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.

Wenatchee falls to the Bells: The 'Sox come Up short of the sweep in game three

With the series sweep on the line, the ‘Sox were three outs away from securing it. They had a 2-1 lead going into the ninth inning but could not hold on.

The Bellingham Bells tallied two runs in the final frame and walked off the third game in front of their home crowd. Three hits, an RBI-single, and a walk-off sac fly to center field put the final nail in the coffin for the ‘Sox and allowed Bellingham to dodge the sweep.

Wenatchee was the first one to get on the board, with an RBI fielder’s choice and groundout in the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead. However, that was all the production they would get from their bats, with the ‘Sox getting out-hit by the Bells 7-5 for the third straight night.

Later in the sixth, the Bells dug into that lead with a sac-fly from Dillon Moss to make it 2-1. Then, it came down to the ninth, where Bellingham clutched up in the tightest spot of the weekend​.

Righty starter Nicho Crowley won player of the game for the ‘Sox, getting his first start of the season and spinning five innings of scoreless baseball with six strikeouts and only three hits.

Josh Sterba and Dylan Schlenger were the two righty relievers who backed up Crowley, and they could not close it out. Sterba went a single inning, giving up one run off one hit and one walk. Then, it was Schlenger who put in a long outing of relief, going 2 ⅔ and coughing up three runs to allow Bellingham to walk it off.

The bats were quiet for Wenatchee, getting just five hits and striking out a whopping 12 times. Kainoa Santiago and Jonah Shields stood out from the crowd, with Santiago hitting two singles and Shields smoking a hustle triple in the fourth.

The ‘Sox move to 3-2 overall on the year after the loss and head back home to take on Kamloops in Wenatchee for the first time this season. The ‘Sox home opening series starts on June 5 and ends on June 7 at Paul Thomas Senior Stadium.

'Sox secure the series: Wenatchee beats Bellingham in game two of the set

With a series win on the line, the ‘Sox clutched up in game two against Bellingham. They came from behind against their North Division rivals and took them down 5-4 in extra innings.

For the second straight game, Wenatchee was out-hit by the Bells but still managed a win. Of course, it was the four errors that Bellingham committed that truly shot them in the foot.

The Bells broke the ice first when they scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Those runs came from a fielder's choice by Tristan Schaefer and an RBI single from Tyler Peshke.

But the ‘Sox answered back right away. In the sixth, Nikko Paoletto reached base via an error and then advanced to third after a passed ball and a stolen base. Finally, another passed ball allowed Paoletto to waltz home to score.

Still with the lead, the Bells were hoping to coast to a 2-1 win in the ninth. However, the ‘Sox had other plans.

Wenatchee tacked on three runs in the ninth, snatching the lead and painting the Bells into a corner. Those three runs came off an error from Peshke and two RBI-singles from Kainoa Santiago and Paoletto.

Now with the lead, the ‘Sox had flipped the script and were on the precipice of a series win. But the Bells made it interesting. An RBI-double and single tied it up late, forcing the game to extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, the ‘Sox brought in Jonah Shields to get the job done. Shields dropped a bunt back to the pitcher, and the rest was pandemonium. The pitcher, Thrasher Steed, airmailed the toss to third and allowed the go-ahead run to score.

With a one-run lead, the ‘Sox needed just three outs to secure the series win, and secure it they did. An inning-ending double play sealed the deal and gave the ‘Sox their third win of the season.​

Pitching was on its A-game for Wenatchee, with starting righty Felix Schlede spinning four innings of scoreless baseball off five strikeouts and one walk. Then it was Dylan Dyer, Tate Swanson, and Clint Beck combining for four innings of four-run ball with five strikeouts and only two walks. After them, Jonathan Christner took over in the ninth and carried the team over the finish line, ending with two innings, no runs, and four strikeouts.

Player of the game honors went to Paoletto, who finished the night going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks. This is the second time this season that Paoletto has been player of the game.

The ‘Sox conclude the series later today at 6:35 pm at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham.

