Wenatchee Native Rubash Among Latest 2020 Player Signings

With less than 100 days until the start of the 2020 season, the AppleSox continue to compile their roster as they look to win their seventh league championship.

Two weeks ago, the AppleSox added Tyler Chipman, Chase Grillo, Jared Glenn, Brayden Spears, Gabriel Subirats and Bryant Nakagawa in the first wave of 2020 players.

Head coach Ian Sanderson has revealed the second wave of players to join his first AppleSox’ roster. Pitcher Jared Rubash, utilityman Logan Mercado, outfielders Marcus Lydon and Steven Riddle, infielder Zach Meddings and catchers Landon Wallace and Tyler Boggs all join the AppleSox roster.

Jared Rubash

Wenatchee High School senior Jared Rubash will join the AppleSox this summer before heading to the University of Oregon this fall. Originally committed to Yakima Valley, Rubash soon after switched to join Oregon. In addition to playing for the Panthers, Rubash spent the 2018 summer playing for the Apple Valley Blues for American Legion baseball.

“Rubash has a big upside,” Sanderson said. “He’s going to be in the Pac-12 where there is a lot of projected ability in the big right arm. Being a local guy, this gives fans a chance to see him perform against other college players before he heads to the University of Oregon.”

Logan Mercado

Utilityman Logan Mercado comes to Wenatchee on a high note after posting incredible numbers in high school. Mercado has hit .500 in 156 at-bats and recorded a 1.23 ERA in 24 games over his first three years at Tri-Cities Prep. That includes a stellar junior year when he hit .491 and recorded a microscopic 0.37 ERA. The Oregon commit will join the AppleSox as both a pitcher and a third baseman.

Marcus Lydon

Marcus Lydon joined the Oregon Ducks this season after playing his first two years of college at Seattle University and then Linn-Benton Community College. Lydon hit .188 in 36 games as a freshman and then .221 in 40 games as a sophomore. As a senior at Marist High School in Eugene, Oregon, the outfielder hit .515 and earned all-state honors.

Steven Riddle

Outfielder Steven Riddle is in his first year at the University of Nevada-Reno and looking to build off his strong final season of high school ball. Riddle hit .345 and stole 10 bases as a senior at Vista Murrieta High School in California. He also picked up League Championships in both his sophomore and senior seasons.

Zach Meddings

Zach Meddings put together a strong senior year before joining the University of Nevada-Reno, this fall. The infielder hit .322 in his four years at Franklin High School in Elk Grove, Calif. Meddings earned all-league honors and won a league title as a junior then again earned all-league honors as well as league MVP as a senior.

Landon Wallace

Landon Wallace comes to the AppleSox as a touted catcher and hitter. Wallace put together a stellar junior year at Roseville High School in California, hitting .452 in 26 games. Prep Baseball Report raves about the catcher’s bat speed and that paid off to the tune of 11 extra-base hits last spring. Wallace will attend the University of Nevada-Reno this fall.

Tyler Boggs

Tyler Boggs provides the AppleSox with a solid bat and catching depth this summer. The Yavapai College sophomore hit .275 in 36 games as a freshman and already has a .296 batting average through 13 games this season. Boggs kicked off the season on a high note by hitting a home run and driving in two in a two-hit season-opener against Glendale Community College on Jan. 31.

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The AppleSox’ 2020 season begins on June 4 with a 6:35 p.m. non-league game against the Highline Bears. The home schedule is highlighted with Coyote Bobblehead Night on June 13, Fireworks Nights on July 3 and 20 and the West Coast League All-Star Game on July 20. The full schedule can be viewed below. Season tickets run as affordable as $130 and can be purchased online. Single-game tickets can be purchased by calling 509-665-6900.

Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium to Host CCL Games for Two Weekends

Graphic by Ben Krueger

The Cascade Collegiate League, a summer college baseball league in the Pacific Northwest, will play 18 games across two different weekends this summer at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

CCL games will take place at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium June 19-21 and July 10-12. Both weekends will be packed with baseball games. Following one game on June 19, the CCL will play four more on June 20 before wrapping up the weekend with an additional four games on June 21. The CCL will follow the same schedule for July 10-12. The AppleSox are on the road for both of those weekends.

“We enjoyed competing with the Cascade Collegiate League last summer,” AppleSox owner Jose Oglesby said. “Every league has its own beginning and we hope to help them out while also scouting potential future AppleSox players. Hopefully, our fans won’t mind a couple of extra weekends of baseball at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium this summer.”

The CCL began operations in 2018 and completed its first season last summer. In addition to fielding six teams with a 24-game schedule, the CCL also will send a Showcase team, highlighting the best players in the league, to face off against five different West Coast League opponents this summer. The CCL Showcase team faced the AppleSox twice last summer, appearing in Wenatchee on June 3 and July 31, 2019. The AppleSox will welcome the Showcase team to Wenatchee on June 16 and 17.

“The CCL exists to develop and advance the careers of our players,” commissioner Ben Krueger said. “We are thrilled to strengthen our relationship with the AppleSox, their fans and the entire Wenatchee community.”

Last summer, 16 players from the CCL went on to be “called up” to the West Coast League. Three players (Jermaine Ducham, Ryan Isler and Henry Lenaburg) went from the CCL to the AppleSox.

Times, opponents and tickets for the two weekends in Wenatchee will be announced at a later date.

Chipman Highlights AppleSox' First 2020 Signees

The AppleSox’ 2018 Opening Day Starter will return to Wenatchee this upcoming season. Tyler Chipman and five newcomers will appear on Ian Sanderson’s first roster as AppleSox head coach.

