HARBOURCATS VISIT WENATCHEE FOR WEEKEND SET

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

HARBOURCATS VISIT WENATCHEE FOR WEEKEND SET
The Wenatchee AppleSox (24-25, 21-24), fourth place in the WCL East, play host to the Victoria HarbourCats (25-24, 22-22), one of their wild card foes, when the two teams meet for their second series of the season Friday-Sunday...the AppleSox took the first series 2-1 on the road, and only lost on get away day, 11-10 in extra innings..the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (24-25) (.490), 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 team set new 2015 single-game highs for hits in a game at 20, and runs in a game at 17...Keston Hiura also doubled early on, to extend his streak of reaching base to 32-consecutive games, a new high in the WCL this season...Thursday’s game kicked off with a 6-run top half of the first inning for Wenatchee...the frame lasted just over 30 minutes, and gave Tyler Burch (2-0), a great lead to start with. Kelowna starter, Kendall Motes, lasted just two thirds of an inning...the AppleSox saw each batter in the order reach base in the game, a feat accomplished throughout the entire series for the Sox...of 27 lineup spots over the three games, all 27 claimed at least one base in the series (in most cases, more)...all batters who got a hit (8-of-9), Thursday, also tallied more than one, with five batters earning two-hit nights, two batters earning three-hit nights, and Jake Hirabayashi coming up with his first four-hit game of the season...Joey Jansen drove in four runs for the Sox, who also plated three in the second, two in the fifth, two in the seventh, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth to go along with the six-run first...Burch ended up allowing two runs in the bottom of the first after the long wait to get to the mound, and the defense wasn’t kind to him in a four-run fourth...still, the freshman-to-be at Lewis-Clark State College, tossed six innings for Wenatchee, earning his second win of the summer...Colton Loomis handled relief in the final three innings, giving up just one run, unearned on an error in the eighth...Wenatchee has not lost a series since before the All Star Break, and has won four of its last five, including two series over the Falcons in that span.

CAN’T KEEP HIM OFF BASE
Keston Hiura extended his consecutive reached base safely streak to 32 games, with his double in the second inning last night... he now has reached base consecutively in more games than any other player in the WCL this season...the previous high was set by Tyler Davis of Bend (31)...there are no players with an active streak in the WCL higher than 18 games, other than Hiura...his streak began June 24 at home against the Yakima Valley Pippins, in a 10-8 AppleSox loss. 

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 859 games, the AppleSox own a 537-322 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 397-222 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 346-204 (.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 428-279 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 322-165 (.661) all-time home record, and is 225-176 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

BATS EXPLODE IN 17-7 WIN OVER FALCONS

The AppleSox set new 2015 single-game highs for hits (20) and runs (17), while finishing their three-game series in Kelowna with a series total 48 hits (also a season high). 

KELOWNA, B.C. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (24-25, 21-24) continued to showcase their recent brand of high-octane offense with a 17-7 win, Thursday night at Elks Stadium, winning both the current three-game and season series from the Kelowna Falcons (29-16, 28-16), the WCL East frontrunners. 

The team set new 2015 single-game highs for hits in a game at 20, and runs in a game at 17. Keston Hiura also doubled early on, to extend his streak of reaching base to 32-consecutive games, a new high in the WCL this season. 

Thursday's game kicked off with a 6-run top half of the first inning for Wenatchee. The frame lasted just over 30 minutes, and gave Tyler Burch (2-0), a great lead to start with. Kelowna starter, Kendall Motes, lasted just two thirds of an inning. 

The AppleSox saw each batter in the order reach base in the game, a feat accomplished throughout the entire series for the Sox. Of 27 lineup spots over the three games, all 27 claimed at least one base in the series (in most cases, more). 

All batters who got a hit (8-of-9), Thursday, also tallied more than one, with five batters earning two-hit nights, two batters earning three-hit nights, and Jake Hirabayashi coming up with his first four-hit game of the season. 

Joey Jansen drove in four runs for the Sox, who also plated three in the second, two in the fifth, two in the seventh, three in the eighth, and one in the ninth to go along with the six-run first. 

Burch ended up allowing two runs in the bottom of the first after the long wait to get to the mound, and the defense wasn't kind to him in a four-run fourth. Still, the freshman-to-be at Lewis-Clark State College, tossed six innings for Wenatchee, earning his second win of the summer. 

Colton Loomis handled relief in the final three innings, giving up just one run, unearned on an error in the eighth. 

Wenatchee has not lost a series since before the All Star Break, and has won four of its last five, including two series over the Falcons in that span. 

The AppleSox return home for their final homestand, which starts Friday night against the Victoria HarbourCats at 7:05 p.m. Micael Taylor (2-4) will be the AppleSox starting pitcher for the series-opener at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. 

WP- Tyler Burch (2-0)
LP- Kendall Motes (2-1)

AppleSox and Falcons Conclude Series, Thursday

Both the season series (4-4) and current three-game set (1-1) vs. the Kelowna Falcons, will be decided tonight at Elks Stadium in British Columbia.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX, FALCONS BATTLE FOR SEASON SET
The Wenatchee AppleSox (23-25, 20-24), fourth place in the WCL East, had their series with the Kelowna Falcons (29-15, 28-15) evened in a 12-8 slug fest Wednesday night...again Wenatchee did not gain or lose any ground in the WCL Wild Card race and remains 4 games back, now 8.5 behind in the WCL East...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (23-25) (.479), 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
Kelowna took its first lead on an RBI groundout for Justin Flores in the first inning...Flores became the single season all-time leader in RBI for the Falcons with the groundout (34)...the AppleSox took a 2-1 lead in the second on an RBI double for Nick Nyquist that scored future Gonzaga teammate Jordan Rathbone...Kyle Vanderkin drove in Nyquist later in the inning on a single...Kelowna took a lead back in the third on a two-run home run from Flores in the third...it was the first of three home runs in the game for the Falcons...Joey Crunkilton also went the opposite direction for a two-run blast in the fifth, and Vinny Esposito added a three-run shot in the sixth, which was a seven-run inning for the Falcons...all runs in the sixth were earned off of Kyle Blankenship...the AppleSox tried to come back in the late innings - plating five runs in the final three innings, but left the bases loaded in the eighth, trailing 12-8...Dalton Blackwell finished the game off by retiring two of his final four batters with strikeouts. 

