AppleSox Send Hughes To Face Corvallis Tonight

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox look to even up their weekend series tonight against the Corvallis Knights at 6:35 p.m. at Goss Stadium. The AppleSox fell in a series-opener last night for just the second time after winning each of the last four games they played to open up a series against a new West Coast League opponent.

The loss continued a middling stretch for the AppleSox. They've alternated wins and losses in each of their last five games and are now 2-4 in their last six games. The AppleSox have not lost more than two games in a row nor won more than three consecutive this summer. They dropped the first game of a three-game series last night for just the second time in six attempts.

Michael O'Hara recorded his third multi-hit game in just six starts for Wenatchee last night but the offense stalled with the regular No. 3 and 4 hitters (Adam Grob and Tino Bethancourt) given rare nights off. The fourth inning continues to be the AppleSox most productive inning after plating three in it last night. They have now scored 16 runs in the fourth inning through their first 16 games.

The Knights were buoyed by a six-run second inning to pick up their fifth consecutive victory. Their nine runs scored tied for their third-most this summer and was only four off their season-high set on June 7 in a 13-10 win over Port Angeles. The Knights' 99 runs scored are second-most in the WCL, but their .255 team batting average is fourth. Their 4.77 ERA is down the 2.93 ERA that led the WCL in 2019.

Three different Knights recorded multi-hit efforts in the victory last night. Nate Nankil went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and two runs and Spencer Scott went 2-for-5 with a bases-clearing 3-RBI double in the second inning. Jackson Arnsdorf tossed 3.2 scoreless innings of relief and struck out three to earn the win.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is Jacob Hughes. He’s making his third start of the summer and is an incoming freshman at Oregon. He is second on the AppleSox with 12 strikeouts and tossed one of the four games this summer (June 10) in which an AppleSox starter tossed at least five innings. He struck out six Walla Walla Sweets that night but earned a no-decision in a 3-1 win.

The last time Hughes pitched he got off to a rough start, allowing three runs on six hits in the first two innings. Hughes buckled down to retire seven of the final eight hitters that he faced before exiting after the fourth inning against the Bend Elks.

Corvallis counters with Ben Kibbe. The incoming sophomore at Utah is 0-1 with a 15.63 ERA in two games, both starts. He has allowed at least six runs in both outings, including surrendering seven runs in 3.1 innings in a 10-1 loss to Cowlitz on June 19. He has struck out five, walked three and allowed 13 hits in 6.1 innings.

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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 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show.

Live stats can be found on Pointstreak.

Big Second Inning Leads Knights Past AppleSox

The Corvallis Knights scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning en route to a 9-4 win over the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday night at Goss Stadium.

Michael O’Hara led the AppleSox by going 2-for-5 to record his third multi-hit game in just six games played for the AppleSox.

The AppleSox (8-8) struck first with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning by Luc Stuka, but it would be their only lead of the game. Stuka led off the fourth inning with a double to extend his season-best hitting streak to four games. Stuka is hitting .500 (6-for-12) over the last three games with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI.

The AppleSox plated four runs in the fourth inning two innings after the Knights erupted. Wenatchee stranded two runs on the basepaths with two outs and the stranded two more in scoring position with one out in the fifth. The AppleSox’ 11 men left on base marked the second-highest total this summer, two off the team-high set one Thursday.

Jacob Hughes toes the rubber on Saturday night at 6:35 looking to turn the series around. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

FULL BOXSCORE

Sox Return to Goss Stadium Looking to Jump on Corvallis

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox are back at Goss Stadium to face the four-time reigning WCL champion Corvallis Knights at 6:35 tonight. Wenatchee is looking to beat Corvallis in a three-game series for the first time since June of 2016. Since their last series victory over the Knights, Corvallis is 10-2 against the Sox.

The AppleSox took their third rubber match, 4-3, last night to take two-of-three from Cowlitz. Designated hitter Zach Toglia contributed 2 RBI when he hit a chopper up the middle in the eighth. Meanwhile, first baseman Luc Stuka collected multiple hits for the second straight game, score a run and recorded an RBI. Wenatchee capped their three-run eighth after Adam Grob drove in a two-out run off an infield hit.

Cowlitz answered in the last frame by scoring three runs off Tyler Chipman before Chase Grillo took over and got the game-ending strikeout. Grillo is now tied for second with three saves in the WCL. Hunter Salinas took home the win after going a sox-best 6 inn, allowing only one hit with four strikeouts and one walk. Salinas' performance gave him the league's lowest ERA (0.59).

A win tonight could move the Sox half a game back if they win and Yakima Valley loses to Walla Walla. The AppleSox currently sit second in the West Coast League’s North Division. Last night’s win for Wenatchee was the sixth time that the Sox won by three-runs-or-less.

The last time Wenatchee faced Corvallis at the end of the 2019 regular season. The Sox lost all 3 road games by a combined 20-3 margin. However, the Sox that played that series were made up of tons of newcomers and late additions. Heading into tonight, Corvallis biggest threat is INF Travis Bazzana. Bazzana won the 1st WCL player of the week award and is currently hitting .365 (fifth in WCL). On the other side, tonight's starter Ty Uber is fifth among league arms with a 1.46 ERA and his 16 strikeouts have him in the top 10 as well. Sox slugger Adam Grob is seventh in RBI (13) while Tino Bethancourt is the only WCL player with at least three home runs, 9 RBI and eight stolen bases.