Sanderson, who will also handle the AppleSox pitching coach responsibilities, is focused on building this summer’s team around pitching. He’ll start to achieve that goal by bringing five pitchers aboard along with a highly-touted catcher in his first wave of 2020 players.

In addition to the familiar face in Chipman, Sanderson has also signed catcher Bryant Nakagawa and pitchers Chase Grillo, Jared Glenn, Brayden Spears and Gabriel Subirats. Nakagawa comes from Saint Martin’s University while Grillo pitches at Spokane Falls but is committed to Gonzaga this fall. The final three pitchers are all from Boise State, a program playing its first baseball season this spring since 1980. Last summer, five different Broncos played for the AppleSox.

Tyler Chipman

The AppleSox’ 2018Opening-Day starter returns to Wenatchee after spending last summer in the Expedition League. The right-hander started 12 of the 14 games that he pitched in for the Badlands Big Sticks and struck out 53 batters in 58 innings. He finished 7-2 with a 4.34 ERA.

In 2018, Chipman went 1-0 with a 7.54 ERA in 13 games for the AppleSox. He recorded five scoreless outings and struck out 24 hitters in 37 innings. Chipman did not pitch at Gonzaga in 2019 and transferred to Yakima Valley College, where he will pitch as a redshirt freshman this spring. Chipman graduated from Cashmere High School in 2018. He earned First Team All-Caribou Trail League Honors every year and CTL MVP as a senior.

Bryant Nakagawa

At this past Sunday’s Hot Stove Party, AppleSox assistant coach Nick Brooks described Bryant Nakagawa as one of the top defensive catchers in the state of Washington at any level of college baseball. The St. Martin’s University catcher started 24 of 28 games last season and hit .227 as a sophomore. This season, he has started two of four games and has reached base twice via a pair of walks. Last summer, Nakagawa hit .283 with nine extra-base hits in 41 games for the Alaska Goldpanners of the Alaska Baseball League.

Chase Grillo

An incoming transfer to Gonzaga rounds out the first wave of AppleSox commits this summer. Chase Grillo went 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 12 games for Spokane Falls College last season and will wrap up his junior-college career there this spring before joining the Zags in the fall. Grillo also excelled for the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs of the Expedition League last summer. He went 3-3 with a 2.34 ERA over 30.2 innings in 18 appearances. He did not allow any runs in 12 games and also picked up a save.

Jared Glenn

The first of three Boise State recruits coming to the AppleSox looks to continue to the AppleSox history of incoming college freshmen pitchers to have success with the AppleSox. Jake Saum and Marco Gonzales, are just a few recent examples.

Glenn is committed to Boise State, but must first finish his senior year at JSerra High School in San Juan Capistrano, California this spring. Glenn and the Lions won their second consecutive Boras Baseball Classic South Championship last spring. Former AppleSox first baseman/outfielder Blake Klassen was teammates with Glenn for each of those titles. As a junior, Glenn went 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in nine games.

Brayden Spears

Brayden Spears is set to begin his freshman season at Boise State this weekend. The 6-foot-6-inch right-hander went 5-3 with a 1.49 ERA in 11 games as a senior at Liberty High School in Brentwood, California. The year prior, Spears recorded a 2.91 ERA in 14 games. Spears earned All-Bay Valley Athletic League Second Team honors in each of his final two years of high school. In addition to baseball, Spears also lettered in water polo at Liberty. He earned district MVP honors in water polo as a junior.

Gabriel Subirats

Another freshman at Boise State will also join the AppleSox this summer. Gabriel Subirats went 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA in six appearances last year as a senior at Klein High School while also holding hitters to a .218 batting average and striking out 17.

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The next AppleSox roster announcement will take place on Feb. 26.

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The AppleSox’ 2020 season begins on June 4 with a 6:35 p.m. non-league game against the Highline Bears. The home schedule is highlighted with Coyote Bobblehead Night on June 13, Fireworks Night on July 3 and the West Coast League All-Star Game on July 20. The full schedule can be viewed below. Season tickets run as affordable as $130 and can be purchased online. Single-game tickets, including MVP Cards, can be purchased by calling 509-665-6900.

Hot Stove Party Scheduled for Feb. 9

It might be the middle of winter but once again it’s time to talk baseball. The annual AppleSox Hot Stove Party is scheduled for Feb. 9 from 2-4 p.m. at Abby’s Legendary Pizza.

Team owner Jose Oglesby, head coach Ian Sanderson and other members of the AppleSox front office will be on hand to chat with fans. The AppleSox will also be giving away prizes to fans in attendance.

The AppleSox Hot Stove Party is free to season ticket holders and sponsors. All other fans can attend for $15 per person, including a pizza and salad buffet. Beer and wine is available for purchase.

Please call 509-665-6900, email info@applesox.com or select ‘Going‘ on the Facebook event to RSVP.

Sanderson Finalizes Coaching Staff

WENATCHEE, WA - AppleSox head coach Ian Sanderson has added a second assistant coach ahead of the 2020 season. Branson Trube will join the AppleSox as an infield and analytics assistant.

Trube is originally from Meridian, Idaho. He joins Nick Brooks, hired in November, as the two assistants on Sanderson’s coaching staff.

“Branson brings D-I coaching experience to Wenatchee as well as good summer ball coaching,” Sanderson said. “He will be working with our infielders, hitters and doing a majority of the analytics work for us this summer. I’m very excited to have him as well as Nick on board. I think we have put together a great staff to be successful.”

