Vanderkin Sparks Sox Comeback Win

The AppleSox used two hits, both doubles, and good pitching to win game two and set up the chance for an important series sweep, Sunday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (22-23, 19-22), utilized just two hits to take down the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-20, 21-20), Saturday night, by a score of 4-2 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. 

The two hits were both doubles, and gave the AppleSox their season-high fourth-consecutive home win, and third-straight win, overall. 

The Pippins and AppleSox both had slow nights offensively, with either side's pitching staff reigning supreme in the second game of the series. 

Micael Taylor (2-4), started with four scoreless innings for Wenatchee, giving up just three hits over the stretch on 45 pitches. 

Jens Jensen (4-1), held Wenatchee to just one run through five innings, with the first run scoring on a groundout to second base by Kyle Vanderkin in the second inning. Mitchell Holland scored on the play after doubling to lead of the inning. 

In the fifth inning, a Jace Van DeBrake single scored the Pippins first run, despite a great attempt by the AppleSox at a double play. The throw to first base to try and complete the double play was ruled just late. It would've ended the half inning, without a run scoring, had it been on time. 

Yakima scored its only other run in the sixth inning after Josh Nashed hit an RBI triple to score Reid Martinez. 

In the home half of the sixth inning, Jensen ran into his first real trouble. After retiring the first two men in the bottom half, he walked a batter, hit another by pitch, and walked a second man to load the bases for Vanderkin. 

In a nine-pitch at bat, Vanderkin fouled off three two strike pitches, and saw two balls to work a 1-2 count, full at 3-2. With the runners getting a head start, Vanderkin laced a double down the right field line to plate all three runs, giving Wenatchee a 4-2 lead. 

The AppleSox never looked back. Taylor tossed a 1-2-3 seventh, and Brian Gadsby closed the door out of the bullpen to earn his third save of the summer. The game ended on a 6-4-3 double play, after the Pippins got the tying run to the plate in the ninth with one out. 

Notably, Keston Hiura extended his consecutive games reached base streak to 28, but did have his 11-game hitting streak snapped. 

Wenatchee is now winners of four of its last five games, and has won four-consecutive at home, dating back to a July 15 win vs. Kelowna. With a Corvallis win, Saturday, the AppleSox remain three games off the Wild Card lead.

The chance for a sweep comes at 6:05 p.m. tonight, and it's another Spaghetti Sunday at the ballpark! Gage Burland (2-0) will start for the AppleSox.

WP: Micael Taylor (2-4)
LP: Jens Jensen (4-1)
S: Brian Gadsby (3)

AppleSox Look to Narrow Wild Card Race

The AppleSox are only three games out of the WCL Wild Card race, entering Saturday's game.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX LOOK TO KEEP CUTTING WILD CARD DEFICIT
The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-23, 18-22), fourth place in the WCL East, picked up a game on the WCL Wild Card leaders last night with a win over the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-19, 21-19), as the Corvallis Knights also fell in a walkoff to the Klamath Falls Gems...the AppleSox are three games off the lead in the WCL Wild Card race and are looking to snapped a five game losing streak to the Pippins...the last seven meetings have been played at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (21-23) (.477), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.
 

LAST TIME OUT
Mitch Yada (2-3) had a great first inning, but quickly ran into trouble against the AppleSox Wenatchee hit him for two runs in the second inning on a Kyle Vanderkin 2-RBI single to left field, and the Sox never looked back...Wenatchee piled on four more runs in the third on four hits and two Pippin errors. Four separate players earned RBI in the inning, including: Evan Douglas, Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland and Nick Nyquist. Holland ended the night 3-for-5 with all three of his hits coming in his first three at bats...Tyler Burch (1-0), a former temporary arm for the AppleSox, and member of the Apple Valley Packers this summer, pitched tremendously in his first AppleSox start...in the sixth he did give up a run in an inning that started with a Jace VanDeBrake triple to right center field...VanDeBrake went 3-for-4 with a run scored....all told, Burch pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up just five hits and three runs, with five walks and two strikeouts. ..the AppleSox got the Pippins two top-half runs back in the bottom of the seventh, on a 2-RBI single for Hiura, up the middle with the bases loaded. He had two hits on the night and 3 RBI. ..Dayton Provost did put a charge into one in the ninth, knocking a solo home run to right field, but it was too little, too late, for the Pippins, who fell 11-4.

HOW YOU LOOK AT IT...
In the all-time series between the AppleSox and the Pippins, the AppleSox have a chance to do something that has only been done once...when either team’s winning streak is snapped, they do not win the next game, except for game three of the all-time set, which the AppleSox won to help spark a six-game winning streak (not that winning one game of an all-time set, constitutes a streak).