Wenatchee rings the Bells: 'Sox sneak out a 3-2 win over Bellingham in game one

In game one of the three-game series, Wenatchee managed to sneak out a 3-2 win over the Bellingham Bells on their home turf. Pitching shined for the ‘Sox in the narrow win, with starting right-hander Hiroshi Johnson securing player of the game.

The Bells got out to an early 1-0 lead after second baseman Matt Torres airmailed a throw to first and allowed Aspen Alexander to score in the first inning. The Bells would hold onto that 1-0 lead up until the sixth inning.

In that frame, the ‘Sox took advantage of one hit by pitch, two hits, two walks, and a sac-fly to score three runs and take the lead. Joseph Coupland had an RBI single, Matt Torres walked home a run, and Noah Figuered hit a sac-fly to left field to tally all three runs.

Johnson went five innings for the ‘Sox, allowing only one run off three hits, 1 walk, and two strikeouts. After him, it was lefty Colin Fraser tossing two frames of scoreless relief with four strikeouts and only one hit. Then, it was newcomer Carson Boesel who took over for the eighth and ninth innings.

The ‘Sox carried their 3-1 lead all the way to the ninth, where Boesel was three outs away from slamming the door on the Bells. However, a late rally was sparked by right fielder Bryce Johnson, who singled and was then brought home to score after an RBI single from Matt Churchill.

With the lead shaved to just a run, Boesel did not back down. He struck out the last batter of the ballgame and stamped a win in the first game of the series.

The ‘Sox were out-hit by the Bells, but the seven walks and two hit-by-pitches ended up costing Bellingham in the long run. Starting right-hander Lathan Haywood was the one pitching bright spot, spinning four innings of scoreless ball off only three hits and five strikeouts. However, the Bells’ three preceding relievers coughed up the winning runs to the ‘Sox.

Wenatchee stays in Bellingham for games two and three of the series on Wednesday and Thursday. First pitch for game two is 6:35 pm at Joe Martin Field.

This week in AppleSox baseball: New faces, opening day wins, and rain delays

The 2026 AppleSox season officially kicked off this past weekend, and boy, was it entertaining. The ‘Sox started their season up north in Edmonton, taking on the Riverhawks in a three-game series.

Wenatchee secured an opening-night win in game one, scoring six runs off nine hits, two stolen bags, and a home run. Newcomers Nikko Paoletto and Joseph Coupland stood out in the game, with Paoletto going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Coupland going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs.

Pitching was equally impressive, with Luke Sterkel and Joe Thornton combining for nine innings of two-run ball. Sterkel got the start and went five innings with six strikeouts, three hits, and only two runs. After him, Thornton finished the race, tossing four innings of scoreless baseball with five strikeouts.

That opening-day matchup was delayed by over an hour due to heavy rain that poured in right before first pitch. Lucky for both teams, game two was nothing but sunshine.

Both Edmonton and Wenatchee unveiled new jerseys in the game, with the Riverhawks releasing their “Tree-Hugger” jerseys for nature night and Wenatchee rolling out their new navy road uniforms. Edmonton took the win in game two, tallying 10 runs off 10 hits despite committing six errors in the field.

The main difference between the two matchups was pitching. Left-hander Levi Arnold got the start for Wenatchee in game two and was chased out after just ⅔ of an inning. Arnold finished the night with six hits, one walk, one balk, and six runs given up.

After him, it was a platoon of relievers to try and stop the bleeding. Righty Jonathan Christner went 2 ⅓ with no runs, lefty Grayden Lucas went two innings allowing just one run, righty Dylan Schlenger pitched a single three-up three-down inning, and right-hander Miles DuCharme closed out the game with two innings, two hits, four walks, and three runs.

Paoletto had another standout performance in game two, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. But it was not enough to mount a comeback, causing the ‘Sox to lose 10-7 to the Riverhawks.

With the series set up for a deciding game on Sunday, a torrential downpour caused the game to be canceled before it could even start. The third game of the series will be rescheduled for later in the year when Edmonton comes down to Wenatchee.