Like Brooks, Trube also played at Gonzaga and graduated in 2018. He hit .272 in his four seasons with the Zags. As a senior, Trube hit .289 with 8 home runs (tied, second) and 7 stolen bases (tied, first). With the addition of Trube, seven members of the 2018 Gonzaga Bulldogs have previously or will play/coach for the AppleSox.

After graduating, Trube coached at Mountain View high school where he helped lead the Mavericks to a state championship. He then spent the next summer in Fairbanks, Alaska coaching the Alaska GoldPanners, working under former AppleSox assistant coach Miles Kizer (2015).

This summer will be a homecoming of sorts for Trube. He spent three years playing summer college baseball, including the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Yakima Valley Pippins of the West Coast League.

“I am very excited to be joining Wenatchee for the summer,” Trube said. “As a former player in the WCL, I am looking forward to being back in the league and helping our players master their craft.” 

The AppleSox’ 2020 season begins on June 4 with a non-league game against the Highline Bears at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Season tickets run as affordable as $130 and can be purchased by calling 509-665-6900. MVP cards are also on sale. For $20, you receive four tickets that are good for any AppleSox game, excluding the 2020 All-Star Game. MVP Cards can be purchased here. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a to-be-announced date.

AppleSox Alum Brooks Returns to Wenatchee as Assistant Coach

WENATCHEE, WA - Thursday morning, AppleSox head coach Ian Sanderson announced that he has added Nick Brooks to his coaching staff for the 2020 season. Brooks graduated from Gonzaga in 2018 and played for the AppleSox in 2014. He currently is an assistant coach for Spokane Falls community college, specifically working with catchers and hitters.

Brooks returns to Wenatchee five years after playing for the AppleSox. The Auburn, WA, native hit .277 in 41 games and tied for the team lead with three home runs.

“I loved every minute of my time in Wenatchee,” Brooks said. “I was able to work on the little things that helped me grow as a player. I’m looking forward to coaching talented players from all over the country and giving them a similar opportunity that I had while playing for the AppleSox.”

Brooks represents AppleSox head coach Ian Sanderson’s first hire. He will look to add another coach to his staff.

“He will be working with the offense, catchers and a little outfield when he has time to work with them after catchers,” Sanderson said.

Brooks, pictured second from left, played 43 games for the AppleSox in 2014.

Brooks hit .242 in his four years at Gonzaga. His senior year, he hit .283 with eight home runs, 11 doubles and 20 RBI. Brooks led the Bulldogs with a .559 slugging percentage.

In high school, Brooks helped Auburn Mountainview win the 3A state championship. He hit .511 with four home runs and 42 RBI at the plate while also recording a perfect 11-0 record along with a 1.70 ERA in 12 appearances on the mound.

Following his time at Gonzaga, Brooks signed a professional contract with the Perth Heat in the Australia Baseball League for the 2018-19 season. Upon returning to the states, Brooks began his coaching career with the Spokane Expos covering their 16u program.

The AppleSox’ 2020 season begins on June 4 with a non-league game against the Highline Bears at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Season tickets run as affordable as $130 and MVP cards are also on sale. For $20, you receive four tickets that are good for any AppleSox game, excluding the 2020 All-Star Game. Both as well as 20-percent off 20th-season merchandise are available for purchase at the AppleSox office at 610 N. Mission St. #204.

AppleSox to Host 2020 WCL All-Star Game

For the second time in franchise history, the Wenatchee AppleSox will host the West Coast League All-Star Game. The AppleSox hosted the inaugural WCL All-Star Game in 2006 and will welcome the 13th mid-summer classic in WCL history to Wenatchee on July 20, 2020.

“I am very pleased that the WCL is bringing the All-Star Game back to Wenatchee,” Oglesby said. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our team our fans and our community. It will be a highlight of our 2020 season.”

Each summer the showcase event features over 40 of the WCL’s top players in the league’s annual exhibition.

New AppleSox head coach Ian Sanderson and his to-be-announced coaching staff will coach the North Division’s team and the 2019 West Coast League Champion Corvallis Knights coaching staff will coach the South Division.

All tickets to the game will be general admission with ‘first come, first served’ seating. Tickets will go on sale for $10 at an aforementioned date. 2020 season-ticket holders will receive tickets to the 2020 WCL All-Star Game as a bonus for their season commitments. MVP punch cards will not be accepted.

If you have any questions, please email info@applesox.com or call 509-665-6900.

AppleSox Add Three Non-WCL Games to 2020 Schedule

The Wenatchee AppleSox have added three non-league games, one against the Highline Bears and two against the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase team, to their 2020 schedule.

With the addition of these three games, the AppleSox schedule now contains 57 games, 30 of which will be played at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Last season, the AppleSox went 23-10 at home, league and non-league play combined.

Non-league games are effectively exhibition games and thus do not count against the AppleSox overall record. However, with 11 days off in June, the AppleSox wanted to fill the open days with as many home games as possible.

“Non-league games are an important part of our schedule,” general manager Ken Osborne said, “because we like to give our players as many opportunities as possible to prove themselves. Sometimes, these games are great for players who haven’t seen a lot of action in league play. Regardless, we love hosting as many home games as possible in the summer.

The Highline Bears will open up the AppleSox’ 2020 season with an exhibition game on June 4. This will be the third straight season that the AppleSox’ first home game is against a non-WCL foe. The Bears hail from just outside of Seattle and play in the Pacific International League.