Returning for his fourth start tonight is Sox southpaw Gavin Gorrell (0-2, 7.30 ERA). Facing him and the AppleSox is future Stanford Cardinal Ty Uber (1-0, 1.45 ERA).

Gorrell is coming off his best outing of the summer last Friday vs Bend. Though he didn’t get the win and pitched only 4 innings, Gorrell matched his season-high 5 strikeouts, walked just one Elk and preserved Wenatchee’s 4-3 lead by striking out Julian Kodama to leave the base paths jammed.

Uber’s last outing was June 18th against Cowlitz. In the Knights’ home opening 5-3 win, Uber pitched five innings, gave up two hits, one earned run, two walks and struck out five without earning a decision. Uber stranded four runners through his first three frames before he sat down six of his final seven batters.

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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 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show.

Live stats can be found on Pointstreak.

Sensational Salinas Deliver Sox Series Win

Hunter Salinas tossed six shutout innings to give the Wenatchee AppleSox a 4-3 win over the Cowlitz Black Bears on Thursday night at David Story Field.

Salinas struck out out four and only allowed three base-runners en route to becoming the first Sox starter to toss six innings in a game. He improved his lights-out ERA to 0.59 through four games this summer.

Luc Stuka drove in the game’s first run with an infield RBI single. The Sox led 1-0 until the eighth, when Zach Toglia singled in a pair and then Adam Grob added an infield single of his own to add to the lead.

The Black Bears (5-7) made things interesting in the ninth by scoring three runs, two of them while down to their final out, by Chase Grillo came in and recorded the final out with a strikeout to pick up his third save of the summer.

The AppleSox (8-7) took two-of-three games to secure their third series victory of the summer in five attempts. They travel to Corvallis on Friday to face the Knights in a three-game set starting with a 6:35 p.m. game.

FULL BOXSCORE

Another Rubber Match Tonight For AppleSox

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox will play their fourth rubber match of the WCL season tonight as they take on the Cowlitz Black Bears at 6:35 p.m. at David Story Field.

The AppleSox fell last night 7-5 as Cowlitz evened the series following Friday's 8-5 AppleSox victory. Black Bears third baseman Brock Bozett led Cowlitz with two hits and three runs scored. The Sox saw leadoff hitter Dakota Duffalo bounce back to wrack up 2 hits including a double, 1 RBI, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Jacob Wyeth drove in two off a double in the eighth inning. Wenatchee scored a combined three runs in the eighth and ninth innings before falling to Cowlitz. Trey Miller took the loss in his 1st start as an AppleSox after giving up three runs in three innings with a walk and a strikeout.

A win tonight would give the AppleSox their third series victory in their last four played. The AppleSox currently sit second in the West Coast League’s North Division, two-and-a-half games back of the Yakima Valley Pippins. Last night’s loss for Wenatchee was the second time in the last three games that the Sox lost by three-runs-or-less. The other happened on Sunday when they fell to Bend, 11-8 in 10 innings.

The Black Bears' seven runs scored last night was just the third time that they scored seven-or-more in 11 games this summer. Despite the outburst, Cowlitz is still hitting just .208, 9th in the 10-team WCL. The only AVG below Cowlitz is the Portland Pickles' .190 mark. However, Cowlitz hitters have struck out just 94 times, the lowest in the entire league. Flipping the coin, Black Bear pitching ranks second in the WCL with just 48 walks issued and is tied with Portland for lead with just three home runs allowed this summer.

Hunter Salinas (1-1, 0.96 ERA) gets the ball for the AppleSox in his third start of the summer and fourth appearance overall. Cowlitz will send out Tyson Guerrero (0-0, 3.60 ERA) to face Salinas.

Salinas is making his first appearance on the mound since June 13 against Bellingham. He allowed two runs, one earned, in 2.1 innings but struck out three. His second appearance of the season came on June 8 when he made his first start and tossed five scoreless innings in a 5-0 win over the Walla Walla Sweets. He was the first AppleSox starter to toss five innings in a game and one-of-three this season.

Guerrero is appearing in his second game of the summer tonight. In his first outing, the incoming redshirt-junior at Washington tossed five inning and allowed two runs on four hits against Corvallis last Friday. He earned a no decision in the 5-3 loss.

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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 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show.

Live stats can be found on Pointstreak.

Newcomers Providing Immediate Boost For AppleSox

John Newman Jr. (left) and Michael O’Hara celebrate a run on June 19 against Bend. (Photo by Macy Lowe)

As the first month of the West Coast League season winds down the AppleSox roster is about as full as it will be all summer. As of June 24, 36 players comprise the 2021 squad. Before they hit the road for a season-long six-game road trip, the AppleSox added seven new players to their roster and many have already left their mark on their new team. 

The AppleSox are bolstered at catcher with three more added and four in total on the active roster. John Newman Jr. from UC Santa Barbara, Collin Villegas from Cal Poly and Jacob Wyeth from Louisiana State all joined the Sox for the June 18-20 weekend home set against Bend and for the foreseeable future this summer.

Newman has settled in nicely as a designated hitter, appearing in the first two games against the Cowlitz Black Bears on June 22 and 23 and hitting a combined 3-for-8 at the plate with an RBI, three walks and two runs. He had collected at least one-hit in all three of his starts to that point.

