Wenatchee Starts the Road Trip Off Right

Despite getting shut out in their last game, Wenatchee gets back on track with a 9-4 victory over the Yakima Valley Pippins in game one. The Pippins had many times to strike, leaving 12 men on base, but clutch defensive plays kept them at bay. 

Wenatchee’s bats got off to a hot start in the first, tallying four runs. A sac fly and an RBI ground out gave the ‘Sox an early lead, but a two RBI triple by Kanoa Morisaki would set the tone for the rest of the ball game. 

With a 4-0 AppleSox lead going into the second, Yakima would put up three runs of their own, taking advantage of walks and stringing together base hits. 

However, Wenatchee would pile on with one run in the fourth and fifth to take a 6-3 lead, regaining the momentum. Morisaki would score another in the seventh from an RBI double, and another sac fly would put the ‘Sox up by five. 

The nail in the coffin for the Pippins came in the eighth. Kainoa Santiago would come to the plate and send a towering fly ball over the right field wall to earn his fourth homer of the year, closing the ‘Sox’s scoring for the evening. 

Yakima Valley responded with one run of their own in the eighth, but they were quickly shut down by Wenatchee’s closer Jacob Gabler, bringing the game to its final score of 9-4. 

The AppleSox utilized five arms in the outing, giving up 13 hits while striking out eight and walking six. The Pippins had runners in scoring position numerous times throughout the game, but lock-down defense by the ‘Sox prevented any further damage. 

Wenatchee looks for their eighth straight series win at 6:35 p.m. at Yakima County Stadium. 

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: Double-headers, Grand-Slams, and Seven Straight Series

Week four was anything but boring for the AppleSox. Whether it was double-header walk offs, double-digit blowouts, or seven straight series wins, fans were treated to one of the most exciting weeks of AppleSox baseball all year.

The week started against Edmonton on Tuesday. The ‘Sox were down by three runs heading into the seventh inning, and all hope seemed lost. However, reigning player of the week Kainoa Santiago climbed to the plate and delivered a two-run tank to light the fire for the AppleSox.

Then, the ‘Sox took the lead in the eighth and never looked back.

The next day, Wenatchee hosted the Riverhawks for a double-header. Game one was a makeup for their matchup that was rained out in Edmonton at the start of the season. Both games were shrunk to seven innings to account for time.

With an opportunity to notch their fifth straight series win, the ‘Sox took care of business, winning 9-5 in the belated series decider.

Game two of the doubleheader was not quite the same tune. The two teams stared each other down until the fourth, when the Riverhawks hung a four-spot to take a convincing lead.

The ‘Sox had mustered only two runs heading into the seventh, putting every AppleSox fan on the edge of their seat. However, with the stage set and the lights bright, the ‘Sox stunned the world.

Santiago delivered a two-run single to tie the game. Then, Landon White banged a double off the right field wall to score the winning run and walk off the game.

Now with the sweep locked and loaded, the ‘Sox were one win away from their second sweep of the season. But the AppleSox ran into a brick wall when they pulled into game four.

That wall was named David Sheppard, a lefty arm who won pitcher of the week for the WCL after his shutout performance against the ‘Sox. He spun seven scoreless frames against Wenatchee with six strikeouts and two walks.  

Edmonton rode that start to a 7-0 win over Wenatchee and dodged the sweep.

With the momentum squashed, the ‘Sox did not let it affect them. They welcomed Nanaimo to the valley for game one of the series, and they sent a message right away.

Wenatchee slapped 13 hits against the NightOwls, winning 15-3 and setting the tone. Lefty Joe Thornton got the start for the ‘Sox and took care of business. The southpaw threw six-scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and only three hits.

Nikko Paoletto backed him up at the plate, going 2-for-4 with five RBIs, a double and a triple.

With the series on the line, the ‘Sox wanted to lock up their seventh straight series win. But their path to it was less than linear.

Despite striking first, the ‘Sox fell behind 8-4 heading into the fifth. It was then that Wenatchee hung an eight-spot to snatch back the lead. That inning was highlighted by an opposite-field grand slam by Cooper Brass to take the lead.

Wenatchee was not content with just 12 runs. They went on to tally nine more runs to inevitably win 21-11 in blowout fashion.

While Brass’ grand salami was impressive, it was dwarfed by James Castagnola, who crushed two home runs and six RBIs in his player-of-the-game performance.

Now with deja vu, the ‘Sox were similarly set up for the sweep against Nanaimo. However, the AppleSox bats must have been put in the freezer the night before, with the team getting just three hits total in the sweep-decider.

The NightOwls cruised comfortably to a 2-0 win and eluded the sweep.

