AppleSox Embark on First Road Trip vs Portland

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox open up the West Coast League portion of their 2021 season this weekend against the Portland Pickles. The series begins tonight with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.

The AppleSox are 4-5 all-time against Portland. The Sox swept the Pickles in a three-game home series in 2019. Portland swept two home games against the AppleSox before taking three of four in Wenatchee in 2018.

The AppleSox were swept (8-3, 7-6) by the NW Star Academy Nighthawks in two non-league games to open the 2021 season at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The Sox started 0-2 for just the fourth time since 2010. Tuesday’s loss snapped a streak of eight consecutive wins against non-league opponents since June 5, 2018.

The Pickles also played two non-league games this week. They lost to the Portland Gherkins, 4-2, on Tuesday and then defeated the Willamette Wild Bills, 15-6, last night. Both games took place at Walker Stadium. Those were the first two of 14 non-league games scheduled, all of which the Pickles will play at home.

Two more players will join the AppleSox this weekend in Portland. Adam Grob and Garrett Cutting have been added today and will provide infield depth. Cashmere native and right-handed pitcher Tyler Chipman has also been added. For the most up-to-date AppleSox roster, please visit applesox.com/roster.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is Gavin Gorrell, a junior this fall at Utah. Gorrell’s collegiate career has taken lots of twists and turns as Utah will be his third different college. He began as freshman at Northern Colorado in 2018 where he recorded a 9.15 ERA and struck out 21 hitters in 19.2 innings over eight games. Gorrell transferred to Boise State and sat out the 2019 season, but his tenure with the Broncos was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cancellation of the Boise State baseball program last year. He recorded a 6.55 ERA and struck out eight hitters in 11 innings over three games.

The brunt of Gorrell’s collegiate pitching has come in the summer. In 2019, he recorded a 4.23 ERA and struck out 32 in 38.1 innings over nine games for the AppleSox. Gorrell started the deciding Game 3 of the West Coast League North Division Series against the Victoria HarbourCats. He allowed five runs (four earned) in a gutsy 5.1 innings for a depleted AppleSox pitching staff. Gorrell struck out nine HarbourCats, a personal season-best but he picked up a no-decision in the loss.

Gorrell found an opportunity to pitch last summer in the Northwoods League for the Willmar Stingers. He recorded a 4.13 ERA and struck out 20 in 24 innings over 11 games.

Gauge Lockhart and Reid Rasmussen will follow up Gorrell as the probable starters for Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Though the AppleSox are on the road, you can still listen live to the action on Sunny FM. Listeners can tune in at kcsyfm.com on their desktop computer or by tuning in at any of the following stations below.

• Wenatchee: 93.9 FM

• East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM

• Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM

• Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM

• Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM

• Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM

• Methow Valley: 106.3 FM

Pregame coverage begins at 6:40 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show.

Live stats can be found on Pointstreak.

AppleSox' Late Rally Not Enough on Wednesday

The Wenatchee AppleSox scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to draw within a run of tying the game but would ultimately fall to the Northwest Star Academy Nighthawks, 7-6, on Wednesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning, Enzo Apodaca hit a single to left field to plate two runs. As Rece Stapp scored the second run and the throw from left field came home, Ben Leid tried to advance all the way to third from first. Nighthawks catcher Travis Helm fired to third to try to gun down Leid but missed his target and another run scored.

That effort put the AppleSox within a run after allowing two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth. The AppleSox and the Nighthawks had been tied 3-3 until the Northwest Star Academy broke through in the seventh. The AppleSox would go on to put the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth, but stranded both of them.

Wednesday marked the second straight game that the AppleSox scored first, but it did not matter in either game. In fact, the AppleSox’ first three runs all scored without any base hits in those innings for the second straight night.

Gauge Lockhart started for Wenatchee and impressed in his brief outing. He retired all six hitters he faced and struck out four of them. Hunter Salinas tossed two scoreless innings, including working out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth. Jasper Nelson fired a scoreless ninth to keep the AppleSox in striking range.

The AppleSox are off Thursday before traveling to Portland to face the Pickles this weekend. The series gets started on Friday night as Gavin Gorrell gets the ball for the 7:05 p.m. start.

FULL BOXSCORE

AppleSox Look to Bounce Back Tonight

The Wenatchee AppleSox wrap up a brief two-game non-league series with the Northwest Star Academy tonight at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox dropped the first game of the series and the season, 8-3, last night. Wenatchee matched the Nighthawks with seven errors committed, but they also left 17 men on the basepaths and ultimately dropped the game.

Tonight, the AppleSox look to build off some of the strong points in last night’s game. Enzo Apodaca led off and reached base in five of his six plate appearances. Cole Hatton tossed two scoreless innings of work and only allowed one base-runner in that time.

Shortstop Brooks Dyer led the way for the Nighthawks by going 3-for-5 and reaching base in all five plate appearances while also driving in a pair of runs. Relievers Cale LaFever, Nathan Tastad and Sawyer Parkin combined to toss five scoreless innings of relief.

The biggest keys tonight are to limit defensive miscues and cash in with runners in when runners reach base. Each of the final six runs across three different innings that the Nighthawks scored last night came with two outs. Wenatchee twice batted with the bases loaded and two outs and went back to the dugout without driving any of those runners in both times.

The loss last night snapped the AppleSox’ streak of eight consecutive wins against non-league opponents. Their last loss to an opponent from outside the West Coast League was against the River City Athletics in the 2018 home opener on June 5, 2018.

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To purchase tickets to tonight’s game, please visit applesox.com/tickets.

If you cannot attend tonight’s game, then you can still listen live to the action on Sunny FM. Listeners can tune in at kcsyfm.com on their desktop computer or by tuning in at any of the following stations below.