The Cascade Collegiate League sends its showcase team to take on the AppleSox for the second consecutive summer. This past season, the CCL visited Wenatchee for exhibition contests on June 3 and July 31. This team will comprise of players from the CCL, a summer college baseball league which completed its first season this past summer.

AppleSox season tickets are priced as affordable as $130. To purchase your AppleSox season tickets, call 509-665-6900, email info@applesox.com or visit the team office at 610 N Mission St. #204 in Wenatchee.

Current season-ticket holders who refer a friend to become a season-ticket holder will receive a free 20th season hat or cap, your choice, while supplies last. All your friend has to do is mention to us that you referred them when they purchase their season tickets.

The full 2020 schedule can be viewed below.

WCL Releases 2020 Schedule

Friday, the West Coast League unveiled its 2020 schedule. The regular season begins on June 5 and ends on Aug. 9 with the last possible day of playoffs being Aug. 18. The AppleSox begin the season on the road and end it at home. They will be home for the Fourth of July and will play at home on three weekends.

While the WCL portion of the schedule is the majority of it, the entire schedule is not finalized. The AppleSox will look to add exhibition games against non-WCL opponents on as many off days as possible. Last season, the AppleSox hosted five non-league games against three different opponents.

Schedule Highlights

Welcome Back, Coach

Former AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs (2001-14) returns to Wenatchee for the first time as a visitor when the Corvallis Knights visit the AppleSox, June 8-10. In 14 seasons as the AppleSox head coach, Knaggs led the Sox to five West Coast League Championships (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012) as well as a Pacific International League Championship (2003). The Knights hired Knaggs in 2017 as an associate head coach and he has helped lead them to championships in both of his seasons in Corvallis.

Long Opening Homestand

The AppleSox’ 2019 Home Opener is scheduled for June 8, the first of six consecutive home games. After facing Corvallis June 8-10 and Bellingham June 12-14, the Sox have four consecutive off days scheduled. However, at least half of those days will be filled with games against non-WCL opponents. Last season, the AppleSox went 23-10 at home, league and non-league play combined.

Toughest Stretch

The AppleSox’ most grueling part of the schedule is July 7-29 when they only have two scheduled days off, only one for the AppleSox All-Stars. July 16 and 20 are the only days off although July 20 is the All-Star Game. Twelve of the 18 games during that stretch will be played away from Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

We Meet Again

The Victoria HarbourCats ended the AppleSox’ 2019 season by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning of the do-or-die Game 3 of the West Coast League North Division Championship Series on Aug. 15. The AppleSox won’t face the HarbourCats until mid-July 2020, but they’ll see plenty of them in that stretch. The Sox and Cats play a six-game ‘home-and-home’ with three games in Wenatchee, July 13-15, and then three more in Victoria, July 17-19. This series will also be fun to follow because it will be the first time that new AppleSox head coach Ian Sanderson faces his former team. Sanderson was the HarbourCats pitching coach for the last two seasons before being hired by the AppleSox in September.

Days Off

No day features more off days on the AppleSox’ 2020 schedule than Thursdays, when the AppleSox have just four games scheduled and five days off. The Sox don’t have any games currently scheduled for the entire month of June on Thursdays.

The full schedule can be viewed below.

AppleSox in MLB: End of 2019 Update

The 2019 MLB regular season has come to a close and now is a great time to look back at our AppleSox alumni. Six former AppleSox played in the majors this season. Here's how they fared...

Griffin Canning

In his first major-league season, Canning, a 2014 AppleSox alum and UCLA product, went 5-6 with a 4.58 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 90.1 innings. The right-hander started 17 of the 18 games that he pitched in and tossed the fourth-most innings among Los Angeles Angels pitchers. Canning's best start of the year came on May 18 when he shut out the Kansas City Royals and struck out five in seven innings.

Marco Gonzales

After a breakout 2018 campaign, Gonzales out-did himself with a strong 2019 season. Gonzales posted career-bests in ERA (3.99), strikeouts (146) and innings pitched (203). The southpaw started on Opening Day in Japan as well as the Seattle Mariners' Home Opener, winning both en route to four consecutive wins to open his season. Gonzales tossed at least five innings in all but four of his 34 starts.

Blaine Hardy

In his sixth season in MLB, Hardy went 1-1 with a 4.47 ERA in 44.1 innings across 39 outings for the Detroit Tigers. Hardy recorded a 2.25 ERA in 10 outings in June. This was the third straight season that Hardy appeared in at least 30 games and he has pitched in 20-or-more games in every season.

Keston Hiura

Hiura is the only member of this list to participate in the 2019 MLB Postseason, even if it was brief. Though the Milwaukee Brewers fell in the National League Wild Card Game, they might not have gotten to that point without the help of Hiura. The rookie infielder hit .303 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI. He saved his best for last as he hit .313 in September while the Brewers were depleted due to a key injury to Christian Yellich.

Tommy Milone

In his ninth major-league season, Milone went 4-10 with a 4.76 ERA in 111.2 innings across 23 outings. Though he was credited with just six starts, Milone typically pitched multiple innings after coming on in relief in the second or third inning. The Seattle Mariners opted to use an 'opener' before going to Milone 15 times.

Pat Valaika

In 40 games, Valaika hit .190 with one home run and 7 RBI for the Colorado Rockies. The bulk of his major-league playing time came in April and September, when he accrued 61 of his 79 at-bats of the season.

Refer A Friend, Get A Free Sox Souvenir!

The AppleSox are providing a special offer to returning season-ticket holders.