KEEPS GETTING ABOARD
Keston Hiura extended his consecutive reached base safely streak to 31 games, with his double in the first inning last night... he is now tied for the WCL high for the season,  set by Tyler Davis of Bend...there are no players with an active streak in the WCL higher than 18 games, other than Hiura...his streak began June 24 at home against the Yakima Valley Pippins, in a 10-8 AppleSox loss. 

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 858 games, the AppleSox own a 536-322 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 396-2212(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 345-204 (.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 427-279 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 322-165 (.661) all-time home record, and is 224-176 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX FALL WEDNESDAY, SERIES EVEN

Kelowna won game two, Wednesday, and drew the series even at 1-1, and the season set equal at 4-4. Both will be decided Thursday night.

KELOWNA, B.C. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (23-25, 20-24) fell 12-8 to the Kelowna Falcons (29-15, 28-15), in an offensive slug fest Wednesday at Elks Stadium in British Columbia. 

Kelowna took its first lead on an RBI groundout for Justin Flores in the first inning. Flores became the single season all-time leader in RBI for the Falcons with the groundout (34). 

The AppleSox took a 2-1 lead in the second on an RBI double for Nick Nyquist that scored future Gonzaga teammate Jordan Rathbone. Kyle Vanderkin drove in Nyquist later in the inning on a single. 

Kelowna took a lead back in the third on a two-run home run from Flores in the third. It was the first of three home runs in the game for the Falcons. Joey Crunkilton also went the opposite direction for a two-run blast in the fifth, and Vinny Esposito added a three-run shot in the sixth, which was a seven-run inning for the Falcons. All runs in the sixth were earned off of Kyle Blankenship. 

The AppleSox tried to come back in the late innings - plating five runs in the final three innings, but left the bases loaded in the eighth, trailing 12-8. 

Dalton Blackwell finished the game off by retiring two of his final four batters with strikeouts. 

Game three and the series-deciding matchup is Thursday at 6:35 p.m. from Elks Stadium in Kelowna, B.C. 

WP- Nat Hamby (3-0)
LP- Hunter Wells (6-2)

APPLESOX GO FOR SEASON SERIES VS. KELOWNA

The AppleSox are going for their third win of the season at Elks Stadium, and fifth in the season series against Kelowna, Wednesday night,

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX GO FOR SEASON SERIES VS. KELOWNA
The Wenatchee AppleSox (23-24, 20-23), fourth place in the WCL East, opened the series with a 6-4 win over the Kelowna Falcons (28-15, 27-15) Tuesday night...Wenatchee did not gain or lose any ground in the WCL Wild Card race and remains 4 games back, now 7.5 behind in the WCL East...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (23-24) (.489), 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
Joey Jansen scored on an RBI single for Mitch Holland in the top of the first, after an error by Hunter Villanueva helped him aboard to start the game...the AppleSox added two in the second, after a baserunning interference call and a double by Drew Helmstadter set up an RBI scenario for Jordan Rathbone, making his AppleSox debut....an RBI sac fly from Rathbone scored the Sox second run, and Jansen reached on another error, scoring the game’s third run...the Sox added two in the fifth on a five-hit inning, that included a double from Keston Hiura...Mitchell Holland also picked up the second of his 2 RBI...Rathbone also drove in a pair, and Nyquist brought home one AppleSox run...Kelowna scored once in the first on two sacrifice plays, including a Justin Flores sac fly...Flores had all of the Falcons RBI, Tuesday, including a two-run home run in the sixth inning, that made the game 6-3...Lane Lacrone scored in the seventh after a single, error on Hamilton, and wild pitch brought him around.

KEEPS GETTING ABOARD
Keston Hiura extended his consecutive reached base safely streak to 30 games, with his double last night... he is now two games off the WCL high for the season,  set by Tyler Davis of Bend...the next closest to Hiura are West Tunnell of Bend, and Walker Olis of Belingham, with 18 games...Hiura’s streak began June 24 at home against the Yakima Valley Pippins, in a 10-8 AppleSox loss. 

WELLS GOING FOR TEAM-RECORD TIE
Hunter Wells can tie the AppleSox all-time record for wins in a single season tonight, if he picks up his seventh...the mark is currently held by Owen Jones of the 2011 team...Jones was also the WCL pitcher of the year in 2011...Jones was a minor league pitcher, reaching high-A levels, and is currently not pitching at the minor league level.

ALL STAR DEBUTS
The AppleSox have had multiple in-season additions make their first appearances of the season on day one with the team...Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland, Jake Hirabayashi, Danny Amaral, Ryan Crowe, and Jacob Rathbone all entered their first AppleSox games on day one of each of their respective seasons...combined: 7-20 (.350), 4R, 5 2B, 4RBI.

GETTING GAME ONE
The AppleSox have won game one in each of their last four series, and last three road series...the only day of series this season that the AppleSox have a winning record on, is day one (10-7).

THIS SERIES’ STARTERS
Zach Haggett, Hunter Wells, and Tyler Burch now have a combined 12-3 record, with 32 earned runs allowed over 114 1/3 innings...85 strikeouts to 49 walks...18 starts.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 857 games, the AppleSox own a 536-321 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 396-221 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 345-203 (.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 427-278 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 322-165 (.661) all-time home record, and is 224-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

AppleSox Offense Shines In Game-One Win

Everyone in the AppleSox starting lineup collected a hit Tuesday at Elks Stadium in Kelowna, B.C.

KELOWNA, B.C. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (23-24, 20-23) won the first of a three-game set against the Kelowna Falcons (28-15, 27-15), behind consistent hitting and four Kelowna errors, Tuesday at Elks Stadium in Kelowna.

Each of the AppleSox first three runs, Tuesday, came unearned. Joey Jansen scored on an RBI single for Mitch Holland in the top of the first, after an error by Hunter Villanueva helped him aboard to start the game. 