• Wenatchee: 93.9 FM

• East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM

• Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM

• Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM

• Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM

• Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM

• Methow Valley: 106.3 FM

Pregame coverage begins at 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show. Tonight’s game will also have a live video without the radio feed. It can be seen on playsight.com

Errors, Men Left On Base Doom AppleSox on Opening Night

The Wenatchee AppleSox dropped their first non-league game in three years as they fell to the Northwest Star Academy Nighthawks on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Despite scoring first and leading going into the sixth inning, the AppleSox’ bats went cold late and the Nighthawks took advantage of mistakes to retake and then add to the lead. Both teams committed seven errors apiece but the AppleSox stranded 17 men on the basepaths, compared to seven men left on for the Northwest Star Academy.

The Nighthawks scored each of their final six runs (three in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the ninth) with two outs. The AppleSox twice batted with the bases loaded and two outs (fourth and seventh innings) but were unable to drive any runs home in those situations.

The AppleSox’ three runs all came across without any base hits. Wenatchee scored one run in the first and another in the second thanks to a combined six errors by the Nighthawks. The AppleSox did not collect their first hit until the fourth inning, when Ben Leid poked a single into right field with one out.

Enzo Apodaca led off for the AppleSox and consistently helped set the table for the rest of the order. The freshman at Gonzaga reached base five times via three singles, a hit by pitch and catcher’s interference. He scored the game’s first run in the first inning and also stole a base.

The loss snaps the AppleSox’ streak of eight consecutive wins against non-league opponents. Their last loss to an opponent from outside the West Coast League was against the River City Athletics in the 2018 home opener on June 5, 2018.

The AppleSox look to pick up their first win of the season on Wednesday evening when they wrap up their brief two-game non-league set against the Northwest Star Academy.

FULL BOXSCORE

AppleSox Open 2021 Season Against NW Star Academy

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox open the 21st season in team history with a pair of non-league games against the Northwest Star Academy. The AppleSox are 122-43 all-time against non-league opponents, including a perfect 5-0 record against non-WCL teams in 2019.

Tonight is the AppleSox' first game since 656 days ago they lost to the Victoria HarbourCats, 8-7, in Game 3 of the 2019 WCL Division Series. The AppleSox last played at home 658 days ago in Game 1 of that Division Series, a 5-1 win.

The AppleSox are 14-6 in season openers, 12-8 in home-openers. They have won each of their last two season openers. This is the third consecutive season that the AppleSox' Home Opener is against a non-WCL opponent.

Tonight the AppleSox face the Northwest Star Academy for the first time since June 30, 2018. Their team is made up of players from Oregon and Southwest Washington who are between their senior year of high school and freshman year of college.

The AppleSox are 7-2 all-time against the NW Star Academy and have outscored them 67-14, averaging 7.44 runs per game. The AppleSox are 5-0 against the NW Star Academy since June 9, 2007 and have shut out their non-WCL foe in four straight games.

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Fans attending this evening’s game will receive an AppleSox magnetic schedule. To purchase tickets to tonight’s game, please visit applesox.com/tickets.

If you cannot attend tonight’s game, then you can still listen live to the action on Sunny FM. Listeners can tune in at kcsyfm.com or by tuning in at any of the following stations below.

• Wenatchee: 93.9 FM

• East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM

• Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM

• Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM

• Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM

• Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM

• Methow Valley: 106.3 FM

Pregame coverage begins at 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show. Tonight’s gave will also have a live video feed. It can be seen on playsight.com

June Single-Game Tickets on Sale May 31

The 21st season in AppleSox history is less than one week away but fans won’t have to wait as long to purchase single-game AppleSox tickets. This coming Monday, May 31, single-game AppleSox tickets in June will be available for all fans to purchase. The AppleSox will provide a link at applesox.com/tickets for fans to purchase their seats this summer.

If you are a season-ticket holder and have not reserved your seats for the June home games that you wish to attend, please refer to the video below for the process of how to do so.

The AppleSox are going digital with ticketing and will stagger ticket sales this season. All tickets will be scanned at both the home plate entrance as well as the new third-base entrance (which will be for vaccinated fans), between the souvenir shop and concession stand.

Eight hundred seats will be available for each home game this season, unless there is a change in capacity size at Washington State outdoor venues. Season-ticket holders will have first priority at tickets and then, if any seats are still available, the remaining seats will go on sale to the general public on the day of the specified home game.

Fans at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking. Fans in the vaccinated section are not required to wear a mask after showing proof of vaccination and will be given a wristband at the ballpark. Regardless of where fans are seated, whether in a vaccinated section or not, they may enter the third-base gate if they have proof of vaccination at least two weeks prior and can receive a wristband.

For questions about 2021 ticket information, please by call 509-665-6900 and speak with General Manager Allie Schank or email info@applesox.com. Please “like” the Wenatchee AppleSox on Facebook for news on where to go to purchase tickets this season.

Update On Reserving AppleSox tickets for June

AppleSox season ticket holders,

Thank you all for your continued support and patience as we navigate this new system together. We have less than two weeks until Opening Day and I am so excited to see everyone back at the ballpark, celebrating summer and baseball with one another.

I wanted to be transparent about keeping everyone up to date with the current ticketing system. While we had initially planned on opening up ticket reservations today, May 20th, we are delaying the release until Sunday at noon on May 23rd. We want to make this process as simple as possible this season to reserve season tickets. In the meantime, we apologize for the delay, we have been working extremely hard to ensure you all have the best season possible.