The game was not the only thing canceled on account of rain. The team’s flight out of Edmonton was canceled as well, forcing the squad to take a bus 14 hours south back to the valley.

After two games, two rain delays, and a long travel night, the AppleSox sit at 1-1 on the season. They now head up north again to take on the Bellingham Bells for three games starting on June 2 and concluding on June 4.

AppleSox fall short of a comeback against Edmonton: The Riverhawks win 10-7 in game two of the series

After an opening day win the night before, the Wenatchee AppleSox fell short of the comeback in game two of the series versus Edmonton. The Riverhawks out-hit the ‘Sox 10-5 and secured the 10-7 win despite committing six errors in the field. 

Wenatchee struck immediately in the first, scoring on an errant throw to third and then a sac fly from catcher Joseph Coupland to make it 2-0. However, the ‘Sox would not have the lead for long. 

At the bottom of the first, Wenatchee starting pitcher Levi Arnold gave up six hits and six runs to the Riverhawks. After just ⅔ of an inning, the lefty starter was chased out of the game. 

Jonathan Christner took over for Arnold in the first and was able to wiggle off the hook. The game slowed down after that, with the next run coming in the fourth when Edmonton’s Tony Moore came around to score after reaching via an error. 

With a 7-2 lead, Edmonton was hoping to coast its way to a five-run win. However, the ‘Sox refused to go quietly. 

In the fifth, Wenatchee tallied three runs off a sac-fly from Kainoa Santiago, an RBI-error from Coupland, and an RBI-single from Sam Moore. That cut the lead to only two runs and got the ‘Sox back in the race. 

Wenatchee was not done yet, with Nikko Paoletto scorching a two-run RBI single in the sixth to tie the game 7-7. 

The game stayed deadlocked until the seventh inning, when Michell Middlemiss for Edmonton snuck a double down the right field line to score a run and take the lead. Then, in the eighth, a pair of leadoff walks came around to score thanks to an RBI-double from Jaxon Fox. 

Up 10-7, the Riverhawks called in right-hander Alan Gonzalez to slam the door. And slam he did, going 2.0 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and three strikeouts. He struck out Max Paterson to finish the game and hand Wenatchee their first loss of the season. 

Paoletto took home player of the game honors for Wenatchee, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, but it was not enough to complete the comeback against the Riverhawks. 

The ‘Sox conclude the series tomorrow at 12:05 p.m PST at Remax Field in Edmonton.

Wenatchee wins on opening day! The 'Sox take down Edmonton 6-2 in the first game of the season

On opening day of the West Coast League 2026 season, the Wenatchee AppleSox pulled into Remax Field in Edmonton, Alberta, and took home a 6-2 win over the Riverhawks. After an hour-long rain delay, Wenatchee went on to tally nine hits, six RBIs, one home run, and two pitching performances to lock down the mound. 

Right-handed pitcher Luke Sterkel got the opening-day start for the ‘Sox, and he did not disappoint. The returning AppleSox spun five innings of one-run baseball, giving up just three hits in the process. 

After Sterkel, it was lefty Joe Thornton coming out of the pen to carry the team over the finish line. Thornton kicked off his third season in a ‘Sox jersey with four innings and only one run coughed up. 

At the plate, Wenatchee supplied plenty of run support. After going down 1-0 early in the game, designated hitter Nikko Paoletto smacked a double up the middle to clean the table and take a 2-1 lead in the fifth. 

Flash forward an inning, and starting catcher Joseph Coupland tagged a solo homer deep to left field to extend the lead to 3-1. A short while later, right-fielder Terrell Scott-Romain beat out a double play to drive in a run via the fielder’s choice. 

Finally, it was Coupland striking again in the ninth with a line drive to left center field to tally two and give Wenatchee some insurance. With a 6-2 lead heading into the final frame, Thornton was able to shut down the Riverhawks in the ninth and put Wenatchee in the win column for the first time in 2026. 