The AppleSox added two in the second, after a baserunning interference call and a double by Drew Helmstadter set up an RBI scenario for Jordan Rathbone, making his AppleSox debut. An RBI sac fly from Rathbone scored the Sox second run, and Jansen reached on another error, scoring the game's third run. 

The Sox added two in the fifth on a five-hit inning, that included a double from Keston Hiura. He has now reached base in 30-consecutive games (2nd only this season to Tyler Davis, 31, Bend, *inactive record).

Mitchell Holland also picked up the second of his 2 RBI. Rathbone also drove in a pair, and Nyquist brought home one AppleSox run. 

Dustin Hamilton worked the rest of the game for the AppleSox, posting his team-leading fourth save of the summer. 

Kelowna scored once in the first on two sacrifice plays, including a Justin Flores sac fly. Flores had all of the Falcons RBI, Tuesday, including a two-run home run in the sixth inning, that made the game 6-3. Lane Lacrone scored in the seventh after a single, error on Hamilton, and wild pitch brought him around. 

Matthew Kirk was strong in relief for Kelowna with four innings of one-hit, scoreless relief for Curtis Taylor (3-3), who pitched a complete-game shutout his last time against the Sox. 

Zach Haggett picked up his fifth win of the season with six innings of four-hit, three-run baseball. 

Hunter Wells takes the mound for Wenatchee in game two, and the AppleSox look to earn him a tie of the team's single season wins mark with 7 in one season. 

First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. 

WP: Zach Haggett (5-2)
LP: Curtis Taylor (3-3)
S: Dustin Hamilton (4)

APPLESOX TRAVEL NORTH TO FACE KELOWNA

The AppleSox face the Kelowna Falcons Tuesday-Thursday in an important WCL set.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX CONTINUE WCL EAST GAMES AT KELOWNA
The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-24, 19-23), fourth place in the WCL East, won their weekend series over the Yakima Valley Pippins last weekend and now face the Kelowna Falcons (28-14, 27-14)...the Falcons enter Tuesday’s contest off a two-day set with Bend...the Falcons were rained out on Sunday, and their game against Bend will only be made up if it impacts any divisional or wild card races...Kelowna won both games against the league-leading Elks...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (22-24) (.478), 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
Both pitchers were dialed in Sunday, with the game scoreless through the top half of the fourth...Zach Wolf tossed three no-hit innings to start the night for Yakima Valley, and Gage Burland (2-2) scattered three hits through the first four innings...Wenatchee got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles from Jake Hirabayashi and Keston Hiura, which put the AppleSox ahead 1-0...Hiura extended his consecutive games reaching base streak to 29 games, two of the WCL high for the season...Burland continued to hold the Pippins off the board through the sixth, and entered the seventh on 85 pitches...Yakima Valley scored two runs off of him with two singles to open the frame, and a sacrifice placed the runners in position for a 2-RBI single and a 2-1 lead...Yakima Valley added one more in the eighth on an error at third, unearned off of Sean Sparling. 

KEEPS GETTING ABOARD
Keston Hiura extended his consecutive reached base safely streak to 29 games, two games off the WCL high for the season,  set by Tyler Davis of Bend...the next closest to Hiura is West Tunnell of Bend, with 17 games...Hiura’s streak began June 24 at home against the Yakima Valley Pippins, in a 10-8 AppleSox loss. 

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 856 games, the AppleSox own a 535-321 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 395-221 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 344-203 (.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 426-278 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 322-165 (.661) all-time home record, and is 223-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

AppleSox Can't Lock Down Sweep, Win Series

The AppleSox have won 4 of their last 5 home games, but fell Sunday, while still winning the weekend series, two games to one. 

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-24, 19-23) couldn't quite secure a series sweep against the Yakima Valley Pippins (24-20, 22-20), who rallied late to salvage a game on weekend, in a 3-1 series finale, Sunday at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. 

Both pitchers were dialed in Sunday, with the game scoreless through the top half of the fourth. 

Zach Wolf tossed three no-hit innings to start the night for Yakima Valley, and Gage Burland (2-2) scattered three hits through the first four innings. 

Wenatchee got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles from Jake Hirabayashi and Keston Hiura, which put the AppleSox ahead 1-0. Hiura extended his consecutive games reaching base streak to 29 games, two of the WCL high for the season. 

Burland continued to hold the Pippins off the board through the sixth, and entered the seventh on 85 pitches. Yakima Valley scored two runs off of him with two singles to open the frame, and a sacrifice placed the runners in position for a 2-RBI single and a 2-1 lead. 

Yakima Valley added one more in the eighth on an error at third, unearned off of Sean Sparling. 

Wyatt Mills got the save for the Pippins, after allowing only a walk in the ninth. It was Mills' eighth save of the season, which leads the WCL East and is second in the WCL. 

The AppleSox have Monday night off and return to action, Tuesday at Kelowna in British Columbia. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m., and Zach Haggett will start for the Sox. 

WP:  Josh Nashed (4-2)
LP: Gage Burland (2-2)
S: Wyatt Mills (8)