Villegas and Wyeth have started a combined three games behind the dish prior to action on June 24. Villegas did an excellent job at fouling off pitches to extend at-bats on June 20 en route to a 2-for-3 day with two walks. Wyeth, fresh off LSU’s impressive season ending with a loss in the Super Regional against Tennessee on June 13, flew across the country to play for the AppleSox. He collected a hit in each of his first two games, including a 2-RBI double on June 23 against Cowlitz to draw the AppleSox within one run in the eighth inning.

Wyeth wasn’t the only AppleSox newcomer to appear in the NCAA Tournament. Justin Simpson joined the AppleSox after Central Michigan was eliminated by Notre Dame on June 6 and made his AppleSox debut in dramatic fashion on June 18. He entered as a pinch runner in the bottom of the eighth inning with the AppleSox tied with the Bend Elks, 4-4, and the go-ahead run at first base. He promptly stole second and eventually scored the game-winning run when Jackson Van De Brake drew a bases-loaded walk.

That would be the first of many runs for Simpson. Entering play on June 24, Simpson is second on the AppleSox in runs (nine) and is only one back of Tino Bethancourt for the team lead. That despite playing in seven fewer games than Bethancourt. 

In his first start of the season on June 19, Simpson attacked the first pitches he saw in his first two at-bats to collect base-hits and then added his third hit of the night in his third time up to the plate. That aggressive approach paid off for him, but it’s one that he said the next day that he doesn’t usually take at the plate.

Justin Simpson celebrates as he crosses home plate on June 20 against Bend. (Photo by Macy Lowe)

“I’m not one to swing at the first pitch” Simpson said, “but I had a good round of batting practice and I came out here to hit the baseball so I thought ‘if I get a fastball early, let’s try to do something with it.”

Patience paid off for Simpson in the ensuing games on June 20 and June 22. He finished 0-for-6 out of the leadoff spot, but drew three walks both nights and scored a combined five runs. 

Michael O’Hara from Santa Clara is also off to a blazing start at the plate. He reached base safely in each of his first five games with the AppleSox, including recording two multi-hit efforts in his first three games. 

O’Hara put on a show in each of his first three games with the AppleSox and it began with a three-hit night in his debut on June 18. Though he “only” collected one hit the next night, O’Hara swiped three bags that evening and then stole another base on the 20th while also recording his second multi-hit game in three days. He drew a combined three walks in the first two games of the road trip against Cowlitz to reach base safely in each of his first five games with the AppleSox.

The newcomers are still working to get to know their new teammates but many, including Simpson have fit right immediately.

“It’s a little different but I’m pretty good at getting along with others,” Simpson said. “I’m not too shy of a person so it makes that side a little easier. It’s nice to meet new people and hopefully I’ll get to play against some of them in the spring.”

Starting at home and getting used to Wenatchee helped them out, but they especially benefited from the AppleSox long road trip during the penultimate week of June. The time away from the field really helps players get to know each other when they aren’t trying to secure another victory.

“The road trips are where you really bond with guys,” Simpson said. “Being on the bus and in hotels is where you really get to know them and build friendships.” 

Late June to mid-July is the best time for roster depth in the summer baseball season. Most teams are out of college postseason tournaments and not enough players are at the point of usage in the summer that they have to be shut down just yet.

The AppleSox know that their depth extends from beyond just four catchers. The infield is extremely versatile. Bethancourt can play first and third base while middle infielders Garrett Cutting, Adam Grob and Jackson Van De Brake can all play second base, shortstop, and third base. Simpson is comfortable at shortstop and second base. Even Rece Stapp was asked to move from second base to first base on June 22. Luc Stuka (first base) and Zach Toglia (third base) are the only infielders who have played just one position.

The outfield is just as crowded if not more-so. Dakota Duffalo has played at all three positions, O’Hara has appeared in right field and center field and Aidan Selfridge has appeared at both corner positions. Enzo Apodaca is locked in as the regular centerfielder while Payton Flynn has also seen action in left field.  

Head Coach Ian Sanderson has more than enough depth all around. Now, it’s about figuring out who will start at each position and lock in regular playing time for the rest of the summer.

Stuka Collects Three Hits But Sox Fall to Black Bears

First baseman Luc Stuka went 3-for-4 with an RBI but the AppleSox lost Wednesday night to the Cowlitz Black Bears, 7-5.

In a back-and-forth ballgame that Wenatchee never led but came within a run of tying twice the AppleSox couldn’t muster enough hits to get over the hump. They allowed Cowlitz to score in every inning except the fourth and fifth.

Dakota Duffalo also had a strong night at the plate, batting 2-for-4 with a walk. He opened Wenatchee’s scoring in the third with an RBI double and kick-started a rally in the ninth inning.

The AppleSox scored four runs in three-of-the-final-four innings and three of those runs cam across with two outs. However, they threatened in the seventh and ninth for more action with two outs, but could not plate any runs when down to their final out of the inning.

Trey Miller (0-1) allowed one run in each of his three innings on the mound to open the game. He only walked one batter but allowed two-of-the-three runs to score when there were already two outs in the inning.

The AppleSox will play the Black Bears again at 6:35 on Thursday night. It will be their fourth rubber match of the five WCL three-game series that they have played this summer, with the only non-rubber match series finale coming on June 13, when they took the first two games of their series against Bellingham.