A loud day at the plate and two pitchers combining for a near-flawless outing on the mound. That sums up this Wenatchee team heading into the season and may just be a taste of what’s to come on the horizon. 

The Sox continue the series today against the Riverhawks at 6:05 p.m PST, and conclude the series at 12:05 p.m PST on Sunday, May 31.

Five Newcomers Wind up in Wenatchee for 2026

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu 

Five newcomers wind up in Wenatchee for 2026

Rounding out the roster for 2026, the AppleSox are adding five newcomers to their ranks who all add depth to their position class. Luke Baier, Jake Overstreet, Jacob Gabler, Nikko Paoletto, and Jonah Shields are all donning an Applesox jersey this summer, and all five could prove exciting to watch in the valley. 

Whether it’s two catchers from Texas with high ceilings at the plate, a right-hander getting back into his groove, or two outfield bats with serious slugging potential at the plate, Wenatchee is welcoming five newbies who may be perfect fits for the ‘Sox. 

So, let’s break down all five of these future AppleSox…   

Luke Baier - C - Senior 

Now in his senior year, Baier has finally found his way back home. The 6-foot-5 Wenatchee native has bounced around in college baseball, and his journey has finally brought him to his hometown for his first season with the AppleSox. 

After graduating from Wenatchee High School in 2022, Baier committed to Pacific Lutheran University to start his college baseball journey. He played just two games with the Lutes in his freshman year, getting three at-bats and two hits in total. 

After that, he spent the summer with Walla Walla in the West Coast League, a division opponent of the ‘Sox. That summer, he similarly got just two games of work with the Sweets, recording only four at-bats and one hit overall. 

Baier then packed his bags for Centralia College, where he spent the 2024 season. With the Trailblazers, Baier finally got a real workload. 

In 47 games, he smacked 30 hits, seven doubles, two home runs, and 18 RBIs. He posted a 0.200 average on the dot, but also struck out an egregious 58 times.   

Following his first real test at the JUCO level, Baier stayed in the WCL to play for Springfield in the 2024 summer season. With the Drifters, he got 20 games of work and ended the summer with a 0.197 average, 13 hits, two doubles, seven RBIs, and a 0.521 OPS. 

Heading into 2025, Baier waved goodbye to the Pacific Northwest and headed south to join Abilene Christian University in Texas. He did not play at all his first year with the Wildcats, and this past season, he got just four games of action. 

In those four games of his senior year, Baier got three at-bats and one hit. Add it all up, and you get 73 games and just 225 at-bats total in college ball. 

While he may be in his senior year, Baier does not have the most experience. But now back in his hometown, he has a chance to get some quality playing time as he transitions to the next part of his baseball journey. 

Jake Overstreet - C - Sophomore

Just an hour and a half away from home, Overstreet stayed in his native state when he committed to Weatherford College out of high school. The Rockwall native was the No. 20-ranked catcher and No. 174 overall player in the state of Texas, and since joining the Coyotes, he has shown why. 

In just his freshman year, Overstreet stood out immediately. Through 41 games, he batted 0.333, posted 38 hits, seven doubles, three home runs, 25 RBIs, and a 0.964 OPS. In the field, he was near perfect, making only two errors and throwing out three runners from behind the dish. 

Now, in his second year of JUCO ball, he has blown his previous benchmarks out of the water. He finished this year with a team-best 0.403 average, 81 hits, 18 doubles, 14 home runs, and a 1.226 OPS. 

On top of leading the team for average, he also led the team for hits and doubles and was third for home runs. Basically, he made up a bulk of the Coyote offense this past spring. 

Behind the plate, he botched just two plays and tossed out five runners on the basepaths. While he did allow 26 stolen bases in his two years, he made up for it with his scorching hit bat. 

He has yet to play summer league ball… until now. With his first summer stint coming in Wenatchee, he will be a vital option to have behind the plate. If he stays as hot as he was in Texas, then he should have no problem becoming a familiar face in the valley all summer long. 