APPLESOX GOING FOR SWEEP ON SPAGHETTI SUNDAY

The AppleSox and Pippins square off Sunday night, as Wenatchee goes for the sweep at 6:05 p.m., from Paul Thomas Sr. Field on Spaghetti Sunday.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX GOING FOR SWEEP ON SPAGHETTI SUNDAY
The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-23, 19-22), fourth place in the WCL East, won the weekend series last night with a 4-2 victory over the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-20, 21-20), in a game that saw the AppleSox come up with only two hits...the AppleSox stayed three games back in the Wild Card, as Corvallis won on the road at Klamath Falls last night...the last eight meetings between the AppleSox and the Pippins have been played at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...the final three regular season games of 2015 will be played at Yakima...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (22-23) (.489), 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 lone two hits were both doubles, and gave the Sox their season-high fourth-consecutive home win, and third-straight win, overall...Micael Taylor (2-4), started with four scoreless innings for Wenatchee, giving up just three hits over the stretch on 45 pitches...Jens Jensen (4-1), held Wenatchee to just one run through five innings, with the first run scoring on a groundout to second base by Kyle Vanderkin in the second inning...Mitchell Holland doubled to lead of the inning...in the fifth inning, a Jace Van DeBrake single scored the Pippins first run, despite a great attempt by the AppleSox at a double play...Yakima scored its only other run in the sixth inning after Josh Nashed hit an RBI triple to score Reid Martinez...in the home half of the sixth inning, Jensen ran into his first real trouble. After retiring the first two men in the bottom half, he walked a batter, hit another by pitch, and walked a second man to load the bases for Vanderkin...in a nine-pitch at bat, Vanderkin fouled off three two strike pitches, and saw two balls to work a 1-2 count, full at 3-2. With the runners getting a head start, Vanderkin laced a double down the right field line to plate all three runs, giving Wenatchee a 4-2 lead...the AppleSox never looked back. Taylor tossed a 1-2-3 seventh, and Brian Gadsby closed the door out of the bullpen to earn his third save of the summer...the game ended on a 6-4-3 double play, after the Pippins got the tying run to the plate in the ninth with one out. 

REACHED BASE SAFELY STREAK ALIVE
Keston Hiura saw his 11-game hitting streak come to an end last night, but a walk extended his consecutive reached base safely streak to 28 games, three games off the WCL high for the season,  set by Tyler Davis of Bend...the next closest to Hiura is West Tunnell of Bend, with 17 games...Hiura’s streak began June 24 at home against the Yakima Valley Pippins, in a 10-8 AppleSox loss. 

WINNING CONVINCINGLY
The AppleSox are one of four teams to win at least ten games by more than three runs this season (10-3)...Bend (17-2), Kelowna (11-6), Victoria (10-6)...Yakima Valley (7-7)

LOCATION IS KEY
Wenatchee’s offense at home: .251/5HR/99RBI, 5 hitters at .274 or better...road: .238/8HR/81RBI/ 3 hitters at .274 or higher.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 855 games, the AppleSox own a 535-320 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 395-220(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 344-202 (.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 426-277 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 322-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 223-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

Vanderkin Sparks Sox Comeback Win

The AppleSox used two hits, both doubles, and good pitching to win game two and set up the chance for an important series sweep, Sunday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-23, 19-22), utilized just two hits to take down the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-20, 21-20), Saturday night, by a score of 4-2 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. 

The two hits were both doubles, and gave the AppleSox their season-high fourth-consecutive home win, and third-straight win, overall. 

The Pippins and AppleSox both had slow nights offensively, with either side's pitching staff reigning supreme in the second game of the series. 

Micael Taylor (2-4), started with four scoreless innings for Wenatchee, giving up just three hits over the stretch on 45 pitches. 

Jens Jensen (4-1), held Wenatchee to just one run through five innings, with the first run scoring on a groundout to second base by Kyle Vanderkin in the second inning. Mitchell Holland scored on the play after doubling to lead of the inning. 

In the fifth inning, a Jace Van DeBrake single scored the Pippins first run, despite a great attempt by the AppleSox at a double play. The throw to first base to try and complete the double play was ruled just late. It would've ended the half inning, without a run scoring, had it been on time. 

Yakima scored its only other run in the sixth inning after Josh Nashed hit an RBI triple to score Reid Martinez. 

In the home half of the sixth inning, Jensen ran into his first real trouble. After retiring the first two men in the bottom half, he walked a batter, hit another by pitch, and walked a second man to load the bases for Vanderkin. 

In a nine-pitch at bat, Vanderkin fouled off three two strike pitches, and saw two balls to work a 1-2 count, full at 3-2. With the runners getting a head start, Vanderkin laced a double down the right field line to plate all three runs, giving Wenatchee a 4-2 lead. 

The AppleSox never looked back. Taylor tossed a 1-2-3 seventh, and Brian Gadsby closed the door out of the bullpen to earn his third save of the summer. The game ended on a 6-4-3 double play, after the Pippins got the tying run to the plate in the ninth with one out. 

Notably, Keston Hiura extended his consecutive games reached base streak to 28, but did have his 11-game hitting streak snapped. 

Wenatchee is now winners of four of its last five games, and has won four-consecutive at home, dating back to a July 15 win vs. Kelowna. With a Corvallis win, Saturday, the AppleSox remain three games off the Wild Card lead.

The chance for a sweep comes at 6:05 p.m. tonight, and it's another Spaghetti Sunday at the ballpark! Gage Burland (2-0) will start for the AppleSox.

WP: Micael Taylor (2-4)
LP: Jens Jensen (4-1)
S: Brian Gadsby (3)

AppleSox Look to Narrow Wild Card Race

The AppleSox are only three games out of the WCL Wild Card race, entering Saturday's game.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX LOOK TO KEEP CUTTING WILD CARD DEFICIT
The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-23, 18-22), fourth place in the WCL East, picked up a game on the WCL Wild Card leaders last night with a win over the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-19, 21-19), as the Corvallis Knights also fell in a walkoff to the Klamath Falls Gems...the AppleSox are three games off the lead in the WCL Wild Card race and are looking to snapped a five game losing streak to the Pippins...the last seven meetings have been played at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (21-23) (.477), 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
Mitch Yada (2-3) had a great first inning, but quickly ran into trouble against the AppleSox Wenatchee hit him for two runs in the second inning on a Kyle Vanderkin 2-RBI single to left field, and the Sox never looked back...Wenatchee piled on four more runs in the third on four hits and two Pippin errors. Four separate players earned RBI in the inning, including: Evan Douglas, Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland and Nick Nyquist. Holland ended the night 3-for-5 with all three of his hits coming in his first three at bats...Tyler Burch (1-0), a former temporary arm for the AppleSox, and member of the Apple Valley Packers this summer, pitched tremendously in his first AppleSox start...in the sixth he did give up a run in an inning that started with a Jace VanDeBrake triple to right center field...VanDeBrake went 3-for-4 with a run scored....all told, Burch pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up just five hits and three runs, with five walks and two strikeouts. ..the AppleSox got the Pippins two top-half runs back in the bottom of the seventh, on a 2-RBI single for Hiura, up the middle with the bases loaded. He had two hits on the night and 3 RBI. ..Dayton Provost did put a charge into one in the ninth, knocking a solo home run to right field, but it was too little, too late, for the Pippins, who fell 11-4.

