In-State Division-I Players Highlight Latest AppleSox Signings

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Wednesday the addition of four new players from three different Division-I schools in Washington state. Aiva Arquette, Isaiah Cohens, Jack Moffit, Brandham Ponce and Gianluca Shinn will suit up for the AppleSox this summer.

All five players are already at or will be attending in-state Pac-12 or West Coast Conference schools this fall. Including two other previously-signed players, the AppleSox will have seven total players from Gonzaga, Washington and Washington State. 

“I’m really excited that we can represent three fantastic Division-I programs in our state,” Darlington said. 

Aiva Arquette is signed to play at Washington after graduating from St. Louis High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, this spring. The Kailua, Hawaii, native is a nationally-ranked recruit by Perfect Game and will join the Huskies as a middle infielder after playing for the AppleSox.

Arquette has played basketball at St. Louis in addition to baseball and earned the 2022 Gatorade State Player of the Year Award while also winning a state championship last month. He averaged 17.1 points per game this past season and 18 points per game in 13 exhibition games in 2020-21 as a junior after league games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Aiva is a showtime shortstop,” Darlington said. “He is an unbelievably talented athlete that will energize our entire team.” 

Isaiah Cohens has had a unique college journey that leads him to Wenatchee this summer. He originally committed to Wichita State out of high school but switched his commitment to Johnson Community College, where he spent his first two years of college before transferring to Gonzaga this season.

Cohen has not appeared in any games with the Zags this year but hit .244 and scored 35 runs in 2021. The Wichita, Kan. native only appeared in 11 games in 2020 because of the pandemic but retained his freshman eligibility for 2021 and is a sophomore this spring. 

“Isaiah is a slick defensive shortstop,” Darlington said. “He can make every play and has a strong arm from the left side of the diamond.” 

Jack Moffitt spent last summer in the Expedition League with the Wheat City Whisky Jacks and will join the AppleSox this year. The Gonzaga right-hander remains in-state following the spring season after posting a 4.75 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 53 innings over 13 games (11 starts) last summer. 

The Seattle native came to the Zags in 2020 but did not appear in any games before the shutdown. He only pitched in one game last year and has not pitched yet in 2022.

“Jack Moffitt is a 6’7” power righty that brings an intimidating presence to our rotation,” Darlington said. 

Brandham Ponce has signed a 10-day contract with the AppleSox for the summer. He will join Washington State this fall after wrapping up his second season with Big Bend Community College. He brings versatility to the AppleSox with experience at third base, outfield and on the mound.

Ponce began his collegiate career at Central Arizona in 2020 when he hit .206 in 20 games for the Vaqueros. He transferred to Big Bend and hit .354 in 28 games last year and is hitting .313 through his first 27 games this season. Ponce did not pitch in 2020 but has pitched in seven games in the last two years and has 3.09 ERA over 11.2 innings.

“Ponce is a switch hitting utility player that brings some thump to our lineup,” Darlington said. “He will see innings all over the field for us including some time on the bump.” 

Washington southpaw Gianluca Shinn is in his freshman year with the Huskies this spring. He has pitched in one game, when he tossed two shutout innings Feb. 25 against UC San Diego. 

The Menlo Park, Calif. native pitched in the Appalachian League prior to his freshman year at Washington. He pitched in a team-high 18 games for the Johnson City Doughboys last year and posted a 2.05 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 26.1 innings.  

“Shinn will be a late inning bullet to add to our pen,” Darlington said. “He has swing-and-miss stuff and is a bulldog on the mound.”

Stay tuned to AppleSox social media for next week’s player announcements. Listen to this week’s AppleSox Podcast to hear more of what head coach Mitch Darlington has to say about the newest AppleSox players. Subscribe to the AppleSox podcast on Apple or Spotify to hear other breakdowns of new players as well as interviews with current and future players.