APPLESOX AXE BELLS FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION, WIN BY TEN RUNS, SATURDAY

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (29-23, 14-11) evened the series in an 11-1 final over the Bellingham Bells (30-23, 14-12) and eliminated the Bells from WCL North playoff contention, Saturday night at Joe Martin Field.

The AppleSox opened the game with a three-run outburst in the first inning, spearheaded by back-to-back lead off doubles for Michael Spellacy and Jacob Prater. The second drove in Spellacy for the early 1-0 lead. Jalen Garcia also contributed an RBI fielder’s choice in the first inning and Jake Taylor drove in a run on a hit-and-run off of Bellingham starter Zach Pettway.

All AppleSox starters collected at least one hit in the contest.

Freshman Alek Jacob (2-0) was phenomenal on the mound for Wenatchee. He tossed a scoreless first inning, while retiring the Bells in order, and didn’t allow a hit in the first three innings. He only gave up three hits throughout his entire outing, as Wenatchee cruised in game two.

Wenatchee added a run against Bellingham in the third inning when Jalen Garcia scored on a balk, following a single and a passed ball and fielder’s choice.

The AppleSox big inning came in the fourth, when they cashed in for five runs, punctuated by a two-out three-run home run for Adrian Damla to right center field, which followed RBI singles for Evan Johnson and Adrian Vela.

Wenatchee added an RBI single in the fifth inning for Spellacy, and a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for Prater, to complete the 11-run tally.

Garcia robbed a home run on the defensive side of things in the third, following an inning-ending double play in the second.

The AppleSox defense committed one lone error and supported Jacob to the end of his 7.2 innings. He allowed one unearned run in the sixth inning on an RBI single for Austin Shenton, following an Austin Pinorini bunt single, and two-base throwing error, E5.

Michael Spellacy closed the door in the eighth inning with runners on first and second base, thanks to a strikeout, and then punched out two of the final three men in the ninth inning to secure the 11-1 win for Wenatchee.

The AppleSox eliminated Bellingham from WCL playoff contention with the win, and now face a scenario, Sunday, where a win over Bellingham combined with a Victoria loss to Port Angeles clinches the WCL North second half for the AppleSox.

If both Victoria and Wenatchee win or lose, then, Wenatchee will need to win a one-game make up, Monday, versus the Corvallis Knights.

The AppleSox play game three of the series in Belingham, Sunday, at 3:05 p.m. Mike Townsend is on the mound for the AppleSox in a game that could clinch the team’s first WCL playoff appearance since 2013.