Once you renew your season tickets for 2020, refer a friend to become an AppleSox season-ticket holder. Once your friend signs up for season tickets and mentions that you referred him/her to us, we'll give you a free 20th season hat or shirt (your choice) as thanks!

For you to be eligible for the gift, you cannot refer someone who was a season-ticket holder in 2019.

This promotion will run for the entire month of October or until supplies are depleted.

AppleSox season tickets are priced as affordable as $130. To purchase your AppleSox season tickets, call 509-665-6900, email info@applesox.com or visit the team office at 610 N Mission St. #204 in Wenatchee.

Sanderson Selected As New Sox Skipper

WENATCHEE, WA – The Wenatchee AppleSox have named Ian Sanderson the fifth head coach in team history. Sanderson will replace Kyle Krustangel, who stepped down following the 2019 season.

“I am excited to add Ian to our team,” AppleSox owner Jose Oglesby said. “Ian brings his history of success in Victoria and Lower Columbia CC to Wenatchee. I am sure the success will follow him here as well. Ian knows the league and should be able to step right into what we are trying to accomplish. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the game will serve our players well.”

Sanderson brings a championship-pedigree to the AppleSox. He has coached at Lower Columbia College since 2015 as an associate head coach and pitching coach. The Red Devils have won the NWAC in four of the last five seasons, including each of the last three seasons.

Sanderson spent the last two seasons as the Victoria HarbourCats’ pitching coach and led his staff to a 3.65 ERA, second-best in the West Coast League in 2019. Victoria defeated Wenatchee in the Northern WCL Division Playoff Series, before losing to the Corvallis Knights in the WCL Championship Series this past August. He now moves south to continue coaching in the WCL.

“Ian will make an excellent addition to our team,” general manager Ken Osborne said. “He brings impressive experience as a coach at the collegiate level and I believe he is ready to make the jump to head coach for the AppleSox. We interviewed plenty of different and unique candidates and ultimately believed Ian was the best man for the job.”

Prior to coaching at Lower Columbia, Sanderson was the pitching coach at the University of Antelope Valley for the 2015 season after spending 2014 as Kent Meridian High School’s head baseball coach.

Sanderson also carries previous summer-ball coaching experience besides his time with the HarbourCats. His West Coast League debut dates back to 2016 when he was the pitching coach for the Gresham Greywolves, who eventually left the WCL after the following season. In 2017, Sanderson served as the pitching coach for the Fort McMurray Giants of the Western Canadian Baseball League.

Sanderson and the AppleSox kick off the 21st season in team history in June, 2020. The West Coast League will announce its full schedule in November. Season tickets can be purchased for as affordable as $130 by calling 509-665-6900 or emailing info@applesox.com.

Krustangel Resigns as AppleSox Head Coach

WENATCHEE, WA - Kyle Krustangel informed AppleSox management that after three seasons at the helm, he will not return to the AppleSox in 2020.

Krustangel cited the grueling calendar year between both coaching the Yakima Valley Yaks of the NWAC and then the AppleSox in the summer as the primary reason behind his decision.

“First off, I want to thank all the fans, season-ticket holders and host families,” Krustangel said. “I’d also like to thank team owner Jose Oglesby, general manager Ken Osborne, assistant general manager Allie Schank and every single person that has made my wife, Katie, and I feel at home. It’s been an unbelievable three years to work for an arms-open community. It’s one of the toughest decisions I‘ve ever had to make. Having this job in addition to my Yakima Valley College head-coaching job makes it tough to stay championship-caliber at both places. I didn’t want to only give 80-percent to both organizations, I wanted to give 100-percent and be all-in. I didn’t feel that I could give that by continuing to coach both team. It’s been exciting to see the new direction that the organization is going under Jose’s ownership and it was a pleasure getting to the know all the great people of the Wenatchee Valley.”

In each of his first two seasons, Krustangel kept the AppleSox in contention for a postseason berth until the final weekend of the season. Krustangel broke through this past summer with his first playoff berth at the helm and the team’s first since 2013. The 2019 AppleSox set single-season WCL team records in home runs (36), RBI (275), stolen bases (102), runs (348) and consecutive home wins (12). Krustangel’s 83 wins are the second-most in AppleSox coaching history.

“We’d like to thank Coach Kyle for his three years with the AppleSox,” Osborne said. “I was very proud of the young men who he brought in. They not only were exceptional ballplayers, but also great people off the field that represented the organization well. Returning to the playoffs was a huge goal and we were thrilled to get there this past season. We understand his decision and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

Krustangel coached three players to the WCL All-Star Game in his first season before sending four more in each of his two successive seasons. Curtis Bafus won co-WCL Pitcher of the Year honors under Krustangel in 2018 and both Colby Nealy and Troy Stainbrook were two former AppleSox to be drafted after playing for Krustangel.

“We are thankful for Coach Krustangel’s years of service with the AppleSox,” Oglesby said. “It’s said that baseball teams take on the personality of their coaches. During Kyle’s tenure, the AppleSox showed resiliency, competitiveness and sportsmanship. They played the game the right way. We will miss him but know he will remain part of the AppleSox family.”

AppleSox management has begun the search for the fifth head coach in team history.

Nine AppleSox Earn 2019 All-WCL Honors

Monday morning, the West Coast League announced its 2019 All-League Honors and award recipients.

AppleSox pitcher Jake Saum earned first-team honors. Catcher Hunter Montgomery, shortstop Kody Darcy and outfielder Ryan Altenberger all earned second-team honors. Blake Klassen, Kodie Kolden, Seth Kuykendall, Cole McKenzie and Johnny Sage all received honorable mentions.

