AppleSox Aim to Win Series on Father's Day, Cashmere Night

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

Cashmere Night
APPLESOX (8-8) VS GRESHAM GREYWOLVES (6-10)
6:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: L- Connor McCord (0-0, 0.00) vs.  GRE: R- Andrew Hansen (1-1, 2.07)

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN
Two-way player Jalen Garcia is not only batting .291, but now, he is leading the AppleSox pitching staff in consecutive-scoreless innings thrown...last night’s two-inning save took him a third of an inning past Connor Leedholm, with 6.1 consecutive-scoreless innings pitched...Garcia is 1-0 with a save in three relief appearances this year...his scoreless innings streak started June 7 at Walla Walla.

THE PRICE WAS RIGHT
Two hits, 5 RBIs, and a first collegiate home run on a second-inning grand slam for Parker Price?...just another day at the office for the AppleSox second baseman...he’s now batting .286 with 9 RBIs...his 5-RBI performance made him the 11th player in team history to drive in 5...2016-17 teammate Alex Gonzales did it on the last homestand.

BOYD BREEZES ‘EM ON BY
Hunter Boyd tossed 10 strikeouts last night, to become the first AppleSox starting pitcher since June, 2015 (CJ gettman vs. SF Seals) to accomplish the feat...Jarrod Molnaa struck out 10 in relief earlier this season at Walla Walla. 

SAY HELLO TO MCCORD
Another new pitcher for the AppleSox tonight is Western Oregon product Connor McCord...he will get the ball in his first start of 2017...the left-hander is coming off a season in which he made 11 appearances and 1 start (a complete game)...he threw over 45 innings for WOU.

DO IT FOR DAD
Happy Father’s Day!...the AppleSox are 13-5 all-time on Father’s Day, including two seasons in which the team played double headers on this special day...the only year the AppleSox did not play on this special day was in 2007.

PARKER PRICE BLASTS GRAND SLAM, APPLESOX TAKE GAME ONE FROM GRESHAM

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (8-8) got a big lift from the offense in the first three innings of a 7-4 win over the Gresham GreyWolves (6-10) Saturday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Parker Price smashed the first pitch of a bases-loaded at bat over the left field fence in his second inning at bat, for a 6-0 AppleSox lead. He already brought in the game’s first run, on an RBI single that scored Dugan Shirer (aboard earlier on a double).

The AppleSox also got a run in the second inning on an RBI groundout for Jack Reisinger. In the third, Wenatchee completed its seven runs off of Brayden Bonner (1-2) with an RBI single from Adrian Vela.

Hunter Boyd (2-0) was flying out of the gates for Wenatchee. The right-hander retired all nine men to face him in the first three innings. He ended up racking up 10 strikeouts, and became the first AppleSox starting pitcher since June, 2015 to record 10 strikeouts.

Gresham did reach him for three runs in the fourth inning. Two RBI singles and a wild pitch brought the game closer. They also got a run off of him in his seventh and final inning on an RBI single.

McKabe Cottrell got the final out of the seventh inning on a groundout to keep the AppleSox ahead 7-4. The offense was stymied by Jeremy Polon out of the bullpen. The left-handed pitcher only allowed two hits over five relief innings.

Jalen Garcia threw the final two innings for Wenatchee, entering as a reliever from his starting spot in right field. He nailed down the save and retired Gresham in order in each of his two innings, and ended the game with his third strikeout.

The AppleSox improved to 5-1 in series-opening games, and are back to .500 on the season. Evan Johnson did see his 15-game hitting streak come to an end on an 0-for-4 night.

The AppleSox are back in action for game two, Sunday at 6:05 p.m. Connor McCord will make his AppleSox debut on Cashmere Night at the ballpark.

WENATCHEE WELCOMES GRESHAM FOR THREE-GAME WEEKEND SET

Bring the whole family out to Paul Thomas to see the AppleSox play at 7:05 Saturday, 6:05 Sunday, and 7:05 Monday against Gresham!

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (7-8) VS GRESHAM GREYWOLVES (6-9)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Hunter Boyd (1-0, 2.63) vs.  GRE: R- Brayden Bonner (1-1, 4.35)

CLOSE GAMES
The AppleSox had their last three games decided by one run...Wenatchee is 4-4 in one-run games and 0-1 in games decided by two runs...the last two games Wenatchee has played in the series with Gresham have also been decided by a single run.

MUST HAVE FOUR
This season, if the AppleSox haven’t tallied four runs in a game, a win hasn’t been in the cards...Wenatchee is 0-5 in games in which they score three-or-fewer runs.

BOYD’S FIRST START
Hunter Boyd has been a good fireman reliever for the AppleSox this year, averaging 4 2/3 innings per relief appearance...he will now get the ball in his first start of the season, Saturday night.

TOUGH LOSSES
After last night, reliever Steen Fredrickson has been handed the ‘L’ in both of Wenatchee’s extra-inning losses this year...the AppleSox are 1-2 in extras this season.

HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THAT UP?
Wenatchee started the home schedule with a 4-2 homestand June 8-June 13...the AppleSox won both series 2-1, and took 2-0 leads in each of the two series. 

