fourth place in the WCL East, will try to rebound in the second game of the series against the Cowlitz Black Bears (15-18, 12-16), after the AppleSox fell 5-4 in game one...Keston Hiura had all 4 of the team’s RBI on a solo home run and 3 RBI double in the fist and seventh innings...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (14-17) (.452), 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 found a third-consecutive one-run game Thursday night at Story Field in Longview...the night started with a solo home run from Keston Hiura in the first inning...it was his third home run of the season...Cowlitz got to Hunter Wells in the second inning with a four-run top half...it included RBI from four separate hitters, and a fifth was added in the third inning for a 5-1 Cowlitz lead...the four-run advantage was just enough for Cowlitz...Hiura hit a 3 RBI two-out bases loaded triple in the seventh to bring the score to 5-4...all of the AppleSox RBI Thursday came with two outs...Wenatchee faced Lars Rider in the ninth inning after Colton Loomis got out of bac-to-back one-out runner in scoring position threats in the seventh and eighth innings...Rider retired the AppleSox in order, and contributed two strikeouts to the cause, while picking up save number seven, and now leads the WCL.

CLOSE ONLY COUNTS...
The old adage is that close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades...the AppleSox have been in whispering distance with opponents 14 times this season, with 14 of the first 32 games this year being decided by one run...the AppleSox are 3-10 in one-run league games and 1-0 in non-league one run games...a 4-10 overall record...the Sox are 2-7 on the road in one-run games and 2-3 at home...0-2 in games decided by two runs...have played three-consecutive one-run games...played five-straight from June 27-July 2...8-of-12 decided by one run in last 12...only one WCL team has played more one-run games (Walla Walla: 17, 9-8)...the AppleSox are tied with Klamath Falls and Yakima Valley for fewest one-run wins...this season, six games have ended in either the AppleSox or opponent’s final at bat of the game...the Sox are 0-5 in walkoffs in league play, with the lone final at bat win, a 7-6 bases loaded walk of Nick Nyquist to win June 6 vs. the Spokane Expos at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

THE TWO SIDES OF THE LONG BALL
There have been 133 home runs hit in the WCL this season...the AppleSox have only allowed three home runs in league play this year (4 total)...CJ Gettman has given up two of the three AppleSox home runs allowed...the other surrendered by Zach Haggett...of the other WCL teams, Medford has the next-lowest home runs allowed total at 7...Bellingham at 8, and Yakima Valley, Kelowna, and Walla Walla, all at 9 or the other WCL teams under 10 allowed...the most  allowed are on the hands of Corvallis pitchers (18), and Jake Repavich of Klamath Falls and Josh Johnson of Cowlitz are the individuals who have allowed the most (4)...Cowlitz has given up 17 blasts this season...last night was the Sox 11th home run...Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland, and Evan Douglas are the only ones to have hit a home run...Wenatchee is now 4-5 when they hit a home run (3-5 in single home run games and 1-0 in multi home run games)...seven of the 11 AppleSox home runs have been hit on the road this year.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 842 games, the AppleSox own a 527-315 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 387-215 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 336-197 (.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 418-272 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 318-163 (.665) all-time home record, and is 219-171 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX PLAY ANOTHER ONE-RUN GAME, FALL 5-4

The AppleSox were led offensively by Keston Hiura, Thursday.

LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-18, 11-17) received four RBI from Keston Hiura, but fell 5-4 to the Cowlitz Black Bears (15-18, 12-16), Thursday night at Story Field.

Wenatchee started the final leg of 12-consecutive games with a solo home run from Keston Hiura in the top of the first off of left-hander Josh Johnson (2-2). Hiura sent the ball over the right field fence, and the blast was his third of the summer.

Cowlitz got after AppleSox starter Hunter Wells, scoring four runs in the second inning. Four separate Black Bear batters combined for runs in the inning and a fifth hitter added a run in the third to make the score 5-1, Cowlitz, after three innings of play.

Wells settled down in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, holding Cowlitz scoreless over that stretch. The AppleSox did have some defensive struggles, recording three errors. Cowlitz had the same trouble with four errors of their own.