We will not be reserving tickets for July and August games until we have further clarification about our capacity limitations and guidelines provided by the Department of Health and the Washington State government. We are anticipating that guidance will allow us to open in full capacity by July 1st. I will email you a week before July games open to the public to ensure you all have enough time to decide what games you wish to reserve seats at.

In addition, we've established new guidance for masking at games after communicating with other venues in our state for their guidance. Unvaccinated fans at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium are required to wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking. Fans in the vaccinated section are not required to wear a mask after showing proof of vaccination and will be given a wristband at the ballpark. Regardless of where fans are seated, whether in a vaccinated section or not, they may enter the third-base gate if they have proof of vaccination at least two weeks prior and can receive a wristband. Providing proof of vaccination is not something we are forcing upon anyone; we're simply trying to mitigate the current regulations to the best of our ability.

You will receive, on Sunday, a specific reservation code which will allow you to select your seats. We will send you another email on Sunday as a reminder to reserve. This email will contain your ticket code, a video detailing how to reserve tickets, and the link for the new ticketing website.

If you have any questions, then please email info@applesox.com.

Jose Oglesby (Owner) and Allie Schank (General Manager)

AppleSox Tickets Available for Season-Ticket Holders This Thursday

UPDATE: We are looking to make the claim process as smooth as possible and have pushed the date for season-ticket holders to claim their seats to each to SUNDAY, MAY 23. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

The Wenatchee AppleSox open up their 2021 season on June 1 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Here's what you need to know before the return of baseball this summer.
 

• AppleSox tickets are now being sold virtually only. Tickets for all games in June go on sale to all fans on May 31. The AppleSox will post a link on Facebook and AppleSox.com when they are live.

• On May 20, AppleSox Season-Ticket Holders will receive their first opportunity to claim their seats to each game in June. Seats will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. With seating limited to just 800 fans and social distancing required, we cannot guarantee anyone their previously-reserved seats.

• The best way for season-ticket holders to have a chance at getting your seats is to claim them as soon as you receive the link. The AppleSox will post a link on Facebook and AppleSox.com and email fans with a link to claim seats.

• Season-ticket holders: YOU MUST claim your ticket for each game to guarantee that you will have a ticket to the game. If you do not claim your ticket, it will become available for someone else to purchase. Any games that AppleSox season-ticket holders do not attend will be credited to their account and applied toward 2022 season tickets. The AppleSox will email a link to season-ticket holders to claim their tickets.

• Please note that general admission seats are being reserved this year and specific spots must be claimed. Fans will not be able to sit in one general admission spot and then move to another this season due to local guidelines and social distancing requirements.

• 800 seats will be available for each home game this season, unless there is a change in Washington State state health guidelines.

• The AppleSox will use Sections A and B behind home plate as a vaccinated ticket section this season. AppleSox fans who have received their second shot of the vaccine or the singular shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two weeks prior to the day of the game are eligible to sit in the vaccinated section. They must provide either their vaccination card or a picture of it as they enter Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as proof that they are eligible to sit in the vaccinated section.

• Fans at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking. Fans in the vaccinated section are not required to wear a mask after showing proof of vaccination and will be given a wristband at the ballpark. Regardless of where fans are seated, whether in a vaccinated section or not, they may enter the third-base gate if they have proof of vaccination at least two weeks prior and can receive a wristband.

• The AppleSox are looking for a couple more host families to house players this summer. To learn more, click here.

We're excited to have fans back this season. Things will be different in the seating area and concourses with the AppleSox following state health guidelines, but the baseball on the field will be just as exciting as you remember before.

If you have any questions about any changes coming for the 2021 season, please email info@applesox.com or call 509-665-6900.

Become an AppleSox Host Parent This Summer!

The Wenatchee AppleSox are three weeks away from returning to the field after sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The AppleSox are looking for a few more host families to house players for the 2021 season from early June through mid-August.

AppleSox players are enrolled in colleges across the country and will begin coming to the Wenatchee Valley in late May. Because the players are student-athletes and unable to be paid for their play, they stay with host parents for the two-and-a-half month season. 

Hosting an AppleSox player is a unique opportunity to become part of the team. Though families and players meet as strangers, they become bonded through friendship once the season ends.

“This season will be my 13th hosting an AppleSox player,” AppleSox Host Family Coordinator Marcey Skelton said. “We love watching baseball and hosting a player gives us a new favorite player to root for each season.”

Requirements for host parents are as simple as having an extra bed for the player to sleep on, feeding them when they are home and providing transportation to the ballpark if they do not have a vehicle (many players do).

Host parents will receive many benefits for hosting an AppleSox player. They’ll be given priority access at getting tickets to all AppleSox home games this season. Tickets are limited each game as the AppleSox are allowed to have up to 50-percent of their normal capacity. Tickets will be reserved online with season-ticket holders needing to claim their seats prior to each game to guarantee that they will be able to attend the game. The AppleSox will have a vaccinated ticket section with 80-percent capacity and all other ticket sections will have 25-percent capacity to meet Washington State guidelines for health and safety of fans.

AppleSox host families will also receive an invitation to the annual Host Family Appreciation Dinner, free registration for host family children to the AppleSox youth instructional clinics and recognition on field at the final regular season home game.

The AppleSox are taking special measures to ensure that host families and players stay healthy as our country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. All AppleSox players either have received or will receive the COVID-19 vaccine prior to arriving in Wenatchee this summer.

“Opening your home up and welcoming a stranger is about the kindest thing you can do.” AppleSox General Manager Allie Schank said, “We want to make sure that everyone involved stays safe and healthy.” 

If you live in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee or Cashmere, have a spare room, and would be interested in housing a player, please call the AppleSox team office at (509) 665-6900 or email info@applesox.com.