POWER SURGING
What’s up with this?...of the AppleSox WCL 3rd-best seven home runs, all have been hit on the road...the AppleSox will try to tally their first home home run vs. Gresham tonight.

SPEAKING OF HRs
Evan Johnson is averaging a home run per 15 at bats this season...the last time he hit a home run?...11 at bats ago...here’s to hoping he get’s four official at bats tonight.

WATCH ME JUGGIE
Evan Johnson (a.k.a. Juggie) is leading the WCL with a 15-game hitting streak and 18 runs batted in...the last time his hitting streak was in jeopardy past the fourth inning, was June 9 against the Victoria HarbourCats (6th inning single)...that was seven games ago...last night he extended the streak in his first plate appearance...the longest Johnson had to wait to extend the streak was in game 3 of the 15-game trend at WW...an 8th-inning single...he has extended his streak in his first at bat in 5 of the 15 games, including each of the last two nights.

ELKS WIN EXTRA-INNING PITCHER’S DUEL, TAKE SERIES FROM APPLESOX

Photo by Alyssa Taylor

BEND, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-8) couldn’t figure out the Bend Elks (7-5) bullpen, and fell 2-1 in a 10-inning pitcher’s duel at Vince Genna Stadium, Friday night.

It was the second game of the series decided in extra innings, and all three games in the series were decided by just a single run.

Wenatchee jumped to an early lead in the opening three innings off of Bend starter, and reigning WCL Pitcher of the Week, Caleb Henry.

Evan Johnson extended his WCL-best hitting streak to 15 games, with a first-inning single.

In the third, Jake Taylor drove in the game’s first run on an RBI single by grounding a slow chopper to the third base side, that couldn’t be thrown to first base.

The score held with Wenatchee starter Matthew Young (no-decision) offering up six scoreless innings at the start. Over his first six innings, he also didn’t allow a baserunner into scoring position. It was Young’s final appearance of the season for the AppleSox (temporary contract player), with a new group of players expected to join the AppleSox in Wenatchee, Saturday.

On the other side, Grant Larson was unhittable for the AppleSox. The left-hander gave up a walk in his first inning of relief in the fourth, before continuing on to retire 15 straight batters, over the course of six scoreless innings.

In the seventh, Bend drew even after Young allowed the bases loaded with two outs. A walk to Charlie Maxwell forced in the tying run, but Young struck out the Elk’s leadoff man to preserve the 1-1 tie.

That score held, with Steen Fredrickson (0-2) working out of two jams in the eighth and the ninth innings. Wenatchee was held hitless in the eighth and ninth by Larson, and in the tenth by Chase Thometz.

Bend pushed across the winning run in the 10th inning after two Fredrickson walks, a double steal, and a walk from Fredrickson’s late replacement, Tommy Watanabe.

With one out and the infield in, shortstop Joel Condreay made a beautiful diving play on a ground ball to his left, and attempted to throw home to catcher Jack Reisinger. The throw was ruled to have taken Reisinger’s foot off the plate, and the Elks won 2-1.

Cal Waterman drove in the winning run on the fielder’s choice.

Wenatchee returns home for a three game series with the Gresham GreyWolves, beginning Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Moses Lake native, Hunter Boyd, is scheduled to get the start for the AppleSox.

WENATCHEE AND BEND TO SETTLE SERIES IN RUBBER MATCH

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (7-7) AT BEND ELKS (6-5)
6:35 pm
Vince Genna Stadium
Bend, Ore.
WEN: R- Matthew Young (0-0, 4.26) vs.  BEN: TBA

BLOWN LEAD/LOSS
The AppleSox have now surrendered leads in games they ended up losing three times this year...additionally they have been the team that has come-from-behind, twice...one of those two wins was in game one of the series with these Bend Elks.

SEASON SERIES
Bend and Corvallis are the two teams that the AppleSox will face just once this year, in series play...Bend will not travel to Wenatchee the remainder of this season, so tonight’s meeting decides this three game series, as well as the 2017 season series...the AppleSox have played in one rubber match game this year, June 7, at Victoria...Wenatchee was victorious 9-0.

NEW STARTER
The AppleSox rolled the dice last night, and went for a series win, using Friday’s originally-scheduled starter Collin Maier...that means Matthew Young will make his first start of the summer tonight, in an effort to lift Wenatchee in game three of the series...the AppleSox desperately need a lift in the starting pitching department...of their active arms who have starts so far the season, the combined pitching record is 2-4, and Collin Maier is the only active starter who holds a win (he is responsible for both of Wenatchee’s two SP wins).

VERSUS TEAMS WITH A WORSE RECORD
Weird stat here...when the AppleSox are playing a team with a worse record on the season, they are 1-3...the AppleSox are 6-3 against teams with a better record.

BAD-LUCK BLUES
Wenatchee is happy to be back in red uniforms tonight...so far, the AppleSox are 0-3 in their visiting blue uniforms...between home and the road, the AppleSox are a combined 5-2 in the red tops.