HOW YOU LOOK AT IT...
In the all-time series between the AppleSox and the Pippins, the AppleSox have a chance to do something that has only been done once...when either team’s winning streak is snapped, they do not win the next game, except for game three of the all-time set, which the AppleSox won to help spark a six-game winning streak (not that winning one game of an all-time set, constitutes a streak).

ON A TEAR; KESTON HIURA
Keston Hiura currently owns an eleven-game hitting streak for the AppleSox and owns the fifth-longest WCL streak this season...his ten straight games at home is third in the WCL...Brett Bautista, Kitsap, has an active streak of 21 games at home, and Justin Flores, Kelowna, 16...Hiura has reached base safely in 27 consecutive games, which is the second longest streak in the WCL this season (31, T. Davis, Bend, inactive), and the only active streak alive at 16 or more games...his on-base streak is the longest in the league on the road (18 games), ahead of Kyle Nixon for Walla Walla, who has a 16 game active streak.

WINNING CONVINCINGLY
The AppleSox are one of four teams to win at least ten games by more than three runs this season (10-3)...Bend (17-2), Kelowna, Victoria (10-6)...Yakima Valley (7-7)

LOCATION IS KEY
Wenatchee’s offense at home: .258/5HR/95RBI, 7 hitters at .274 or better...road: .238/8HR/81RBI/ 3 hitters at .274 or higher.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 854 games, the AppleSox own a 534-320 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 394-220(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 343-202 (.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 425-277 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 321-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 223-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

AppleSox Charge Out of Gates vs Pippins

In his first start of the summer, Tyler Burch offered 6 2/3 innings en route to his first win of the year. The AppleSox are now three games out in the Wild Card race.

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-23, 18-22) used early runs, and great pitching to take a 1-0 lead in their series against the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-19, 21-19). The AppleSox won 11-4 in game one and are three games off the WCL Wild Card lead.

Mitch Yada (2-3) had a great first inning, but quickly ran into trouble against the AppleSox Wenatchee hit him for two runs in the second inning on a Kyle Vanderkin 2-RBI single to left field, and the Sox never looked back. 

Wenatchee piled on four more runs in the third on four hits and two Pippin errors. Four separate players earned RBI in the inning, including: Evan Douglas, Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland and Nick Nyquist. Holland ended the night 3-for-5 with all three of his hits coming in his first three at bats. 

Tyler Burch (1-0), a former temporary arm for the AppleSox, and member of the Apple Valley Packers this summer, pitched tremendously in his first AppleSox start. The Pippins backed him into a couple corners early in the game, but each time in the first five innings Burch responded when baserunners were aboard and got out of innings unscathed. 

In the sixth he did give up a run in an inning that started with a Jace VanDeBrake triple to right center field. VanDeBrake went 3-for-4 with a run scored. 

Another run came home on Burch in the seventh on a balk, followed by a sacrifice fly that made the score 9-3, Wenatchee. Colton Loomis took over and got the final out of the inning. 

All told, Burch pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up just five hits and three runs, with five walks and two strikeouts. 

The AppleSox got the Pippins two top-half runs back in the bottom of the seventh, on a 2-RBI single for Hiura, up the middle with the bases loaded. He had two hits on the night and 3 RBI. 

Each side saw three batters to the plate in the eighth. Alex Guenette earned a single for the Pippins in the final at bat of the top of the inning, but tried to extend it to a double and was gunned down by Sheldon Liikala at second base from foul territory along the right field line. 

Dayton Provost did put a charge into one in the ninth, knocking a solo home run to right field, but it was too little, too late, for the Pippins, who fell 11-4. 

Luckily for Yakima Valley, Corvallis also lost Friday, so the Wild Card race is still even between those two teams. 

Game two of the series is tonight at 7:05 p.m. Micael Taylor (1-4), will face Jens Jensen (4-0), in a potentially series-deciding game for the AppleSox. 

AppleSox Welcome Pippins For Weekend Series

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX WELCOME PIPPINS FOR WEEKEND SET
The Wenatchee AppleSox (20-23, 17-22), fourth place in the WCL East, host the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-18, 21-18), Friday at Paul Thomas Sr. Field for a three-game divisional series...the AppleSox are four games off the lead in the WCL Wild Card race and are looking to snap a five-game losing streak to the Pippins, with all five games being played at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (20-23) (.465), 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
Hunter Wells (6-1), of Wenatchee, and Nate Simmons (1-4), of Kitsap, each held the opposition hitless through the first three innings of play...Wenatchee opened the night’s scoring in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single for Sheldon Liikala, up the middle of the infield...the hit scored Jake Hirabayashi, who was aboard on a single to start off the frame...Brett Bautista drove Nobach in from third in the fourth for Kitsap on a two-out RBI single to right field to even the score at one...Wells silenced the BlueJackets through the next two innings, until he got into a troublesome spot in the seventh...three singles had the bases loaded for Kitsap with two outs, however, Wells worked a strikeout of Nobach to end the inning and keep the score tied at one...Simmons also tossed a good game, but was harmed by three Kitsap errors, including one of his own in the eighth inning...the AppleSox used an error on Ryan Atkinson to get aboard to open the inning, and Keston Hiura singled to extend his season-high hitting streak to 10 games...three well executed bunts gave the AppleSox a 4-1 advantage to the bottom of the eighth...Tony Contonio took over in the bottom half, but allowed two runs in two thirds of an inning, forcing Sean Sparling into the game to try to get a four-out save for Wenatchee, which he did for a 4-3 win.

STATISTICS SAY...
The road team has won the Wenatchee-Yakima matchup in 10 of the 12 all-time meetings...Yakima is riding a five-game winning streak in the series (all five on the road)...the lowest combined run total for the two teams amounts to five...there has never been a shutout in the series.