While Nanaimo left a bad taste in Wenatchee’s mouth, they still have seven straight series wins under their belt. The ‘Sox have yet to lose a series this season and boast an impressive 15-6 record about midway through the year.

This team continues to entertain. Their ability to win at home and feed off the home crowd is something not every team can do.

But the ‘Sox are packing their bags and heading on the road for this coming week. They have a six-game road stretch due up starting against Yakima Valley and concluding against Walla Walla on the weekend.  

‘Sox Get Shut Out in Game Three; Wenatchee Loses Sole Control of First Place

After securing the series win the night before, the AppleSox get shut out by the Nanaimo NightOwls 2-0 in game three. The loss takes sole control of first place in the North Division away from the ‘Sox as Bellingham closes in. 

Wenatchee came into the ball game riding a 21-11 win the previous evening, and they looked to secure their second sweep of the season. However, their bats were cold the whole night, tallying three hits and leaving four in scoring position. 

Excellent pitching by the AppleSox held Nanaimo to only two runs. Both of their runs came off a pair of solo homers by Carter Cathers, picking up one in the fifth and one in the seventh. 

Despite the loss, Wenatchee’s pitching staff had quite a night. The ‘Sox’s starter, Carson Boesel, threw five innings while only giving up two hits and one run, all while punching out five batters. Easton Brooks took the mound in relief and surrendered one hit, one run, and struck out one. Noah Sorensen closed out the ninth, handing Nanaimo a three-up three-down inning by striking out all three NightOwls he faced. 

The Bellingham Bells, who’ve been nipping at the heels of the ‘Sox all season long, secured seven straight wins Sunday after defeating Kamloops 6-5. The Bells’ win and Wenatchee’s loss brings both clubs to a tie for first place in the North Division. Next Sunday, whichever team that clinches first place will secure a playoff spot as the first half comes to a close. 

The AppleSox now hit the road as they head out on a six game road trip. They’ll battle Yakima first on Tuesday before facing Walla Walla in the last series of the first half. 

The battle for first place commences in game one against Yakima, starting at 6:35 p.m. PST at Yakima County Stadium. 

Wenatchee wins the series in blowout fashion

Seven straight series wins. That’s what the AppleSox locked up tonight with their 21-11 win over the Nanaimo NightOwls in Wenatchee. The game was a boxing match up until the sixth inning, when the ‘Sox blew it open and tallied eight runs.

There were a combined four home runs in the game, with Nanaimo launching one and the ‘Sox grabbing the other three. James Castagnola started it for Wenatchee with a two-run tank in the second, and then Cooper Brass one-upped him in the fifth with a grand slam to take the lead.

However, Castagnola was not done yet. The inevitable player of the game torched his second home run of the night in the sixth, extending the AppleSox lead and giving him six RBIs.

Mix in a double and a ground-rule triple, and Castagnola was just a single away from the cycle. While he did not secure the cycle, he still went 4-for-5 with six RBIs to bolster the ‘Sox offense.

The Wenatchee arm-barn was equally on point, striking out 16 batters and allowing only seven hits with six walks. Clint Beck was the pitcher of the game, spinning three scoreless frames of relief with four K’s and no hits.

With the series win already locked up, the ‘Sox are eyeing the sweep in game three. It would be their second sweep of the season.

The sweep-deciding game starts tomorrow at 5:35 p.m at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

The AppleSox Steamroll the NightOwls in Game One

After a disappointing shutout the night before against Edmonton, the AppleSox bounced back in a big way, defeating the Nanaimo NightOwls 15-3 in game one. Wenatchee capitalized off five Nanaimo errors and recorded 13 hits to coast into the win. 

The ‘Sox were held scoreless until the fourth where they picked up a remarkable seven runs. Wenatchee’s scoring started after a Nanaimo error scored Kanoa Morisaki. A pair of RBI singles and a walk with bases loaded gave the AppleSox a 4-0 lead, but they weren’t finished just yet. A bases clearing RBI double by Nikko Paoletto would end up putting the ‘Sox up 7-0 going into the fifth. 

Wenatchee would tally three more in the fifth after Cooper Brass scored from a fielder’s choice by Jonah Shields. Soon after, Paoletto would come up clutch once again with an RBI triple to take their lead to 10-0. 

The AppleSox’s hot bats continued in the sixth as they added five more onto their lead. Colin Beazizo started it all for Wenatchee, doubling to right center to score Morisaki. RBI singles by Brass, Raphael Dunne, and Harlan Rowe brought three more across, and an RBI groundout by Shields concluded Wenatchee’s scoring for the night. 

With a possible shutout opportunity going into the ninth, Nanaimo would battle back with three runs to prevent Wenatchee from picking up their second shutout of the season. Solid pitching would finally shut them down, handing the AppleSox a 15-3 game one win. 