BEND USES LATE HOME RUN TO COME-FROM-BEHIND, EVEN SERIES

BEND, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-7) jumped to an early 7-3 lead over the Bend Elks (6-5), but faltered late for a 10-9 loss, Thursday night at Vince Genna Stadium.

The Elks used a late home run from Niko Holm to claim a 10-9 advantage. Holm hit his two-run shot over the wall in left-center field in the bottom half of the eighth inning with one out off of Collin Maier (2-1).

The AppleSox jumped to two early advantages. After the top half of the first, Wenatchee led 3-0, following an RBI double for Evan Johnson, a wild pitch, and an RBI single for Reagan Teegarden.

Bend answered right back in its half of the first, with three runs of its own off of AppleSox starter Gerald Hein, on three walks, an RBI single, wild pitch, and sacrifice fly.

Hein struggled, allowing four runs on four hits in the first four innings. He also walked four batters during his outing.

The offense lifted the AppleSox up with a four-run second to claim a 7-3 lead. Jacob Prater and Adrian Vela each cashed in single RBIs, while Parker Price delivered a 2-RBI double for the advantage. Wenatchee added another run in the fourth, on an error against Bend’s catcher. Johnson, aboard on his second double, was able to score on the play.

Bend began its comeback in the third. The fourth run off of Hein was on a solo shot to right-center field for Bend’s Rocco Ferrari.

The AppleSox tried to turn to Collin Maier in the fifth, with a four run lead. Maier was scheduled to be tomorrow’s starter, but came in to pitch in place of a thin bullpen. Maier allowed two runs in his first inning, on an RBI single and double.

The Elks scored again in the sixth on an RBI single, and once more in the seventh on an error at second base.

Wenatchee took the lead in the top of the eighth on a perfectly placed and timed suicide squeeze bunt from Parker Price. It scored Johnson, who was originially aboard on his third hit of the night.

With the lead, Maier allowed a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to Holm. Bend’s Khalil Rivera (1-1) held on in the ninth, despite a one-out double from Adrian Vela.

The Bend bullpen only allowed one run after the fourth inning, to back a difficult outing for starter Kyle Cantu.

Game three decides the series, Friday night. The AppleSox plan to start Matthew Young for the 6:35 p.m. first pitch at Vince Genna Stadium.

APPLESOX COULD CLAIM FOURTH-STRAIGHT SERIES WIN, THURSDAY

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (7-6) AT BEND ELKS (5-5)
6:35 pm
Vince Genna Stadium
Bend, Ore.
WEN: L- Gerald Hein (0-1, 3.97) vs.  BEN: TBA

EXTRA-INNING WIN
The AppleSox won in extra innings lsat night for the first time since June 10, 2015...a game the AppleSox won on the road at Walla Walla, 3-0, in 10 innings...the AppleSox are now 35-34 in extra-inning games and 3-3 all-time in extras versus the Elks...4-of-6 extra-inning meetings have been at Vince Genna Stadium....last night’s 8-7 score avenged an 8-7 loss in the last extra -inning meeting between the two teams.

TOUGH TO SCORE
After last night’s two-inning performance, Connor Leedholm has now thrown 6-consecutive scoreless innings to lead all AppleSox pitchers this season...Leedholm has retired all 18 batters to face him this season...tonight’s AppleSox starter is a third of an inning behind Leedholm, with 5 2/3 scoreless innings dating to his last start.

AGAINST THE SOUTH
The AppleSox are now an impressive 3-1 against the WCL South...the AppleSox will continue their next eight games against WCL South opponents (Bend and Gresham) before facing the Port Angeles Lefties to return to north action...the AppleSox only have that three came series remaining inside North Division play in the first half of the WCL season.

GETTING HOT
The AppleSox are 7-3 in their last 10 games after suffering a season-opening sweep at Walla Walla...the 7-3 record over the last 10 games is second only to the league’s leading team over that span, the Corvallis Knights...Corvallis is 8-2 on the season, and also won last night in extra innings.

FOUR-STRAIGHT SERIES WINS
The AppleSox are playing for a fourth-straight series win, Thursday...the last time the AppleSox won four-straight series was June 10-26 of last season...all four of those series were won two games to one...the AppleSox beat Corvallis, Walla Walla, Bend, and Gresham for the four-straight

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Pitching Coach Riley Drongesen was named to the Yakima Valley College coaching staff for the 2018 baseball season last week...the entire AppleSox coaching staff is now from Yakima Valley College.

APPLESOX TAKE SEE-SAW EXTRA INNING BATTLE FROM BEND, 8-7

Tanner Williams hit the go-ahead single for the AppleSox to break a 7-7 tie in the 11th inning, Wednesday.

BEND, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (7-6) overcame an early 1-0 deficit and three ties and two lead changes to take down the YaBend Elks (5-5), 8-7 in 11 innings at Vince Genna Stadium, Wednesday night.

The Bend Elks started the scoring in the second inning on an RBI ground ball off the bat of Niko Holm.

The AppleSox took the lead in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single for Jake Taylor. Jack Reisinger singled home Taylor later in the inning for a 2-1 AppleSox advantage.

Bend tied the game in the fourth inning on an RBI single, before Evan Johnson put the AppleSox up by three runs on a three-run home run to left field. It was Johnson’s fourth home run of the season, and allowed him to drive in a WCL-leading 17 runs.