15 AppleSox Alums Appear on MiLB Rosters

Minor League Baseball returned this week after not playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 15 former AppleSox players appeared on a Major League affiliate’s roster.

Three players listed below (Stainbrook, Toglia, Wu-Yelland) are making their professional debut this season. The players listed below are just those who made their respective club’s Opening Day roster. The number of AppleSox alums in MiLB figures to grow following the MLB First-Year Player Draft July 11-13.

Here’s a full list of AppleSox alums at each level of MiLB. Their teams are included as are the parent organization and the season that they played in Wenatchee.

• Triple-A

  • Nate Esposito, Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals), 2014

  • Eric Filia, Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners), 2011

  • Blaine Hardy, Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers), 2006

  • James Kaprielian, Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics), 2012

• Double-A

  • Brhet Bewley, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals), 2015

  • Trenton Brooks, Akron RubberDucks (Cleveland Indians), 2014

  • Ryan Kreidler, Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers), 2016

  • Tanner Nishioka, Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox), 2014

• High-A

  • Matt Frazier, Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates), 2016 

  • Michael Toglia, Spokane Indians (Colorado Rockies), 2016

  • Hugh Smith, West Michigan WhiteCaps (Detroit Tigers), 2017  

• Low-A

  • Nate Hadley, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Minnesota Twins), 2014

  • Casey Legumina, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Minnesota Twins), 2016

  • Troy Stainbrook, Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals), 2018

  • Jeremy Wu-Yelland, Salem Red Sox (Boston Red Sox), 2018

  • Jeremy Ydens, Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals), 2016

AppleSox Unveil 2021 Ticket Information

The AppleSox are going digital with ticketing and will stagger ticket sales this season. Tickets to games from June 1-20 will go on sale on May 15.

Four hundred seats will be available for each home game this season, unless there is a change in capacity limits at Washington State outdoor venues. You'll receive a link from the AppleSox to select tickets. Tickets will be received electronically this year. Fans will be able to access tickets electronically, similar to how MLB fans attend games. 

Season-ticket holders will have priority access. Before any fans have access to purchasing seats to individual games, they will have a choice on whether or not they want to attend each of those games or not. Tickets will be socially distant and properly spaced out. Masks will be required when not consuming food or drink. While season ticket holders receive first opportunity at purchasing tickets, they are not guaranteed to get their regular seats due to social distancing requirements. 

For questions about 2021 ticket information, please call 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com. Please “like” the Wenatchee AppleSox on Facebook for news on where to go to purchase tickets this season.

AppleSox Announce 2021 Broadcast Team

The Wenatchee AppleSox will have two broadcasters for a season for the first time this summer.

Joel Norman returns for his third season as the “Voice of the AppleSox” and will be joined by Reily Chestnut this summer.

Chestnut is a 2019 graduate of Texas State University and worked as a morning show host and high school football and basketball play-by-play broadcaster for Hub City Radio in Aberdeen, South Dakota, after graduation. His most recent broadcasting work was calling Canyon High School football in New Braunfells, Texas, this past fall.

He was the sports director at Texas State’s radio station, KTSW-FM, in college and broadcast Bobcat baseball, softball, volleyball, soccer and basketball for the station while also hosting a show and a couple podcasts. In 2019 he was the TIPA Award Winner for “Best Live Sports Audio” after doing play-by-play of Texas State Volleyball’s first NCAA tournament win.

Norman graduated from West Virginia University in 2018 and called AppleSox games solo in 2018 and 2019. He left the team in March 2020 after being hired by the Fredericksburg Nationals (Low-A, Washington Nationals), but never started his job after COVID-19 cancelled the 2020 MiLB season and the team opted not to keep the position in budget cuts for the 2021 season.

Norman returned to Wenatchee this spring and broadcast Brewster High School football games on KOZI-FM Radio Lake Chelan for the third straight season. Last spring, he called Brewster basketball games, including their 2020 State Championship victory. He broadcast Wenatchee and Eastmont High School baseball games in 2019 for the NCWLIFE Channel. Norman wrote a book on the AppleSox in 2019 titled One Inning At A Time; 20 Years of Wenatchee AppleSox Baseball.

The 21st season in AppleSox history begins on June 1 against the Northwest Star Academy. Sunny FM will broadcast all 58 games for the seventh straight season AppleSox games can be heard all season long online at kcsyfm.com as well as on the radio at the following signals…

• Wenatchee: 93.9 FM

• East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM

• Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM

• Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM

• Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM

• Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM

• Methow Valley: 106.3 FM

For any media information, please email applesoxmedia@gmail.com

AppleSox Add NWAC, More State of Washington College Players

AppleSox head coach Ian Sanderson announced on Wednesday the addition of eight new players for the 2021 season. Sanderson now has 42 players signed to contracts for the 57-game 2021 season.

“We’re bringing aboard some guys this week,” Sanderson said, “who are going to do some big things at their schools this year. A lot of them are in-state guys and a few of them are transferring to Division-I schools this fall.”

Lowell Dunmire

Right-handed pitcher Lowell Dunmire did not appear in any games last season before the COVID-19 shutdown and returns to Lower Columbia College this year. He is looking to make his first appearance for the Red Devils. He graduated from Skyview High School in Vancouver in 2019.  

Cole Hatton

Cole Hatton was named Pacific League MVP his sophomore and junior years at Ocosta High School (WA). In each of his first two high school seasons he posted an ERA below 1.00. Hatton has an 8.38 ERA over 19.1 innings in five games for Saint Martin’s University this spring.