Saum, an incoming freshman at UCLA, went 4-1 with a 2.80 ERA in nine games, seven starts. He tossed at least five innings in all seven of his starts including a season-high eight on Aug. 7 against Ridgefield. Saum struck out 54 batters, sixth-most in the WCL, and punched out a season-high 10 batters on July 11 against Bend. He was one of four AppleSox All-Stars and also started Game 1 of the North Division Series against Victoria on Aug. 13. Saum tossed seven shutout innings and struck out 10 to lead the AppleSox to a 5-1 victory over the HarbourCats.

Montgomery, an incoming junior at Portland, hit .230 with 5 HR and 26 RBI in 38 games. He primarily caught or DH’d, but also saw brief action at first and made on appearance on the mound. Montgomery’s five homers were third on the team and his 26 RBI tied for second. His 14 extra-base hits were second-most on the AppleSox. Montgomery’s finest game was a 4-for-5 effort against Cowlitz on June 28. The catcher hit a home run, stole a base, scored two runs and drove in four in a 10-2 AppleSox victory. Montgomery would drive in four runs two more times on July 14 and 16, the latter of which he hit his only grand slam of the season.

Darcy, an incoming sophomore at Xavier, hit .305 with 6 HR and 27 RBI in 39 games. He played all four infield positions and even pitched once. He led the Sox with 27 RBI while his six home runs tied for the team lead and he recorded 12 multi-hit games, four of which were three-hit efforts. Darcy both tied and set the AppleSox single-season team home-run record with his fifth and sixth bombs of the year. His best game of the year was on July 11 when he he went 3-for-4 with 7 RBI and finished a single short of the cycle.

Altenberger, an incoming junior at Xavier, hit .289 with 6 HR and 26 RBI in 43 games. He played every position on the field except for first base and catcher. Altenberger finished seventh in the WCL in walks with 31 and recorded eight multi-walk games. He tied for the team-lead in home runs and led the AppleSox in extra-base hits with 16. Altenberger was one of four AppleSox All-Stars and he reached base three times, homered and drove in four in the mid-summer classic. His finest effort of the season came on July 17 against Kelowna when he went 2-for-3 with two walks, a home run, a run scored, and 3 RBI in a 6-4 win.

Klassen, an incoming freshman at Arizona, hit .338 with 1 HR and 25 RBI in 44 games. He recorded 14 multi-hit games and ended the season on a 20-game on-base streak. Klassen’s .338 batting average was fourth-best among qualified WCL hitters and his .455 on-base percentage was second-best. He led the AppleSox with 36 runs and five sacrifice flies and tied for the team-lead with 13 stolen bases. Klassen’s seven hit by pitches and 27 walks were both second-most on the AppleSox. His 3-for-4 effort with 1 RBI and two stolen bases against Yakima Valley on June 9 was his best game of the summer.

Kolden, an incoming sophomore at Washington State, hit .290 with 3 HR and 26 RBI in 42 games. He played second, short, third, left field and even pitched once. Kolden led the AppleSox in at-bats (169) and hits (49) and finished second in doubles (10) and third in stolen bases (12). He recorded a team-best 11-game hitting streak from July 9-21, batting .365 (19-for-52) over it and seven of his 15 multi-hit games this summer came during the streak. Kolden’s best game was a 3-for-5 effort against Kelowna in which he reached base four times, homered, doubled, walked drove in two and scored four times.

Kuykendall, an incoming junior at Western Oregon, went 2-2 with a 2.17 ERA in 10 games, six starts. He tossed at least five innings in all six of his starts and tossed six in Game 2 of the Division Series. The right-hander punched put 43 batters in 41.1 innings and struck out a season-high seven batters four times. Despite allowing seven hits and two walks on July 12, Kuykendall still struck out seven in six scoreless innings for his best start of the season. Before joining the rotation, Kuykendall tossed at least three innings of relief in two of his four relief outings.

McKenzie, an incoming senior at Purdue, hit .370 with 1 HR and 12 RBI in 29 games. He started in center field and batted third in every game that he played in, providing a steady middle-of-the-order bat and defender. Though he didn’t qualify for the WCL batting title, McKenzie did lead all AppleSox batters that played at least 10 games. He tied for third in the WCL in hit by pitches with eight. McKenzie recorded at least one hit in all but six games and collected 12 multi-hit games, four of which were three-hit efforts. He earned a berth in the 2019 WCL All-Star Game, but did not play due to injury. McKenzie’s best game came on July 3 against Kelowna when he went 3-for-5 with a double, a hit by pitch, two runs and 2 RBI.

Sage, an incoming senior at Purdue, hit .327 with 1 HR and 26 RBI in 37 games. He led the AppleSox with 17 multi-hit games and reached base in all of his final 24 games. Sage also led the AppleSox with 11 doubles and tied for the most stolen bases with 13. His .327 batting average was eighth-best in the WCL, marking the second consecutive summer that he finished in the top 10 in the league in batting. On Aug. 2, Sage became the second recipient of the AppleSox’ Tommy Watanabe Award and his best game was four days prior when he went 3-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored in a 7-6 win over Portland.

Below is a full look at previous AppleSox award-winners in the WCL.

Late Rally Not Enough as Sox' Season Ends

VICTORIA, B.C. - The Wenatchee AppleSox’ 2019 season ended with an 8-7 loss to the Victoria HarbourCats in Game 3 of the 2019 West Coast League North Division Championship Series.