Jacob Gabler - RHP - Junior 

Gabler may have committed to Washington State University out of high school, but after two years in the Crimson and Gray, he swapped it for blue and orange down in Arlington. The 6-foot-6 Edmonds native was the No. 2-ranked right-hander in Washington back in 2023 and has had a slow launch into college. 

He made his debut with the Cougs in 2024, making two appearances in relief and finishing with a 13.50 ERA off one hit, two runs, two walks, three strikeouts, and 1 ⅓ innings pitched. The next year, he made three appearances out of the pen, going 2 ⅓ innings and posting a perfect 0.00 ERA with no hits, no runs, no walks, and two strikeouts. 

After that, Gabler headed down south to join the University of Texas-Arlington this past season. With the Mavericks, Gabler made a career-high nine relief appearances, pitching 5 ⅔ innings, giving up 18 runs, 21 hits, six walks, and four strikeouts. 

His last outing came on April 7 against Baylor, where he was unable to record an out and gave up three runs, cementing his 21.13 ERA on the year. 

While he may have three seasons of D1 ball under his belt, he has yet to play a single season in the summer heat. With Wenatchee being his first season in summer league baseball, he has a chance to build on this past spring and develop into a lockdown reliever in the valley. 

Nikko Paoletto - OF - Redshirt Freshman

After committing to the University of Utah in 2025, Paoletto never once touched the dirt for the Utes in Salt Lake City. He rode the bench his entire freshman season, prompting him to hit the road and head for Santa Ana College in California. 

Since arriving at the JUCO level, Paoletto has absolutely popped off. The Chino, California native was the No. 18-ranked outfielder in the state, and he showed exactly why with the Dons. 

In 51 games, he is batting an insane 0.422 with a jaw-dropping 1.218 OPS. On top of that, he has 18 doubles, 11 home runs, 84 hits, and 58 RBIs. 

In the outfield, he was near perfect, with a 0.981 fielding percentage and two errors. Pair that with a scorching-hot bat from the right side, and you get an outfielder who can torment college pitchers in the summer. 

Paoletto has not played any summer league baseball, making the ‘Sox the first team he’ll be spending his offseason with. With a mountain of momentum built up from this past year with Santa Ana, Paoletto may have hit the ‘Sox at the perfect time to do damage. 

At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, he brings home run power to the valley, which will be thrilling for fans to watch all summer long. 

Jonah Shields - OF - Junior

In addition to three years of D1 baseball, Shields also has three seasons of summer league baseball on his resume. He has been loyal to the Minot Hot Tots in the Northwoods League for the past three summers, but he is mixing things up this year by joining the ‘Sox.

Shields was the No. 6-ranked shortstop in Nevada back in 2023, and before he got started with Cal State Bakersfield, he decided to get his feet wet with the Hot Tots. He played 13 games with Minot in the summer of 2023, batting 0.170 with nine hits, two RBIs, and only one extra base hit. 

He then got to work with the Roadrunners in Bakersfield, and his freshman year was eye-catching. He played 42 games as a freshman, batting 0.291 with 30 hits, four doubles, and 11 RBIs. 

After that, he redonned the Hot Tots jersey for the summer of 2024. In his second year in Minot, he tripled his playing time by getting 42 games of action and batting 0.268 with three home runs. 

Then, after only one year with the Roadrunners, he decided to head cross-country to join Jacksonville University in Florida. With the Dolphins, Shields really torched the ball. 

He played 54 games that first year, batting 0.359 with 75 hits, 10 doubles, two home runs, 36 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases. Those numbers at the plate and on the base paths showed exactly what Shields is capable of when given a full year to shine. 

Then, to complete the trifecta, he returned to the Hot Tots for his third season in Minot. This time around, he played just 21 games and batted 0.236 with just 17 hits, nine RBIs, and one home run.  

After his last tour of duty with the Tots, Shields returned to the Dolphins this past spring, and his year was cut short. He played only 14 games this season, with his last appearance being on March 6. He batted 0.408 this spring with 20 hits, three doubles, and nine RBIs. 