ON A TEAR; KESTON HIURA
Keston Hiura currently owns an eleven-game hitting streak for the AppleSox and owns the fifth-longest WCL streak this season...his ten straight games at home is third in the WCL...Brett Bautista, Kitsap, has an active streak of 21 games at home, and Justin Flores, Kelowna, 16...Hiura has reached base safely in 27 consecutive games, which is the second longest streak in the WCL this season (31, T. Davis, Bend, inactive), and the only active streak alive at 16 or more games...his on-base streak is the longest in the league on the road (18 games), ahead of Kyle Nixon for Walla Walla, who has a 16 game active streak.

WINNING CONVINCINGLY
The AppleSox are one of four teams to win at least ten games by more than three runs this season (10-3)...Bend (17-2), Kelowna, Victoria (10-6)...Yakima Valley (7-7)

LOCATION IS KEY
Wenatchee’s offense at home: .258/5HR/95RBI, 7 hitters at .274 or better...road: .238/8HR/81RBI/ 3 hitters at .274 or higher.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 854 games, the AppleSox own a 534-320 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 394-220(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 343-202 (.631) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 425-277 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 321-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 223-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

AppleSox Charge Out of Gates vs Pippins

In his first start of the summer, Tyler Burch offered 6 2/3 innings en route to his first win of the year. The AppleSox are now three games out in the Wild Card race.

WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee AppleSox (21-23, 18-22) used early runs, and great pitching to take a 1-0 lead in their series against the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-19, 21-19). The AppleSox won 11-4 in game one and are three games off the WCL Wild Card lead.

Mitch Yada (2-3) had a great first inning, but quickly ran into trouble against the AppleSox Wenatchee hit him for two runs in the second inning on a Kyle Vanderkin 2-RBI single to left field, and the Sox never looked back. 

Wenatchee piled on four more runs in the third on four hits and two Pippin errors. Four separate players earned RBI in the inning, including: Evan Douglas, Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland and Nick Nyquist. Holland ended the night 3-for-5 with all three of his hits coming in his first three at bats. 

Tyler Burch (1-0), a former temporary arm for the AppleSox, and member of the Apple Valley Packers this summer, pitched tremendously in his first AppleSox start. The Pippins backed him into a couple corners early in the game, but each time in the first five innings Burch responded when baserunners were aboard and got out of innings unscathed. 

In the sixth he did give up a run in an inning that started with a Jace VanDeBrake triple to right center field. VanDeBrake went 3-for-4 with a run scored. 

Another run came home on Burch in the seventh on a balk, followed by a sacrifice fly that made the score 9-3, Wenatchee. Colton Loomis took over and got the final out of the inning. 

All told, Burch pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up just five hits and three runs, with five walks and two strikeouts. 

The AppleSox got the Pippins two top-half runs back in the bottom of the seventh, on a 2-RBI single for Hiura, up the middle with the bases loaded. He had two hits on the night and 3 RBI. 

Each side saw three batters to the plate in the eighth. Alex Guenette earned a single for the Pippins in the final at bat of the top of the inning, but tried to extend it to a double and was gunned down by Sheldon Liikala at second base from foul territory along the right field line. 

Dayton Provost did put a charge into one in the ninth, knocking a solo home run to right field, but it was too little, too late, for the Pippins, who fell 11-4. 

Luckily for Yakima Valley, Corvallis also lost Friday, so the Wild Card race is still even between those two teams. 

Game two of the series is tonight at 7:05 p.m. Micael Taylor (1-4), will face Jens Jensen (4-0), in a potentially series-deciding game for the AppleSox. 

AppleSox Welcome Pippins For Weekend Series

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX WELCOME PIPPINS FOR WEEKEND SET
The Wenatchee AppleSox (20-23, 17-22), fourth place in the WCL East, host the Yakima Valley Pippins (23-18, 21-18), Friday at Paul Thomas Sr. Field for a three-game divisional series...the AppleSox are four games off the lead in the WCL Wild Card race and are looking to snap a five-game losing streak to the Pippins, with all five games being played at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (20-23) (.465), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
Hunter Wells (6-1), of Wenatchee, and Nate Simmons (1-4), of Kitsap, each held the opposition hitless through the first three innings of play...Wenatchee opened the night’s scoring in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single for Sheldon Liikala, up the middle of the infield...the hit scored Jake Hirabayashi, who was aboard on a single to start off the frame...Brett Bautista drove Nobach in from third in the fourth for Kitsap on a two-out RBI single to right field to even the score at one...Wells silenced the BlueJackets through the next two innings, until he got into a troublesome spot in the seventh...three singles had the bases loaded for Kitsap with two outs, however, Wells worked a strikeout of Nobach to end the inning and keep the score tied at one...Simmons also tossed a good game, but was harmed by three Kitsap errors, including one of his own in the eighth inning...the AppleSox used an error on Ryan Atkinson to get aboard to open the inning, and Keston Hiura singled to extend his season-high hitting streak to 10 games...three well executed bunts gave the AppleSox a 4-1 advantage to the bottom of the eighth...Tony Contonio took over in the bottom half, but allowed two runs in two thirds of an inning, forcing Sean Sparling into the game to try to get a four-out save for Wenatchee, which he did for a 4-3 win.

