AppleSox Add Seven Players From In-State JUCOs

The Wenatchee AppleSox on Wednesday signed seven players currently playing at junior colleges in Washington state.

The AppleSox pulled from Spokane Falls, Edmonds, Columbia Basin, and Lower Columbia with this week’s additions. They have added Conner Ashworth, Garrett Gores, Evan Canfield, Anthony Sendejas, Conner Bourbon, Ian Hughes, and Drake Bird to this summer’s roster.

Right-hander Conner Ashworth joins an AppleSox team that will field three Brewster alumni this summer after he completes his sophomore season at Spokane Falls. He will join his former teammates Corey Jarrell and Quincy Vassar in Wenatchee. 

Ashworth has not allowed a run in his first 11 innings over his first five games on the mound this spring. His strong start includes tossing five scoreless innings in a 10-4 win over Yakima Valley on March 30. The Bears’ alum had his finest prep season as a junior in 2019, posting a 1.12 ERA with 42 strikeouts over 25 innings in seven games (five starts) en route to Brewster finishing third at State. 

“Ashworth is a talented local arm,” Darlington said, “that we are thrilled to have on our pitching staff.”

Garrett Gores will join his Sasquatch teammate on this summer’s AppleSox team. The Spokane Falls righty has a 4.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 16 innings over six games. Gores has tossed multiple innings of relief in five appearances and four times has tossed three-or-more innings. 

The Spokane native graduated from Gonzaga Prep last year and has made a difference in his freshman year on the mound and at the plate. He is hitting .269 and has a .406 on-base percentage in 14 games. 

“Gores can locate three pitches for strikes,” Darlington said, “and is the type of player that will always want the ball in his hand.

Evan Canfield suited up in the West Coast League last summer and will do so again this year. The Bothell, Wash. native graduated from Jackson High School last year and is in his freshman season at Edmonds Community College. He has not appeared in any games yet due to injury.

Canfield made his WCL debut last year on Aug. 4 with the Port Angeles Lefties against the AppleSox. The right-hander struck out seven hitters over 5.2 innings and only allowed two runs. Canfield went on to appear in two more games and posted a 3.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 12 innings.

“We have big expectations for Evan Canfield,” Darlington said. “We are hoping he gets healthy in time to be a major contributor in our pitching staff. He had some very solid outings with the Lefties last summer. We are hoping that experience helps carry him into this summer.”

Anthony Sendejas is another member of the Tritons in his freshman year. He has appeared in four games and has a 4.63 ERA through 11.2 innings. His finest outing came on March 5 when he only allowed two runs over 6.2 innings in relief against Lane.

Sendejas is also a Bothell, Wash. native and he graduated from Bothell High School last year. The southpaw appeared in five games as a senior and posted a 2.52 ERA over 16.2 innings. Opponents only hit .217 against Sendejas in his final high-school season.

“Anthony has an upper 80’s fastball with a swing and miss slider that will play nicely out of the bullpen,” Darlington said.

Utilityman Conner Bourbon is the final member of Edmonds signed to play for the AppleSox this summer. Bourbon has been used solely as a position player this spring with the Tritons and is batting .315 through the first 22 games of his freshman year.

The Tumwater, Wash. native graduated from Tumwater High School last year and helped lead them to a 14-1 record in the shortened 2021 season.

“Conner Bourbon was originally going to be brought in as an arm,” Darlington said, “but after seeing the numbers he’s putting up at the plate he could end up being a true two-way guy for us.”

Ian Hughes is AppleSox’ lone addition from Columbia Basin College this summer. The right-hander has a 4.24 ERA over 40.1 innings in eight games (all starts) as a freshman. Fans in the Apple Capital have already had an opportunity to watch Hughes as he only allowed one run over five innings and struck out five Wenatchee Valley College Knights on April 6.

The Twin Falls, Idaho, native graduated from Canyon Ridge High School last year. Hughes recorded a 1.39 ERA with 72 strikeouts over 40.1 innings in 11 games as a senior.

“Ian is an electric arm to add to our pitching staff,” Darlington said. “His fastball sits low 90’s with a hammer breaking ball.” 

Chelan native Drake Bird will add depth to the AppleSox behind the plate this summer. He is in his freshman year at Lower Columbia College and is hitting .313 through his first eight games. Bird has also collected a hit in six-of-the-seven games that he has recorded an at-bat in.

The catcher and 2021 Chelan High School graduate played in two games with the Cascade Collegiate League All-Stars last summer, though neither game was against the AppleSox. He hit .286 in a pair of games, including going 2-for-4 against the Walla Walla Sweets on June 22. 

“Drake Bird is another very talented local,” Darlington said. “Drake is one of the hardest working individuals you will come across. He will step in and push all of our catchers to raise their game.” 

Stay tuned to AppleSox social media for next week’s player announcements. Search “Wenatchee AppleSox” on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to hear more of what head coach Mitch Darlington has to say about the newest AppleSox players as well as interviews with other players, past and present.