APPLESOX ANNOUNCE FINAL BATCH OF EARLY-SIGNEES

Seven players cap a month-long process of releasing the Wenatchee AppleSox roster, head coach Kyle Krustangel announced, Monday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox are bringing in two future Nevada (Reno) student-athletes, along with a pair from Northern Colorado, a Concordia outfielder, an extra Washington State senior, and a UC San Diego Triton to round out the club’s early signees, head coach Kyle Krustangel announced Monday.

The expected active roster for Wenatchee includes eight soon-to-be seniors, and 23 players with prior collegiate playing experience. Currently, the roster stands at 28 players.

“We intentionally targeted an older roster this season,” said AppleSox head coach Kyle Krustangel. “We want to be a strong team of leaders and guys who can help each other, and I think the wealth of experience coming in can help us accomplish that. Any time you can lock up Division-I pitching, with experience, I think you’re doing it the right way. We’re excited to finalize our expected full-time roster with continued support from Nevada, and new relationships with Concordia, Northern Colorado, and UC San Diego.”

Josh Zamora and Tommy Watanabe are the incoming Nevada (Reno) student-athletes who will play for the AppleSox this summer.

Watanabe is a transfer from the College of San Mateo, and will be a junior for the Wolfpack next year. He was the second-leading pitcher for College of San Mateo last year, based on ERA.

Zamora, from El Toro High School in Foothill, Calif., will play on the infield for Wenatchee. He has experience as USA National Development Team member.

Wenatchee’s Northern-Colorado additions include outfielder Evan Johnson, and pitcher Connor Leedholm. Both are seniors-to-be for the Bears (Leedholm a fifth-year senior).

Johnson is an outfielder from Snoqualmie, Wash., and played at Bellevue College before transferring to Northern Colorado.

Leedholm is a right-handed pitcher from Lakewood, Colo. He posted four wins a season ago, and was an all-conference football and baseball player at Lakewood High School.

Dugan Shirer is a late addition to the AppleSox outfield, from Washington State. He joins Cougar teammates Colby Nealy and Reagan Teegarden on this year’s squad. The soon-to-be fifth-year senior previously played at the College of Southern Idaho.

Tanner Williams will also join the AppleSox outfield from Concordia. Williams had 21 multi-hit games a season ago, nearly starting all of the 46 contests he played in.

Cameron Kurz, who will be a redshirt-junior for UC San Diego, is a right-handed pitcher who led the Tritons with five saves a year ago. Kurz is from Encinitas, Calif. and graduated from La Costa Canyon High School. He played at Roosevelt College before transferring to UCSD.

The Wenatchee AppleSox open their 18th season of play June 2, 2017 at Walla Walla, and play their home opener in Wenatchee Thursday, June 8, 2017. For more information, fans can visit www.applesox.com.