AppleSox Tap Northwest Schools for Talent

A combination of new and old partner schools from the region will provide the Wenatchee AppleSox with eight players this summer. The AppleSox will include catcher Michael McCann from Seattle University, right-handed pitcher/infielder Ty Jackson from Lewis-Clark State College, right-handed pitchers Tom Zarosinski and Ian Buckles from George Fox University, left-handed pitcher Clark McKitrick from Western Oregon University, right-handed pitcher Hunter Wells and left-handed pitcher Jacob Cogar from Lower Columbia College, and right-handed pitcher Colton Loomis from Community Colleges of Spokane.

McCann is in his first season at Seattle U after a successful prep career at Columbia River High School in Vancouver. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 40th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, but opted to go to college. He has played in all but four games for the Redhawks as a freshman, hitting .196 with 14 RBIs.

“He has had a lot of playing time as only a freshman. He is coming in as a catcher, but he is a very versatile guy that gives us options beyond having him behind the plate,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “

Jackson is the current NAIA West Pitcher of the Week after a phenomenal weekend. The Kennewick native threw six scoreless innings and got the win Saturday against Northwest Nazarene and followed up that performance Sunday by hitting the game-winning home in Lewis-Clark State’s 2-1 win over the College of Idaho. The Kennewick native started his college career at Washington State with his twin brother Bryce, who played for the AppleSox in 2012. The sophomore is 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA on the mound and is batting .278 at the plate this spring.  

“He almost played for us two seasons ago when his brother was on the team,” said Knaggs. “We are excited to have him now. He is a two-way player who can be a corner infielder in addition to pitching.” 

Zarosinski, a veteran righty, is from Lake Oswego, OR. He began his college career at Oregon State before transferring to George Fox, where he is in his third season with the Bruins. The junior briefly pitched for the Corvallis Knights in 2011 and also again in 2013. This season he is 6-3 with a 2.12 ERA for George Fox.

Buckles also comes to Wenatchee after having pitched in the West Coast League last summer. The junior earned the second most wins for the Klamath Falls Gems last year, notching a 5-2 record with a 3.25 ERA. This season the Kent product who attended Kentridge High School is 6-1 with a 2.65 ERA at George Fox.   

“Both of them have experience in our league which I really like,” said Knaggs. “They have been putting together really good years and right now they project to be guys that we will probably use in our starting rotation.” 

McKitrick is the only Idaho native on Wenatchee’s roster this year, hailing from Idaho Falls. The junior southpaw began his college career at Linn-Benton Community College before transferring to Western Oregon. This season he is 4-1 with a 3.96 ERA for the Wolves.

“Western Oregon is a great Division II program and it will be our first time getting a player from them,” said Knaggs. “He will be a valuable lefty out of the bullpen.”

Wells leads Lower Columbia College in wins this season, compiling a 5-1 record with a 2.23 ERA in 8 starts. The freshman out of Spokane had an impressive prep career at West Valley High School. He is signed to transfer to Gonzaga next season.

Cogar, a teammate of Wells at LCC, is also a freshman for the Red Devils. The lefty was a standout at Monroe High School, where he earned All-Wesco first team honors last season. He is 4-1 for LCC with a 1.82 ERA this season. Former AppleSox player D.J. Lidyard tutors both as the pitching coach for the Red Devils.

“These two will follow in a long line over very good arms that we have had over the years from Lower Columbia,” said Knaggs. “They are talented freshman and both have a high ceiling for the future.”

Out of Cashmere, Loomis will get to play in front of familiar faces this summer. As a senior at Cashmere High School he was named the 1A/B State Player of the Year by the Washington Baseball Coaches Association after going 10-0 with a 0.67 ERA and helping the Bulldogs to a state championship. The sophomore plays for AppleSox pitching coach A.J. Proszek at the Community Colleges of Spokane, where he is 2-3 with a 6.07 ERA this spring.

“He was scheduled to play for last year but got injured right before the summer, so we are happy to have him this season,” said Knaggs. “He throws from a lower arm slot that creates a lot of movement on his pitches. He has excellent control and will primarily be used in relief for us.” 

The 2014 season will begin at home on June 4th with a two-game series against the San Francisco Seals. The AppleSox will play a 59-game schedule this summer that includes 32 homes games.

Single game tickets start at just $6 for adults and $5 for kids. Season tickets are available now and can be purchased by contacting the AppleSox office at (509) 665-6900.