STATISTICS SAY...
The road team has won the Wenatchee-Yakima matchup in 10 of the 12 all-time meetings...Yakima is riding a five-game winning streak in the series (all five on the road)...the lowest combined run total for the two teams amounts to five...there has never been a shutout in the series.

GOING STREAKING
Keston Hiura currently owns a ten-game hitting streak for the AppleSox and is one game away from earning the fifth-longest streak this season...his nine straight games at home is tied for fourth with Christian Cavaness of Bend, however, Brett Bautista, Kitsap, has an active streak of 21 games at home, and Justin Flores, Kelowna, with 16...Hiura has reached base safely in 26 consecutive games, which is the second longest streak in the WCL this season (31, T. Davis, Bend, inactive), and the only active streak alive at 16 or more games...his on-base streak is now the longest in the league on the road (18 games), ahead of Kyle Nixon for Walla Walla, who has a 16 game active streak.

FIRST TIME AROUND
The AppleSox were swept by Yakima Valley June 23-25, at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...Sox ERA: 6.00, AVG: .214...Keston Hiura and Mitchell Holland, a combined 1-for-17...2 HRs for Evan Douglas in the series...7 extra-base hits for Yakima Valley (5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR)...Losing pitchers: Carns, Contonio, Gettman...Winning pitchers: Bernstein, Yada, Fitzpatrick.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 853 games, the AppleSox own a 533-320 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 393-220(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 342-202 (.631) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 424-277 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 223-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX TAKE GAME THREE, WIN SERIES AT KITSAP

SILVERDALE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (20-23, 17-22) won their second road series of the season, with a 4-3 victory over the Kitsap BlueJackets (14-26, 14-25), Thursday night at Gene Lobe Field on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

A strong pitching battle started the rubber match of the three game set. Hunter Wells (6-1), of Wenatchee, and Nate Simmons (1-4), of Kitsap, each held the opposition hitless through the first three innings of play.

Wenatchee opened the night’s scoring in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single for Sheldon Liikala, up the middle of the infield. The hit scored Jake Hirabayashi, who was aboard on a single to start off the frame.

Kitsap answered in the bottom half when Kyle Nobach came to score in an inning that developed almost identically to the AppleSox top half. Brett Bautista drove Nobach in from third on a two-out RBI single to right field to even the score at one.

Wells silenced the BlueJackets through the next two innings, until he got into a troublesome spot in the seventh. Three singles had the bases loaded for Kitsap with two outs, however, Wells worked a strikeout of Nobach to end the inning and keep the score tied at one.

Simmons also tossed a good game, but was harmed by three Kitsap errors, including one of his own in the eighth inning. The AppleSox used an error on Ryan Atkinson to get aboard to open the inning, and Keston Hiura singled to extend his season-high hitting streak to 10 games.

With first and second and nobody out, Evan Douglas laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt on the third base line to advance both runners.

Sheldon Liikala then surprised the BlueJackets by laying down a push bunt to the right side of the infield that was overrun by Simmons on the first base line. Liikala’s bunt drove in a run, and then Simmons looked to have Hiura caught in a rundown between third and home after Hiura took a wide turn. A high throw from Simmons up the third base line, resulted in Hiura coming to score, and the AppleSox led 3-1, with Liikala advancing to second on the play.

A single for Kyle Vanderkin set up a sacrifice bunt for Nick Nyquist on a squeeze play that brought Liikala home to score from third, and the AppleSox claimed a 4-1 advantage to the bottom of the eighth.

Tony Contonio took over in the bottom half, but allowed two runs in two thirds of an inning, forcing Sean Sparling into the game to try to get a four-out save for Wenatchee.