Hiura put the AppleSox back in the game in the seventh inning by driving in three runs on a bases loaded double to right center field. Hiura had a 4 RBI night, and is the second AppleSox player to record 4 RBI in a game this season.

Lars Rider earned a save with two strikeouts in the ninth inning for Cowlitz. He now leads the WCL with seven saves.

The AppleSox continue the series Friday night at 6:35 p.m. Zach Haggett will get the start for Wenatchee.

WP: Josh Johnson (2-2)
LP: Hunter Wells (4-1)
S: Lars Rider (7)

APPLESOX HIT ROAD TO END 12-GAME STRETCH

Hunter Wells returns home to where he began pitching in college. He is 4-0 on the season.

GAME NOTES

APPLESOX HIT ROAD TO END 12-GAME STRETCH
The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-17, 11-16), fourth place in the WCL East, play the final three games of a 12-day stetch, against the Cowlitz Black Bears (14-18, 11-16), after a comeback bid agains the league-leading Bend Elks fell just short a night ago in Wenatchee...the AppleSox scored four runs in the ninth inning, but struck out with the bases loaded after batting around, falling 8-7...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (14-17) (.452), 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 were in another close game Wednesday night, after having another tough start...Wenatchee was behind 6-1 through two innings of play...Brian Gadsby outlasted his starter, Gage Burland, by throwing 4 2/3 innings...the AppleSox scored four runs in the bottom half of the ninth inning, after trailing 8-3 entering the bottom of the ninth...the game ended for the AppleSox on a strikeout with the bases loaded.

WELLS NAMED CO-WCL PLAYER OF WEEK
Hunter Wells is rolling for the AppleSox...his 1.11 ERA is third-lowest in the WCL, his 33 strikeouts rank near the top amongst qualifying pitchers, and his four wins had him tied for first with Patrick McGuff, of the Bend Elks, for the league lead (McGuff now leads at 5)...Wells threw eight innings in a shuttout win over Klamath Falls, July 4, and only gave up four hits, while striking out six and walking two...he shared honors with West Tunnell, who was 12-for-26 last week for Bend, with 3 home runs, 8 runs scored, 8 RBI, and a .500 on-base percentage...Elks players have received at least a share of the honor in four of the last five weeks (Tunnell, Patrick Flynn, Cadyn Grenier, Tyler Davis).

STRIKEOUTS GALORE
The AppleSox were sent packing 16 times last night...a new season high for 2015...everyone except for Danny Amaral and Mitchell Holland, recorded a strikeout a night ago.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 841 games, the AppleSox own a 527-314 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 387-214 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 336-196 (.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 418-271 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 318-163 (.665) all-time home record, and is 219-170 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

LATE RALLY COMES UP SHORT IN GAME THREE

The AppleSox got four of the five runs they needed in the ninth inning, but fell just short with the bases loaded.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-17, 11-16) used a four run ninth inning to get within one of the Bend Elks (25-5, 25-5), but the Elks stranded the bases loaded for an 8-7 win and series sweep at Paul Thomas Sr. Field, Wednesday night.

The Elks opened up with mighty scoring power in the first two innings. Bend landed six runs on seven hits and worked a couple walks off of AppleSox starter, Gage Burland (1-1).

The AppleSox were able to answer in the bottom of the second with their first run of the game. Kyle Vanderkin dropped in an RBI single to score Mitchell Holland, who got aboard via a double earlier in the inning.

In the top of the fifth, Brian Gadsby took over with one out, and a run already home on an Elks RBI single. He struck out each of the first two batters he faced out of the bullpen to open his relief appearance.

The AppleSox added a run back in the bottom half of the fifth on an RBI triple for Joey Jansen. His hit to right center field rolled all the way to the fence and was the second of three hits on the night for the redshirt junior outfielder.

The Sox also struck for a run in the sixth on Keston Hiura’s second home run of the season. He pulled it over the left field center fence for his first Paul Thomas Sr. Field home run. The AppleSox put together three-straight singles after the blast and loaded the bases with no outs. This pushed Patrick McGuff (5-0) out of the game, but reliever Mack Gaul saved his starter, retiring the next three batters on a pop up and back-to-back K’s.