Cameron Liss

Cameron Liss is a sophomore left-handed pitcher at Spokane Falls. The southpaw has a 4.50 ERA and 15 strikeouts in two games (both starts). Liss appeared in three games (all starts) last year and recorded a 4.26 ERA with 17 strikeouts. He posted a 2.08 ERA and struck out 66 batters in 11 appearances (10 starts) as a freshman at Spokane Falls in 2019.

Liss previously pitched in the West Coast League in 2019 with the Yakima Valley Pippins. He recorded a 1.08 ERA across 8.1 innings in two appearances (one start). Liss’s WCL debut came at the expense of the AppleSox as he tossed 4.1 shutout innings of relief against Wenatchee on June 14.

“The NWAC is also being represented on the mound by Nelson and Liss,” Sanderson said “Liss is a lefty with a tough arm slot making it an uncomfortable at bat for hitters.”

Jasper Nelson

Jasper Nelson is in his freshman year at Spokane Falls. Nelson allowed one run in two innings in his only appearance this spring to date. He recorded a 2.17 ERA in five games over two seasons of varsity baseball at Palo Verde High School (NV).

Nelson and Liss were both originally signed by the Kelowna Falcons before they ultimately opted out of the 2021 season.

Reid Rasmussen 

Reid Rasmussen appeared in three games last season for Yakima Valley College before the COVID-19 shutdown and transferred to Central Washington. He has a 5.94 ERA in 16.2 through four games this spring for the Wildcats. Rasmussen led Selah High School (WA) to a district championship in 2018 but missed his senior season due to Tommy John Surgery. Rasmussen tossed a no hitter last summer while pitching for the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak American Legion Senior Baseball team. 

Sam Stuhr

Sam Stuhr graduated from Madison High School last year. He went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA as a sophomore in 2018. Stuhr has appeared in one game for Lower Columbia College this spring (April 3) and tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in it. He is transferring to Oregon State this fall.

Stuhr joins Dunmire as the second member of this year’s Lower Columbia College team to join the AppleSox. Sanderson, who is also the associate head coach and pitching coach for the Red Devils, is excited to see how the duo will do perform both this spring and this summer.

“Sthur and Dunmire are going to play a big part in the NWAC this year,” Sanderson said. “Dunmire is a lefty who’s up to 88 and Sthur is 92-95 and will give us a boost on the mound.”

Mark Steward

Mark Steward had a brilliant junior year of high school on the diamond before his senior year was cut short. The catcher hit .395 in 24 games in 2019 and then .250 in just three games last spring. He is batting .350 with one home run through 11 games.

Jackson VanDeBrake

Jackson VanDeBrake is in his freshman season at Tacoma Community College and has two hits in six at-bats in his first two games this season. He graduated from West Valley High School in Yakima last spring. 

“VanDeBrake comes from a family of ball players,” Sanderson said. “His oldest brother played at Gonzaga and his other brother is currently playing for Washington State so he knows what it takes to be a good ball player.”

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The 2021 AppleSox season begins on June 1. For 2021 ticket information, please call 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com.

AppleSox Add Talent From Six Different Schools

AppleSox head coach Ian Sanderson announced on Wednesday the addition of seven new members of the 2021 AppleSox. These seven players come from six different schools across the country ranging from states as far east as South Carolina.

“One of my goals,” Sanderson said, “has been to utilize contacts not just on the West Coast but elsewhere in the country to bring talent to Wenatchee. It’s exciting to have guys come here who might play a different brand of ball.”

Adam Grob

Adam Grob started out his collegiate career at Wabash Valley College (Illinois) before transferring to South Carolina Upstate. Grob hit .429 in 16 games as a freshman and then .358 with seven home runs in 19 games last season. He’s batting .200 with one home run through his first 11 games with the Spartans this spring.

Lucas Kolovitz

Lucas Kolovitz is coming off an abbreviated freshman year in which he hit .275 in 13 games for Purdue University Fort Wayne. He is hitting .179 with one home run and six walks in 15 games this year.

Cole Mayes

Cole Mayes is a graduate of Lake Travis High School in Texas in 2018. Mayes did not appear in any games for Temple Junior College last season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery and has not played in any this season either.

Trey Miller

Trey Miller was born in Washington but moved to Danville, PA, in 2018 and graduated from Danville High School last year. He did not pitch as a senior but went 7-4 with a 1.82 ERA over 65.1 innings in 12 games as a junior. Miller tossed six complete games and struck out 84 batters.

Miller has a 1.69 ERA with nine strikeouts and just two walks over 16 innings-pitched in six games this spring. His first four appearances were all out of the bullpen, but Miller has made back-to-back starts and has not allowed any runs in 10 innings.

Justin Simpson

Justin Simpson transferred from Golden West College to Central Michigan and is hitting .362 with 12 walks through 17 games for his new school so far. He hit .326 in 2019 to earn All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team honors prior to transferring and did not play in 2020.

Rece Stapp

Rece Stapp redshirted last season and retains freshman status this spring at Ohio University. He is looking to make his season debut for the Bobcats.

Jacob Wyeth

After two impressive junior college seasons, Jacob Wyeth will join the AppleSox this summer. He batted .433 with three doubles and one homer in 11 games for Cisco College last season and was named a Texas Junior College All-Star the season before. Wyeth threw out 15 of 32 base-stealers, 46-percent, last season (by comparison, San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges led the National League by throwing out 46.2-percent of attempted base-stealers). 

Wyeth is hitting .167 through 12 games this spring.

The 2021 season begins on June 1 against the Northwest Star Academy. For information on tickets, please call 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com.

AppleSox Announce Updated 2021 Schedule

The Wenatchee AppleSox have tweaked their 2021 schedule, in accordance with changes prompted by the West Coast League last week.