McKabe Cottrell (no-decision) made his AppleSox debut and fired four innings, while only allowing two runs. He struck out five batters.

Against Hugh Smith (no-decision) the Elks evened the score in the bottom of the fifth inning on a fielder’s choice, followed by a throwing error that allowed a second run to score. Later, the Elks added a third tally on an RBI single later in the inning.

In the seventh, the AppleSox took the lead again, with a sacrifice fly by Reisinger and an RBI single for Alex Gonzales.

The Elks tied things the next half inning off of Smith on an RBI triple and an RBI double.

Connor Leedholm fired another two scoreless innings on his season in the eighth and the ninth innings (he has not allowed a batter to reach base yet this season).

While the AppleSox couldn’t bring home a go-ahead run in the eighth or the ninth innings, Jalen Garcia moved from right field to pitch in the 10th.

He got out of a tough one-out spot and stranded a runner at second in the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

His replacement in the field, Tanner Williams, hit in Reisinger’s DH spot in the 11th. Following a Johnson single and a Garcia sacrifice, Williams drove in Johnson on an RBI single through the right side of the infield.

In the bottom of the 11th, Garcia put the game away after two runners got to second and third base against him, with only one out. He promptly struck out the next man and forced a line drive right at Parker Price at second base to win the game.

The AppleSox have now won four-straight series-opening games and play game two, Thursday. Gerald Hein (0-1) will pitch for the AppleSox in another 6:35 p.m. start.  

APPLESOX OPEN SERIES IN BEND, WEDNESDAY

The AppleSox are in Bend, Ore. for their only meeting with the Elks this year. Pictured above: Bend, Ore. Old Mill district. 

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (6-6) AT BEND ELKS (5-4)
6:35 pm
Vince Genna Stadium
Bend, Ore.
WEN: L- McKabe Cottrell (0-0, 0.00) vs.  BEN: TBA

HOT START FOR REDHAWK ADDITIONS
Jack Reisinger and Jake Taylor are off to quick starts at the plate for the AppleSox...the Seattle U catcher and third baseman are a combined 10-for-19 at the plate to open their AppleSox summers...Reisinger struck for two hits yesterday, including a double, while Taylor had four hits in his debut two nights back. 

COTTRELL TO DEBUT
McKabe Cottrell will see his first action of 2017 tonight in Bend...the Gonzaga freshman just wrapped up an impressive high school career at Freeman HS (Rockford, Wash.)...he was a three-time First Team All-State selection and set school records for ERA (0.482), strikeouts (144), and innings pitched (72 2/3)...he helped the Scotties to the State playoffs this last spring.

GAME ONES
The AppleSox have been playing their best baseball to open series this season...Wenatchee is 3-1 in series-opening games and has won each of its last three. 

BULLPEN INHERITANCE
The AppleSox bullpen has struggled retiring runners inherited from its starting pitchers...of 13 runners inherited, the bullpen has only retired four...Wenatchee is 7-for-14 in retiring the first batters it faces. 

SOMETHING ABOUT THE ELKS...
Bend has beaten the AppleSox in 11 of the last 15 series meetings...Wenatchee did have the upper hand last time out against the Elks at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, July 14 of last year.

HAPPY FLAG DAY
The Applesox have celebrated Flag Day fairly well...10-5 overall, 6-4 league, 3-2 on the road, and have a 1-game win streak...this is Wenatchee’s second Flag Day game with Bend....in 2008 they blasted the Elks 14-2 at home...did you know Fairfield, Wash. is home to the oldest continual Flag Day Parade...the tradition is believed to have started in 1909 or 1910...Fairfield is an 8 minute drive from Rockford, Wash., the home of tonight’s AppleSox starter McKabe Cottrell.

NEALY DRAFTED
Last night’s AppleSox starter Colby Nealy was selected in the 35th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, today...former Sox Nick Valaika, Brett Stephens and Hunter Mercado-Hood were also selected. 

APPLESOX TAKE THIRD STRAIGHT SERIES, FALL 6-3, TUESDAY

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (6-6) couldn’t overcome a four-run sixth inning for the Yakima Valley Pippins (4-5), who shut down Wenatchee’s offense for a 6-3 win, behind a complete game from Gabe Taylor, Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The Pippins struck first off of AppleSox starter Colby Nealy (0-1). In the first inning, after two quick outs, the Pippins cashed in an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

The score held, as Nealy settled down, until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Evan Johnson extended his hitting streak to 12 games on a leadoff single. A wild pitch and two passed balls brought him home to score, to even things 1-1.

The Pippins took advantage of two Wenatchee errors in the sixth inning, and chased Nealy from the game. Yakima Valley plated four runs, and earned two off of reliever Steen Fredrickson in the frame.

The Pippins added a sixth run in the seventh on an RBI single, before the AppleSox could cut into the lead in the eighth with an RBI double for Johnson and an RBI groundout for Jake Taylor.

Jack Reisinger scored on Johnson’s double and had a steady two-hit performance, including a double.