AppleSox Continue Road Trip Against Black Bears Tonight

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox look to take the series against the Cowlitz Black Bears with tonight’s 6:35 p.m. game at David Story Field.

The AppleSox took a series-opener last night for the fourth consecutive series and have now done so in four-of-five attempts. The AppleSox collected a team-high 16 walks to finish one short of tying their single-game record, set on July 29, 2014, against the Victoria HarbourCats. Jared Engman fired three scoreless innings of relief to become the first AppleSox hurler to record multiple wins this season. John Newman Jr. collected the AppleSox’ only RBI base-hit with a double in the first inning.

A win tonight would give the AppleSox their third series victory in their last four played and would give them wins in three-of-the-last-five. The AppleSox currently sit second in the West Coast League’s North Division, two-and-a-half games back of the Yakima Valley Pippins, who have won six straight games.

Last night’s loss for Cowlitz marked only the second time this summer that they played a game that was decided by more than two runs. The other came in their most recent win, a 10-1 triumph over the Corvallis Knights on Saturday. The Black Bears have now scored five-runs-or-fewer in eight-of-10 games this summer and are 2-6 in those games.

Despite the loss last night, the Black Bears hit multiple home runs in the same game for the first time this season. Wilson Weber drove in four runs with a double and a homer while batting ninth. Cary Arbolida hit the other long ball with an eighth-inning solo shot. The Black bears are tied for second-to-last in the West Coast League with three home runs hit this summer. Their only other home run in WCL play came on June 18 when Jaden Sheppard hit a solo shot against Corvallis.

Tonight’s starter for the AppleSox is Trey Miller. The right-hander from the University of South Carolina Upstate recorded a 4.33 ERA, struck out 23, allowed 35 hits and walked nine in 35.1 innings over 13 games as a freshman. In high school, he played at two different schools. His 2020 senior year was cancelled but Miller was lights-out in 2019, posting a 1.82 ERA while striking out 84, allowing 46 hits and walking just 13 in 12 games as a junior at Danville High School in Pennsylvania. Six of his of 11 games started were complete games. 2019: 8.40 ERA, 8 K, 11 H, 13 BB in 6 games as a sophomore at Bonney Lake HS (WA)...

Cowlitz has not announced a probable pitcher for tonight.

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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 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show.

Live stats can be found on Pointstreak.

AppleSox Cash In On Walks, Defeat Black Bears 8-6

The Wenatchee AppleSox drew a season-best 16 walks and won , 8-6, over the Cowlitz Black Bears on Tuesday night at David Story Field.

The AppleSox did not drive in any runs with a base-hit, but still topped the Black Bears. John Newman Jr. had the most successful night at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first inning and two walks. Their patience at the plate helped them win the first game in a three-game series for the fourth consecutive time.

Jared Engman (2-0) led the way on the mound by tossing three shutout innings of relief. He retired the final seven hitters that he faced after allowing a two-out single in the fifth. Chase Grillo picked up his second save by striking out the side in the ninth.

The AppleSox scored first for the third consecutive game but won for the first time in that span. Newman doubled in a run but the Black Bears tied it up in the second on a pair of runs. Their lead wouldn’t last long as the AppleSox loaded up the bases in the third and scored two on a double and a sacrifice fly. It was deja vu as an inning later they again scored a run on a bases-loaded sac fly and led 5-4 after four innings.

The game slowed down from there but the Black Bears drew to within one run with a solo homer in the eighth. However, the AppleSox plated two in the ninth thanks to Cowlitz’s third error of the night and the insurance runs were enough for Grillo as he slammed the door on the Black Bears.

The Sox look to take the series on Wednesday night when Trey Miller makes his first start of the summer. Cowlitz has not announced a probable starter for the 6:35 p.m. first pitch.

AppleSox Begin Longest Road Trip of 2021 Tonight

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox (6-6) will play their first road game tonight in over two weeks but will get plenty of road action over the next five days. The Cowlitz Black Bears (4-5) welcome the AppleSox for the first of three games tonight at 6:35 p.m. at David Story Field.

The AppleSox played nine consecutive home games over a 13-day span and went 5-4 during the homestand. They took two-of-three from the Walla Walla Sweets, two-of-three against the Bellingham Bells and added another win against the Bend Elks. The AppleSox opened this past weekend before losing each of the next two games, including in extra innings on Sunday to drop to .500.

AppleSox relievers, who had only allowed 23 runs through 46 innings (4.50 ERA) in the first 10 games of the season, surrendered 21 runs in 10.2 innings (17.72 ERA) in the final two games of the series

Tonight, they face a Black Bears team that also lost its series this past weekend. Cowlitz visited Corvallis and walloped the Knights 10-1 on Sunday, but lost two close games on Friday (5-3) and Sunday (6-4). The win on Saturday marked the first time that the Black Bears played a game that was decided by a margin of more than two runs. That includes each of their first six games being decided by one run.