GOING STREAKING
Keston Hiura currently owns a ten-game hitting streak for the AppleSox and is one game away from earning the fifth-longest streak this season...his nine straight games at home is tied for fourth with Christian Cavaness of Bend, however, Brett Bautista, Kitsap, has an active streak of 21 games at home, and Justin Flores, Kelowna, with 16...Hiura has reached base safely in 26 consecutive games, which is the second longest streak in the WCL this season (31, T. Davis, Bend, inactive), and the only active streak alive at 16 or more games...his on-base streak is now the longest in the league on the road (18 games), ahead of Kyle Nixon for Walla Walla, who has a 16 game active streak.

FIRST TIME AROUND
The AppleSox were swept by Yakima Valley June 23-25, at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...Sox ERA: 6.00, AVG: .214...Keston Hiura and Mitchell Holland, a combined 1-for-17...2 HRs for Evan Douglas in the series...7 extra-base hits for Yakima Valley (5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR)...Losing pitchers: Carns, Contonio, Gettman...Winning pitchers: Bernstein, Yada, Fitzpatrick.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 853 games, the AppleSox own a 533-320 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 393-220(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 342-202 (.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 424-277 (.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 223-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX TAKE GAME THREE, WIN SERIES AT KITSAP

SILVERDALE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (20-23, 17-22) won their second road series of the season, with a 4-3 victory over the Kitsap BlueJackets (14-26, 14-25), Thursday night at Gene Lobe Field on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

A strong pitching battle started the rubber match of the three game set. Hunter Wells (6-1), of Wenatchee, and Nate Simmons (1-4), of Kitsap, each held the opposition hitless through the first three innings of play.

Wenatchee opened the night’s scoring in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single for Sheldon Liikala, up the middle of the infield. The hit scored Jake Hirabayashi, who was aboard on a single to start off the frame.

Kitsap answered in the bottom half when Kyle Nobach came to score in an inning that developed almost identically to the AppleSox top half. Brett Bautista drove Nobach in from third on a two-out RBI single to right field to even the score at one.

Wells silenced the BlueJackets through the next two innings, until he got into a troublesome spot in the seventh. Three singles had the bases loaded for Kitsap with two outs, however, Wells worked a strikeout of Nobach to end the inning and keep the score tied at one.

Simmons also tossed a good game, but was harmed by three Kitsap errors, including one of his own in the eighth inning. The AppleSox used an error on Ryan Atkinson to get aboard to open the inning, and Keston Hiura singled to extend his season-high hitting streak to 10 games.

With first and second and nobody out, Evan Douglas laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt on the third base line to advance both runners.

Sheldon Liikala then surprised the BlueJackets by laying down a push bunt to the right side of the infield that was overrun by Simmons on the first base line. Liikala’s bunt drove in a run, and then Simmons looked to have Hiura caught in a rundown between third and home after Hiura took a wide turn. A high throw from Simmons up the third base line, resulted in Hiura coming to score, and the AppleSox led 3-1, with Liikala advancing to second on the play.

A single for Kyle Vanderkin set up a sacrifice bunt for Nick Nyquist on a squeeze play that brought Liikala home to score from third, and the AppleSox claimed a 4-1 advantage to the bottom of the eighth.

Tony Contonio took over in the bottom half, but allowed two runs in two thirds of an inning, forcing Sean Sparling into the game to try to get a four-out save for Wenatchee.

With runners at first and third, a passed ball got by the right side of Ryan Crowe, who recovered in time to throw home to Sparling, covering on a breaking runner from third base. The tag ended the eighth inning in unconventional fashion.
In the ninth inning, he retired the BlueJackets in order and picked up his second save of the season, while working a strikeout swinging to open the inning, and a strikeout looking to end the night.

With the win, Wells is now tied for the league lead in wins with Patrick McGuff at six. He, McGuff and Darrion Simons, of Yakima Valley, all each have 45 striekouts, tied for the league lead.

The AppleSox are back home, Friday, to take on the Yakima Valley Pippins at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. Gates open at 6 p.m., with first pitch following at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the box office when gates open, or online at www.applesox.com/tickets.

WP: Hunter Wells (6-1)
LP: Nate Simmons (1-4)
S: Sean Sparling (2)

AppleSox and BlueJackets Complete Series Thursday

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

 

APPLESOX WRAP UP SERIES AT KITSAP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-23, 16-22), fourth place in the WCL East, lost last night to the Kitsap BlueJackets (14-25, 14-24), setting up a rubber match game three to be played tonight at Gene Lobe Field...the AppleSox are four games off the lead in the WCL Wild Card race and are seeking their sixth series win, and second of the year on the road...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (19-23) (.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 TIME OUT
The BlueJackets were led by John Oltman (3-0), who made his final start of the summer for Kitsap...Oltman held the AppleSox to just one hit, which came in the first inning, an infield single for Evan Douglas, which scored Keston Hiura, after Kitsap failed to throw home following the close play at first...with a 1-0 lead in the bottom half, Zach Haggett (4-2) was hit for a tying run on an RBI single by Jake Scudder...he now leads Kitsap with 19 RBI in 2015...Kitsap added two more in the second inning on an RBI hit by pitch for Calen Clardy and a sacrifice fly RBI fro Kyle Nobach, to take a 3-1 lead...Haggett settled in to control the rest of his outing...he retired the side in three of the next five innings, and faced the minimum number of batters per inning, in each of those five frames...through six innings the AppleSox still trailed 3-1, and had been retired 16 consecutive times (13 by Oltman), dating back to the final out of the first inning. Hiura led off the seventh with a single, and the AppleSox got another runner, but couldn’t score a run...Holden Capps, who took over for Oltman, got his second save of the season on four innings of relief...he allowed three hits, including the two in the seventh, and one run on a wild pitch in the eighth...Kitsap added two runs of insurance in the bottom of the eighth, on an error and RBI single for Mitchell Robinson.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 852 games, the AppleSox own a 532-320 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 392-220(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 341-202 (.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 423-277 (.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 222-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

BLUEJACKETS FORCE RUBBER MATCH WITH POWERFUL PITCHING

SILVERDALE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-23, 16-22) were held at bay by the Kitsap BlueJackets (14-25, 14-24), in a 5-2 loss Wednesday night at Gene Lobe Field on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

The BlueJackets were led by John Oltman (3-0), who made his final start of the summer for Kitsap.

