AppleSox Host Springfield In 2023 Home Opener
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The Wenatchee AppleSox play their first home game of the 2023 season tonight at 6:35 against the Springfield Drifters at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.
The AppleSox and the Drifters both come into tonight's game undefeated after sweeping the Bend Elks and the Port Angeles Lefties, respectively, this past weekend. Wenatchee eeked out a two-run win on Friday and a one-run win on Saturday before blowing out the Elks, 12-1, thanks in part to an eight-run seventh inning on Sunday. Springfield walked off Port Angeles on Friday night before picking up comfortable 18-2 and 8-2 wins.
The AppleSox are off to a 3-0 start for the fifth time in franchise history and for the first time since 2009. Wenatchee also won its first three games in 2001, 2003 and 2005. The franchise record for consecutive wins to open the season is five games, accomplished in 2001 and 2005. Wenatchee won a League Championship three times in the previous four instances that it began a season 3-0 (2003, 2005 and 2009).
AppleSox fans will get their first chance to see plenty of new players in action while also welcoming back some familiar faces tonight. Infielder Ty Kennedy is tied for the WCL lead in RBI with five thanks to three runs driven in via a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning on Sunday. Garrett Gores shined as a pitcher last summer on the AppleSox but has batted in the middle of the order in each of the the last two games and picked up four hits in nine at-bats, including a solo home run in the fifth inning on Sunday.
Wenatchee will send Brewster native Quincy Vassar to the mound for the home-opener start. Vassar was the last AppleSox pitcher to start a game at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium after firing seven strong innings to earn the win against the Kamloops NorthPaws in the North Division Series last Aug. 10. He recorded a 4.73 ERA with 45 strikeouts to 12 walks over 38 innings in nine regular-season games (seven starts) last season with the AppleSox. The incoming senior at Vanguard posted a 4.50 ERA along with 41 strikeouts to 21 walks over 38 innings in 17 games (three starts) as a junior at Vanguard.
Springfield counters with Steyr Brinkley from Lane Community College for his first appearance of the summer. He recorded a 5.76 ERA with 47 strikeouts to 28 walks over 29.2 innings in 13 games (five starts) as a sophomore.
Tonight is the first $2 Off Tuesday of the season. Fans can purchase general admission tickets for as affordable as $5 and can save $2 off select food and drinks. Fans can also donate a canned food item at the gate and receive free admission thanks to the home opener sponsor, Townsquare Media.
Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage begins at 5:40 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.
93.9 FM in Wenatchee
95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley
97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville
98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy
101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros
106.3 FM in the Methow Valley