The AppleSox and other WCL teams in Washington and Oregon will no longer face any opponents from Canada in the regular season, although the League has not ruled out the possibility of a full-league playoff format.

Though the AppleSox will now remove four opponents from their 2021 schedule, they do add a series with the Ridgefield Raptors (July 16-18) gain additional home series with the Bend Elks (June 18-20), Portland Pickles (June 29-July 1) and Cowlitz Black Bers (Aug. 6-8) and play three more non-league games.

The AppleSox now host at least one home game for all 11 weeks of the 2021 season, which was not the case with the previous schedule.

The changes to the AppleSox’ 2021 schedule are few and are as follows…

• June 1-2: The Northwest Star Academy will now play two non-league games against the AppleSox at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Previously, the AppleSox were hosting the Nanaimo Night Owls from June 1-3.

• June 15-17: Open dates. The AppleSox were hosting the Yakima Valley Pippins for these three games. They will now host the Pippins July 23-25.

• June 18-20: The Bend Elks will visit Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium after previously not being scheduled to come to Wenatchee this summer. Prior to the schedule change, the AppleSox would have hosted the Kamloops NorthPaws these three days.

• June 29-July 1: The Portland Pickles now visit Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium after not being scheduled to previously. This had been a road series against the Kamloops NorthPaws before.

• July 2: A previously open date now has a non-league game against the Highline Bears.

• July 6-8: The Port Angeles Lefties host the AppleSox for three games at Civic Field. Previously, the AppleSox would have traveled to British Columbia to face the Kelowna Falcons.

• July 16-18: The AppleSox host the Ridgefield Raptors for three games at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The AppleSox would have hosted the Northwest Star Academy in a two-game non-league series July 16-17 under the previous schedule.

• July 23-25: The Yakima Valley Pippins visit Wenatchee for a three-game series. This series was previously scheduled for June 15-17, but now fits in on a weekend that had three open dates on the old schedule.

• July 30-31: The Northwest Star Academy visits Wenatchee for the second and final time in the 2021 season. The AppleSox would have hosted the Kelowna Falcons for three games from July 30 to Aug. 1 under the prior schedule.

• Aug. 6-8: The Cowlitz Black Bears face the AppleSox for three games at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium after not being scheduled to visit before. This weekend series was previously set to be against the Victoria HarbourCats.

For 2021 ticket information, please call 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com.

Familiar Names Toglia and Gorrell Part of Newest AppleSox Signees

Head Coach Ian Sanderson announced the addition of six new players to the 2021 roster. The AppleSox welcome back two players with previous ties to the team as well as four others.

Garrett Cutting

After only playing one game last spring as a junior, Garrett Cutting is looking to wrap up his tenure at Arbor View High School on a high note. He hit .548 with 17 extra-base hits in 28 games and posted a 4.99 ERA in seven appearances two years ago as a sophomore. He’ll enroll at Oregon this fall after playing for the AppleSox.

Dakota Duffalo

Dakota Duffalo is looking to make his season debut in his freshman year at Utah. He hit .283 while at Red Mountain High School, including his junior year in which he hit .274 with 10 extra-base hits and 25 RBI in 31 games in 2019.

Gavin Gorrell

Southpaw Gavin Gorrell rejoins the AppleSox for the 2021 season two years after first pitching for them. Gorrell went 4-2 with a 4.22 ERA and struck out 32 in 38.1 innings for the AppleSox. He appeared in 10 games, including one postseason start, and he allowed three-runs-or-fewer in seven games.

“We are excited about having a returning player in Gavin,” Sanderson said. “He knows how to be a leader and will help guys on this pitching staff.” 

After pitching for Northern Colorado in 2018, Gorrell transferred to Boise State and sat out the 2019 season. He appeared in three games and gave up eight runs over 11 innings for the Broncos in last spring’s shortened season. Gorrell pitched for the Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League last summer and posted a 3.97 ERA in 11 games.

Jacob Hughes

Incoming freshman Jacob Hughes is set to join Oregon this fall after playing for the AppleSox. Hughes only appeared in one game last year for Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, ID, but toed the rubber five times the year before and posted a 4.20 ERA and struck out 15 in 20 innings. His finest high school season was his freshman year. He recorded a 1.77 ERA and punched out 28 in 35.2 innings for the junior varsity team.

Hunter Salinas

The COVID-19-cancelled 2020 season interrupted many careers. It gave Hunter Salinas a third freshman year at Colorado State University Pueblo. After redshirting in 2019, he had not appeared in a game in 2020 before the season was shut down. He has yet to appear in a game in the 2021 season to date. Salinas had a strong career at Lake Travis High School. He batted .418 as a senior, hit .491 in 19 games as a junior and belted five home runs and drove in 24 runs as a sophomore.

Zach Toglia

The Toglia family’s ties to the AppleSox continue with Zach joining the AppleSox this summer. His older brother, Michael, played for the AppleSox in 2016 and won West Coast League MVP before getting drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round in 2019. Zach is a senior at Gig Harbor High School this spring and will join Utah as a freshman this fall.

"We’re excited to keep it in the family by bringing Zach aboard this summer,” Sanderson said.

Michael and Zach will be the first set of brothers to play for the AppleSox since Marco and Alex Gonzales played for the AppleSox in 2010 and 2017, respectively.

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Eight California Players Join 2021 AppleSox Roster

Head Coach Ian Sanderson announced on Wednesday the addition of seven players from California schools to the AppleSox’ 2021 roster.

“It’s no secret that there’s a lot of talent in California,” Sanderson said. “We’re really adding to our depth by pulling skilled players from five different schools there.”

With the addition of these eight players the AppleSox now have nine players from California schools. The full roster can be viewed at the bottom of this page.

