Bells Get First Visiting Sweep in Wenatchee

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-11, 13-11) tried to mount another classic 2014 comeback, this time against the Bellingham Bells (15-5), but Bellingham scored a ninth inning run to secure a series sweep at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.   

The sweep for the Bells is the first of its kind for a visiting WCL team at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. Two teams swept the AppleSox at home before 2005 in PIL play, however, Bellingham is the first to come up with a sweep in Wenatchee in WCL play.

The Bells had a 6-0 lead after the top of the eighth. They scored three in the seventh and eighth after Griffin Canning left the game after six innings of three hit and zero run baseball. He struck out eight and walked just one.

In the bottom half of the eighth, the AppleSox rallied and scored six runs of their own. Evan Cassolato came to the plate twice in the inning and singled both times. His infield single in his second at bat helped plate the tying runs for the AppleSox. Tyler Frost was thrown out trying to stretch the base paths and reach third.

The Bells starter, Eder Erives, worked seven innings of three hit and zero run baseball. He struck out four and walked two.

Walker Olis was the hero for Bellingham. He knocked the RBI single down the left field line, good enough to create the game winning score for the Bells.  

Trenton Brooks nearly hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth, jumping on an off speed pitch, but the deep shot flew foul to the right of the foul pole down the right field side.

David Bigelow was able to hang on after allowing the tying runs across in the eighth to retire the AppleSox in the ninth on a ground out on the infield.

Today, the AppleSox have an off day. They return to action on Friday, July 4th at Elks Stadium in Kelowna vs. the Falcons. 6:35 is the scheduled first pitch.                                         

 

BEL     0 0 0  0 0 0   3 3 1      7 13 2

WEN   0 0 0  0 0 0   0 6 0      6  7  0

 

WP – David Bigelow

LP – Trenton Brooks

S –

2014 All Star Fan Vote

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AppleSox fans, don't forget cast your ballot in the 2014 West Coast League All-Star fan vote! Vote for the AppleSox player that YOU think should be on the all-star team.

Ballots are available at the AppleSox souvenir stand at the ballpark during every home game through July 12th. 

 Help send your favorite AppleSox player to the West Coast League All Star Game in Klamath Falls on July 21st!

 

 

Bells Continue to Roll

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-10, 13-10) were defeated by the Bellingham Bells (14-5) again on Tuesday. The final score was 6-2 and the Bells guaranteed themselves a series win.  

The Bells scored two runs in the second inning off of Brandon Bailey, the AppleSox starter. He ended up working for four innings before his limited pitch count became a factor.

Calvin LeBrun worked out of the bullpen for the AppleSox and was unusually roughed up on Tuesday. Danny Miller hit a two run home run off of him in the sixth and another two came around to score in the eighth.

Grant Goodman turned in a good start for Bellingham. He offered up five innings of one hit baseball and the AppleSox were able to score one run in the fourth inning and another in the seventh.

Evan Cassolato had the only RBI of the game on an infield ground out.

Fireworks night is Wednesday at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. The AppleSox will offer up a first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Griffin Canning will get the start and tickets will be sold at 6 p.m. starting at six dollars.   

                                              

BEL     0 2 0  0 0 2   0 2 0      6  8  2

WEN   0 0 0  1 0 0   1 0 0      2  4  1

 

WP – Grant Goodman

LP – Brandon Bailey

S –

Alumni Night: July 12th

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On July 12th the AppleSox invite you to join us as we celebrate our alumni! The game against the Walla Walla Sweets will feature special pregame festivities for our former players!

If you know any former AppleSox players, please be sure to share this information with them! We want to have as many of our great local superstars at the ballpark on that Saturday evening.

Former players are invited to a meet-and-greet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on July 12th at the Pepsi Pavilion inside Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

Fireworks Night: July 2nd

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The AppleSox are hosting the only major professional fireworks show in Wenatchee on July 2nd, following their 7:05 game with the Bellingham Bells.

The night will be a fun-filled evening, you, your family and friends can all enjoy!

Tickets are available online at www.applesox.com/tickets or by visiting the Paul Thomas Sr. Field box office. The ticket office at the stadium will be open at 6 p.m. tonight and 6 p.m. tomorrow.

General admission seats cost $6 and if available, premium seats will be sold for $10.

Seats go quickly so be sure to buy your tickets as soon as possible and arrive at the ballpark early on Wednesday!