With runners at first and third, a passed ball got by the right side of Ryan Crowe, who recovered in time to throw home to Sparling, covering on a breaking runner from third base. The tag ended the eighth inning in unconventional fashion.
In the ninth inning, he retired the BlueJackets in order and picked up his second save of the season, while working a strikeout swinging to open the inning, and a strikeout looking to end the night.

With the win, Wells is now tied for the league lead in wins with Patrick McGuff at six. He, McGuff and Darrion Simons, of Yakima Valley, all each have 45 striekouts, tied for the league lead.

The AppleSox are back home, Friday, to take on the Yakima Valley Pippins at Paul Thomas Sr. Field. Gates open at 6 p.m., with first pitch following at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the box office when gates open, or online at www.applesox.com/tickets.

WP: Hunter Wells (6-1)
LP: Nate Simmons (1-4)
S: Sean Sparling (2)

AppleSox and BlueJackets Complete Series Thursday

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

 

APPLESOX WRAP UP SERIES AT KITSAP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-23, 16-22), fourth place in the WCL East, lost last night to the Kitsap BlueJackets (14-25, 14-24), setting up a rubber match game three to be played tonight at Gene Lobe Field...the AppleSox are four games off the lead in the WCL Wild Card race and are seeking their sixth series win, and second of the year on the road...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (19-23) (.452), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
The BlueJackets were led by John Oltman (3-0), who made his final start of the summer for Kitsap...Oltman held the AppleSox to just one hit, which came in the first inning, an infield single for Evan Douglas, which scored Keston Hiura, after Kitsap failed to throw home following the close play at first...with a 1-0 lead in the bottom half, Zach Haggett (4-2) was hit for a tying run on an RBI single by Jake Scudder...he now leads Kitsap with 19 RBI in 2015...Kitsap added two more in the second inning on an RBI hit by pitch for Calen Clardy and a sacrifice fly RBI fro Kyle Nobach, to take a 3-1 lead...Haggett settled in to control the rest of his outing...he retired the side in three of the next five innings, and faced the minimum number of batters per inning, in each of those five frames...through six innings the AppleSox still trailed 3-1, and had been retired 16 consecutive times (13 by Oltman), dating back to the final out of the first inning. Hiura led off the seventh with a single, and the AppleSox got another runner, but couldn’t score a run...Holden Capps, who took over for Oltman, got his second save of the season on four innings of relief...he allowed three hits, including the two in the seventh, and one run on a wild pitch in the eighth...Kitsap added two runs of insurance in the bottom of the eighth, on an error and RBI single for Mitchell Robinson.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 852 games, the AppleSox own a 532-320 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 392-220(.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 341-202 (.631) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 423-277 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 222-175 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

BLUEJACKETS FORCE RUBBER MATCH WITH POWERFUL PITCHING

SILVERDALE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-23, 16-22) were held at bay by the Kitsap BlueJackets (14-25, 14-24), in a 5-2 loss Wednesday night at Gene Lobe Field on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

The BlueJackets were led by John Oltman (3-0), who made his final start of the summer for Kitsap.

Oltman held the AppleSox to just one hit, which came in the first inning, an infield single for Evan Douglas, which scored Keston Hiura, after Kitsap failed to throw home following the close play at first.

With a 1-0 lead in the bottom half, Zach Haggett (4-2) was hit for a tying run on an RBI single by Jake Scudder. He now leads Kitsap with 19 RBI in 2015.

Kitsap added two more in the second inning on an RBI hit by pitch for Calen Clardy and a sacrifice fly RBI fro Kyle Nobach, to take a 3-1 lead.

Haggett settled in to control the rest of his outing. He retired the side in three of the next five innings, and faced the minimum number of batters per inning, in each of those five frames.

Through six innings the AppleSox still trailed 3-1, and had been retired 16 consecutive times (13 by Oltman), dating back to the final out of the first inning. Hiura led off the seventh with a single, and the AppleSox got another runner, but couldn’t score a run.

Holden Capps, who took over for Oltman, got his second save of the season on four innings of relief. He allowed three hits, including the two in the seventh, and one run on a wild pitch in the eighth.

Kitsap added two runs of insurance in the bottom of the eighth, on an error and RBI single for Mitchell Robinson.

Capps finished the night with a pair of strikeouts to open the ninth, and ended the game on a ground ball.

The series will be decided Thursday in the rubber match of the three game set at Gene Lobe Field at Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Hunter Wells will take the mound at 6:35 p.m. for the AppleSox.