Wenatchee’s offense wasn’t the only thing that was on a roll Friday night. The AppleSox’s pitching staff kept Nanaimo from scoring till the very last frame of the ball game. Joe Thornton started on the bump and tossed six scoreless innings, gave up only three hits, and punched out seven. Jonathan Christner relieved the left hander and continued to keep Nanaimo off the board, throwing two innings without giving up a hit. Finally, Derek Render would surrender three runs in the ninth while letting up three hits. 

The AppleSox look for their seventh straight series win on Bark in the Park night on Saturday. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. PST at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Riverhawks shutout the 'Sox and dodge the sweep

After winning two series the night before, the ‘Sox were just one win away from sweeping the Edmonton Riverhawks in Wenatchee. However, they tripped at the finish line tonight, getting shut out 7-0 by their North Division opponent.

Edmonton’s starting lefty David Sheppard excelled all game long, spinning seven innings of scoreless baseball with only two hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. After him, it was righty Owen Combs who closed out the game, striking out two, walking three, and leaving the bases loaded in the ninth.

The Riverhawks' offense was a slow burn all night. They scored two in the second, one in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the seventh, and lastly two in the ninth.

The one standout offensively for the ‘Sox was Nikko Paoletto, who had one of the three hits for Wenatchee and also drew two timely walks. Pitching-wise, Brooks Pinski stood out with two innings of scoreless relief off one hit, one walk, and two strikeouts.

Despite missing the sweep, the ‘Sox still won the series and have now won six straight series wins to start the year. They will stay at home tomorrow night when they welcome the Nanaimo NightOwls for three games of home baseball.

First pitch tomorrow will be at 6:35 p.m at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

Two Birds with One Stone: The AppleSox Secure Two Series Wins in One Day

After hosting a doubleheader Wednesday, the Wenatchee AppleSox secured two series wins in one day. The ‘Sox were making up a rainout in game one and grinded their way to a 9-5 win and followed that up with a 5-4 walk off stunner over the Edmonton Riverhawks in the regularly scheduled game two. 

The ‘Sox were in control all of game one; they picked up two runs in the first after Ky McGary scored on a fielder’s choice and Nikko Paoletto scored from an RBI single by Cooper Brass. Two more runs were added in the third after a pair of RBIs by Joe Coupland and Brass. 

In response, Edmonton tallied four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game up at 4-4. However, that wouldn’t stop the AppleSox as they put up a three spot after two RBI singles by Gage Wareham and Jonah Shields in the fifth. 

The Riverhawks came back with one run in the fifth, but Wenatchee continued to stay hot, and put two more runs on the board in the sixth after a Brass sacrifice fly and an Edmonton error. 

With the 9-5 win, Wenatchee tee’d themselves up for six straight series wins if they won the second game of the double header. 

And they did just that. After Edmonton picked up an early 4-0 lead, Wenatchee responded with one run in the third and one run in the sixth. 

Down to their last out in the ballgame with the bases loaded, Kainoa Santiago delivered with an RBI single to tie up the ball game at 4-4. Immediately after, with runners at first and second, Landon White sent a ball over the head of the right fielder to score Paoletto and walk it off. 

Both Wenatchee’s starters, Grayden Lucas and Dylan Schlenger, gave up four runs apiece. While the arms who came in relief held the Riverhawks to a combined one run over the course of the two games. 

The two wins give the AppleSox their fifth and sixth straight series win in a row, cementing themselves as the top spot in the North Division. The ‘Sox are now set up for a series sweep Thursday night. Game three starts at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

AppleSox come back against the Riverhawks

Despite trailing the entire game, the ‘Sox took care of business against the Riverhawks tonight, coming from behind to win 5-4 in game one. The AppleSox were down by two runs in the eighth and scored three to take the lead and snatch the win.

Edmonton was in control of the game from the very start, scoring in the second, fourth, and sixth innings to take a 3-0 lead. Starting right-hander Carter Fink spun seven innings against the ‘Sox, striking out six batters and walking nobody. Fink kept Wenatchee at arm's length the entire game… until the seventh.

With a runner on base, Kainoa Santiago stepped up and demolished a ball 384 feet to right-center field. The two-run homer put the ‘Sox on the board for the first time and lit the fire.

The Riverhawks tacked on an insurance run in the eighth, hoping to keep the ‘Sox at bay. However, Wenatchee was not done yet.

A single, a hit-by-pitch, and a walk loaded the bases for Wenatchee. Then, a passed ball scraped Cooper Brass across. Down by just a run, Ky McGary chopped a ball to the shortstop and, by a stroke of luck, it slipped past the glove and allowed two more runs to hustle in.

