AppleSox Bust Out Offensively to Beat Bells

The Wenatchee AppleSox matched their previous season-high for runs scored in the first inning en route to a season-best 13 runs scored in a 13-8 win over the Bellingham Bells on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Every AppleSox hitter reached base at least once and they scored five runs in the first and then five more in the eighth in a game that they never trailed.

Adam Grob went 4-for-5 with four singles and 3 RBI, Luc Stuka also drove in three runs and Enzo Apodaca collected two hits and made an impressive catch in center field in the eighth.

Martin Haswell (1-0) earned the win after only allowing one run and striking out five in three innings of relief.

The AppleSox’ five-run top of the first began with each of their first six hitters reaching base and knocking out Bellingham starter Oliver Laufman. Grob drove in his first run of the night, Marc Steward drew a bases-loaded walk and Stuka hit a two-run single before Steward scored the final run due to an error.

Though the Bells never led Wenatchee, they made the game interesting throughout. They scored three runs in the top of the second to only trail by two and then added two more in the sixth to make it a one-run game after the AppleSox scratched a run across in the fourth on the second RBI single of the night for Grob.

The sixth inning until the end was back-and-forth and hectic. The AppleSox scored two in the bottom of the sixth when Garrett Cutting led off with a single and scored three batters later on an error and then Apodaca, who followed up Cutting with a walk, came home on a double-steal to make it 8-5.

The play of the game belonged to Apodaca for the second out of the top of the eighth. With one out and no one on, Rance Pittman gave up a long fly ball into the left-center field gap that seemed destined for extra-bases until Apodaca leapt out and grabbed the ball.

The AppleSox ran with that momentum by plating five more runs in the eighth. Grob hit a two-RBI single and then Tino Bethancourt followed up by driving in a pair of his own with a single. Stuka capped the scoring with an RBI single of his own.

The AppleSox go for the series win on Saturday night as they face the Bells at 6:35 p.m.

Listen to postgame interviews with Apodaca and Stuka below.

AppleSox Welcome Bells to Wenatchee for Weekend Series

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox, fresh off taking two-of-three games in a home series against the Walla Walla Sweets, host the Bellingham Bells for three games this weekend at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox defeated Walla Walla 5-0 on Tuesday and 3-1 last night to take their first West Coast League series of the season. In all three of their wins this summer the AppleSox have held their opponent to two or fewer runs and their WCL foes have combined to score three runs in those games. However, the AppleSox are seventh out of the 10 teams in the WCL in ERA (3.64) because they have allowed a combined 26 runs to score in games that they have lost.

While pitching has been hot and cold for the AppleSox, their bats have primarily been cold through six games. They have yet to score more than five runs in any of their first six games and hold a league-worst .159 batting average, which is 19 points below the next-closest team, Cowlitz. The saving grace for the offense is that the AppleSox have now homered in four consecutive games, with Adam Grob hitting two of those bombs.

Wenatchee (3-3) takes on a Bellingham (2-4) squad that plays on the road for the first time this season. The Bells lost two of three in their season-opening series against the Port Angeles Lefties before losing the final two games of their home set against the Yakima Valley Pippins. Josh Trujillo and Yugo Hamakawa have paced the Bells offensively. Trujillo is on a five-game hitting streak and has a .350 batting average overall. Hamakawa has hits in three straight games, including a three-hit night on Wednesday and on June 4, while batting .348 overall.

The AppleSox are 66-48 all-time against the Bells, including 50-37 in West Coast League play. The AppleSox swept the Bells in Wenatchee in 2019 and have won four-of-their-last-six games at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium against Bellingham. The Bells went 25-27 in 2019 including 9-16 in the second half of the season after finishing two games back of winning the first half North Division playoff berth.

Tonight’s starting pitcher for the AppleSox is Cole Hatton, an incoming sophomore at Saint Martin’s University. He has pitched in one game this season and it came last Saturday against Portland. He fired the final five innings in relief and earned the save by striking out four and shutting out the Pickles to seal up a 4-2 win.

Hatton posted a 7.31 ERA at Saint Martin’s as a freshman this past spring. He struck out 26, walked 22 and allowed 59 hits in 44.1 innings over 11 games. He was Pacific League MVP in his sophomore and junior years of high school at Ocosta High School in Washington.

Bellingham will counter with Oliver Laufman, who is 0-1 with a 3.37 ERA in one appearance this summer on June 6 against Portland. He allowed five runs in it, including a grand slam in the first inning, but only one run was earned. He is an incoming sophomore at Central Arkansas this fall. Laufman recorded a 3.16 ERA and struck out 39 K in 51.1 innings over eight games (all starts) this past spring at Edmonds CC. In 2020 he had a 2.29 ERA and struck out 18 in 19.2 innings over three games (two starts).