Tino Bethancourt

Tino Bethancourt hit .285 with 20 extra-base hits in 78 games across his four seasons at Oak Ridge High School. He is looking to make his season-debut with San Diego State this year.

Skylar Hales

Santa Clara freshman Skylar Hales is one of three Broncos to join the AppleSox this summer. He graduated from Reno High School last year and excelled as a two-way player. Though Hales did not get to compete on the diamond as a senior, he hit .318 in 2019 and limited batters to a .201 average on the mound. Hales has a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings across three games this season.

Martin Haswell

Incoming Cal Poly freshman Martin Haswell will play for the AppleSox following graduation from Placer High School in Auburn, CA. He has a 1.45 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 43.1 innings across 14 games in his first three years of high school. Haswell also has excelled at the plate, hitting .330 prior to his senior year.

Jeffrey Heinrich

After not playing in 2020 due to a roster exemption, Jeffrey Heinrich is a redshirt freshman at Santa Clara College. He graduated from Heritage High School in Brentwood, California, in 2019 and made 13 appearances on the mound as a senior, striking out 31 batters over 31.2 innings while holding the opposition to a .222 batting average. He was one of 80 players selected nationwide to participate in the USA Baseball U17 National Team Identification Series during the summer of 2018.

Jack Lee

Australian southpaw Jack Lee joins the AppleSox this summer after his spring at Cal State Bakersfield. Lee attended De La Salle Catholic College in Revesby, New South Wales and represented Australia in the U18 WBSC Tournament. He gave up one run and struck out three in 1.2 innings in the only game he has pitched this spring.

Michael O’Hara

By only appearing in two games in his first year at Santa Clara, Michael O’Hara retains his freshman status in 2021. He’s appeared in 12 games this season and is second on the team with a .306 batting average.

Aidan Selfridge

Aidan Selfridge is in his first season at the University of the Pacific after transferring over from Mission College. He hit .155 in 15 games before the season was shut down. Selfridge has one hit in two games for Pacific this spring.

Collin Villegas

Collin Villegas is with his third college in Cal Poly and has two hits through four games this spring. He hit .349 in 21 games as a last spring at Irvine Valley College. Villegas had a short freshman year as well, only playing in 11 games and hitting .172 in 2019 for Concordia College.

In-State Players Join AppleSox For 2021

Head Coach Ian Sanderson announced on Wednesday the addition of three Washington State Cougars, two Everett Community College Trojans and one Gonzaga Bulldog join the AppleSox for the 2021 season. Of these six players, four of them are Washington state natives.

“In-state talent is crucial to our success,” Sanderson said. “We’re bringing in four players with Division-I talent and two more who could very well see themselves at that level next season.”

Enzo Apodaca

In three years of varsity baseball at Chaparral High School, Enzo Apodaca hit .362, including a junior year in which he hit .412. He is looking to make his college debut with Gonzaga this year.

Zach Boswell

Right-handed pitcher Zach Boswell did not pitch last spring, but posted a stellar freshman year at Everett Community College before that, going 10-1 with a 1.85 ERA in 13 games. Boswell tossed two complete games that season and struck out 72 in 77.2 innings.

Jack DeDonato

Jack DeDonato is all set to join Washington State this fall after the summer with the AppleSox. The southpaw is in his senior year at Mercer Island High School.

Kolby Solomon

Kolby Solomon will join Gonzaga this fall after a summer in Wenatchee with the AppleSox. He will graduate from Inglemoor High School this spring.

Ben Steck

Ben Steck committed to Oregon State but did not play last season and transferred to Everett Community College. The catcher earned First-Team All-League honors as a junior and a senior when he batted .404 and .370, respectively, at Henry M. Jackson High School. Steck is set to make his collegiate debut when Everett’s season begins on April 3.

Tyler Stone

Gonzaga’s Tyler Stone comes to Wenatchee this summer following his freshman year in Spokane. Stone hit .382 in four years at Chaparral High School, including hitting .455 in his abbreviated senior season. MaxPreps.com ranked him as the eighth-best recruit in Arizona. Stone is batting .267 with 1 RBI through seven games this spring.

AppleSox Welcome First Six Members of 2021 Team

Head coach Ian Sanderson announced on Wednesday the first six members of the 2021 AppleSox roster. These six players all committed to the team last year prior to the season being cancelled by COVID-19.

“I’ve spoken with all six guys and they’re excited to be back on board this summer,” Sanderson said. “We’re grateful that they are committed to be AppleSox and helping to bring home a championship for Wenatchee this summer.”

Tyler Chipman

The AppleSox’ 2018 Opening-Day starter returns to Wenatchee after spending the 2019 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 went 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three games as a redshirt freshman last 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.

Michael DeFelippi 

Despite logging just 9.1 innings in seven appearances in 2019, Michael DeFelippi excelled as a freshman at the University of the Pacific. He only allowed 11 hits and recorded a 2.89 ERA. DeFelippi followed that up with a 7.11 ERA in four appearances last year, although four of the five runs he surrendered came in one game. This season DeFelippi has yet to allow any runs across 2.2 innings in two appearances.

DeFelippi put together two strong JV years at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego. He was part of an undefeated team his freshman year and was then named team MVP and Pitcher of the Year during his sophomore season.

Chase Grillo

Chase Grillo is looking to make his Division-I debut this season for Gonzaga after transferring from Spokane Falls College. He went 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 12 games for Spokane Falls in 2019 but did not get an opportunity to toe the rubber last spring. 

Grillo also excelled for the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs of the Expedition League in the summer of 2019. 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.