In the blink of an eye, the ‘Sox took the lead for the first time. Up 5-4, they were three outs away from a game-one win. Jacob Gabler took the mound to close it out, and he got the job done.

With the win, Wenatchee moves to 11-4 overall on the year and still stands atop the North Division. The ‘Sox continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader, starting at 3:30 pm at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium. Both games will be seven innings long and will be directly after each other.  

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: Home Runs, Comebacks, and Hot Streaks

Week three had its fair share of ups and downs for the AppleSox. But with four straight series wins locked up, and the ‘Sox in first place in the North, Wenatchee has some good vibes carrying them into their homestand.

The week began on Tuesday when Wenatchee welcomed the Springfield Drifters to Paul Thomas for three games. Despite being dead last in the South Division, Springfield took the ‘Sox by surprise in game one.

The Drifters sparked 12 hits, three doubles, four stolen bases, and one triple in their 11-6 win over Wenatchee in night one. The ‘Sox committed four errors in the game, resulting in nine runs being unearned. Translation: the ‘Sox shot themselves in the foot.

But game two sang a much sweeter tune. The AppleSox won 11-1 with nine hits, two doubles, two home runs, and noticeably no errors. Kainoa Santiago and Nikko Paoletto were the heroes of the night, both tallying a home run with four hits and three RBIs combined.

The pitching staff was equally powerful, striking out 13 batters and allowing just five walks with only six hits. Felix Schlede was the starter, going 3 ⅔ innings scoreless and striking out four batters in his wake.

Game three was a quieter affair, with the ‘Sox keeping Springfield at arms length the entire game. Wenatchee won the series decider 5-2 with 10 hits, one triple, and one home run. Paoletto hustled for his first triple of the year and Santiago launched his second homer 381 feet over the right field wall.

Nicho Crowley made his second start of the season, and despite giving up one run in the first inning, he clutched up. He went four innings allowing one run, seven hits, one walk, and stranding seven runners. His relief men Dylan Schlenger and Clint Beck were equally impressive, giving up only one run and striking out six to close out the series win.

After that, the ‘Sox packed up the bus and headed north to play against the Nanaimo NightOwls. Both teams were elbowing for the top spot in the division, but after game one, it became obvious who would take the throne.

The ‘Sox blew out the NightOwls 12-0 in game one, with 12 hits, one double, and specifically three RBIs from Cooper Brass to give himself a standout performance. Joe Thornton got the start on the mound, and he dominated for five straight innings of scoreless baseball. The lefty from Tonasket struck out five NightOwls while only walking two and allowing just two hits.

Night two was more of a nailbiter, with the ‘Sox coming from behind to win 6-4. Going into the fifth inning, Wenatchee was trailing by a single run. But, Paoletto came to the plate and showed up big time. The DH got a good pitch to hit and crushed a two-run home run to give the ‘Sox the lead.

From there on, it was up to the pitching staff to finish the race. Grayden Lucas, Jonathan Christner, and Jacob Gabler combined for seven innings of near-spotless relief. They allowed just one run with two walks and six strikeouts.

With the dominoes set up for a series sweep, the ‘Sox came into game three with high expectations. But the NightOwls were not going to let that happen, winning 16-9 in commanding fashion.

Nanaimo struck early and often, tallying two in the first inning and scoring in all but one frame of the matchup. Carson Boesel started on the mound for Wenathee, but was chased out after three innings and four runs given up. After him, Braiden Boyd and Derek Render each did their best to limit the damage, allowing no runs in three innings.

But the ‘Sox were not out of the woods. Harry Pelzman and Harlan Rowe were next on tap, and they could not hold off the Nanaimo offense. The two relief men allowed seven runs, seven hits, three walks, and only two strikeouts.

Kanoa Morisaki crushed two home runs for the AppleSox, one of which was a grand slam that tied the game in the fifth. However, the NightOwl’s 17 hits and perfect defense was just enough to avoid the sweep.

But the ‘Sox still secured their fourth straight series win and have firmly stuck themselves at the top of the North Division with a 10-4 record.

Santiago won player of the week for the WCL and for good reason. The freshman batted 0.643 on the weekend with a 1.905 OPS. Throw in his two home runs and it becomes a no-brainer that the kid from Gonzaga was the standout name in the league.

Now, the AppleSox head home for an elongated home stand. They start with Edmonton, playing not three games, but four. The ‘Sox will be hosting a doubleheader versus the Riverhawks on Wednesday, June 17, with game one beginning at 3:30 p.m. After that, the ‘Sox stay home to welcome Nanaimo for another three-game set on their home turf.

Kainoa Santiago wins WCL player of the week

In just his third week of summer ball, freshman Kainoa Santiago has won his first player of the week award. Looking at his numbers at the plate, you see exactly why he was the standout in the WCL.

