SOX ROUND OUT REGULAR SEASON IN KELOWNA

APPLESOX (25-26, 14-11 second half)

v.s.

Kelowna Falcons (26-25, 12-13 second half)

August 6-8

Elks Stadium

The Wenatchee AppleSox wrap up their 2018 regular season with three games against the Kelowna Falcons to start this week. The Sox are a game-and-a-half out of first place and still in the hunt.

They last played the Falcons on June 16-18 in Wenatchee. Kelowna won the final two games of the series to take the AppleSox’ first West Coast League home series of the season. 

Probable Pitchers

Monday

AppleSox: Michael Spellacy (2-1, 3.51 ERA)

Falcons: Stone Churby (1-3, 5.65 ERA)

Tuesday

AppleSox: Curtis Bafus (4-4, 2.21 ERA)

Falcons: Trevor Brigden (3-4, 3.11 ERA)

Wednesday

AppleSox: Hunter Boyd (5-2, 4.07 ERA)

Falcons: James Brooks (4-0, 4.66 ERA)

Scouting the Opponent

Like the AppleSox, the Kelowna Falcons’ playoff hopes hang by a thread. However, they enter the final series of the season with much to play for.

The Falcons are fresh off a four-games-in-three-days set with Bellingham. Kelowna split the series and has lost nine of its last 12 games.

Despite the struggles, the Falcons are still fourth in the West Coast League in batting average (.278). However, their 5.21 team ERA is the worst in the league.

Playoff Chances

The AppleSox enter the final series of the regular season still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but they need some help. The Sox are currently a game-and-a-half out of first in the North division with three games remaining.

If the Yakima Valley Pippins lose twice this weekend to the Corvallis Knights and the Sox win all three games against Kelowna, the Sox move into a tie with Bellingham for the best record in the second half.

Bellingham would win the second half since they beat the Sox four out of six games. However, the AppleSox would win the second half playoff spot because they would have the second-best overall record in the North division for the 2018 season.

The Sox would not technically win the second half since they would have the same record as Bellingham and the Bells defeated the Sox four times in six games. However, the Bells won the first half and cannot also win the second half. The second-half playoff berth for the North division would then go to the team with the second-best overall record, first and second half combined. 

With a sweep of the Falcons, the Sox would have the second-best overall record from the North division. However, that won't meant anything if the Pippins win two of their final three games, at the least. They would finish 17-10 and thus a half-a-game ahead of the Bells to win the second-half playoff spot.

Other teams can still qualify for the playoffs. Victoria gets in with a sweep of Portland, two Kelowna losses and two Yakima Valley losses. Kelowna gets in with two Yakima Valley losses and two wins over the AppleSox. Everyone in the North division is alive except for Port Angeles.