Sox Offense Strikes Early, Often to Beat NW Star Academy

The Wenatchee AppleSox opened up their final homestand of the season with a 15-4 win over the Northwest Star Academy on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Friday’s game marked the first of an eight-game homestand to end the 2021 home slate and the AppleSox began it with a big night offensively. Collin Villegas homered and drove in four and Jacob Wyeth drove in three runs as well to lead the Sox to victory.

Enzo Apodaca (seven games) and Aidan Selfridge (five games) both entered the weekend on two impressive multi-game hit streaks. Though stats from this non-league series won’t be included with their strong recent WCL work, they both continued to get it done at the plate. Apodaca went 2-for-3 with a triple, two walks, two runs and 2 RBI. Selfridge went 2-for-2 with a triple, two walks, three runs and 1 RBI.

The AppleSox scored five in the first inning and added six more in the sixth inning. The 15 runs scored matched their season high for runs in a game this summer, in league or non-league play. Wenatchee also picked up their sixth straight non-league victory to improve to 6-2 this summer against non-WCL foes.

Despite all the offense the biggest cheer of the game came in the top of the seventh inning. Midway through the game the AppleSox and the Northwest Star Academy decided to play a seven-inning game so that the Nighthawks would have enough pitching for Saturday’s game. Eastmont High School graduate and AppleSox’ Manager of Ballpark Operations Lucas Banning toed the rubber to get the final three outs. As fans cheered him on, Banning recorded a 1-2-3 inning to end the game and give the AppleSox a victory.

The AppleSox look to take both games of the series with the Nighthawks when they host them again on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. It is Confluence Health Night at the ballpark and tickets are available at applesox.com/tickets.