Fans can purchase tickets for tonight’s game and any other June AppleSox home game by visiting 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

AppleSox Pitchers Lead Way In Series Win VS Sweets

The Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Walla Wall Sweets 3-1 on Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium to win their first series of the 2021 season. 

The AppleSox dominated on the mound and Tino Bethancourt hit a solo shot in the eighth to give the AppleSox their third win of the season. 

Wenatchee’s pitching was the difference-maker in both of their series wins and on Thursday, three pitchers combined to only allow one run on five hits. Jacob Hughes started and struck out six over five innings. He gave way to Jared Engman (1-0), who followed up by only allowing one hit and a walk in two innings. Cam Liss only allowed one walk in two scoreless innings to pick up the save in his AppleSox debut. 

Walla Walla struck first with a triple followed by an RBI single in the fourth, but the AppleSox tied it in the fifth when Aidan Selfridge led off with a walk and came around to score four batters later when Dakota Duffalo drove him in with a single. 

An inning later, Luc Stuka walked with one out and scored from third on a passed ball to give the AppleSox the lead for good. 

The AppleSox open up a three-game series against the Bellingham Bells starting at 6:35 on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. 

Listen to postgame interview with Ian Sanderson and Tino Bethancourt below.

AppleSox Face Sweets in Rubber Match Tonight

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox battle the Walla Walla Sweets in the rubber match of their three-game series at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The Sweets defeated the AppleSox 9-2 last night.

Adam Grob hit a two-run homer in the first inning for his second home run in as many at-bats dating back to Tuesday night when he also launched a two-run homer in the seventh inning in his final at-bat of the evening. Grob also hit a double in the eighth inning for his second extra-base hit of the evening and the first two-extra-base-hit game by an AppleSox hitter in 2021.

Walla Walla busted out offensively after being shut out the night before. They scored three runs in the fourth inning, four in the fifth inning and then added two more in the eighth inning on a two-run homer by Seth Ryberg, who drove in three runs last night. Colin Wetereau reached based four times, three times via singles.

The AppleSox have struggled offensively early this season, failing to score more than five runs in a West Coast League game and have to collect double-digit hits in a game. Their pitching staff surrendered nine-or-more runs last night for the second time in the last three games after allowed 11 to score on Sunday against the Pickles.

Gauge Lockhart was originally slated to start tonight’s game for the AppleSox but has been scratched due to his injury. His timeline for a return is to be determined. Head Coach Ian Sanderson’s starter this evening is also to be determined.

Jake Dahle, brother of Tuesday’s starter Nate Dahle, will start for the Sweets tonight. The incoming junior at the College of Southern Idaho recorded a 3.06 ERA in 14 appearances, all starts, and struck out 50 batters over 53 innings.

Grob Homers Again But Sox Fall to Sweets

Adam Grob homered for the second straight night but the Wenatchee AppleSox fell to the Walla Walla Sweets, 9-2, on Wednesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. 

Grob homered in the first inning Wednesday after homering in the seventh inning the night before to go deep in back-to-back at-bats. 

Gavin Gorrell (0-2) started strong, retiring nine of the first 10 hitters, but ran into trouble in the fourth. Three runs came across that inning before four more scored in the fifth. He gave up seven runs on the evening with three of them earned. 

After giving up the lead and trailing 3-2 going to the bottom of the fourth, the AppleSox loaded up the bases with two outs but stranded the bases loaded. 

The AppleSox and Sweets will battle in the rubber match on Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium with first pitch at 6:35. 

FULL BOXSCORE

Sox Look to Take Series Against Sweets Tonight

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox look to take the series against the Walla Walla Sweets tonight at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The Sox are fresh off shutting out Walla Walla, 5-0, last night.

Hunter Salinas struck out five over five scoreless innings before Tyler Chipman fired three innings of zeroes and then Chase Grillo retired the side in the ninth. Adam Grob hit a two-run homer in the seventh while Mark Steward (2B), Aidan Selfridge (2B) and Tino Bethancourt (1B) all collected RBI base-hits.

Walla Walla was shut out for the first time this season last night and it also marked the first time that they did not win or lose a game by one run. The Sweets did out-hit the AppleSox 7-6 and struck out a season-best 16 batters, which also marked a season-worst for AppleSox hitters. Starter Nathan Dahle punched out nine hitters in four innings but picked up the tough-luck loss after giving up two runs in the third on three hits.