Oltman held the AppleSox to just one hit, which came in the first inning, an infield single for Evan Douglas, which scored Keston Hiura, after Kitsap failed to throw home following the close play at first.

With a 1-0 lead in the bottom half, Zach Haggett (4-2) was hit for a tying run on an RBI single by Jake Scudder. He now leads Kitsap with 19 RBI in 2015.

Kitsap added two more in the second inning on an RBI hit by pitch for Calen Clardy and a sacrifice fly RBI fro Kyle Nobach, to take a 3-1 lead.

Haggett settled in to control the rest of his outing. He retired the side in three of the next five innings, and faced the minimum number of batters per inning, in each of those five frames.

Through six innings the AppleSox still trailed 3-1, and had been retired 16 consecutive times (13 by Oltman), dating back to the final out of the first inning. Hiura led off the seventh with a single, and the AppleSox got another runner, but couldn’t score a run.

Holden Capps, who took over for Oltman, got his second save of the season on four innings of relief. He allowed three hits, including the two in the seventh, and one run on a wild pitch in the eighth.

Kitsap added two runs of insurance in the bottom of the eighth, on an error and RBI single for Mitchell Robinson.

Capps finished the night with a pair of strikeouts to open the ninth, and ended the game on a ground ball.

The series will be decided Thursday in the rubber match of the three game set at Gene Lobe Field at Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Hunter Wells will take the mound at 6:35 p.m. for the AppleSox.

WP: John Oltman (3-0)
LP: Zach Haggett (4-2)
S: Holden Capps (2)

AppleSox and BlueJackets Meet in Game Two

The AppleSox and BlueJackets play in the second game of a three-game series, Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Zach Haggett will pitch for Wenatchee.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX SHOOTING FOR SERIES AT KITSAP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-22, 16-21), fourth place in the WCL East, took the first game of a three-game set from the Kitsap BlueJackets (13-25, 13-24), last night by a score of 9-3...powered by a seven-hit seventh inning, the AppleSox are gunning for a series win against the BlueJackets tonight, trying to set up a much-needed sweep in their chase for a wild card playoff bid...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (19-22) (.463), 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
Wenatchee scored in each of the first, fourth and fifth innings, to take a 3-0 lead through five innings...the first inning run for the AppleSox came in without an RBI being credited, after Mitchell Holland grounded into a DP with the bases loaded and nobody out to score Joey Jansen...Jansen, Evan Douglas, and Keston Hiura started the game with three-straight singles to set up the scoring chance...in the fourth, Sheldon Liikala drove in Hiura, who was aboard on an error...Hiura stole second to get into scoring position, and Holland advanced him on a ground ball to the right side, before Liikala hit one into left for his first of two RBI...Evan Douglas scored Jansen for the second of three times on the night, with a flared single down the left field line and two-out in the fifth...the AppleSox wild seventh inning was sparked by three-consecutive extra-base hits, including a triple from Nyquist that pinballed in the right field corner, and back-to-back doubles for Ryan Crowe and Vanderkin, each for RBI...Jansen also drove in a run, followed by a 2-RBI single from Holland and Liikala’s second RBI.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE
Sure, Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland, and Sheldon Liikala are all swinging good bats this season, but Joey Jansen continues to climb the batting average ranks with an incredible 15-game stretch that has him batting .290 on the season, now ahead of Liikala and third-best on the AppleSox...Jansen entered the month of July with a .245 average...He is batting an even .500 in his last five games (12-of-24, 6R, 5RBI)...as a team, the AppleSox are hitting .300 over the last five; the team’s best five-game stretch of hitting this year...4 of last five games have been multi-hit performances...2013 average with Sox was .264; 2012 was .280.

CLOSE GAMES
The AppleSox have now played 19 of their first 41 games to within two runs...the AppleSox are 5-14 in those 19 games, and only average losing by about two runs per game...Wenatchee still outscores its oposition in total this year, despite being five games under .500. 

WILD CARD PICTURE
Currently, the AppleSox best route to punch a ticket to the 2015 postseason is to enter as a wild card team...the AppleSox are chasing four teams in the wild card, and are currently tied with Medford with a 16-21 league record...the good news, the AppleSox swept Medford in the teams’ only meetings this season...the Sox still have 6 remaining games with Yakima Valley and another 3 with Walla Walla, who are both teams sitting ahead in the wild card standings.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 851 games, the AppleSox own a 532-319 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 392-219 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 341-201 (.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 423-276 (.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 222-174 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

SEVEN-HIT SEVENTH INNING POWERS APPLESOX PAST BLUEJACKETS

Joey Jansen collected three hits in the applesox 9-3 win, tuesday.

SILVERDALE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-22, 16-21) struck for a six-run, seven-hit seventh inning and secured a 9-3 game-one win over the Kitsap BlueJackets (13-25, 13-24), Tuesday night at Gene Lobe Field on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

Wenatchee scored in each of the first, fourth and fifth innings, to take a 3-0 lead through five innings. The first inning run for the AppleSox came in without an RBI being credited, after Mitchell Holland grounded into a DP with the bases loaded and nobody out to score Joey Jansen. Jansen, Evan Douglas, and Keston Hiura started the game with three-straight singles to set up the scoring chance. All runs were earned off of Kitsap starter, Cam Weinberg (0-6).

In the fourth, Sheldon Liikala drove in Hiura, who was aboard on an error by Jordan Peabody. Hiura stole second to get into scoring position, and Holland advanced him on a ground ball to the right side, before Liikala hit one into left for his first of two RBI.

Evan Douglas scored Jansen for the second of three times on the night, with a flared single down the left field line and two-out in the fifth.

Gage Burland (2-1) pitched six strong innings for the AppleSox, earning his second win of the season. He struck out seven batters and didn’t allow a run.