The AppleSox are 23-16 all time against the Black Bears, including winnings four-of-the-last-five meetings between the two teams. Prior to that, the AppleSox had lost six consecutive games against Cowlitz, with five of those coming in the final meetings of the 2017 season. Wenatchee is 11-10 against the Black Bears at David Story Field, home of Lower Columbia College, where AppleSox Head Coach Ian Sanderson is the associate head coach and pitching coach at.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is Cole Hatton. The right-hander from Saint Martin’s University is making his third appearance on the mound this summer. He made his AppleSox’ debut in dramatic fashion on June 5 by tossing five scoreless innings of relief against the Portland Pickles to earn the save. He made his first start of the summer on June 11 against Bellingham and allowed three runs in three innings on the mound. He has struck out six in two outings, but has also walked six.

Hatton recorded a 7.31 ERA and struck out 26 in 44.1 innings over 11 games as a freshman this past Spring. He attended Ocosta High School in Washington and earned Pacific League First Team honors as a freshman, sophomore, and junior and was Pacific League MVP as a sophomore and junior.

Hatton will be opposed by Carson Angeroth. He making his second start in league play and his third overall. He made his season debut on June 9 by allowing one run over five innings and earning the win in the Black Bears’ 2-1 win over Bend. He also started against the Highline Bears on June 15 and allowed one unearned run in four innings.

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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 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show and the broadcast wraps up each night with the Denny’s Late Night Postgame Show.

Live stats can be found on Pointstreak.

Elks Down AppleSox in Extra Innings

The Wenatchee AppleSox twice rallied back from late deficits but fell to the Bend Elks, 11-8, in 10 innings in their series finale on Sunday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Tino Bethancourt launched his third homer of the season in a three-run seventh inning and the Sox later plated two in the ninth inning without any hits as a part of two late-inning rallies, but it was not enough as they fell in each of the final two games of the series to Bend.

AppleSox starter Cameron Liss allowed two runs in 4.1 innings and struck out a AppleSox’ starter-best seven hitters before being pulled. Sox relievers combined to surrender nine runs over the following 5.2 innings.

The AppleSox took a 2-0 lead into the fifth after plating a pair in the second but the Elks tied it with a two-spot of their own before Wenatchee re-took the lead in the bottom of the inning on a passed ball to plate Justin Simpson after he reached on a two-out walk.

Though he had been 0-for-2 prior to that plate appearance, it would be the start of a great night for Justin Simpson as he would draw two more walks and score all three times that he reached base. All-in-all, he reached base in seven of his 10 plate appearances this past weekend in his first pair of games for the AppleSox.

Though Wenatchee had a 3-2 lead, it would only last until the seventh inning when the Elks took a one-run lead after putting up a two-spot. Before Bethancourt’s two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, Grob hit an two-out RBI single right before him to tie the game before Bethancourt nearly brought the house down with his titanic blast.

Bend refused to let momentum shift away from them as they plated four in the top of the eighth in part thanks to the third of four AppleSox errors on the evening. Wenatchee faced four different pitchers and sent eight men to the plate but scored twice without collecting any hits. appleSox hitters were patient and drew four walks in the inning, but they stranded the bases-loaded and failed to plate the winning run after he reached base without any outs in the inning.

The Elks made the AppleSox pay by scoring three in the 10th and then the AppleSox struck out in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

The AppleSox have Monday off before traveling to face the Cowlitz Black Bears for the first-of-three games on Tuesday night at 6:35.

AppleSox, Elks Tangle in Father's Day Rubber Match

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox will try to close their season-long nine-game homestand by winning their third straight series, facing the Bend Elks at 5:35 tonight at Paul Thomas Sr Stadium. The AppleSox are coming off a 15-7 loss last night, but are 4-0 following a loss this season.

Last night's loss to Bend was a game of streaky offense. The Sox started off by scoring two runs in the first before Bend countered back with a three-run second inning. After Sox starter Jacob Hughes buckled down and struck out in the two ensuing innings, Wenatchee woke up again and tied their season-high with five runs in the fourth. Up 7-3 entering the fifth, Bend opened the floodgates by scoring 11 runs off nine hits. The Elks sent 10 men up to the plate before the first out was recorded.

The Elks' big fifth inning was the most runs that they had scored in an inning against the AppleSox since scoring seven in the bottom of the sixth inning bak on July 28, 2018. The AppleSox would go on to win that game, 11-8.

Justin Simpson was the 2nd debuting Sox in this series to collect three hits. Simpson also stole two bases, scored twice and drove in one. Simpson's three-hit game was the first time the Sox had two straight games where a batter smacked three hits. Meanwhile, Adam Grob smashed a double for the second straight game to extend his hitting streak to five in a row and give him four games with multiple RBI. Grob has only been hitless once since the opening road trip to Portland ended. New Sox catcher Jacob Wyeth worked through some in-game pain to finish the night 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Bend's explosion helped them finish 19-for-46 (.413) at the plate last night. Gavin Rork set the tone as the leadoff man with four hits, 2 RBI and one run. He was one-of-six Elks' starters to collect two or more hits.

Cam Liss toes the rubber in his first start of the summer for the AppleSox. He’s appeared in one game, which was on June 10. He earned the save after two scoreless innings of relief against the Walla Walla Sweets. He walked one, did not allow any hits and struck out one of the seven hitters that he faced.

Liss is an incoming junior at Washington State this fall. He spent the first two years of his college career at Spokane Falls. This Spring, Liss recorded a 4.28 ERA and struck out 78 hitters in 48.1 innings over nine games (all starts). He also pitched in two games for the Yakima Valley Pippins in the 2019 WCL season.

