APPLESOX OPEN 2016 WITH JAM-PACKED WEEKEND

The AppleSox open their 17th season with an exciting home series against the Yakima Valley Pippins. First pitches Friday-Sunday are schedule for 7:05p.m., 7:05p.m., and 6:05p.m., respectively.

For complete AppleSox team information click: here
For tonight's game notes click: here

WENATCHEE - The Wenatchee AppleSox (0-0), welcome the Yakima Valley Pippins (0-0) to the Valley to kick-off the 2016 WCL season Friday-Sunday at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and gates open at 6 p.m. The series continues Saturday night at the same time, and Sunday first pitch is at 6:05 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m., for the first Spaghetti Sunday of 2016. From the time gates open, until first pitch, you can purchase a plate of spaghetti and slice of garlic bread for $7.50.

APPLESOX TICKETS: www.applesox.com/tickets/
BROADCAST: www.applesox.com/listen-live/
PAUL THOMAS SR. STADIUM: www.applesox.com/paul-thomas-sr-field/

TONIGHT'S TILT
The Wenatchee AppleSox (0-0, 0-0, North), tied for first place in the division, host the Yakima Valley Pippins (0-0, 0-0 South) in Wenatchee’s home opener...the AppleSox have opened each of the last four calendar seasons at home, and faced Walla Walla on the road to open WCL play last year...the AppleSox are playing their 17th franchise season (12th in the WCL) and are led by second-year skipper, AJ Proszek (27-31) (.466), who is in his 4th season with the Sox...Proszek is assisted by Kyle Hunt and Colton Loomis, both in their first seasons.

LET’S GET ITSTARTED
The AppleSox are 12-4 in Opening Night games...Wenatchee has won its last four openers...a franchise-best mark (2008-10: three consecutive)...the Sox have an 8-4 record in home-opening contests... the AppleSox have played on the road four times to open their season...they are a perfect 4-0 in those contests (all league games)...against the WCL, Wenatchee is 2-2 in opening games…against non-league opponents, the AppleSox are 6-2 in opening games...Wenatchee has faced the Pippins to open a season once (6/6/14), a game Yakima Valley won 4-3…it was the Pippins inaugural WCL game…the last time Wenatchee opened a season at home against a league opponent was June 5, 2015 against Corvallis…played in Wenatchee, the AppleSox won 3-2 in 14 innings.

FAMILIAR FOES
Wenatchee finished its 2015 season against the Yakima Valley Pippins at County Stadium...Yakima Valley won two-of-three games in the series, including the series and season finale by a score of 4-3...in last year’s series, four of the nine games were decided by two runs or fewer...now in different divisions, the AppleSox and Pippins are only slated to meet in the regular season one other time in 2016...July 15-17 to end the pre-All Star schedule at County Stadium in Yakima.

PITCHING DOMINANT IN 2015 OPENER
CJ Gettman offered a complete-game shutout, June 4, 2015 against the San Francisco Seals to open the season for the Wenatchee AppleSox...final score was 8-2 in favor of Wenatchee and it was the first AppleSox win of AJ Proszek’s Sox head coaching career...Chase Lewallen, the grandson of first AppleSox coach, Gary Lewallen, delivered the games first RBIs on a double into the left center field gap.

2015 SEASON IN REVIEW
The Wenatchee AppleSox (24-30), failed to make the playoffs for just the third time in franchise history in 2015, after a run of 14-consecutive playoff berths was nixed in 2014...the AppleSox...Wenatchee finished 15-16 at home and 12-15 on the road last season...the AppleSox played 6 extra-inning games, going 2-4...the AppleSox had won their last three divisional series’ before running into Yakima Valley in the final series of the season...as mentioned a 2-1 series score in favor of the Pippins...Keston Hiura was the Sox’ offensive standout, while Hunter Wells tied the teams’ single-season wins record (7).

ABOUT THE APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Wenatchee is a perennial powerhouse in the West Coast League...with five championships, Wenatchee is the most decorated franchise in the league...Wenatchee has also been runner-up twice in the championship, which is a second-best mark in the league, and has won its division six times, also second best...the AppleSox’ nine playoff appearances are tied for first with Corvallis for most in the league.