The freshman from Gonzaga ended the week with a 0.643 average, 1.143 slugging, and a 0.761 on base percentage. All in all, this gave him a 1.905 OPS after the past two series.

He also picked up his first two home runs of the year when the ‘Sox hosted the Drifters. In game three, he got his second homer, catapulting a ball 381 feet over the right field fence.

Tally everything up, and Santiago had nine hits, seven RBIs, three extra-base hits, and now a 10-game hit streak. Basically, Santiago accounted for nearly 15% of the ‘Sox’s 49 runs of production this week.  

He has consistently been climbing the stat sheets and now sits at second place in the league for average at 0.429. On top of that, he is 11th for hits with 18 in total.

This past week was just a taste of what Santiago can do from the left side of the plate. With still three-quarters of the year left, he has plenty of time to continue impressing in Wenatchee.

Wenatchee Drops Game Three: Nanaimo Bounces Back to Prevent a Series Sweep

After securing the series win Saturday night, the Wenatchee AppleSox were thwarted in game three, falling 16-9 to the Nanaimo NightOwls. With Wenatchee’s loss, Nanaimo avoided a series sweep after losing the two previous games 12-0 and 6-4. 

The NightOwls picked up an early lead in the first after an RBI double and a wild pitch by Wenatchee’s starter Carson Boesel. They continued to stay hot in the third after tallying three more runs. 

With Nanaimo taking an early 5-0 lead, the ‘Sox struck back in the fourth after Kanoa Morisaki smacked a two run shot over the right field wall to put them down by three. The NightOwls would respond with a pair of runs for themselves in the bottom of the fourth to move their lead to 7-2. 

However, in the fifth, Wenatchee would tie the ball game at 7-7. After an RBI double by Kainoa Santiago, Morisaki would come to the plate with bases loaded, and with one swing of the bat, he would hit the first AppleSox grand slam since 2024. 

Unfortunately for the AppleSox, the grand slam wasn’t enough to stop the NightOwls as they continued to put runs up on the board. They tallied one run in the fifth and sixth, two in the seventh, and five in the eighth to take a 16-7 lead. 

Wenatchee would score two more in the top of the ninth after a RBI double by Ethan Mar, but it wasn’t enough, and the ‘Sox would lose game three 16-9. 

The AppleSox utilized five arms in the loss Sunday: Boesel received the loss after letting up five runs, four of which were earned, and five hits in three innings of work. Also giving up five hits was Braiden Boyd who came in relief in the fourth; he gave up two runs, both unearned, in two innings. Derek Render, Harry Pelzman, and Harlan Rowe were the final relievers to take the mound for Wenatchee and gave up a combined total of eight runs and seven hits. 

The AppleSox now head back to Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium for a six game homestand as they look to maintain their first place seed in the WCL North Division. They will host the Edmonton Riverhawks first on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. PST before facing the NightOwls again on Friday.

Wenatchee Wins Fourth Straight Series: The ‘Sox Look to Sweep the NightOwls

The Wenatchee AppleSox secure their fourth straight series win Saturday night after a 6-4 win in game two over the Nanaimo NightOwls. The ‘Sox take their winning streak up to four games and look to seize their second sweep of the season in game three. 

The ‘Sox struck first in the second after Kainoa Santiago was brought home after an error by Nanaimo’s third baseman. They extended their lead to 2-0 in the third when a Nikko Paoletto RBI double scored Ky McGary. 

However, Nanaimo’s bats exploded in the bottom of the third, tallying three runs and forcing an early exit for Wenatchee’s starter Luke Sterkel. 

With a 3-2 NightOwl lead going into the fifth, the AppleSox would respond in a big way; Paoletto blasted a two run shot over the left field wall to help the ‘Sox regain the lead. They added on two more runs of insurance in the sixth after an error by Nanaimo’s shortstop, bringing their lead to 6-3. 

Nanaimo put up one more run in the seventh off a Wenatchee error, but lights out pitching by Jacob Gabler shut their bats down to close out the ball game. 

The ‘Sox utilized four pitchers in the win: Sterkel, who started the game, allowed five hits and three runs. Grayden Lucas took the bump soon after and tossed two scoreless innings while punching out two. Earning the win was Jonathan Christner who struck out two and let up three hits with an unearned run in three innings. The save went to Gabler after he threw two scoreless innings and punched out two. 

Heading into game three, the ‘Sox look to sweep a division opponent for the second time this season; game time is at 1:05 p.m. PST at Seraumen Stadium. 

AppleSox Come Up Big in Game One

Following a series win against Springfield, the Wenatchee AppleSox shut out the Nanaimo NightOwls 12-0 in game one of the series. Wenatchee tallied 12 hits on the evening while holding the NightOwls to a mere four. 