Fans are always welcome to sit along the grassy hills down the right and left field lines. Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome for those spectators.

The AppleSox can't wait to see you at the ballpark for a booming night of baseball!

Bells Take Game One

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-9, 13-9) were hit hard by the Bellingham Bells (13-5) for six runs in the first inning of Monday night’s contest that went 8-1 to Bellingham.

Tyler Frost ended up surrendering 4 doubles in the first inning ans six runs. The inning was unfortunately compounded by two defensive errors.

Frost rebounded nicely through his next four innings, allowing zero hits.  

Clark McKitrick was the reliever for Frost. He worked for four innings and gave up just two hits. Two runs also came around to score in the seventh.

Caleb Wood was able to single home the AppleSox one run of the game in the eighth inning, with the bases loaded. The AppleSox ended up leaving the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth innings.

Game two is set for Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. Brandon Bailey will get the start for the AppleSox.

                                              

BEL     6 0 0  0 0 0   2 0 0      8  7  2

WEN   0 0 0  0 0 0   0 1 0      1  8  3

 

WP – Zach Johnson

LP – Tyler Frost

S –

Bells and AppleSox Square Off

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The Wenatcchee AppleSox (16-8, 13-8) welcome the Bellingham Bells (12-5) to Wenatchee for a pre-Independence Day series. The AppleSox are entering their 15th season (10th in the WCL) and are 477-259 (.645) under skipper Ed Knaggs, who is in his 14th season as head coach of the AppleSox club.T he AppleSox have achieved a winning record in all 14 seasons during Knaggs’ tenure. Knaggs is assisted by AJ Proszek and Jason Krohn.

COVERAGE OF THE APPLESOX
The three game series with the Bells will have live stats for all games provided by pointstreak.com. All games will have live radio coverage on KCSY Sunny 93.9 FM in Wenatchee and on various translators throughout North Central Washington (Lake Chelan Valley 95.3 FM, Okanogan Valley 101.9 FM, Methow Valley [Twisp-Winthrop] 106.3 FM). Audio is also available at applesox.com/listen-live. AppleSox play by play broadcaster Trevor Williams will call the action. Pregame shows each of the three games start at 6:45 pm. KWCC-TV (LocalTel cable channel 12 or Charter cable channel 19) will televise games, allowing fans to hear the Sunny FM radio broadcast and simultaneously watch the animated playbook provided by pointstreak. AppleSox Baseball provides updates on Twitter on @AppleSox, on Facebook (Wenatchee AppleSox) and via Instagram by searching: AppleSox.

Rasmussen's Six No Hit Innings Lead AppleSox

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – Drew Rasmussen and the Wenatchee AppleSox (16-8, 13-8) didn’t allow the Corvallis Knights (11-10) into the hit column until the bottom of the seventh inning. Wenatchee went on to win, 5-4.

Rasmussen was magnificent on Sunday, as the future Beaver made his first start at Goss Stadium on the campus of Oregon State University. He hurled six innings of no-hit baseball.

The AppleSox scored runs early in the ballgame. Sam Brown scored in the first inning on Ty Jackson RBI groundout. Nick Brooks drove in Caleb Wood in the third with another infield ground ball. Another run came across in the fifth inning as Michael McCann helped drive one in.

In the top of the seventh, Brooks gave the AppleSox a 5-0 lead on a 2 RBI double to left center field.

The no hitter was broken up in the bottom of the seventh with one out, as Marc Gallagos came up with an infield single, tapping it over the mound towards second.

Nathan Hadley would come in to the game in relief with a 5-0 score and a bases loaded jam with nobody out in the seventh. He hit a batter allowing a run and ran into some choppy waters in the eighth as three more runs came around to score, aided by a double down the right field line.

Shaun Vetrovec entered the game in the ninth and picked up the save with a one-two-three bottom half. He capped a trio of AppleSox pitchers who are all entering their first college seasons in 2015.

The AppleSox return home for a three game series with the Bellingham Bells. First pitch on Monday is set for 7:05 p.m.

                                              

WEN   1 0 1  0 1 0   2 0 0      5 10 0

COR    0 0 0  0 0 0   1 3 0      4  4  1

 

WP – Drew Rasmussen

LP – Derrick Mahlum

S – Shaun Vetrovec

Rough Saturday Night Goes to Knights

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (15-8, 12-8) were led by strong starting pitching on Saturday night, but were unable to make up for defensive miscues against the Corvallis Knights (11-9), who won 2-1.