The AppleSox wild seventh inning was sparked by three-consecutive extra-base hits, including a triple from Nyquist that pinballed in the right field corner, and back-to-back doubles for Ryan Crowe and Vanderkin, each for RBI. Jansen also drove in a run, followed by a 2-RBI single from Holland and Liikala’s second RBI.

Kitsap scored its only three runs of the game in the bottom half of the frame, off of Dustin Hamilton. One of the runs came earned, and two others scored on an error at first for Nick Nyquist, who replaced Holland defensively. The lone RBI belonged to Kyle Nobach who hammered an RBI double to left center field. His first of two RBI on the night. Hamilton earned his third save of the season.

The series continues Wednesday, as Zach Haggett (4-1) heads to the mound for Wenatchee. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

WP: Gage Burland (2-1)
LP: Cam Weinberg (0-6)
S: Dustin Hamilton (3)

APPLESOX OPEN POST-ALL STAR SCHEDULE AT KITSAP

The AppleSox open a three-game series at Kitsap starting Tuesday. Gage Burland will pitch for Wenatchee.

GAME NOTES 
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX OPEN POST-ALL STAR SCHEDULE AT KITSAP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-22, 15-21), fourth place in the WCL East, face the Kitsap BlueJackets (13-24, 13-23), after the sox dropped the final game of the pre-All Star schedule in a complete game shutout to the Kelowna Falcons...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (18-22) (.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 TIME OUT
Curtis Taylor (3-2) was locked in from the word go, to complete the pre-All Star portion of the WCL schedule for Kelowna...he retired the side in order in seven-of-nine innings, and only allowed the AppleSox two hits, and two baserunners...Mitchell Holland led off the second inning with a single, and Keston Hiura added one in the seventh inning, to total the AppleSox offense...C. Taylor tossed eight strikeouts over his complete-game shutout, with no walks...it was the Falcons first complete game of the season, achieved on 109 pitches...Micael Taylor (1-4) pitched well on the other side for Wenatchee, only surrendering one run over six innings of work...the Falcon run came in the second inning with the bases loaded and two men out...Evan Douglas made a stop on a ground ball deep in the hole at short, and delivered a strong throw across his body to try to get the runner, after backhanding the ball with his glove hand...the runner, Joey Crunkilton, was ruled safe, and Grant Meyaln picked up the only RBI to either side on the game...M. Taylor relied on his defense in a couple innings, notably the fifth, in which the bases were loaded with nobody out...Nick Nyquist pulled in a fast liner down the third base line and doubled up the runner at the bag, who was leading off...a pop up to first base followed in the ensuing at bat...the Sox turned three double plays in game three, and Colton Loomis tossed the final two innings in relief, scoreless. He now has thrown 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the AppleSox...Kelowna scattered 16 hits, stranding 12 runners, while going 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Both teams were error-free for a second-consecutive night.

HOT OFFENSE
The AppleSox offense is hitting .287 over its last five games, with six hitters batting over .300 over the stretch...Holland leads all batters with 20+ at bats, with a .429 average, Helmstadter at .417, Hiura at .381, Jansen at .375, and below 20 at bats, Amaral at .500 and Hirabayashi at .333...the team has driven in 24 runs on 50 hits...Holland and Jansen each have nine hits over the last five games...Hiura still leads all offensive players at .436 over the last ten games.

CLOSE GAMES
The AppleSox have now played 19 of their first 40 games to within two runs, after Saturday’s loss...the AppleSox are 5-14 in those 19 games, and only average losing by a two-run margin this season...Wenatchee still outscores its oposition in total this year, despite being six games under .500. 

AT STAKE
As a franchise, Wenatchee has never missed a postseason in its respective league in two-consecutive seasons...if the season ended today, they would be left out of the postseason picture, as they were a season ago.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 850 games, the AppleSox own a 531-319 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 391-219 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 340-201 (.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 422-276 (.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 221-174 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

BATTLE OF TAYLORS, SERIES, GOES TO FALCONS

The Kelowna Falcons were lifted by a stellar pitching performance from Curtis Taylor. The right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout to even the season series at 3-3.

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-22, 15-21) had a tough time getting anything going against Curtis Taylor and the Kelowna Falcons (25-12, 24-12), in a complete-game shutout, 1-0 loss, Saturday, at Elks Stadium.

Curtis Taylor (3-2) was locked in from the word go, to complete the pre-All Star portion of the WCL schedule for Kelowna. He retired the side in order in seven-of-nine innings, and only allowed the AppleSox two hits, and two baserunners.

Mitchell Holland led off the second inning with a single, and Keston Hiura added one in the seventh inning, to total the AppleSox offense.

C. Taylor tossed eight strikeouts over his complete-game shutout, with no walks. It was the Falcons first complete game of the season, achieved on 109 pitches.

Micael Taylor (1-4) pitched well on the other side for Wenatchee, only surrendering one run over six innings of work. The Falcon run came in the second inning with the bases loaded and two men out. Evan Douglas made a stop on a ground ball deep in the hole at short, and delivered a strong throw across his body to try to get the runner, after backhanding the ball with his glove hand.

The runner, Joey Crunkilton, was ruled safe, and Grant Meyaln picked up the only RBI to either side on the game.

M. Taylor relied on his defense in a couple innings, notably the fifth, in which the bases were loaded with nobody out. Nick Nyquist pulled in a fast liner down the third base line and doubled up the runner at the bag, who was leading off. A pop up to first base followed in the ensuing at bat.

The Sox turned three double plays in game three, and Colton Loomis tossed the final two innings in relief, scoreless. He now has thrown 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the AppleSox.

Kelowna scattered 16 hits, stranding 12 runners, while going 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Both teams were error-free for a second-consecutive night.

All of the WCL will rest Sunday, and a select few will participate in the Home Run Derby and All Star Game at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Monday. Wenatchee hits the diamond to start the final portion of its schedule, beginning on the road at Kitsap Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.

WP: Curtis Taylor (3-2)
LP: Micael Taylor (1-4)