With bases loaded in the first inning, Ethan Mar was hit by a pitch to bring home the first run of the ball game. Soon after and with bases still loaded, a Cooper Brass walk and Kanoa Morisaki groundout put the AppleSox up 3-0. 

In the second, Kainoa Santiago and Nikko Paoletto continued their hot streaks at the plate by recording a pair of RBI singles, bringing the AppleSox’s lead up to 5-0. Wenatchee added even more cushion after Brass doubled to right center to score two more. 

In the fourth, an RBI single by Harlan Rowe and an RBI double by Tarell Reid gave the AppleSox a commanding 9-0 lead. However, they weren’t done yet; Santiago’s second RBI single of the day and a Nanaimo error brought two more runs across for the ‘Sox, putting them up 11-0. 

Wenatchee’s final run came in the sixth, after Paoletto singled again to score Matt Torres, ending the night’s scoring at 12-0. 

Earning the win tonight was Joe Thornton who tossed five scoreless innings while striking out five, walking two, and letting up only two hits. Levi Grothen and Tate Swanson relieved the left hander and kept Nanaimo from ever putting a run on the board, punching out four in the process and allowing a combined two hits. 

The AppleSox look for their fourth series win Saturday night as they head into game two; game time is at 6:35 p.m PST at Serauxmen Stadium. 

Wenatchee Secures Third Straight Series Win

After an 11-1 blowout victory the night before, the Wenatchee AppleSox secured a series win after outscoring the Springfield Drifters 5-2 in game three of the series. With the victory Thursday night, the AppleSox claimed their third straight series win. 

Springfield opened the night’s scoring in the first after stringing together multiple singles to give them an early lead. However, clutch pitching by Wenatchee’s starter Nicho Crowley prevented any further damage during his start, despite the Drifters leaving multiple men on base throughout his tenure on the mound. 

In the fourth, the ‘Sox struck back after Kainoa Santiago homered to right field for the second day in a row to tie the ball game up at 1-1. With the dugout fired up, Wenatchee looked to add on to their lead. 

The AppleSox did just that in the sixth after an RBI groundout by Landon White brought home Nikko Paoletto who tripled earlier in the inning. Cooper Brass kept the inning rolling by scoring Santiago on an RBI single. 

They added more cushion in the seventh after a pair of RBI singles by Paoletto and Santiago, taking their lead to 5-1 and concluding Wenatchee’s scoring for the evening. 

Springfield responded with one run in the top of the ninth, but it was too little too late, and the ‘Sox recorded one more final out to obtain a 5-2 victory and series win. 

Despite giving up seven hits, Crowley only allowed one run while walking one and punching out three. Recording his first win of the season and relieving Crowley was Dylan Schlenger who tossed two scoreless innings while only letting up one hit, no walks, and striking out five. After Schlenger’s successful outing, Clint Beck finished it off and earned a save to complete the night. 

With the win Wednesday and a Nanaimo loss at the hands of the Bells, the AppleSox maintain their first place seeding in the WCL North Division.

The ‘Sox head up north on Friday to protect their first place spot against the NightOwls. Game one will be at 6:35 p.m. PST at Serauxmen Stadium to open up the series.

Wenatchee blows out the Drifters: The 'Sox tie the series with two home runs

In bounce-back fashion, the AppleSox blew out the Drifters tonight, tallying 11 runs off nine hits and two home runs. The ‘Sox muscled past Springfield to win game two and set themselves up for a series win tomorrow night.

Felix Schlede was the starting arm for Wenatchee, and he put on a show. He went 3 ⅔ innings, allowing just three hits, two walks, and no runs with four strikeouts. That line won him pitcher of the game and set the tone for the rest of the pitching staff.

The ‘Sox offense got to work early, with Wenatchee scoring two in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth, and one in the fifth. Alika Ahu led the team with three RBIs, along with Ky McGray tallying two, and Cooper Brass smacking home one of his own.

The cherry on top was a solo home run from Nikko Paoletto and a two-run moonshot from Kainoa Santiago. The two slugging ‘Sox brought the needed power to cement the blowout win.

Paoletto secured player of the game with one run, two hits, one RBI, and one home run. He continued his hot streak with the ‘Sox and secured his first long ball of the year.

The AppleSox relief men clutched up throughout the game, with Jacob Gabler, Colin Fraser, and Braiden Boyd combining for 5 ⅓ innings of one-run ball with only three hits and nine strikeouts. Those stellar performances kept Springfield at arm's length for the 11-1 win.

With the series tied, both the Drifters and AppleSox will be fighting tooth and nail for the series win. Game three will be at 6:35 p.m at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium to conclude the series.