Ian Buckles tossed seven innings of three hit baseball and two runs came around to score on him in the fifth inning. Both were ruled unearned after a lead off walk and two errors loaded the bases with one out.

Buckles ended up hitting Michael Lucarelli with a pitch to drive in the first run. The second was earned on a Tim Rausch sacrifice fly.

The AppleSox scoring came in the second inning, as Caleb Wood and Ty Jackson started off the inning with back to back singles. Simon Rosenbaum sacrificed the runners into scoring position and Joe Gillette drove in Wood with an RBI double under the glove of the third baseman Kevin Farley.

Corvallis starter Jackson Lockwood threw six innings of six hit baseball and allowed just the one run. His bullpen picked him up, including closer Brandon Choate who picked up his second save of the season against the AppleSox. He retired the side in the top of the ninth on just 12 pitches.

Corvallis’ win sets up a rubber match game three, Sunday. The AppleSox will place Drew Rasmussen on the mound. The future Oregon State Beaver will make his first Goss Stadium start at 6:05 p.m.                                          

WEN   0 1 0  0 0 0   0 0 0      1  7  3

COR    0 0 0  0 2 0   0 0 0      2  3  2

 

WP – Jackson Lockwood

LP – Ian Buckles

S – Brandon Choate

New Venue, Right Result

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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (15-7, 12-7) mounted another 2014 come-from-behind win; this time over the Corvallis Knights (10-9), 5-2, on Friday night in Corvallis, Ore. at Goss Stadium.

Corvallis was able to plate two runs off of Wenatchee starter Tom Zarosinski in the second inning. Kevin Farley reached base with a one out walk. Scott Quinlan followed up the lead off base runner with a single of his own to put runners at first and second.

Logan Ice the reached on a fielder’s choice error on a throw to second base that hit the back of the runner, Quinlan. Farley scored on the play and Quinlan reached third with Ice on first. A bunt single by Michael Lucarelli scored Quinlan, before Zarosinski retired Alec Smith and Grant Melker.

Corvallis starter Justin Calomeni and AppleSox ace Tom Zarosinski combined in the fifth and sixth innings to retire each side one-two-three. In total they combined for five consecutive half innings without a runner reaching base.

In the top half of the seventh, the AppleSox broke the trend. Ty Jackson was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Then, Michael McCann reached first on a sacrifice bunt, misplayed by the pitcher, Calomeni.

Nick Brooks then flew out and Cooper Elliott reached first on a bunt single. Joe Gillette, a future Oregon State Beaver, recorded his first Goss Stadium RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field. Michael McCann advanced to third and later scored on a wild pitch. Mike Livingston got his second hit of the game on an RBI single to the outfield gap, in which Cooper Elliott scored. To cap scoring in the seventh, Livingston came around on a balk.

Zarosinski stayed on the hill through the seventh and retired all three batters he faced in the inning. He left the game on a streak of ten consecutive batters retired.

Calvin LeBrun relieved Zarosinski out of the bullpen and was as good as he’s been all season. AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs said it is amazing how good LeBrun is at disguising his pitches.

He threw two innings of one hit baseball and picked up his second save of the season.

The series continues Saturday as the AppleSox place their starter, Ian Buckles (3-0), on the mound for his fourth start. Scheduled first pitch is for 6:40 p.m.

                                             

WEN   0 0 1  0 0 0   4 0 0      5  5  1

COR    0 2 0  0 0 0   0 0 0      2  6  2

 

WP – Tom Zarosinski

LP – Justin Calomeni

S – Calvin LeBrun

Knights Avoid Sweep: New Series Friday

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-7, 11-7) were defeated 6-5 by the Corvallis Knights (10-8) at Paul Thomas Sr. Field on Wednesday.

The Knights narrowly avoided the sweep as they had a 3-0 lead headed to the bottom of the fourth inning. The AppleSox were able to plate two runs, however, on a John Brontsema single that scored the second run of the inning, Caleb Wood was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

The Knights tallied two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth, to take a 6-2 lead. This lead held until the bottom of the eighth, when the AppleSox cut the deficit to one. Two wild pitches helped the AppleSox score in the inning and AJ Alcantara picked up his first RBI of the season as he hit a baseball hard into the left center field gap.