AppleSox hitters did endure a dire stretch from the third inning until the sixth inning. Eleven consecutive Sox hitters were retired in order, including eight via strikeouts. However, the slump ended with a leadoff walk by Payton Flynn, who would come around to score on Grob's home run.

Tonight’s starter for the AppleSox is Gavin Gorrell. The incoming redshirt junior at Utah started the first game of the AppleSox’ West Coast League season on Friday against Portland. He allowed six runs (four earned) against the Pickles, although the AppleSox defense committed three errors in a four-run Portland fourth inning.

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.

Mason Kokodynski, an incoming sophomore at Loyola Marymount, will toe the rubber for the Sweets. He has pitched in two games in relief this season and has not allowed a run. His most recent appearance was on Sunday against the Cowlitz Black Bears and Kokodynski retired the side in order.

This past spring at Loyola Marymount he recorded a 5.11 ERA and struck out 11 in 12.1 innings over 10 games. In the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, he recorded a 6.48 ERA and struck out five in 8,1 innings over six games.

Kokodynski pitched for the Sweets two summers ago and faced the AppleSox on two occasions in 2019. On June 15, he struck out four and tossed two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in a 7-6 win on June 16 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. He faced Wenatchee again on July 26 at Borleske Stadium and gave up three runs (one earned) in 1.2 innings in a 5-3 AppleSox win.

Fans can purchase tickets for AppleSox Lunch Box Giveaway Night online. To purchase tickets to tonight’s game and any other June AppleSox home 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

AppleSox Shut Out Sweets For Series-Opening Win

The Wenatchee AppleSox blanked the Walla Walla Sweets, 5-0, behind five shutout innings from Hunter Salinas and a two-run homer from Adam Grob on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Salinas dominated on the mound, striking out five and only allowing four baserunners. He left the game with a 2-0 lead but the AppleSox added three more insurance runs. 2018 Cashmere High School graduate Tyler Chipman followed him up by tossing three scoreless innings before Chase Grillo fired a scoreless ninth for the team’s first shutout of the season.

The AppleSox scored first for the first time this season when Grob led off the third with a single and then immediately scored on Mark Steward’s RBI double to left field. Aidan Selfridge, who joined the team on Monday and made his season-debut on Tuesday night, followed up two batters later with a double to left of his own to score Steward.

After the double by Selfridge, the next 11 AppleSox hitters were retired in order, but once they did get a base-runner they wouldn’t waste the opportunity. Payton Flynn drew a leadoff walk to begin the seventh and would score when Grob crushed a 358-foot home run over the left field fence with two outs. Tino Bethancourt added an RBI single in the eighth inning with two outs.

The AppleSox will go for the series win against the Sweets on Wednesday night when Gavin Gorrell gets the ball for the 6:35 p.m. first pitch.

---

Listen to postgame interviews with Head Coach Ian Sanderson as well as Salinas and Grob below.

AppleSox Begin Long Homestand Against Sweets

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox open a lengthy homestand with a 6:35 p.m. game against the Walla Walla Sweets tonight.

This evening marks the first of nine straight home games that the AppleSox will play. The first six come in the next six days before the team is off June 14-17. The AppleSox played two non-league games against the Northwest Star Academy last week and dropped both games.

Wenatchee spent the past weekend on the road and took one-of-three games against the Portland Pickles. The AppleSox bounced back from being one-hit on Friday and won Saturday thanks to five shutout innings of relief from Cole Hatton and six stolen bases, including two steals of home. Ben Leid homered on Sunday but Portland struck early and often to win 11-1.

Walla Walla is coming off taking two-of-three in their season-opening series against the Cowlitz Black Bears. All three games were decided by one run at David Story Field.

The most impressive game was Saturday when the Sweets, trailing by one run after giving up a run in the bottom of the seventh, rallied to score four runs in the top of the eighth. They would give up one run each of the final two innings but held on for the series-clinching win.

Justin Folz led the way for the Sweets at the plate by going 5-for-11 and driving in three runs. He was the catalyst for Walla Walla offensively on Saturday, hitting four-for-five with a solo home run and a double to go along with two runs scored.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is Hunter Salinas, an incoming sophomore at Colorado State Pueblo. He tossed two scoreless innings of relief against the Portland Pickles on Friday night in his first appearance this season. He did appear in a non-league game against the Northwest Star Academy on June 3 in his first appearance in an AppleSox uniform. Salinas tossed two scoreless frames, including working out of a one-out bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning.

Walla Walla will toss Nate Dahle, who is in his second season with the Sweets and is an incoming junior at Southern Idaho. He tossed a scoreless inning of relief against Cowlitz this past Saturday. Dahle recorded a 3.12 ERA in 10 games this spring at school and had a 2.87 ERA in 14 games for Walla Walla in 2019.