The Elks got their only run off of Gadsby in the top of the seventh. A two out RBI double made the score 8-3 and Bend looked to have the game in control. Gadsby was extremely effective, outlasting his starter with 4 2/3 innings of work, and he struck out 8 batters during his stint.

Wenatchee waited until the bottom of the ninth to launch its final comeback bid. Down five runs entering the inning, Jansen started the inning with a single. An error on a dropped grounder at first base aided Danny Amaral, who won a foot race to the bag to place runners at first and second with nobody out.

Hiura then struck out in the next at bat, but an E2 on an attempted putout of a dropped third strike, scored a run (following a wild pitch), and the AppleSox had runners at second and third with the score 8-4. Wenatchee then flew out and struck out before generating some more offense. Nick Nyquist walked to load the bases and Vanderkin smoked a 2-RBI single to cut the Bend lead to 8-6. The RBI were Vanderkin’s second and third of the game.

Erik Sauve worked a walk to reload the bases, and Sheldon Liikala was hit by a pitch to make the score 8-7. The Elks lifted Jeff Albrecht at this point, and brought in Janson Junk, looking for the final out.

He found it as Jansen came back to the plate for the second time in the inning and struck out with the bases loaded to end the game.

Wenatchee was swept for the third time at home this season. They have swept two opponents at home this year as well.

Thursday, Wenatchee heads to southwestern Washington to visit the Cowlitz Black Bears at Story Field in Longview. Hunter Wells will get the start for the AppleSox in the first game of the early weekend series.
First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

WP: Patrick McGuff (5-0)
LP: Gage Burland (1-1)

APPLESOX CLOSE HOMESTAND WEDNESDAY

The AppleSox close their six-game homestand, playing the Bend Elks tonight at Paul Thomas Sr. Field

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX CLOSE HOMESTAND WEDNESDAY
The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-16, 11-15), fourth place in the WCL East, close their six-game homestand with the Bend Elks (24-5, 24-5), after the Elks won a nail-biting extra-inning game a night ago...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (14-16) (.467), 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
Tuesday night was an odd night at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...a quick rain and lightning storm developed out of the north, just minutes before game time, leading to a weather delay for 30 min. due to lightning in the top of the fifth inning...the AppleSox saw Jake Hirabayashi stay on an RBI rampage for the homestand...he picked up his third and four of the six-game stay and has five in total on the season...the top third and the bottom third of the AppleSox order were the largest contributors a night ago...the top had all five regulation-inning RBI...the bottom third was a combined  3-for-5 the first three times through the order, with two doubles, a sacrifice bunt, and four runs scored...the four five six hitters were hitless into the tenth inning, but rattled off three-consecutive singles after the AppleSox fell into a 7-5 hole...those three hits, a batter hit by pitch, and a fielder’s choice play on the infield resulted in a 7-7 tie, which would hold until the 12th inning...the game saw five lead changes and four tied scores...the AppleSox forced two of the lead changes and three of the tied scores.

WELLS NAMED CO-WCL PLAYER OF WEEK
Hunter Wells is rolling for the AppleSox...his 1.11 ERA is third-lowest in the WCL, his 33 strikeouts rank second amongst qualifying pitchers, and his four wins have him tied for first with Patrick McGuff, of the visiting Elks, for the league lead...Wells threw eight innings in a shuttout win over Klamath Falls, July 4, and only gave up four hits, while striking out six and walking two...he shared honors with West Tunnell, who was 12-for-26 last week for Bend, with 3 home runs, 8 runs scored, 8 RBI, and a .500 on-base percentage...Elks players have received at least a share of the honor in four of the last five weeks (Tunnell, Patrick Flynn, Cadyn Grenier, Tyler Davis).

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 840 games, the AppleSox own a 527-313 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 387-213 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 336-195 (.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 418-270 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 318-162 (.665) all-time home record, and is 219-170 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.