Trailing by two runs entering the ninth inning, the AppleSox loaded up the bases and scored four runs to take a two-run lead into the bottom of the frame. The HarbourCats scored three times in the bottom half of the inning to walk off the Sox.

After the AppleSox won Game 1 on Tuesday, the HarbourCats won each of the final two games to win the best-of-three series.

Victoria scored first for the first time in the series after three consecutive singles to open the bottom of the first inning. The Sox took the lead back when Cody Simmons drove in two with a two-RBI double in the fourth, but the HarbourCats tied it back up on Griffin Paxton’s second RBI-single of the night in the fifth.

Nick Adams launched a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to give the HarbourCats a three-run lead, which proved to be the largest of the game for either team.

Despite trailing 5-2, the AppleSox wouldn’t go down quietly. Jashaun Simon doubled with two outs in the top of the seventh and scored when Brett Gillis singled and went to second on a throwing error.

The two teams had scored a combined eight runs through the first eight innings and nearly matched that total in the ninth inning alone. With one out, the AppleSox loaded up the bases and cut the deficit to one when Gillis hit a sacrifice fly. Tanner Smith added to the drama with a two-RBI double to right field and then scored on an RBI single by Torin Montgomery. All told, eight men came to the plate and four runs scored to give the AppleSox a 7-5 lead.

Though they needed just three outs to advance to the West Coast League Championship Series for the first time since 2013, the AppleSox couldn’t record an out in the bottom of the ninth. Nick Plaia led off with a single, Gus Wilson walked and then Griffin Paxton doubled in Plaia to make it a one-run game. Harrison Spohn second Victoria to its second Championship Series in three years with a 2-RBI, walk-off single to right field.

The HarbourCats will face the Corvallis Knights in the Championship Series starting Friday night at 6:35 in Victoria. Like the divisional round, this is a best-of-three series. Corvallis defeated Walla Walla, two-game-to-one, to advance to its fourth straight Championship Series. The Knights will look to add to their WCL-best six championships with another while the HarbourCats look for their first.

Stay tuned to AppleSox.com for the latest offseason information on the team and the soonest updates on the 2020 schedule. ‘Like’ the AppleSox on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram for the latest offseason news.

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AppleSox Fall in Game 2 in Victoria

VICTORIA, B.C. - The AppleSox committed four errors in a 7-2 loss to the Victoria HarbourCats on Wednesday night at Royal Athletic Park.

Though the Sox struck first for the second straight night, they also stranded eight runners on the basepaths and didn’t collect a base-hit until the sixth inning.

In the first inning, Jashaun Simon drew the first of seven walks on the night to open up the ballgame and stole a couple bases to move to third and then scored on an error. However, the HarbourCats tied it back up after a solo home run in the bottom of the inning.

Two innings later, Wenatchee struck again with the bases loaded when Torin Montgomery reached base on a fielder’s choice. The HarbourCats took the lead with a two-out, two-run homer.

In the fifth, the AppleSox put runners and second and third to lead off the inning but ended up going down 1-2-3 after that. Victoria scored three times in the bottom of the inning and again for one more the sixth.

The Sox face the HarbourCats in a do-or-die Game 3 tonight at 6:35. Gavin Gorrell gets the ball for the AppleSox. Win, and the AppleSox face the winner of Game 3 between the Corvallis Knights and Walla Walla Sweets (also being played tonight) in the West Coast League Championship Series. Lose, and the Sox’ season comes to an end.

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Listen to AppleSox broadcaster Joel Norman’s postgame interview with head coach Kyle Krustangel below.

Spectacular Saum Delivers Game 1 Victory Over Victoria

WENATCHEE, WA - Jake Saum tossed seven shutout innings and the AppleSox defeated the Victoria HarbourCats, 5-1, in Game 1 of the North Division Championship Series on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Saum matched a season-high with 10 strikeouts and tossed three 1-2-3 innings. He has tossed at least five innings in all eight of his starts this summer.

At the plate, Tanner Smith drove in two and collected a pair of hits. Jermaine Ducham plated two and also recorded two hits.

The Sox loaded up the bases in the first inning and scored first when Brett Gillis drew a walk. Two innings later, the AppleSox tacked on another run when Jashaun Simon led off with a single then Ducham hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

In the fourth, the Sox busted out for three runs. Cody Simmons and Spencer Marenco walked and then Smith doubled both in with two outs. Ducham singled up the middle to plate Smith on the first pitch of his at-bat following a pitching change.

The HarbourCats scored their only run in the ninth when Harrison Spohn doubled in Gus Wilson with two outs.

Victoria and Wenatchee face off in Game 2 of the North Division Championship Series on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park. The game can be heard live on the AppleSox Radio Network with pregame coverage beginning at 6:10.

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Listen to AppleSox broadcaster Joel Norman’s postgame interviews with Saum and head coach Kyle Krustangel.

AppleSox Open Postseason Tonight at 6:35

The Wenatchee AppleSox host the Victoria HarbourCats in Game 1 of the North Division Championship Series of the West Coast League Playoffs tonight at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox clinched a postseason berth for the first time since and need four more wins to claim their sixth West Coast League Championship.

Game 2 is tomorrow night in Victoria at 6:35. If necessary, the two teams will meet up at Royal Athletic Park on Thursday night at 6:35.

Victoria enters tonight’s game as perhaps the top offensive team in the West Coast League this past season. The HarbourCats led the WCL in batting average (.292), on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.440), home runs (54), RBI (339), total bases (873) and runs (415). They won both the first and second half titles for the North Division.