Parker Price pinch hit and doubled in the ninth inning, but was left aboard for the 6-3 final. Taylor threw the first complete game of the season for the Pippins.

Despite the loss, Wenatchee won its third-straight series, and went 4-2 on the six-game homestand. The AppleSox pack up and head to Bend, Wednesday for a three-game series with the Elks. McKabe Cottrell (0-0) will make his AppleSox debut at Vince Genna Stadium in game one.

APPLESOX POISED FOR SWEEP, TACO TUESDAY

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (6-5) VS YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS (3-5)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Colby Nealy (0-0, 6.75) vs.  YVP:RL- Gabe Taylor (0-0, 3.00)
 

RE-WRITE THE RECORD BOOKS
The AppleSox set the new league record for runs in a West Coast League game last night, by scoring 25, passing the Bend Elks 24 runs scored against Victoria in a 24-5 final in 2015....the 33 combined runs last night was also a WCL record, breaking the previous mark shared by Wenatchee and Kelowna (32), after a 22-10 final in 2013.

TEAM RECORDS SET
Wenatchee set the following team records after last night’s unbelievable win...previous mark in parantheses...Runs 25 (Kelowna, 22, 2013)...RBI 21 (Everett, 19, 2004)...Hits 26 (Kelowna, 24, 2006 and 2013)...singles 22 (Kelowna, 21, 2013)...combined runs 33 (Kelowna, 32, 2013)...winning margin 17 (Spokane, 14, 2005)...runs in an inning 12 (Everett, 2000 and Kelowna, 9, 2012)

GARCIA, GONZALES & HISTORY
ast night, Jalen Garcia joined an elite class, becoming the third AppleSox hitter to collect three doubles in a game, in franchise history (Sam Hall, 2004 & Sam Brooks, 2014)...Alex Gonzales became the 10th AppleSox player to collect 5 RBI in a game.

BROOMS AT THE READY
Tonight, Wenatchee is trying to do something it hasn’t since 2015...the last Wenatchee AppleSox sweep was July 2-4, 2015 at home against the Klamath Falls Gems...last season, the AppleSox were swept five times without dusting up one of their own.

BIG WEEK FOR GONZALES FAMILY
A day after his younger brother turned in a sterling performance at the plate, former AppleSox ace Marco Gonzales returns to MLB action for the St. Louis Cardinals...the former 19th-overall pick, was called up after a long road back fom Tommy John surgery last season...he has pitched in 11 MLB games, with 6 starts, and has a 4.82 ERA with a 4-2 record...Gonzales will start his Major League resurgance in game two of a Cardinals doubleheader versus the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday.

APPLESOX TOPPLE PIPPINS, SET TEAM SCORING RECORD FOR LEAGUE GAMES

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (6-5) fell behind 6-0 early before scoring 17 unanswered runs for a 25-8 win over the Yakima Valley Pippins (3-5) Monday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The win set a new scoring record for the team in league play, beating the previous mark of 22, scored against Kelowna in 2013.

The AppleSox also saw all of their original nine hitters collected two or more hits in the victory, as the team went for 26 total hits in the series-clinching win. The AppleSox scored all 25 runs without a home run.

To make the night more remarkable, the AppleSox scored 17 of their 25 runs, unanswered, after the Pippins took a 6-0 lead in the top of the first off of starter Griffin Davis (no decision).

Davis’ guys rebounded in the fourth inning to bring 16 batters to the plate, while 12 runs came across to score on 11 hits.

The AppleSox also rattled off an eight-run eighth inning to put the game well out of reach.

All of the AppleSox starters and subs scored at least one run in the contest.

Alex Gonzales had the team’s first 5-RBI night since Connor Spencer collected 5 RBIs against Kelowna in 2013, and Jalen Garcia got his first three RBI of the season on three doubles. He went 4-for-5 in the contest.

Garcia, Tanner Williams, and Dugan Shirer each drove in three runs. Shirer and Evan Johnson extended their hitting streaks to 10 and 11 games, respectively.

Hunter Boyd (1-0) relieved Griffin Davis after the 12-run fourth, and picked up the win. He surrendered two runs over the next four innings, while registering four strikeouts.

Tommy Watanabe came on for his first outing of the season in the ninth inning, and struck out two batters, while only allowing one walk.

The AppleSox have won three-consecutive WCL series, and have a chance for a sweep versus the Pippins, Tuesday. Colby Nealy will pitch for the AppleSox in a game that starts at 7:05 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

APPLESOX KESTON HIURA BECOMES HIGHEST MLB DRAFT PICK IN WCL HISTORY

The Milwaukee Brewers took Keston Hiura with the 9th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, to make him the highest MLB Draft pick in WCL history.

SECAUCUS, N.J. – Keston Hiura (2015) was selected No. 9 overall in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, Monday. At No. 9, Hiura is now the highest-drafted former WCL player and the league’s 10th player to be selected in the First Round of an MLB Draft.

The AppleSox now lead the WCL in former players selected in the First Round of MLB Drafts, with four. That mark leads the WCL, ahead of Bellingham (3), Corvallis (2), and Kelowna (1).

