AppleSox Walk Off Again to Defeat Pippins

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WENATCHEE, WA - The AppleSox walked-off the Yakima Valley Pippins with a 4-3 10-inning victory on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Hunter Montgomery walked with the bases loaded and one out to give the Sox their fifth consecutive win, sixth including non-league games. Wenatchee has now won 10 consecutive home games.

After scoring first, the Sox then trailed by two runs entering the sixth inning and then scored once in it and again in the seventh. They ultimately picked up their third walk-off win of the season and second this week.

Ryan Isler tossed four shutout inning of relief. Even though he didn’t pick up the win, Isler recorded 10 consecutive outs before allowing a base hit. He struck out two in his longest appearance of the summer.

Blake Klassen singled and walked twice apiece and Johnny Sage reached base three times after receiving the Tommy Watanabe Award before the game.

The Sox got on the board first when Trent Sellers singled, stole second and scored from second on a wild pitch in the first inning. The Pippins knotted it up with a run in the fourth and took a two-run lead after a bases-loaded walk and single in the fifth.

Back-to-back AppleSox single-run innings tied the game up. Sage walked and eventually scored on a balk in the sixth. Kody Darcy and Brett Gillis both singled with one out in the seventh and Darcy scored on a sacrifice fly by Kodie Kolden.

The AppleSox put the winning run in scoring position but couldn’t strike in the ninth. In the 10th, Sellers walked, Sage singled and then, with one out, Klassen was intentionally walked. Montgomery walked on five pitches to plate the winning run.

Cameron Sommer (2-1) tossed a scoreless top of the 10th to pick up the win.

Thanks to the Bellingham Bells’ 12-6 win over the Victoria HarbourCats, the AppleSox are again tied with the HarbourCats for first place. If the Sox win the second half North Division title for tie for first, they make the postseason. If they finish second behind Victoria, then the AppleSox must have the next best overall record, first half and second half included, in the North Division. The Sox are currently 1.5 games ahead of Bellingham for the second best overall record in the North. For full playoff playoff procedures, visit the West Coast League website.

Listen to AppleSox broadcaster Joel Norman’s postgame interviews with Isler, Sage and head coach Kyle Krustangel.