WP: John Oltman (3-0)
LP: Zach Haggett (4-2)
S: Holden Capps (2)

AppleSox and BlueJackets Meet in Game Two

The AppleSox and BlueJackets play in the second game of a three-game series, Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Zach Haggett will pitch for Wenatchee.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX SHOOTING FOR SERIES AT KITSAP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-22, 16-21), fourth place in the WCL East, took the first game of a three-game set from the Kitsap BlueJackets (13-25, 13-24), last night by a score of 9-3...powered by a seven-hit seventh inning, the AppleSox are gunning for a series win against the BlueJackets tonight, trying to set up a much-needed sweep in their chase for a wild card playoff bid...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (19-22) (.463), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
Wenatchee scored in each of the first, fourth and fifth innings, to take a 3-0 lead through five innings...the first inning run for the AppleSox came in without an RBI being credited, after Mitchell Holland grounded into a DP with the bases loaded and nobody out to score Joey Jansen...Jansen, Evan Douglas, and Keston Hiura started the game with three-straight singles to set up the scoring chance...in the fourth, Sheldon Liikala drove in Hiura, who was aboard on an error...Hiura stole second to get into scoring position, and Holland advanced him on a ground ball to the right side, before Liikala hit one into left for his first of two RBI...Evan Douglas scored Jansen for the second of three times on the night, with a flared single down the left field line and two-out in the fifth...the AppleSox wild seventh inning was sparked by three-consecutive extra-base hits, including a triple from Nyquist that pinballed in the right field corner, and back-to-back doubles for Ryan Crowe and Vanderkin, each for RBI...Jansen also drove in a run, followed by a 2-RBI single from Holland and Liikala’s second RBI.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE
Sure, Keston Hiura, Mitchell Holland, and Sheldon Liikala are all swinging good bats this season, but Joey Jansen continues to climb the batting average ranks with an incredible 15-game stretch that has him batting .290 on the season, now ahead of Liikala and third-best on the AppleSox...Jansen entered the month of July with a .245 average...He is batting an even .500 in his last five games (12-of-24, 6R, 5RBI)...as a team, the AppleSox are hitting .300 over the last five; the team’s best five-game stretch of hitting this year...4 of last five games have been multi-hit performances...2013 average with Sox was .264; 2012 was .280.

CLOSE GAMES
The AppleSox have now played 19 of their first 41 games to within two runs...the AppleSox are 5-14 in those 19 games, and only average losing by about two runs per game...Wenatchee still outscores its oposition in total this year, despite being five games under .500. 

WILD CARD PICTURE
Currently, the AppleSox best route to punch a ticket to the 2015 postseason is to enter as a wild card team...the AppleSox are chasing four teams in the wild card, and are currently tied with Medford with a 16-21 league record...the good news, the AppleSox swept Medford in the teams’ only meetings this season...the Sox still have 6 remaining games with Yakima Valley and another 3 with Walla Walla, who are both teams sitting ahead in the wild card standings.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 851 games, the AppleSox own a 532-319 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 392-219 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 341-201 (.631) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 423-276 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 222-174 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

SEVEN-HIT SEVENTH INNING POWERS APPLESOX PAST BLUEJACKETS

Joey Jansen collected three hits in the applesox 9-3 win, tuesday.

SILVERDALE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (19-22, 16-21) struck for a six-run, seven-hit seventh inning and secured a 9-3 game-one win over the Kitsap BlueJackets (13-25, 13-24), Tuesday night at Gene Lobe Field on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

Wenatchee scored in each of the first, fourth and fifth innings, to take a 3-0 lead through five innings. The first inning run for the AppleSox came in without an RBI being credited, after Mitchell Holland grounded into a DP with the bases loaded and nobody out to score Joey Jansen. Jansen, Evan Douglas, and Keston Hiura started the game with three-straight singles to set up the scoring chance. All runs were earned off of Kitsap starter, Cam Weinberg (0-6).

In the fourth, Sheldon Liikala drove in Hiura, who was aboard on an error by Jordan Peabody. Hiura stole second to get into scoring position, and Holland advanced him on a ground ball to the right side, before Liikala hit one into left for his first of two RBI.

Evan Douglas scored Jansen for the second of three times on the night, with a flared single down the left field line and two-out in the fifth.

Gage Burland (2-1) pitched six strong innings for the AppleSox, earning his second win of the season. He struck out seven batters and didn’t allow a run.

The AppleSox wild seventh inning was sparked by three-consecutive extra-base hits, including a triple from Nyquist that pinballed in the right field corner, and back-to-back doubles for Ryan Crowe and Vanderkin, each for RBI. Jansen also drove in a run, followed by a 2-RBI single from Holland and Liikala’s second RBI.