Trenton Brooks pitched the top of the ninth and was able to keep the game within one, however, the AppleSox were retired one-two-three in the bottom half.

The AppleSox have Thursday off before they travel to Corvallis on Friday night to continue the string of six consecutive meetings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

                                             

COR    1 1 0  1 2 1   0 0 0      6 13 1

WEN   0 0 0  2 0 0   0 3 0      5  8  2

 

WP – Angel Landazuri

LP – Griffin Canning

S – Brandon Choate

Gonzales Makes MLB Debut

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Marco Gonzales was Wednesday's starter for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the 19th pick in the 2013 MLB Draft (highest of any AppleSox player) and was the 2010 WCL strikeout leader.

Marco Gonzales was Wednesday's starter for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the 19th pick in the 2013 MLB Draft (highest of any AppleSox player) and was the 2010 WCL strikeout leader.

Courtesy of AppleSox Communications

For the second time in just over a week, a former Wenatchee AppleSox pitcher made his MLB debut. Marco Gonzales (’10) got the nod as Wednesday’s starter for the St. Louis Cardinals, after being called up to the majors to start the week.

Gonzales’ rise to the majors was a quick one. Inked by the Cardinals in the 2013 MLB Draft, he is just a little over a year removed from that remarkable day. Gonzales was taken with the 19th pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, which is the highest any former AppleSox player has been taken.

“It was apparent pretty early after his arrival in Wenatchee that he was not a normal 18-year old,” said AppleSox head coach Ed Knaggs. “His accomplishments at that age were already impressive, but what was more impressive was his maturity and how he handled himself for a guy so young.”

Gonzales’ promotion closely mirrors that of Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha, who was also a 19th overall pick and found himself in the majors a little after the twelve month mark.

Ironically, it was an in injury and a move to the disabled list for Wacha and Cardinals starter, Jaime Garcia that created room for the Gonzales call-up.

Gonzales made Wednesday’s start in his home state of Colorado against his childhood team. To further the connection, Gonzales’ father is a pitching coach in the Rockies organization.

The former Gonzaga ace and 2010 WCL strikeout leader got off to a quick start in his first three innings. What else would you expect from a pitcher who earned the win in four consecutive State Championships for Rocky Mountain High School?

Gonzales threw three innings of no-hit baseball out of the gates. He also struck out three Rockies hitters. Offensively, he doubled in his first MLB at bat.

Gonzales finished Wednesday’s game with a no-decision and worked for five innings, while allowing seven hits and five runs.

He has fond memories of his time in Wenatchee.

“It was just a blast playing in that environment,” he said. “The fan base in Wenatchee is unbelievable. It was an amazing experience coming right out of high school and being welcomed into the community. I really cherish that summer. It got me ready for my college career and I got to play with some great guys along the way.”

Gonzales is the seventh AppleSox Baseball player to set foot on a Major League field in regular season action. While he certainly won’t be the last, today he is rightfully in the spotlight, while starting what will hopefully be a tremendous professional career.

 

About the Wenatchee AppleSox:

The Wenatchee AppleSox Baseball Club is part of the West Coast League, one of the premier wood-bat summer collegiate leagues in the country. The AppleSox provide affordable family entertainment for baseball fans throughout North Central Washington, and an excellent environment for college players from around the country to develop their skills.

 

The AppleSox were founded in 2000 and appeared in the West Coast League Championship Series in 2012. The team has won the WCL Championship five out of the last nine seasons (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2012). Seven AppleSox alumni have reached the major leagues, Jason Hammel (Baltimore Orioles), Clay Mortensen (Boston Red Sox), Cole Gillespie (Seattle Mariners), Tom Milone (Oakland Athletics), Steve Ames (Miami Marlins), Blaine Hardy (Detroit Tigers), and Marco Gonzales (St. Louis Cardinals). For more information, visit www.applesox.com.

 

 

--www.applesox.com--

Pinch Hit Blast And Defense Power Game Two Win

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (14-6, 11-6) were able to bring home two insurance runs in the eighth inning of a 3-0 win over the Corvallis Knights (9-8), courtesy of a Trenton Brooks two-run pinch hit home run.

Brooks, who knocked home the decisive go-ahead run a night earlier, came up big one more time as he was called upon to hit with runners at first and second with one out.