The Elks will start an Oregon State Beaver for the second straight game. David Case makes his WCL and Bend debut tonight in his first game against college competition. The incoming freshman wrapped his high school career at Loyola in Los Angeles this spring. A back fracture prevented him from playing his freshman year but he bounced back to play each of the next three years.

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Fans can purchase tickets for tonight’s game and any other June AppleSox home game by visiting applesox.com/tickets. Ticket information on July home games will be released in the following week.

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 5:10 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 with the radio feed. It can be seen on playsight.com

Big Inning Propels Elks Past AppleSox

The Bend Elks scored 11 runs in the top of the fifth inning to defeat the Wenatchee AppleSox, 15-7, on Saturday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox plated five in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead, but the Elks sent 15 men to the plate in an inning where each of the first 10 hitters reached before an out was recorded. Sam Linscott delivered the big blow with a three-run homer as the ninth hitter of the inning.

Wenatchee scored first with two in the bottom of the first before the Elks countered with a three-run second inning. Neither team scored again until the AppleSox’ five-run outburst in the fourth.

Justin Simpson shined for the AppleSox in his first start of the summer as he went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Adam Grob drove in two, Tino Bethancourt reached base four times and Michael O’Hara stole three bases.

Jacob Hughes started and gave up three runs in the second inning after an up-and-down first but recovered to toss two subsequent scoreless innings, retiring seven of the final eight hitters that he faced. He exited after four and the bullpen was on the hook for Bend’s big inning.

The Elks picked up their first victory since June 10 to snap a five-game losing streak. They’ll face the AppleSox on Sunday at 5:35 for a rubber match on Father’s Day. Tickets can be purchased at applesox.com/tickets.

BOX SCORE

AppleSox Go For Back-To-Back Wins Over Elks

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox, winners of five-of-their-last-seven, all home games, go for their third-straight series win against the Bend Elks at 6:35 PM. Wenatchee is 3-1 in WCL series openers after rallying to beat Bend, 5-4, last night for their closest win in 2021. The Sox got four runs off five hits in the first three innings before chilling offensively. The Elks tied it with a run in the sixth but the AppleSox scored the game-winning run in the eighth on Jackson Van De Brake's bases-loaded walk.

Wenatchee welcomed some new faces to the fold last night. Catcher John Newman Jr. started the game, went 1-for-3 with a run. Collin Villegas finished the night behind the plate as defensive replacement in the ninth and prevented the tying run from scoring by holding onto the ball after being knocked over on a suicide squeeze attempt. Michael O'Hara collected three hits and drove in a pair, Zach Toglia reached base safely three times and Justin Simpson pinch-ran for Newman in the eighth, stole second and scored the go-ahead run.

O'Hara's 3-hit, 2-RBI game was the 1st one this season for Wenatchee. It was just the 3rd time this season a Sox hitter got 3 hits or more in a single game. Last night the squad struck out a season-low 6 times while also earning more walks (7) than whiffs for the 1st time in 2021.

After yesterday's win, the AppleSox hitting still ranks ninth in the 10-team WCL with a .203 batting average .315 OB% and a .282 SLG%. Pitching-wise, Sox arms are third in the league with just 35 walks allowed, fourth in wild pitches (8), Tied for fourth with a 1.41 WHIP and have allowed four homers.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is right-hander Jacob Hughes. He has only allowed one run in seven innings of work. Hughes made his first start of the season on June 10 and of the four hits he allowed, two came in the fourth inning, the only inning that he has allowed a run in this season. The righty is third on the team in strikeouts and is three away from leading the team in punchouts.

Hughes excelled in four years at Rocky Mountain High School in Idaho. He recorded a 1.58 ERA and struck out 84 in 57.2 innings over 11 games while also hitting .397 as a senior this Spring. He will attend Oregon this fall after pitching for the AppleSox.

Bend counters with Oregon State righty AJ Lattery. He is making his summer debut tonight after recording a 1.42 ERA in five games for the Beavers this Spring.

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This evening’s ballgame is College Night and fans who wear their favorite university’s college apparel will receive 15-percent off purchases at the AppleSox souvenir stand.

Fans can purchase tickets for tonight’s game and any other June AppleSox home game by visiting applesox.com/tickets. Ticket information on July home games will be released in the following week.

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 with the radio feed. It can be seen on playsight.com

AppleSox Win Back-And-Forth Series-Opener vs Bend

The Wenatchee AppleSox scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Bend Elks, 5-4, on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. 

Jackson Van De Brake drew a two-out bases-loaded walk to drive in the game-winning run and give the AppleSox the series-opening victory.

Michael O’Hara and Zach Toglia also starred in their AppleSox debuts. O’Hara went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and Toglia was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Tyler Chipman (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after throwing a scoreless eighth inning and Chase Grillo got his first save with a clean ninth. Bend loaded up the bases in the top of the ninth but Grillo got a strikeout to end the evening.

The Elks collected two extra-base hits in the first inning to get on the board first but the AppleSox would score three runs over the next two innings. An error and a double in the bottom of the first put runners at second and third and Luc Stuka evened the game up with a ground out. O’Hara and Dakota Duffalo picked up RBI singles the next inning to give the Sox a brief lead.

The back-and-forth ballgame continued in the top of the third when Bend tied it up on a two-out 2-RBI double. That would not faze the AppleSox as O’Hara recorded his second RBI single of the game in as many innings to make it 4-3.