Hiura joins Clayton Mortensen (2007, St Louis, 36th), Marco Gonzales (2013, St. Louis, 19th), and James Kaprielian (2015, New York Yankees, 16th) as former AppleSox to be selected in the First Round.

Hiura hit .442 this spring for the UC Irvine Anteaters, and won the NCAA Division I batting title, while also leading the country in on-base percentage.

In Wenatchee, during the 2015 summer, he earned first-team All-WCL honors. He hit .356 for the Sox with 21 doubles, 6 homers and 42 RBIs; and a league-leading 6 triples, 119 total bases and .623 slugging percentage.

If the AppleSox can work in a second selection in the First Round of the 2017 MLB Draft, they will become the first team in WCL history to have two former players taken in the First Round of the same MLB Draft.

CHANCE FOR THIRD-STRAIGHT SERIES WIN, MONDAY

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

APPLESOX (5-5) VS YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS (3-4)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Griffin Davis (0-1, 6.00) vs.  YVP: L- Josh Tedeschi (1-1, 4.35)

HITS KEEP COMING
Evan Johnson and Dugan Shirer each extended their hitting streaks last night...Johnson has now hit safely in all 10 games he’s played for the AppleSox...Shirer has hit safely in all nine.

BLAZIN’
Last night’s ballgame set a new mark as the fastest game this season for the AppleSox...it was completed in a swift two hours and nine minutes...Wenatchee has had five of its first ten games played in less than two and a half hours this year.

WIN THE CLOSE ONES
Last night, the AppleSox picked up one-run game win number three on the season (3-2)...one more than all of last season, when the team went 2-9 in one-run games.

LEEDHOLM LIGHTS IT UP
Northern Colorado right-hander Connor Leedholm is off to a hot start...out of the bullpen, he is a perfect 12-of-12 in batters faced/retired and has a 1-0 record with a save...he has thrown 2 strikeouts.

MAIER THE ODDS BE IN YOUR FAVOR
Collin Maier was stellar last night for Wenatchee...he gave up just four hits over seven innings in his second live game of the 2017 calendar year (redshirt, WSU)...he threw first pitch strikes at a rate of 72.4 percent (21-for-29)...his four hits allowed helped the AppleSox limit the opposition to its lowest hit total since June 14, 2016 at home against the Walla WallaSweets.

PRODUCTION
Last night, everyone in the AppleSox order reached base at least once, or contributed a sacrifice (Joel Condreay) in the team’s victory...speaking of sacrifices, Wenatchee is tied for second for the most sacrifice flies in the league (3).

SERIES WIN THREE?
If the AppleSox pick up a third-straight series win tonight, they will have accomplished something not achieved since June 14-26 of last year, when they won series 2-to-1 over Walla Walla (home) and Bend and Gresham (road).

APPLESOX RIDE STRONG ARMS AND TIMELY HITTING TO GAME-ONE VICTORY

Collin Maier is now 2-0 on the season, after earning the winning decision, Sunday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (5-5) opened a three-game set against the Yakima Valley Pippins (3-4) with a 4-3 win, Sunday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

For a third-straight night, an AppleSox starting pitcher made it through seven innings on the mound. Collin Maier (2-0) gave up just two hits through his first six innings of work, but found himself in a tied ballgame, 1-1.

The AppleSox broke that tie in the bottom half of the sixth inning, on a bases-loaded 2-RBI single for Dugan Shirer to center field. Following a Parker Price single, Evan Johnson added the eventual game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to center.

Shirer is now hitting .429 on the season.

The Pippins tried to fight back with two runs in the seventh inning. They drove in one on an RBI groundout, and plated another on an error.

Connor Leedholm worked in relief for a second-straight game, and retired all six batters to face him. He now is a perfect 12-for-12 in batters faced and retired so far this season. Leedholm earned his first save of the season, in relief of Maier.

Maier waited until the third inning to surrender his first hit of the night. The Pippins were held scoreless until the sixth inning, until and RBI single tied the score at 1-1.

Wenatchee scored its first run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly for Joel Condreay, following a Jalen Garcia triple. Garcia’s three-bagger was the first triple of the season for Wenatchee.

Shirer and Johnson each extended their hitting streaks on the season. Shirer has a hit in each of his first nine games this year, and Johnson now has a hit in all 10 games.

Every player in the AppleSox order either reached base or helped produce a run, Sunday.

Game two of the series is Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Griffin Davis (0-1) will pitch for Wenatchee against Josh Tedeschi (1-1) for Yakima Valley. The AppleSox will be playing for their third-straight series win.

APPLESOX STAY HOME FOR SPAGHETTI SUNDAY, WENATCHEE VALLEY COLLEGE NIGHT

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

Wenatchee Valley College Night & Spaghetti Sunday!
APPLESOX (4-5) VS YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS (3-3)
6:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Collin Maier (1-0, 3.17) vs.  YVP: R- Kade Woods (1-0, 3.38)

SPEED KILLS
With 7 stolen bases this year, Dugan Shirer is on pace to shatter the AppleSox single-season stolen base record of 23...Shirer will swipe 42 bags this year in league play if he keeps going at this rate...Brent Wyatt, 2006, currently holds the team record.

