AppleSox Host Bellingham In Playoff Rematch
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The Wenatchee AppleSox look to set a new franchise record for consecutive home victories tonight when they host the Bellingham Bells at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.
This will be the first time that the AppleSox and the Bells have met since Bellingham defeated Wenatchee, 4-2, in the 2022 North Division Championship Game at Joe Martin Field on Aug. 13. Four players from that AppleSox team suited up for them again this season and, in a unique twist, Wenatchee also added Bellingham’s cleanup hitter from that game, Easton Amundson. Former AppleSox lefty Gianluca Shinn is now on the Bells.
The two teams could be on a collision course to meet in the postseason game this summer. The Bells won the North Division first-half title with a 20-7 record to finish a game ahead of the AppleSox and the Victoria HarbourCats. Wenatchee leads the North Division in the second half at 12-3 and holds the best overall record in the WCL at 31-11.
While the Bells got off to a strong start and already locked up their playoff spot, they have faltered in the second half. Bellingham has lost three-of-five series to start the second half including dropping five straight games to Ridgefield. The Bells enter tonight winners of three straight though after salvaging a series last week with Cowlitz and then taking the first two games on the road at Kamloops before poor air quality cancelled the third game. Bellingham is 6-8 in the second half.
Meanwhile, Wenatchee is rolling. The AppleSox are looking to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games. They swept the Bend Elks and Nanaimo NightOwls back-to-back last week and are now halfway through this 12-game homestand. The AppleSox have won 11 consecutive home games in league play and a win tonight would be a new franchise record.
The Bells had the AppleSox’ number last season, defeating Wenatchee in all seven head-to-head meetings. Bellingham has won eight consecutive games in the series after winning the final matchup of the 2021 season. These two teams will face each other six times over their next nine games when they also meet next Tuesday-Thursday at Joe Martin Field.
Wenatchee can clinch a playoff spot tonight with a win and a Nanaimo loss. If both happen tonight then the worst that Wenatchee can finish at is 32-21 while that same record is the best that Nanaimo can finish at. The AppleSox hold the tiebreaker over the NightOwls by winning all six games against them in the season series.
The AppleSox will start Felix Schlede in the series opener. The right-hander from Central Arizona is making his third start with the AppleSox and has no record with a 1.58 ERA, seven strikeouts, four walks and three hits over 5.2 innings. His last start came two Mondays ago against Bend and he went three scoreless innings before allowing a solo home run in the top of the fourth and then being removed.
Daniel Paret counters for the Bells in his seventh start of the summer. The lefty from Stetson is 2-2 with a 3.85 ERA, 39 strikeouts, 15 walks and 13 hits. He fired four innings against Cowlitz on July 17 and allowed two runs in four hits, four walks and eight strikeouts.
Tonight is Christmas In July Night Part Two and the AppleSox are celebrating by giving fans who bring a canned or non-perishable food item to the gate a free ticket. It’s also a $2 Off Tuesday with tickets, hot dogs, burgers and Coors Lights all being $2 off. Tickets can be purchased at AppleSox.com/2023-schedule.
Don’t forget to stop by Pybus Public Market this afternoon. The AppleSox will be on hand from 1-2 to sign autograph copies of the 2023 team photo. Fans can pick up a free photo and meet the entire team and coaching staff.
Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 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 FM in 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
All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv. Tonight’s game can also be watched live on the NCWLIFE Channel on ncwlife.com, their Facebook page, LocalTel Channel 12 or Spectrum Channel 19.