That remained the score until Bend cashed in with a two-out RBI single in the sixth. All four of their runs on Friday night came with two outs.

The ninth inning was a bit tense after the AppleSox took the lead. With runs at first and third, Grillo fielded a push bunt to the right side and flipped home to catcher Collin Villegas, making his AppleSox debut as a defensive replacement that inning. Villegas was knocked over by Elks runner Chase Engelhard but hung onto the ball to record the out. The two exchanged words and the benches cleared as Engelhard was ejected.

The AppleSox go for their third consecutive series victory on Saturday night against the Elks. It’s College Night at the ballpark as fans are encouraged to wear apparel from their favorite school. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at applesox.com/tickets.

FULL BOXSCORE

Listen to postgame interviews with Assistant Coach Wyatt McKnight as well as Grillo and Villegas below.

AppleSox Host Struggling Elks This Weekend

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox, winners of four-of-their-last-six, return to action Friday night after four days off when they host the Bend Elks for three games at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee won two-of-three against the Walla Walla Sweets last week before taking two more from Bellingham last weekend. The AppleSox are buoyed by tremendous pitching, which has limited opponents to two-or-fewer runs in four-of-nine games so far. Their 3.62 ERA is fifth-best in the WCL, as of June 14. They also have compiled a 1.36 WHIP that is third-best in the league.

The AppleSox are 36-42 in WCL games against the Elks but are 19-18 vs Bend in home games. Non-league games included, the AppleSox have won 43 of 93 games against the Elks. The Elks enter play Tuesday night with a league-worst 6.49 ERA. They have only played six WCL games but are a league-worst 1-8 after losing four straight, including being swept by the Ridgefield Raptors this week.

Despite their offensive struggles, the AppleSox have gotten a great start to the season from Adam Grob. He is tied for sixth in the WCL in batting average and leads the AppleSox with a .367 average. He also leads the AppleSox in hits (11), RBI (8) SLG% (.633) and OPS (1.074).

Wenatchee's roster has increased since the AppleSox last took the field. Skylar Hales, John Newman Jr., Michael O'Hara, Justin Simpson, Zach Toglia, Collin Villegas and Jake Wyeth have all joined the AppleSox this week. Ben Leid's 10-Day Contract expired last weekend and Reid Rasmussen is having his shoulder reevaluated after exiting his start on July 12. His status moving forward is TBD while he is away from the team. Gauge Lockhart previously left the team after injuring his throwing arm after his June 5 start.

Tonight’s AppleSox is Gavin Gorrell. He made his second start of the season on June 9 against the Walla Walla Sweets and breezed through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth, when he gave up three runs before allowing four more an inning later. 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.

Bend counters with George Eisenhardt. He started and tossed four innings for Bend in their only win this season, a 2-1 triumph over the Cowlitz Black Bears on June 10. The incoming freshman right-hander at Xavier allowed one run on three hits, walked one and struck out three to earn a no-decision.

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Father's Day Weekend promises to be a special one at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Tonight, the Apple Blossom Royalty will meet and greet with fans before the 6:35 first pitch.

Fans can purchase tickets for tonight’s game and any other June AppleSox home game by visiting applesox.com/tickets. Ticket information on July home games will be released in the following week.

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 with the radio feed. It can be seen on playsight.com and this evening's game will also be televised live on the NCWLIFE Channel.

AppleSox Drop Series Finale to Bells

The AppleSox lost the final game of their three-game series against the Bellingham Bells, 12-4, in a rain-shortened game on Sunday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Rain and lightning just before 8 p.m. caused a delay in the middle of the seventh inning that led to a cancellation of the remainder of the game shortly after.

Hunter Salinas got off to a strong start for the AppleSox by retiring six of the first seven hitters that he faced in two innings. However, he gave up two doubles in the third and was removed three hitters and one out into the inning. The Bells would plate six more runs thanks to three errors before the inning ended and effectively put the game out of reach.

The AppleSox scored in the bottom of the third but allowed four more runs in the fourth and committed another error. Wenatchee committed a combined two errors over the previous three games, which, by no coincidence, were all wins.

The AppleSox have the next four days off before they return to action this Friday on Father’s Day Weekend with three home games against the Bend Elks. Tickets are available for that series and all remaining June home games at AppleSox.com/tickets.

AppleSox Look to Sweep Bells Tonight

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox look to get their first sweep of 2021 when they host the Bellingham Bells tonight at 5:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The AppleSox took the first two games against the Bells to come into tonight's game with a season-best three-game winning streak.

The Sox got a bounce-back pitching performance from lefty Reid Rasmussen. He became the third sox starter to toss five innings. Rasmussen gave up one run one three hits with the lone run scoring on a third inning blast by Daniel Gernon. Reliever Jeffrey Heinrich pitched out of a one-out bases-loaded jam by getting back-to-back strikeouts to end his AppleSox’ debut. The AppleSox got three more shutout innings from Jasper Nelson, Alex Brady and Rance Pittman to close out the 4-1 victory. Pittman earned his first save with a scoreless ninth.

At the plate, the Sox didn't score in the first three innings but struck with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. An RBI groundout and a wild pitch in the fourth tied the game and then gave the AppleSox the lead for good. Tino Bethancourt skied a two-run home run over the left-field wall one inning later for his second long ball of the summer.