AFTER HIS FIRST
Collin Maier won his first start of the season at Victoria...his first live game action in 2017 , after redshirting for Washington State, following his transfer from UPS...Maier threw 89 pitches in his first outing and lasted 5 2/3 innings...he was backed by 9 AppleSox runs, including the team’s best, three-home run night.

SWING, SWING, SWING
Dugan Shirer and Evan Johnson kept their hitting streaks going last night...both have colllected a hit in each of their first games with the AppleSox...Shirer in all 8 and Johnson in all 9...Parker Price had a modest five-game hitting streak go by the wayside last night.

BACK-TO-BACK SERIES WINS
The AppleSox are 4-2 in their last six games and just claimed two-consecutive series from Victoria 2-1...the last time the AppleSox won back-to-back series was June 21-26of last season...part of a six-game road trip at Bend and Gresham.

ON THE RIGHT FOOT
Last night, the AppleSox got within a run of an early 4-0 deficit, but couldn’t erase it....Wenatchee is 0-4 when scoring second or being shut out...Wenatchee has scored in the first inning twice this year, both wins.

GET IT RIGHT AT HOME
The AppleSox are playing for their first win at home against the Pippins since July 25, 2015...a 4-2 victory....overall, Wenatchee is 3-9 at home against the Pippins all-time and 7-5 on the road at County Stadium.

APPLESOX FALL 5-3, EARN SERIES WIN OVER VICTORIA

Photo by: alyssa taylor

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (4-5) long six-game stretch against the Victoria HarbourCats (5-5) is finally over, after the HarbourCats salvaged game three of Wenatchee’s home series, Saturday night by a score of 5-3 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Jake Garella drove in four of the HarbourCats’ five runs with one swing of the bat in the second inning. His first home run of the season, was a Grand Slam over the right field wall, to give Victoria an early 4-0 lead.

Wenatchee’s starter, Gerald Hein (0-1) settled in nicely after the big fly in the second. Outside of the four hits he allowed in that inning, Hein only gave up two more through seven frames.

Victoria’s starter, Ethan Fox (no-decision), was also stout. He was facing the AppleSox for a second time in the six-game stretch, after allowing four runs his first time out against the AppleSox up in Victoria on the HarbourCats’ home-opening night.

Fox only allowed one hit in the first three innings, and the AppleSox didn’t reach him until the fourth, after leadoff singles in the inning by Evan Johnson and Jalen Garcia. A passed ball set the pair of runners up to score on RBI groundouts for Joel Condreay and Cole McKenzie.

In the fifth, trailing 4-2, Wenatchee squandered the first of two big spots on the night. With the bases loaded, Wenatchee couldn’t cash in. A flyout to right field, after an intentional walk of Johnson left the score at 4-2. Luke Boyd (1-0) got the flyout and earned the win for Victoria over 2 2/3 innings.

The AppleSox had another shot in the seventh down 4-2. With the bases loaded, Condreay came to the plate to face inserted reliever AJ Block, who was the winning pitcher in the HarbourCats’ only win over the AppleSox up in Victoria. Block walked Condreay with the bags full to make it 4-3, but recovered with a strikeout to keep Victoria ahead.

Wenatchee went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.

Steen Fredrickson pitched the last two innings, allowing a run after Bryce Bonner collected his third hit of the night for the HarbourCats, in the ninth. Bonner stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.

The AppleSox were put down in order in their half of the ninth by Travis Kuhn, who earned a two-inning save.

The AppleSox stay at home as part of a six-game homestand, and face the Yakima Valley Pippins (3-3) at 6:05 p.m. It is the first Spaghetti Sunday of the season. When gates open at 5 p.m., up until first pitch at 6:05 p.m., fans can purchase a heaping plate of spaghetti from the Alley Café, complete with a slice of garlic bread, for $7.50. Collin Maier (1-0) will get the start for Wenatchee.

SATURDAY SWEEP IN THE CARDS FOR THE APPLESOX

The AppleSox play for their first sweep since July, 2015, tonight at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

GAME NOTES
MEDIA GUIDE

Columbia Valley Community Health - Free Health Screenings
APPLESOX (4-4) VS VICTORIA HARBOURCATS (4-5)
7:05 pm
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Wenatchee, Wash.
WEN: R- Gerald Hein (0-0, 2.07) vs.  VIC: R- Ethan Fox (1-1, 6.00)

ON A ROLL
The AppleSox have won three-straight games and four of their last five...last season the team’s longest winning streak was a four-game stretch at home from June 11-15...Wenatchee has a chance to tie that mark tonight...the current three-win streak is tied for the third-longest streak against the HarbourCats..the last time the AppleSox took three-straight from Victoria was July 31, 2014-June 21, 2015...twice the AppleSox have won 4-straight...the first time was to start the series July 2, 2013-July 19, 2013...the other Aug. 5, 2013- July 29, 2014...Wenatchee collected its only sweeps over Victoria in the series during those two stretches.