Gavin Gorrell and Gauge Lockhart are Head Coach Ian Sanderson’s probables for the final two games of this series with the Sweets.

Tonight's game is a $2 Off Tuesday. Fans can purchase tickets and select concession items for $2 off their regular price. Tomorrow night is AppleSox Lunch Box Giveaway Night. To purchase tickets to tonight’s game and any other June AppleSox home 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

Pickles Strike Heavy Early, Beat AppleSox.

The Portland Pickles (2-1) overwhelmed the Wenatchee AppleSox (1-2) with crooked innings from the second through fifth to take the rubber match of the weekend series, 11-1, on Sunday.

The PIckles scored four times in the second, twice in the third , twice more in the fourth and three times in the fifth to wrap up the series with a win. Leftfielder Ryan Guardino led the way with three doubles and 3 RBI.

The AppleSox’ only run came in the top of the third when Wenatchee Valley College catcher Ben Leid led off with a home run over the short fence in right field. Adam Grob doubled with one out and Luc Stuka hit a bloop double to left to put runners at second and third, but the Sox failed to drive either in and the deficit only grew from there.

AppleSox starter Reid Rasmussen (0-1) tossed a scoreless first but ran into trouble in the second when he faced eight men and allowed a pair of extra base hits, two walks and balked in a run. Jasper Nelson tossed two scoreless innings and Martin Hawell stuck out the side while not allowing any runs in the ninth.

The AppleSox are off on Monday before playing six games in as many days as home. It all starts on Tuesday with three games against the Walla Walla Sweets, who took two of three games this weekend against the Cowlitz Black Bears. Tuesday’s game is a $2 Off Tuesday with tickets and select concession items $2 off. Wednesday’s game is an AppleSox Lunch Box Giveaway Night. With Apple Blossom Festival and the AppleSox both in town this week, it’s a great time to be in Wenatchee. Tickets to all AppleSox home games can be purchased at AppleSox.com/tickets.

FULL BOXSCORE

AppleSox Go For Series Win vs Pickles

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox look to take their first West Coast League series of the season when they face the Portland Pickles at 5:05 tonight at Walker Stadium. The AppleSox won, 4-2, last night thanks to a three-run fourth inning and five shutout innings of relief from Cole Hatton.

The Pickles struck first with a two-run homer in the first inning by Jacob Jablonski but the Sox got one back in third when Luc Stuka doubled and eventually stole home on a pickoff to first. The AppleSox scored three in the fourth thanks to four stolen bases in the inning and RBI singles by Tino Bethancourt and Garrett Cutting.

Hatton carried Wenatchee the rest of the way, only allowing three walks and one base hit the rest of the way. Cutting helped him out defensively with a diving play up the middle on a sharply-hit ball.

Tonight, Reid Rasmussen toes the rubber for the AppleSox as they go for back-to-back wins to close out the series. Rasmussen tossed two innings in a non-league game against the NW Star academy on Wednesday. After tossing a scoreless third inning partly thanks to picking off a runner, he allowed three runs on two hits in the fourth in an eventual 7-6 loss. Rasmussen struck out one, walked one and allowed three hits.

Rasmussen had great first season at Central Washington as he earned First Team All-GNAC honors this Spring. He recorded a 4.47 ERA and struck out 25 in 32.2 innings across eight games (all starts) as a COVID freshman. He appeared in three games for Yakima Valley College for the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, recording a 7.50 ERA and striking out three over six innings across three games.

In between his first two years of college Rasmussen tossed a seven-inning no hitter while pitching for the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak American Legion Senior Baseball team. He committed to Central Washington five days later.

Rasmussen led Selah High School to a district championship in 2018 but missed his senior season due to Tommy John Surgery.

---

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 and tonight’s game can be watched on the Portland Pickles Facebook page.

Hatton Tosses Five Shutout Innings, Sox Top Pickles

Cole Hatton tossed the final five innings of Saturday night’s game without allowing a run and the Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Portland Pickles, 4-2, on Saturday night at Walker Stadium.

Hatton wasn’t the only star for the AppleSox. Garrett Cutting drove in a run and made a stellar defensive play to save a run in his AppleSox debut. Tino Bethancourt went 2-for-3 with an RBI, Luc Stuka doubled and scored twice and Dakota Duffalo went 3-for-4. The AppleSox stole six bases, including two steals of home. Four of those steals came in the fourth inning.

