APPLESOX END SEASON WITH BELLS, SUNDAY

The AppleSox end the 2016 season at home, Sunday, against the Bellingham Bells.

WENATCHEE APPLESOX vs Bellingham Bells
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium |       6:05 p.m.  
L- Mac Lardner vs. R- Gio Lopez (1-2)
GAME NOTES       |       APPLESOX STATS       |       LISTEN LIVE

The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-34, 9-17, 9-14 North), fifth place in the North Division wrap up the 2016 season at home against the Bellingham Bells (31-22, 16-10, 14-9) who clinched the final WCL playoff spot Friday...for the AppleSox, Sunday’s game marks a chance to win the season series against the Bells...the AppleSox are playing their 17th franchise season (12th in the WCL) and are led by second-year skipper, AJ Proszek (49-66) (.426), who is in his 4th season with the Sox...Proszek is assisted by Kyle Hunt and Colton Loomis, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT - APPLESOX 9, BELLINGHAM 6
WENATCHEE –   The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-34, 9-17 second half), won an offensively-powered game 9-6 over the Bellingham Bells (31-22, 16-10) to even the season’s final series, Saturday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. ..the Bells struck for two runs in the first...however, Wenatchee had a big answer for its starter Luke Mattson (2-7) in the bottom half...Ryan Kreidler started a bases-loaded opening to the game with a single and a walk of Evan Douglas, and a hit by pitch of Sheldon Liikala loaded the bases for Michael Toglia...Toglia delivered a 2-RBI single through the right side to get the game back to even, and net his 37th and 38th RBIs on the season, making him the WCL leader...Jordan Rathbone hit in a go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice, and a Dalton Harum single and a wild pitch gave the Sox a 5-2 advantage after one inning...Mattson settled down to score four scoreless innings in the second through the fifth, while his offense got him another four-run backing in the fourth...the runs were important, as Mattson fell into some trouble in his sixth and final inning...with two runners on, and a run already home on an error, the Bells connected on a three-run blast from Landon Riker to make the score 9-6...the AppleSox bats fell silent late, with the game’s final 11 batters retired in order for Wenatchee, but that posed no problem for the bullpen that protected the lead...Nick Hoefling and Miceal Taylor each tossed two scoreless innings, and Taylor’s were mighty impressive, only allowing one hit in his final two collegiate summer league innings, while earning his second save.

TONIGHT'S NOTES
FOR THE SERIES WIN
Tonight, the Wenatchee AppleSox have a chance to win a season series for the first time this season, having previously tied four teams in season-series play (Gresham, Bend, Kelowna, and Walla Walla). The AppleSox won only a single season series a year ago (2-1) over the Kitsap BlueJackets. Tonight could also win Wenatchee the current series with the playoff-bound Bells. 

SUNDAY FUN DAY
The Wenatchee AppleSox play great baseball on Sundays this season...in fact, it is the only day of the week when the AppleSox have an above-.500 record (4-3). 

LARDNER THE STARTER
Since moving to a starting role to end the 2016 season, Mac Lardner is having plenty of success. He hasn’t lost a game as a starter and is 2-0 with an average of just over 5-innings per game. He has averaged allowing 2.33 earned runs per game in his three starts.