Springfield Upsets the ‘Sox: Wenatchee Loses their First at Home

After a series sweep just days before, the Wenatchee AppleSox fell to the Springfield Drifters in a 11-6 upset in game one of the three-game set. The Drifters out-hit the ‘Sox 12-8 while also playing cleaner defense, recording one error in comparison to Wenatchee’s six. 

Springfield received a commanding lead early in the top of the second; they capitalized off three ‘Sox errors, two walks issued, and two base hits to cap the inning off with six total runs. Wenatchee’s starter Hiroshi Johnson was quickly pulled in the second after letting up five of the six runs, while only one was earned. 

Grayden Lucas took over for Johnson and finished up the inning allowing one more run before the Drifters were finally retired. In the bottom of the fourth, the ‘Sox picked up their first run of the ball game after an RBI double by Jake Overstreet brought home Jonah Shields. However, two quick outs followed, and Wenatchee headed back to the field where Lucas gave up two more runs to put Springfield up 8-1. 

In the top of the fifth, Derek Render came in to replace Lucas, and he quickly took care of the side without any further problems. Soon after, Wenatchee’s bats found life after a two-RBI double by Shields put the ‘Sox down 8-3. Following that, Ky McGary’s RBI groundout and Harlan Rowe’s RBI single cut the Drifters’ lead down to three. 

But before the AppleSox could capitalize on their momentum, a two-RBI triple by Aiden Gebhard in the top of the sixth advanced Springfield’s lead to five. Render finished off the inning before the ‘Sox brought in Tyler Schuyleman to relieve him in the seventh. 

After two more Wenatchee errors in the eighth, another run came across for the Drifters to conclude the night’s scoring. Tyler’s brother, Joe Schuyleman, was called in for the top of the ninth and took charge to prevent any further damage. 

With two outs and bases loaded in the ninth, Michael Klein sent Alika Ahu down swinging to finish off the ball game and hand the AppleSox their first loss at home. 

The AppleSox’s bats had gone cold since the fifth inning, and never heated up again, as they picked up only two more hits for the rest of the game. 

Wenatchee looks for redemption on Wednesday in game two at 6:35 p.m. PST at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

This Week in AppleSox Baseball: Homestands, Sweeps, and Shutouts

Two weeks in, and the 2026 season is already shaping up to be an exciting one. The AppleSox played the Bellingham Bells and Kamloops NorthPaws in six games this past week, and each one brought its own flair.

The ‘Sox started in Bellingham and won their first series of the year 2-1. In game one, Hiroshi Johnson made his first start of the season and did not disappoint.

The JUCO right-hander spun five innings with only one run and three hits. Joseph Coupland, Noah Figuered, and Matt Torres backed him up at the plate, each driving in a run to help the ‘Sox win 3-2.

In game two, Wenatchee secured the series win in extra innings. Felix Schlede got his first start of the year and managed four scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Nikko Paoletto stood out at the plate, getting two hits, two walks, and one RBI to bolster the offense. The game came down to the tenth inning, where a throwing error by the Bells scored the go-ahead run for the ‘Sox. Then, it was reliever Jonathan Christner who forced a double play to secure the 5-4 win and take the series. Christner was hyped up for the win, chucking his glove at the dugout after pitching two scoreless innings with four strikeouts to slam the door.

But, Bellingham got the last laugh in game three, winning it 3-2 in comeback fashion and walking it off in the ninth. Dylan Schlenger was the man on the mound to allow the walk-off, allowing two runs on four hits through 2 ⅔ innings.

Then, the ‘Sox made their way home for the first time this year to take on the NorthPaws. Going into the series, Wenatchee was one of the worst-hitting teams in the league, with Kamloops slugging the ball better than anyone else in the WCL. However, you would not have guessed that after the series.

The AppleSox swept the series, walking off game one, edging out game two, and coasting through game three.

Jonah Shields and Paoletto were the heroes of game one, with Shields winning player of the game with five hits, one RBI, and one run scored. Then, Paoletto walked off the game in the tenth inning, blooping a single into right field to win it 9-8 in extras.

Game two was all AppleSox all day long… until the ninth. Right-hander Luke Sterkel started the game and truly dominated from the mound. Seven innings, no runs, six strikeouts, and only four hits won him pitcher of the game and set the ‘Sox up with an 8-1 lead going into the ninth.

With a seven-run lead, Wenatchee was three outs away from the series win. However, they proceeded to cough up six hits and six runs in the frame, making it 8-7 late. But, right-hander Clint Beck managed to clutch up with two outs and struck out the last batter looking.  

With a series sweep on tap, the ‘Sox did not blink. They scored all four runs in the first three innings and then coasted all the way to a win. Kainoa Santiago won player of the game with two hits, one RBI, and one walk. He and his fellow Gonzaga Bulldog, Landon White, accounted for much of the offense, with White getting his first hit of the season and two RBIs in the game.  