All three games against Victoria can be heard live on Sunny FM in Wenatchee as well as other translators throughout Washington listed below.

93.9 FM in Wenatchee Valley
95.3 FM in Lake Chelan Valley
101.3 FM in Brewster/Bridgeport/Pateros
101.9 FM in Omak/Okanogan Valley
106.3 in Methow Valley

The game can also be heard online on the AppleSox website.

Get a full preview of the series by clicking on the game notes below.

Game Notes

AppleSox Confident in Game 1 Starter Saum

The West Coast League Playoffs offer the lesser of two seeds a unique opportunity: hosting Game 1.

Although the AppleSox will play two of the three games in the North Division Championship Series on the road (if the series goes three games), they have the chance to take a stranglehold on the series by winning the series-opener on Tuesday night at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

With a chance to be in the driver’s seat immediately, there’s no one head coach Kyle Krustangel would rather give the ball to than Jake Saum, an incoming freshman at UCLA.

“I truly believe he is the best pitcher in the West Coast League,” Krustangel said. ”When he becomes draft eligible again after his junior year, this is a guy that’s going to be a first-round pick.”

That’s high praise for someone who has never pitched in an NCAA game.

With Saum, the hype is real and deserved. He finished the 2019 regular season with the fourth-best ERA (2.80) and the sixth-most strikeouts (54) in the WCL. Saum has tossed at least five innings in all seven of his starts and has also appeared in two games in relief. He was one of four AppleSox All-Stars, but the only one who was an incoming freshman.

Every time Saum toes the rubber, the AppleSox know they have a strong chance to win. Wenatchee has only lost one of the seven games that Saum has started and has won in each of his last three. He toed the rubber most recently on Aug. 7 and delivered a season-high eight shutout innings against the Ridgefield Raptors to help the Sox clinch their first playoff berth since 2013.

The Sox are energized every time Saum takes the mound, but are especially electric when the southpaw starts a home game. Wenatchee is 4-0 in Saum’s four starts at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium and he has a 2.16 ERA in games in Wenatchee this summer.

Saum has struck out at least five in all but one start and punched out a season-best 10 batters against the Bend Elks on July 11. The southpaw’s fastball typically hangs in the upper 80’s to low 90’s and clocked as high as 93 in his season-debut on June 15.

This all comes after posting a microscopic 0.92 ERA while going 6-3 in 12 games as a senior at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California, this past spring.

Even in games that he has experienced adversity, Saum still finds ways to amaze. On July 20 at Bellingham, Saum surrendered three runs on three hits. Despite the slow start, Saum wouldn’t allow 16 of the final 19 batters that he faced to reach base and didn’t allow any hits after the second inning. The four runs allowed represented a single-game high for Saum in 2019, but he still punched out six.

Again, on Aug. 2, Saum allowed three runs on two hits and a season-high five walks but he still managed to go five innings once again. He even no-hit the Yakima Valley Pippins through the first three innings.

What separates Saum from other pitchers his age is his drive to be great. He knows what he wants to be and is willing to work as hard as possible to accomplish that goal.

"I think what makes Saum so special,” Krustangel said, “is not just what the fans can see. It’s the work he does on off days. Every time I’m at the gym, he’s at the gym. He’s first one here every day doing his arm care.”

Saum is always working to improve his game, whether he is pitching that day or not. On road trips, Krustangel says Saum is the first to ask him what gym the players have access to. Pitching coach Tyler VonDracek typically loans his coaches jacket to his starting pitchers and said that he doesn’t wear it again on days that Saum starts because of how sweaty it gets. Every day, you’ll find Saum long-tossing in the outfield or running the warning track prior to games.

Even on days where he seems filthy, Saum is still critical of himself and looking to improve. After striking out eight against Ridgefield, Saum still thought he could have done better.

“I wasn’t too worried about where (the ball) was going,” Saum said, “but I was just trying to throw strikes and make people work. There weren’t a ton of strikeouts, but I just let them put it in play and let the defense make plays behind me.”

Saum is one of the eight remaining players on the AppleSox to have played in June. Because of that, he is a leader on this Sox’ team in many ways. Over the last couple weeks he has become more vocal in the dugout and, along with the other remaining players, has helped welcome newcomers into the Sox’ winning environment.

Even if he is just an incoming freshman, there’s no doubt that Saum is the man that the AppleSox want on the mound in Tuesday’s pivotal game. This could be the first of many big playoff games in which Saum gets the ball at the collegiate level. The AppleSox are confident in their ace to get the job done.

AppleSox Lose Regular Season Finale

CORVALLIS, OR - The AppleSox dropped the final game of the regular season, 3-0, to the Corvallis Knights on Sunday afternoon at Goss Stadium.

Cameron Smith only allowed one run in 5.2 innings, but the AppleSox only collected four hits and were shut out for the second time this summer.

Smith kept the game scoreless until three straight batters reached with two outs in the fifth and an infield single gave Corvallis the game-winning run. The Knights added two more runs in seventh to pick up the series sweep.

The AppleSox have Monday off before taking on the Victoria HarbourCats on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the North Division Championship Series of the West Coast League Playoffs at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium at 6:35 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at AppleSox.com, at 610 N Mission St. #204 on Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at the gate at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium on Tuesday night. It’s another $2 Off Tuesday, meaning that tickets are $2 off ($10 for premium, $5 for general admission) as are select concession items.

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