Last night's win marked Wenatchee's fifth consecutive against Bellingham at home. It also marked the Bells' fourth straight loss, after losing the final two games of their home series against Yakima Valley prior to the start of this series. The Bells' three-run loss gave them a 1-4 record when they fail to score over four runs.

The AppleSox swept four teams in 2019, including Bellingham at home from June 12-14. Three of the AppleSox’ four sweeps last season came at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, where the AppleSox collected their 400th win at last night.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is Hunter Salinas, an incoming sophomore at Colorado State Pueblo. He is coming off tossing five scoreless inning this past Tuesday to lead the AppleSox to a 5-0 win over the Walla Walla Sweets to become the first AppleSox starter to toss five innings in a start (two others have done so since then). He struck out five, allowed three hits and walked one batter.

Salinas tossed two scoreless innings of relief against the Portland Pickles on June 4 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.

Bellingham will counter with Kyle Dunning, a sophomore at Tacoma Community College. He tossed 3.1 scoreless innings of relief and struck out three while allowing just two hits on June 5 against the Port Angeles Lefties in his season-debut.

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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 with the radio feed. It can be seen on playsight.com

AppleSox Top Bells to Win 400th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium

AppleSox pitchers limited their opponent to two-runs-or-less for the fourth time this summer and Wenatchee picked up its 400th win all-time at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium with a 4-1 victory over the Bells on Saturday night.

Reid Rasmussen (1-1) only allowed one run on a third-inning solo shot by Daniel Gernon and stymied the Bells over five solid innings to become the third AppleSox starting pitcher to toss five innings in a start. He exited with a shoulder injury during the first at-bat of the sixth inning, but both he and Head Coach Ian Sanderson said he would avoid an inactive stint.

Tino Bethancourt launched his second home run in the last three days and has now driven in five runs while also scoring five times in the last three games.

Four AppleSox pitchers combined to toss four shutout innings of relief. Jeffrey Heinrich had the most dramatic inning as he entered an inning after Bethancourt’s two-run shot for the injured Rasmussen in a 3-2 count against Gernon, who reached on an error. With one out, Heinrich got a pop out and a strikeout, but the ball got away and the second out was recorded. A walk followed to load the bases, but Heinrich buckled down and struck out the next two hitters to strand the bases loaded in his AppleSox debut.

Alex Brady also made his team debut and struck out two in a scoreless eighth after allowing a leadoff single. Rance Pittman also allowed a leadoff base-hit in the ninth, but picked up his first save of the 2021 season with a scoreless ninth.

Wenatchee trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the fourth and would end the inning stranding the bases-loaded, but cashed in before leaving three men on base. Bethancourt was hit by a pitch with one out and and advanced to third after Garrett Cutting followed with a single. Rece Stapp grounded out to score Bethancourt and advance Cutting to third and Cutting scored on a wild pitch to score the eventual game-winning run.

The AppleSox go for the sweep on Sunday night against the Bells. Wenatchee has not announced a starter, but Bellingham will send Kyle Dunning (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the rubber for the 5:35 p.m. game.

Listen to postgame interviews with Sanderson and Rasmussen below.

AppleSox Host Bells, Look to Take Series

GAME NOTES

The AppleSox look to take their second consecutive series when they host the Bellingham Bells tonight at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The AppleSox took two-of-three from the Walla Walla Sweets earlier this week and their bats came alive last night to the tune of a 13-8 victory over Bellingham.

Adam Grob led the way again offensively, collecting four hits and driving in four runs for the Sox' first four hit game of 2021. He is now fourth in the WCL with a .391 batting average through the first seven games of the summer.

The AppleSox scored scored five runs in the first inning to match their previous high for an entire game. They would also score five in the eighth inning and only had two innings in which they did not collect one hit amid a 2021 single-game high of 13 hits. Their team batting average jumped from a .159 mark prior to last night's game to a .188 mark and out of the cellar for the league's worst mark. The AppleSox do have the second-worst number of strikeouts in the WCL with 76.

On the mound, the Sox gave up their highest number of runs in a win, but never toed the rubber with the AppleSox losing besides the top of the first inning when there was no score. Martin Haswell earned the win after allowing one run and striking out five in three innings.

Last night's win marked Wenatchee's fourth consecutive against Bellingham at home. It also marked the Bells' third straight loss overall, after losing the final two games of their home series against Yakima Valley. The Bells' eight runs also marked their season-best, surpassing the seven runs that they scored in a 7-3 win over Port Angeles on June 4 and in a 10-7 loss to Port Angeles two nights later.

Tonight’s starting pitcher is Reid Rasmussen, an incoming sophomore at Central Washington. He tossed three innings in his first start of the season last Sunday against Portland on June 6. He didn't allow any runs in the first inning, but surrendered four in the second and two in the third in an 11-1 AppleSox loss.

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.

He’ll go up against Zack Simon, who tossed four scoreless innings against Port Angeles on June 6 in his season debut. He did not allow any hits, but walked four. The sophomore at Corban Uniersity recorded 2.63 ERA and struck out 63 in 68.1 innings over 11 games (all starts) this Spring. He was an NAIA Honorable-Mention All-American and led the Warriors in ERA, innings and strikeouts.

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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 with the radio feed. It can be seen on playsight.com