Logan Mercado

Utilityman Logan Mercado comes to Wenatchee on a high note after posting incredible numbers in high school. Mercado hit .500 in 156 at-bats and recorded a 1.23 ERA in 24 games over his three years at Tri-Cities Prep (senior season cancelled). That includes a stellar junior year when he hit .491 and recorded a microscopic 0.37 ERA. The Oregon freshman also tossed two no-hitters in high school. 

Rance Pittman

After a stellar year with the Cowlitz Black Bears in 2019, Rance Pittman joins the AppleSox this summer. Pittman tossed 27 games, all in relief, and recorded a league-high nine saves. Pittman had a 1.29 ERA in six relief appearances for Southeast Missouri last season.

Sanderson is very familiar with Pittman. In two years at Lower Columbia College, Pittman recorded a 1.80 ERA. Pittman went 1-0 as a sophomore with a 1.47 ERA in 18.1 innings across nine appearances.

“Rance has been a bullpen guy with a lot of success,” Sanderson said. “He will show a high 80’s, low 90’s fastball and a good slider. Great young man to help some of our young arms develop.”

Luc Stuka

After starting his career at California State University San Marcos last spring as a freshman, Luc Stuka transferred to Saddleback College. Stuka hit .269 in 21 games with two home runs and 15 RBI. The first baseman recorded six multi-hit games and scored 10 runs. 

Stuka was named the Offensive Player of the Year and was an All-Sunset League first-team selection in 2019 at Corona Del Mar High School. He earned All-Pacific Coast League second-team honors in 2018.

Former AppleSox Righty Mortensen Keeps Winning

Some people are just born winners.

Clayton Mortensen didn’t know what it was like to finish in second place with the AppleSox. In both of his seasons in Wenatchee, 2005 and 2006, the AppleSox won the West Coast League Championship.

Mortensen carried that championship pedigree to the professional level, winning three more titles, two of which came in the same season. In 2013, Mortensen pitched in 24 games for the Boston Red Sox and, though he was no longer a member of the organization when they won the World Series that fall, still received a ring.

That same year, Mortensen tossed three games for the Omaha Storm Chasers, two of which came in the postseason, as they went on to win the Pacific Coast League Championship. Omaha would repeat in 2014 and Mortensen was more of a contributor this time, appearing in 18 games on the mound.

It’s fitting that Mortensen is still collecting championships. After retiring in 2018, Mortensen was hired to become the pitching coach for the Idaho Falls Chukars, the Kansas City Royals’ short-season team in the Pioneer League at the Rookie Advanced level. The Chukars captured their eighth Pioneer League Championship.

Now, Mortensen looks to carry that success with him to another team. Last week, he accepted a job as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs Low-A) pitching coach for the 2021 season.

Mortensen has succeeded no matter where he has gone and across different jobs. His time in Wenatchee was brief, but he credits then-head coach Ed Knaggs for teaching him an important lesson.

“He kind of got on me at one point to tell me to figure it out,” Mortensen said. “I was kind of just going through the motions in the summertime. Getting called out was kind of what I needed to get my butt going.”

Every player looks at summer ball differently. Mortensen admitted that he hadn’t taken it seriously and Knaggs let Mortensen know that he had the potential to be something special if he made the most of his time with the AppleSox.

“The summer season doesn’t have a whole lot of responsibility besides just playing baseball,” Mortensen said. “So, we were having fun and we were kind of dinking around. He kind of called us out on it and was just like, "Hey, if you expect to go anywhere in this game, you need to start figuring it out. Just demand more of yourselves.’"

In 2005, Mortensen went 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA and struck out a team-high 47 batters to earn a spot on the all-WCL first team. He saved his best for last, tossing a complete game on the road in Game 1 of the Championship Series and the Sox went on to sweep Bend.

Mortensen was even better the next season. He finished 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA and appeared on the All-WCL second team. The righty also tossed another impressive complete game (his second of the season) late in the summer, this time in Game 2 of a season-ending doubleheader against the Aloha Knights. Needing a win to send the Sox to the Championship Series against the Spokane RiverHawks, Mortensen didn’t allow a run over the final eight innings and the AppleSox won, 2-1.

Despite all of that, Mortensen almost didn’t become a member of the AppleSox. In June 2005, he was drafted by the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 25th round following his sophomore year at Treasure Valley Community College in Oregon.

To many, getting drafted is a dream come true. This was the case for Mortensen, but he felt he still had more work to do. 

“I just didn't feel like I was ready to go,” Mortensen said. “So I just thought, ‘You know what? I'm gonna go play for the AppleSox.’ Then, when I showed up and saw the team, I was like, ‘Sweet. This is awesome.’ It ended up being a good decision on my part.”

Thanks in part to his success with the AppleSox, Mortensen was able to transfer from Treasure Valley to Gonzaga. 

He would again get drafted, this time following his senior year by the St. Louis Cardinals 36th overall in the compensation round following the first round. Mortensen made his debut in 2009 and would toe the rubber 73 more times across five seasons.

Mortensen enjoyed his time in Wenatchee not just because of Knaggs, but also because of the people he spent time with here. He recalled seeing former teammate Travis Vetters a few years ago in Spring Training. The two picked up where they left off in 2005 and Vetters, a Nike rep, even hooked Mortensen up with a couple of gloves.

It was about more than just baseball for Mortensen. He also really enjoyed the time spent with his host parents, Robin and Tracey Thompson, and the bond formed between them. 

“I still keep in touch with my host family,” Mortensen said. “We hit it right off the bat when I first came in. They brought me in and got me anything I ever needed while I was there.” 

AppleSox alums have gone on to various different careers since leaving Wenatchee. Mortensen just hasn’t stopped winning regardless of his employer.