Kitsap scored its only three runs of the game in the bottom half of the frame, off of Dustin Hamilton. One of the runs came earned, and two others scored on an error at first for Nick Nyquist, who replaced Holland defensively. The lone RBI belonged to Kyle Nobach who hammered an RBI double to left center field. His first of two RBI on the night. Hamilton earned his third save of the season.

The series continues Wednesday, as Zach Haggett (4-1) heads to the mound for Wenatchee. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

WP: Gage Burland (2-1)
LP: Cam Weinberg (0-6)
S: Dustin Hamilton (3)

APPLESOX OPEN POST-ALL STAR SCHEDULE AT KITSAP

The AppleSox open a three-game series at Kitsap starting Tuesday. Gage Burland will pitch for Wenatchee.

GAME NOTES 
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX OPEN POST-ALL STAR SCHEDULE AT KITSAP
The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-22, 15-21), fourth place in the WCL East, face the Kitsap BlueJackets (13-24, 13-23), after the sox dropped the final game of the pre-All Star schedule in a complete game shutout to the Kelowna Falcons...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (18-22) (.450), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
Curtis Taylor (3-2) was locked in from the word go, to complete the pre-All Star portion of the WCL schedule for Kelowna...he retired the side in order in seven-of-nine innings, and only allowed the AppleSox two hits, and two baserunners...Mitchell Holland led off the second inning with a single, and Keston Hiura added one in the seventh inning, to total the AppleSox offense...C. Taylor tossed eight strikeouts over his complete-game shutout, with no walks...it was the Falcons first complete game of the season, achieved on 109 pitches...Micael Taylor (1-4) pitched well on the other side for Wenatchee, only surrendering one run over six innings of work...the Falcon run came in the second inning with the bases loaded and two men out...Evan Douglas made a stop on a ground ball deep in the hole at short, and delivered a strong throw across his body to try to get the runner, after backhanding the ball with his glove hand...the runner, Joey Crunkilton, was ruled safe, and Grant Meyaln picked up the only RBI to either side on the game...M. Taylor relied on his defense in a couple innings, notably the fifth, in which the bases were loaded with nobody out...Nick Nyquist pulled in a fast liner down the third base line and doubled up the runner at the bag, who was leading off...a pop up to first base followed in the ensuing at bat...the Sox turned three double plays in game three, and Colton Loomis tossed the final two innings in relief, scoreless. He now has thrown 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the AppleSox...Kelowna scattered 16 hits, stranding 12 runners, while going 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Both teams were error-free for a second-consecutive night.

HOT OFFENSE
The AppleSox offense is hitting .287 over its last five games, with six hitters batting over .300 over the stretch...Holland leads all batters with 20+ at bats, with a .429 average, Helmstadter at .417, Hiura at .381, Jansen at .375, and below 20 at bats, Amaral at .500 and Hirabayashi at .333...the team has driven in 24 runs on 50 hits...Holland and Jansen each have nine hits over the last five games...Hiura still leads all offensive players at .436 over the last ten games.

CLOSE GAMES
The AppleSox have now played 19 of their first 40 games to within two runs, after Saturday’s loss...the AppleSox are 5-14 in those 19 games, and only average losing by a two-run margin this season...Wenatchee still outscores its oposition in total this year, despite being six games under .500. 

AT STAKE
As a franchise, Wenatchee has never missed a postseason in its respective league in two-consecutive seasons...if the season ended today, they would be left out of the postseason picture, as they were a season ago.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 850 games, the AppleSox own a 531-319 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 391-219 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 340-201 (.631) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 422-276 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 221-174 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

BATTLE OF TAYLORS, SERIES, GOES TO FALCONS

The Kelowna Falcons were lifted by a stellar pitching performance from Curtis Taylor. The right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout to even the season series at 3-3.

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-22, 15-21) had a tough time getting anything going against Curtis Taylor and the Kelowna Falcons (25-12, 24-12), in a complete-game shutout, 1-0 loss, Saturday, at Elks Stadium.

Curtis Taylor (3-2) was locked in from the word go, to complete the pre-All Star portion of the WCL schedule for Kelowna. He retired the side in order in seven-of-nine innings, and only allowed the AppleSox two hits, and two baserunners.

Mitchell Holland led off the second inning with a single, and Keston Hiura added one in the seventh inning, to total the AppleSox offense.

C. Taylor tossed eight strikeouts over his complete-game shutout, with no walks. It was the Falcons first complete game of the season, achieved on 109 pitches.

Micael Taylor (1-4) pitched well on the other side for Wenatchee, only surrendering one run over six innings of work. The Falcon run came in the second inning with the bases loaded and two men out. Evan Douglas made a stop on a ground ball deep in the hole at short, and delivered a strong throw across his body to try to get the runner, after backhanding the ball with his glove hand.