Brooks said he was just looking to hit a ball hard and generate a quality at bat with two runners on, however, things got a little tougher as an AppleSox runner was caught trying to take third base on a ball in the dirt. Brooks wasted no time making up for the lost base runner as he slammed what he believed to be a fast ball 345 feet over the right field fence for his second home run of the season.

The 3-0 lead was enough for Colton Loomis, who entered the game an inning earlier, as he held on in his second inning of relief to pick up his first save on the season and give the AppleSox their first shut out of a league opponent in 2014.

The pitching staff worked as a team on Tuesday night. Brandon Bailey got the start and was able to chalk up five innings of work, even with a limited pitch count looming overhead, designed to help minimize his innings this summer (Tommy John surgery).

While it looked like Bailey might have to settle for a no decision and the game was headed to the bottom of the fifth in a scoreless tie, his offense got him the one run he needed. Sam Brown, who led off the bottom of the frame with a walk, was later brought around to score on a Michael McCann sacrifice fly to left field.

The one run would’ve been enough to secure the win, however, Brooks added the security in the eighth. The defense behind the AppleSox pitchers also played a hand in the victory. Three double plays, including one to end a bases loaded jam in the top of the second, helped erase some of the Knights’ best scoring opportunities. Caleb Wood, Mike Livingston and Nick Brooks combined for all three of the two-for-one deals.

Shaun Vetrovec made his first appearance for the AppleSox on Tuesday night. He worked for two innings out of the bullpen, prior to Loomis, and allowed no runs on two hits.

Evan Cassolatto and AJ Alcantara also made their first starts of the season. They each went 2-4 and collected their first hits of summer, after seeing time on Monday in game one of the series as baserunning and defensive substitutes.

Game three and a chance for the sweep is Wednesday night, with a first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Griffin Canning will face off against Angel Landazuri as the AppleSox look to push their winning streak to five.

                                             

COR    0 0 0  0 0 0   0 0 0      0  6  3

WEN   0 0 0  0 1 0   0 2 x      3  9  2

 

WP – Brandon Bailey

LP – Chris Haddeland

S – Colton Loomis

Game One Woes Over

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WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (13-6, 10-6) picked up their 300th all-time home win at Paul Thomas Sr. Field on Monday night, as they posted a 5-4 win over the Corvallis Knights (9-7), in game one of the three game set.

The game one win was the first such for an AppleSox team that had previously dropped its last five game one decisions in WCL play.

Corvallis scored first off of AppleSox starter Tyler Frost. The run came around in the top of the third on a Kevin Kline RBI single. It was Kline’s 20th RBI in 2014. He leads the WCL.

Frost settled down, facing just six batters over the next two innings.

The AppleSox offense struck for two runs in the bottom of the third. Sam Brown hit a one out double to become the first baserunner in the inning. He scored on a balk and Caleb Wood followed it up with a double. Ty Jackson brought home Wood with an RBI single.

The top three in the order, Brown, Trenton Brooks and Caleb Wood combined for nine of the AppleSox 13 hits, Monday. Brown led all hitters, going 4-4.

In the sixth inning defense miscues generated trouble for Wenatchee. A misplayed ground ball at shortstop should’ve ended the inning for Tyler Frost with no runs coming across to score. Unfortunately it extended the frame and the Knights brought across three runs and took the lead on two more errors. All told, the AppleSox suffered four of their five errors in the sixth inning.

Monday’s contest was a game of call and response and Wenatchee responded to the set back in the bottom half of the sixth. John Brontsema and Nate Esposito both got on base for the AppleSox to lead off the inning on an error and a walk.

Sam Brown then collected a single for his third hit of the game and scored Brontsema. Brooks followed the tying hit with a stellar at bat, in which he fought back from down 0-2 to even the count. Finally, he brought home the go-ahead run on a single to center field that fell just under the glove of Knights center fielder Grant Melker.

Nathan Hadley was masterful out of the bullpen. He secured the final out in the sixth inning and retired all seven batters faced throughout the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Brooks came on to close the game in the ninth and earned his second save of the year.

The series continues with game two tonight at 7:05 p.m. The AppleSox are 5-0 in game two of each three game series played this season. They will put Brandon Bailey on the hill to face Angel Landazuri.

                                             

COR    0 0 1   0 0 3   0 0 0      4  5  1

WEN   0 0 2   0 1 2   0 0 x      5 13 5

 

WP – Nathan Hadley

LP – Merrick Patito

S – Trenton Brooks