As a battle-tested utility bat, Shields is exactly what the ‘Sox need. He can smoke the ball when given the chance, steal bags against D1 arms, lock down the infield and outfield, and provide veteran leadership from the dugout.  

A FUTURE NIGHTHAWK AND CURRENT TRITON LAND IN WENATCHEE THIS SUMMER

Smith Slye - smith.slye@wsu.edu

A future Nighthawk and current Triton land in Wenatchee this summer

One is returning to the bullpen at UC San Diego, and the other is entering his fourth year in JUCO. Josh Sterba and Harry Pelzman are both coming to Wenatchee this summer, and each is dipping back into the waters of college ball.

Whether it’s a starter from Whidbey Island transferring to his third school, or a Californian who ran into a roadblock out of the pen, both arms will have prime opportunities to develop in the valley.

​So, who is this righty and lefty duo pulling into Wenatchee this summer…

Josh Sterba - RHP - Junior

After an explosive start to his career in Spokane Falls, Sterba has hit a snag in his college path that now has him heading for Northwest Nazarene next year.

The 6-foot-4 righty from Langley committed to the Squatches out of high school but rode the bench his first year. Then, in year two, he showed exactly what he was capable of.

He made 12 starts in his second year in Spokane, tossing 76 ⅔ innings, allowing only 22 runs, 14 walks, and 43 strikeouts. This gave him a 2.58 ERA in his first full season of JUCO.

​After that, Sterba decided to take his talents down south to play with Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Oklahoma this season. In just one season with the Evangels, Sterba made only one start, and it did not go as planned.

In just ⅔ of an inning, he allowed five runs via three hits, two home runs, one walk, and managed two strikeouts. This jumped his ERA to 27.00 and was the last time he would take the mound in Oklahoma.

That was back on Jan. 22 of this year, making it four whole months since Sterba has seen action. Now he is heading back north to play with the Nighthawks in Idaho for 2027.

But, before he gets to Nampa, he will be spending his summer in Wenatchee getting back into starting shape with the AppleSox. After showing serious signs of potential in Spokane, he may be primed for a bounce-back summer in the valley.

Harry Pelzman - LHP - Sophomore

Complimenting Sterba from the left side is 6-foot-3 sophomore Pelzman. Similar to Sterba, Pelzman got out to a great start when he committed to UC San Diego, but he has hit a snag this season.

The Redwood City native was the No. 18 lefty prospect in California back in 2024, and in his first season with the Tritons, he was tested.

He made eight relief cameos last season, averaging less than an inning per stint. With 12 runs allowed on seven hits, 10 walks, and three strikeouts, he finished the year with a 17.00 ERA. Six of those 12 earned runs came in one game against Long Beach, making Pelzman a clutch arm out of the pen, aside from one outing.

Now into his sophomore year, Pelzman’s season has been short to say the least. He made only two outings this year, his last being on March 25 against the University of Oregon. In those two relief appearances, Pelzman allowed five earned runs, all coming in just 1.0 inning of work. He also allowed four hits, three walks, and just one strikeout.

​Pelzman is not new to summer league ball. Last summer he spent the offseason pitching for the Utah Royals in the Marshalls League. While in the Salt Lake state Pelzman slipped into a starting role, making six starts and ringing up a 6.35 ERA. He averaged around five innings per start and allowed just 20 runs on 17 walks and an impressive 36 strikeouts.

With Sterba starting from the right side and Pelzman taking over from the left, the ‘Sox are acquiring two arms that may complement each other well as they each work their way back into the water.

The 2026 season begins on May 29 as the AppleSox jet off to Edmonton to play the Edmonton RiverHawks at RE/MAX Field at 6:05 p.m. The AppleSox open their home season on June 5th at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium as they host the Kamloops NorthPaws. The AppleSox have 29 home games and play until mid-August. The franchise’s five West Coast League championships are the second-most in league history. Season ticket packages are available for purchase now at applesox.com/season-tickets.