The AppleSox scored once in the second three times in the fourth inning as their offense recovered after being one-hit the night before. In a thrilling game with teams stranding scoring chances nearly every inning, it was the AppleSox who triumphed to open up the weekend series.

The excitement began in the bottom of the first when Pickles shortstop Jacob Jablonski launched a two-run homer into the AppleSox bullpen.The AppleSox responded in the top of the second when Stuka led of with a double and Duffalo singled to put runners at first and third. Pickles starter Trace Hokkanen tossed a pickoff throw to first and a diving Duffalo got tangled up with first basemen Tanner Haney. Stuka took off from third as the ball popped free and was credited with a steal of home to cut the deficit in half.

Both teams went down quietly in the third but the AppleSox went to work with one out in the fourth. Cutting drove in the first run of the inning after Stuka was hit by a pitch and Duffalo singled. Bethancourt followed with his second hit of the game and then he and Cutting each moved up 90 feet apiece on a double steal. It wouldn’t be the last double steal of the inning. Payton Flynn reached on a fielder’s choice, then took off for second base and, once a throw was drawn, Tino Bethancourt took off from second base and scored the third run of the inning.

Because of Hatton’s strong relief effort, the AppleSox didn’t need anymore runs. He entered in the fifth inning and would only allow two hits for the rest of the game while striking out four. He earned the save for his herculean effort out of the bullpen.

He pitched in and out of a jam in the seventh. With one out, Hatton struck out Evan Leibl, but a passed ball and a throwing error allowed him to reach first. Two more Pickles reached on an infield single and a walk to load up the bases with two outs. Sam Haney hit a sharp ball up the middle just to the right of second base but Cutting slid with one knee and gloved the ball with his extended left hand then flipped to get the force out at second base.

The win marked the first for Ian Sanderson as AppleSox head coach and his first as a head coach at the collegiate level.

The AppleSox will go for the series win on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. as Reid Rasmussen toes the rubber.

FULL BOXSCORE

AppleSox Look to Wake Up Bats Against Portland

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox are looking to bounce back from last night's 6-0 loss to Portland. The Pickles scored two runs in the first inning after a bases-loaded single, then broke the game with four more runs in the fourth thanks to three AppleSox errors.

The Pickles struck out 12 Sox hitters and walked just two. Mark Steward got the AppleSox lone hit with one out and one on in the first inning. If the AppleSox score tonight, it will be the first run that they have scored at Walker Stadium after three games being shut out by the Pickles.

The loss to Portland was the Sox first WCL opening shutout loss since Jun 2, 2017 @ Walla Walla (4-0). The AppleSox have now lost their first WCL road game in seven of the last eight seasons. Their only win in their first road game of the season came on June 1, 2018, at the Victora HarbourCats, snapping a five-year winless streak.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is Gauge Lockhart, an incoming sophomore at Brown University. He is looking to build off a stellar Wednesday night against the Northwest Star Academy. He faced six hitters and retired them all including four via strikeouts in two innings on just 20 pitches.

Lockhart did not pitch this past spring because the 2021 Ivy League athletic season was canceled. He also did not get the opportunity to pitch as a senior for Delta High School in Colorado because the entire season was also canceled. The last time Lockhart played a season, he thrived. He recorded a 3.40 ERA and struck out 47 in 22.2 innings over 15 games as a junior. He was an All-State selection and also was awarded Western Slope Player of the Year.

---

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 and tonight’s game can be watched on the Portland Pickles Facebook page.

AppleSox Bats Stymied By Pickles

The Wenatchee AppleSox were held to one hit and fell to the Portland Pickles, 6-0, on Friday night at Walker Stadium.

The Pickles struck with two runs in the first inning on a bases-loaded single to take a 2-0 lead and then add four more runs in the fourth inning to put the game away. Three of the AppleSox’ four errors came in the fourth inning as each of the first five batters reached base in the inning and eight Pickles hit in the inning.

Gavin Gorrell (0-1) allowed six runs, four earned, in four innings and committed a couple of errors. Hunter Salinas and Jacob Hughes each tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out three batters apiece.

The AppleSox threatened in the first inning and appeared poised to make some early noise. Jackson Van De Brake was hit by the first pitch he saw with one out and then Mark Steward singled. However, both runners would be stranded and it would not only be the AppleSox’ final hit of the game, it would be the final time that they got a runner into scoring position.

The AppleSox look to bounce back by winning the second games of the series on at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday at Walker Stadium. Gauge Lockhart toes the rubber for Wenatchee and looks to build off his impressive start on Wednesday, when he struck out four of the six Northwest Star Academy hitters that he faced in two innings.

FULL BOXSCORE

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.

---

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.

---

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)