The runner, Joey Crunkilton, was ruled safe, and Grant Meyaln picked up the only RBI to either side on the game.

M. Taylor relied on his defense in a couple innings, notably the fifth, in which the bases were loaded with nobody out. Nick Nyquist pulled in a fast liner down the third base line and doubled up the runner at the bag, who was leading off. A pop up to first base followed in the ensuing at bat.

The Sox turned three double plays in game three, and Colton Loomis tossed the final two innings in relief, scoreless. He now has thrown 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the AppleSox.

Kelowna scattered 16 hits, stranding 12 runners, while going 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Both teams were error-free for a second-consecutive night.

All of the WCL will rest Sunday, and a select few will participate in the Home Run Derby and All Star Game at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham, Monday. Wenatchee hits the diamond to start the final portion of its schedule, beginning on the road at Kitsap Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m.

WP: Curtis Taylor (3-2)
LP: Micael Taylor (1-4)

AppleSox and Kelowna Face Series-Deciding Game Before All Star Break

The AppleSox and Kelowna cap the pre-All Star schedule, Saturday, with a series-deciding game for the second time over the last six games.

BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX, KELOWNA TO DECIDE ANOTHER SERIES IN GAME 3
The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-21, 15-20), fourth place in the WCL East, lost 9-6 last night to the Kelowna Falcons (24-12, 23-12), despite Wenatchee overcoming a 6-0 deficit into the fifth inning...the AppleSox will have a chance to own two of Kelowna’s three series losses, if they win Saturday night...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (18-21) (.462), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
The AppleSox fell behind 6-0 through four innings, Friday, and the game started with Hunter Villanueva launching a solo home run to center field off of Brian Gadsby...the AppleSox evened the score through the top half of the sixth inning...Keaton Smith and Jake Hirabayashi and Mitchell Holland each picked up an RBI in the fifth inning. Holland went 4-for-5 with the RBI...in the sixth, two runs scored on wild pitches, and Joey Jansen drove in another to help the AppleSox even the score with Kelowna...the Falcons answered with a run off of Tony Contonio (0-5), in the bottom of the sixth, on an RBI double for Hunter Villanueva...it marked his third hit and third RBI of the game...Kelowna added two in the seventh off of Gage Burland with back-to-back doubles for Scout Villanueva and Lane Lacrone leading the charge in the inning...the game ended on a diving catch by Andre Jackson in right field, which prevented the tying run from coming to the plate for the AppleSox.

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT ELKS
Over the last ten games at Elks Stadium, dating back to Aug. 9, 2013, the AppleSox are 7-3...they have won five in a row...over that stretch, the Sox are averaging 10 runs per game, 14.2 hits per game, and have a home run and three triples...over the last two season on the road in Kelowna, Wenatchee is 6-1, averaging 9 runs per game, 13.3 hits per game, with two home runs and three triples.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 849 games, the AppleSox own a 531-318 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 391-218 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 340-200 (.631) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 422-275 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 221-173 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

KELOWNA DRAWS SERIES EVEN WITH GAME TWO WIN

The AppleSox and Falcons will battle for the series, Saturday night, after Kelowna won game two 9-6, Friday night.

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-21, 15-20) lost 9-6, after falling behind early in the game to the Kelowna Falcons (23-13, 22-13), Friday, at Elks Stadium.

The AppleSox fell behind 6-0 through four innings, Friday, and the game started with Hunter Villanueva launching a solo home run to center field off of Brian Gadsby.

The AppleSox evened the score through the top half of the sixth inning. Keaton Smith and Jake Hirabayashi and Mitchell Holland each picked up an RBI in the fifth inning. Holland went 4-for-5 with the RBI.

In the sixth, two runs scored on wild pitches, and Joey Jansen drove in another to help the AppleSox even the score with Kelowna.

The Falcons answered with a run off of Tony Contonio (0-5), in the bottom of the sixth, on an RBI double for Hunter Villanueva. It marked his third hit and third RBI of the game.

Kelowna added two in the seventh off of Gage Burland with back-to-back doubles for Scout Villanueva and Lane Lacrone leading the charge in the inning.

The game ended on a diving catch by Andre Jackson in right field, which prevented the tying run from coming to the plate for the AppleSox.

The final game of the three game series is Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. Micael Taylor will take to the hill for Wenatchee.