BROOMS AT THE READY
Tonight, Wenatchee is trying to do something it hasn’t since 2015...the last Wenatchee AppleSox sweep was July 2-4, 2015 at home against the Klamath Falls Gems...last season, the AppleSox were swept five times without dusting up one of their own.

JOHNSON & SHIRER RACK UP THE HITS
Evan Johnson and Dugan Shirer each extended their season hit streaks of eight and seven games, respectively, last night...neither member of the duo has delivered less than a hit in each of their games played for the AppleSox...Shirer is tied for second in the WCL with 11 hits, behind Victoria’s Harry Shipley, who leads the league with 12 hits...Johnson is tied for third, with 10 knocks.

HEIN ON THE HILL
Gerald Hein is back to the bump for the AppleSox tonight, after picking up a no-decision at Walla Walla in the series finale at Borleske Stadium, June 4.

WHERE THEY RANK
Check out some of these AppleSox players and where they stand in the WCL statistical rankings:
AVG: D. Shirer, 5th (.407)
H: D. Shirer, T2 (11)
     E. Johnson, T3 (10)
2B: D. Shirer, T1 (3)
HR: E. Johnson, 1st (3)
       A. Vela, 2nd (2)
RBI: E. Johnson, 1st (11)
SB: D. Shirer, 1st (6)
BB Allowed: H. Smith, T1 (0)
SO: J. Molnaa, T4 (13)

APPLESOX DEBUT 1937 WENATCHEE CHIEF THROWBACK UNIFORMS, SATURDAY

AppleSox catcher Cody Simmons in the 1937 Wenatchee Chiefs throwback uniform.

The Wenatchee AppleSox are paying tribute to the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Minor League Baseball in the Wenatchee Valley, by wearing throwback 1937 Wenatchee Chief uniforms once per three-game series at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium this year.

The first time the AppleSox will don the new, crisp, whites is Saturday night in the series finale against the Victoria HarbourCats at 7:05 p.m.

The collegiate-summer league (WCL) AppleSox have four uniforms this season, and are wearing the “Chiefs name across their chests once-per-series for the first time in franchise history.

The jerseys will be up for a silent auction on August 3, at the AppleSox regular-season finale against the Corvallis Knights. Fans will be able to bid on the game-worn jerseys, and take home a relic from the 1937 and 2017 baseball seasons in Wenatchee.

The Wenatchee Chiefs were a minor league baseball team that played in the Class B Western International League (1937-1954) and founding member of the Northwest League (1955-65).

The Chiefs utilized Recreation “Rec” Park downtown, and bleacher seat tickets cost only 5 cents for games during the teams’ early years. If you wanted to sit in the grandstand, your ticket was a hefty 40 cents!

The franchise operated for a total of 25 years (the Western International League suspended play for World War II from 1943 through 1945) and was a minor league affiliate for the New York Yankees (1938-40), the Cincinnati Redlegs (1957-58), and the Chicago Cubs (1961-65).

The 1937 replica jerseys were designed by BSN SPORTS.

APPLESOX WIN SERIES BEHIND SEVEN STRONG INNINGS FROM JARROD MOLNAA

Jarrod Molnaa turned in a sterling performance for the AppleSox third-consecutive and series-clinching win.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (4-4) defeated the Victoria HarbourCats (4-5) for a third straight night, by a score of 7-6, behind seven strong innings from Jarrod Molnaa, Friday at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Molnaa (1-0) earned the second quality start of the season for the AppleSox, lasting seven innings, allowing only six hits and three runs, two of which came earned. He opened the game by retiring the first 11 HarbourCat batters to face him.

In the second inning, Reagan Teegarden got the AppleSox on the board first with a 2-RBI double that was scorched down the left field line.

The HarbourCats cut into that lead in the fourth, on a Kevin Collard RBI single, following a Teegarden error.

An RBI single for Cole McKenzie, and a fielder’s choice RBI groundout for Dugan Shirer in the fourth gave the AppleSox some short-lived breathing room, 4-1.

Again Victoria came back with a solo home run for Cole Weiss, his first of the season, smashed over the right field wall.

Victoria added one more earned run off of Molnaa in the sixth on an RBI single. Molnaa ended his outing by drawing a 5-4-3 double play in the seventh.

The AppleSox most important insurance runs came in the sixth and the seventh, on an RBI single for Thursday’s hero, Parker Price, and a run-scoring double play made it 6-3.

A balk in the seventh against HarbourCat reliever Chavez Fernander allowed the game’s eventual winning run to score.

Ethan Skuija (0-1) was charged with the loss, and only lasted three innings, while giving up four earned runs.

Victoria mounted a late comeback try in the eighth on a three-error, two-hit inning, to cut the deficit to 7-6.

In the ninth, Matthew Young tried to wrap up his two innings of relief to earn Molnaa the victory, and was off to a steady start, when he retired the first two batters. Back-to-back two-out singles made things interesting, but Young got the win for Molnaa on a lineout to center field in the next at bat.

The AppleSox have now won four of their last five games and are tied atop the WCL North at 4-4. Gerald Hein will look to pitch Wenatchee to a series sweep and fourth-straight win, Saturday, at 7:05 p.m. He faces HarbourCat pitcher Ethan Fox (1-1).