AppleSox Host Knights In Crucial Mid-July Series
/
The Wenatchee AppleSox face the Corvallis Knights this weekend in a pivotal series at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium beginning Friday at 6:35 p.m.
The AppleSox sit a half game back of the second-best overall record in the North Division. Wenatchee is 4-2 in the second half so far and can make the playoffs by either having the best record in the second half in the division or by earning the third or fourth seeds by virtue of having the third or fourth-best overall record in the division.
The AppleSox swept a two-game non-league set against the DubSea Fish Sticks earlier this week with a 22-2 win on Tuesday and a 20-6 win on Wednesday. Wenatchee has now scored 60 runs in its last three games, including their 18-1 victory over Nanaimo on Sunday in Game 2 of the doubleheader. League and non-league games combined the AppleSox have won five straight and are 2-0 on this eight-game homestand.
Corvallis won the first half South Division berth to qualify for the postseason for the 15th consecutive season. The Knights opened the season with nine consecutive wins before suffering their first loss. Since winning 11-of-their-first-12 games Corvallis is 10-10 and has lost four-of-their-last-six three-game series while also splitting a two-game set with Portland.
Friday's game offers a bit of sentimental value as former AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs returns to Wenatchee. Knaggs won six championships (2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012) and guided the AppleSox to 12 consecutive playoff berths (2002-13) in 14 seasons with Wenatchee from 2001-14. He is the all-time winningest AppleSox skipper with a 493-273 record in league play. Knaggs is in his third season as the associate head coach for the Corvallis Knights. He helped them capture championships in 2018 and 2019 before taking 2021 off and then returning this summer. This will be his first time coaching in Wenatchee from the visitor's dugout.
Knaggs isn't the only former member of the AppleSox returning to Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Corvallis pitching coach Beau Kerns played for the AppleSox from 2012-13 and also played at Wenatchee Valley College those same two years. He recorded a 1.47 ERA in 10 games for Wenatchee Valley College in 2012 before posting a 2.58 ERA in 19 games for the AppleSox that summer. Kerns followed that up with a 1.87 ERA in 13 games in the spring of 2013 before recording a 2.82 ERA in 10 games for the AppleSox. Kerns is in his second season with the Knights coaching staff and also was the pitching coach for the Yakima Valley Pippins in 2019.
Friday’s game is Return of the Evil Empire Night. The first 100 kids to arrive to Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium will receive inflatable lightstabers. Tickets can be purchased at saferseating.com.
Tonight’s game can be listened to live on kcsyfm.com on your computer or smart phone. If you live in Washington you can listen on your radio on any of the following stations:
· Wenatchee: 93.9 FM
· East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM
· Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM
· Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM
· Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM
· Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM
· Methow Valley: 106.3 FM
Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show. Stick around after the game to hear the postgame show with player and coach interviews.