Christner came in to end the game, and end it he did. He pitched the last two innings and struck out three batters to lock up the 4-0 win and punch the ticket on a series sweep.

That marks Wenatchee's first sweep of the season and their second straight series win to start the year. They currently are first place in the North Division with a 6-2 record, and are among the best pitching teams in the league.

The ‘Sox stay at home this week, playing the Springfield Drifters for three games before they head on the road to play Nanaimo in Canada. The series against Springfield starts on June 9 and concludes on June 11.

Break out the brooms! 'Sox sweep the NorthPaws!

For the first time this year, the AppleSox broke out the brooms and secured a series sweep. They shut out the Kamloops NorthPaws in game three and extended their lead as the No. 1 team in the North Division.

The ‘Sox scored early in the first and third innings and then coasted the rest of the way with a 4-0 lead. A pair of Gonzaga Bulldogs accounted for the offense tonight, with Landon White and Kainoa Santiago combining for three hits and three RBIs.

Right-hander Carson Boesel made his first start of the season, pitching five scoreless innings with two walks, three hits, and four strikeouts. After him, it was Levi Grothen and Jonathan Christner pitching four innings combined to finish the shutout and secure the sweep.

Santiago won player of the game after he ended the night with two hits, one walk, and one RBI. Boesel took home pitcher of the game honors with his scoreless start on the mound.

The win tonight gives the ‘Sox a 6-2 overall record and puts them atop the North Division. They stay at home for their next three games against the Springfield Drifters.

The series against the Drifters begins on June 9 and concludes on June 11 at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

AppleSox fend off the NorthPaws: Wenatchee takes the series in a nail-biter

The ‘Sox secured the series win tonight, beating the Northpaws 8-7 in game two of the series. Wenatchee had an 8-1 lead heading into the ninth inning and just barely held on to snatch the win.

The AppleSox started the party early when they scored three runs in the first inning. Joseph Coupland and Cooper Brass each tallied RBI singles to start the scoring and put Wenatchee on the board.

The ‘Sox extended the lead in the third and fourth innings with singles from Matt Torres and Brass. With a decent cushion of run support, Wenatchee was hoping to ride the lead into the ninth.

​However, things got dicey in the ninth. The NorthPaws strung together six hits, two walks, one hit-by-pitch, and one pass ball to score six runs at the eleventh hour. But the ‘Sox managed to strike out the last batter and finish the game with a flourish.

​Luke Sterkel won pitcher of the game for the AppleSox, starting the game and tossing seven innings of scoreless baseball with only four hits, no walks, and six strikeouts. He was backed up by Dillon Jones, Tate Swanson, and Clint Beck, who combined for two innings and seven runs on seven hits.

​Brass secured player of the game honors in just his second game as a ‘Sox. Brass tagged three hits, three RBIs, and scored one run. He made up nearly half of the Wenatchee offense and put the team on his back in a huge way.

​With the series win already locked up, the ‘Sox will be eyeing the sweep in game three. Wenatchee finishes the series on Sunday, June 7, at 5:35 p.m at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

Wenatchee walks it off! The 'Sox win on opening day in dramatic fashion!

In front of their home crowd for the first time this year, the Wenatchee AppleSox walked off the Kamloops Northpaws in extra innings 9-8. The ‘Sox loaded the bases in the tenth, and Nikko Paoletto shot a single into right field to end the night with a win.

The game was a boxing match from the start, with the two teams tallying 11 runs combined in the first three innings. The ‘Sox really struck in the third, scoring five runs off four hits and two errors. Cooper Brass and Matt Torres each tagged two-run singles, helping the ‘Sox take an early lead.

The NorthPaws rallied back in the fifth and sixth, tying it 8-8. The game coasted all the way to the ninth, where the ‘Sox managed to strand two runners and push the game to extras.

In the top of the tenth, the NorthPaws hit a sac-fly to center field and scored the go-ahead run. However, an appeal to third base revealed that the runner left early and the inning was over.

With an opportunity to win it in extras, the ‘Sox did not disappoint. Jonah Shields dropped down a bunt single to load the bases for Paoletto, and he followed it up with the walk-off single.

Player of the game honors were given to Shields, who finished the night with five hits, two stolen bases, and one run scored. He leads the team for stolen bags and is second on the team for hits with eight on the year.

The pitcher of the game was Braiden Boyd, a real no-brainer. Boyd pitched four innings to finish the game, allowing only two hits, no runs, and four strikeouts. This was his first game with the ‘Sox this season, and he did not disappoint.

Wenatchee stays at home to finish the series, taking on the NorthPaws in games two and three on June 6 and 7 at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.