WP: Alex Webb (2-2)
LP: Tony Contonio (0-5)

APPLESOX GO FOR SERIES AT KELOWNA

Brian Gadsby will get the start for the AppleSox tonight, as they go for a series win at Kelowna.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX LOOK FOR FOURTH-STRAIGHT OVER KELOWNA
The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-20, 15-19), fourth place in the WCL East, won a 13-9 slugfest last night against the Kelowna Falcons (23-12, 22-12), in the Sox third-consecutive win over the division-leading Falcons...the AppleSox will have a chance to own two of Kelowna’s three series losses, if they win Friday night...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (18-20) (.474), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
The AppleSox unpacked their bats in game one of the three-game series last night (four-of-six-consecutive)...with the win, Wenatchee is now seven games back in the WCL East division...Wenatchee fell behind early, 3-0 after a good first inning for the Falcons...Kelowna brought all of its order to the plate in the first inning and came up with three runs on two hits and three walks...the AppleSox opened on the scoreboard in the second inning, with two runs of their own...Jake Hirabayashi and Nick Nyquist got their first hits of the night, and Drew Helmstadter reached on an error (could’ve easily been scored an RBI single), with Jansen driving in the other run...the Sox took a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning, on a three-run frame, they woild hold that advantage to the final gun...Keston Hiura, Keaton Smith, Hirabayashi, and Nyquist all had two-hit nights...Holland and Helmstadter had three-hit nights...Jansen collected four hits and a team-high four RBI...the AppleSox tried to give the game back in the sixth inning, surrendering four runs, hampering what was once a 10-5 lead, but the Sox went on to score the game’s final three runs, while shutting the Falcons down the rest of the way.

KNOCKING THE COVER OFF THE BALL
The AppleSox hit a season-high 19 hits, with a season-high 13 runs, and new single-game high of 8 extra-base hits...Mitchell Holland powered his 3rd home run of the season over Elks Stadium’s left field fence, and seven-of-nine men in the order collected two or more hits...eight-of-nine with one hit...the Sox also scored in six-of-nine innings, a new season high.

HIURA THE HITTER
Keston Hiura might have to host his own All Star Game in the Wenatchee Valley, Monday night...since the All Star teams were announced (and he was left off the list), Hiura has been hitting .471 (8x17), with six doubles, two RBI, and a walk...Hiura has collected an extra-base hit in each of his last five games and eight of his last ten games...he has a five-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in  18 of his last 21 games (23-of-29 this year)...batting .571 (12x21, 3RBI) in last five games, and .450 in last ten (18x40, 2 HR, 10 RBI).

THE BIG FOUR-OH .... OH
The AppleSox won their 400th all-time league game, Thursday night...315 were won in WCL play, and the other 85 in the PIL.

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT ELKS
Over the last ten games at Elks Stadium, dating back to Aug. 9, 2013, the AppleSox are 7-3...they have won five in a row...over that stretch, the Sox are averaging 10 runs per game, 14.2 hits per game, and have a home run and three triples...over the last two season on the road in Kelowna, Wenatchee is 6-1, averaging 9 runs per game, 13.3 hits per game, with two home runs and three triples.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 848 games, the AppleSox own a 531-317 (.626) record...the AppleSox are 391-217 (.653) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 340-199 (.631) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 422-274 (.608) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.661) all-time home record, and is 221-172 (.562) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

SLUGFEST GOES TO APPLESOX, WINNERS OF THREE-STRAIGHT

The AppleSox exploded for season-highs in hits, runs, and extra-bases, on the way to a third-consecutive win Thursday, at Elks Stadium in British Columbia.

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (18-20, 15-19) exploded for 19 hits in a 13-9 win over the Kelowna Falcons (23-12, 22-12), Thursday, at Elks Stadium.

The AppleSox 13 runs and 19 hits each were a new single game high. The AppleSox also hit eight exra-base hits, which trumped their previous season high, set back in June against the Corvallis Knights.

The night started with a tough first inning, in which all nine Kelowna batters came to the plate to face Hunter Wells (5-1). Wells surrendered three runs on two hits and walked three batters in the inning. He would finish after five innings with six walks, and also gave up single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Wenatchee started its scoring in the second inning, when a runner came to score on an error on the left side of the infield, and Joey Jansen hit the first of four RBI on the night.

In total, Jansen was 4-for-6 and also scored a run. The AppleSox had eight-of-nine batters collect a hit, and seven-of-nine had at least two hits.

An additional three runs were scored in the fourth inning on an RBI single for Drew Helmstadter and two RBI doubles – one for Keaton Smith, and another for Keston Hiura. Hiura collected his fifth-consecutive multi-hit night, and Smith went on to go 2-for-6 with both of his hits, RBI doubles.

In the fifth, Nick Nyquist’s second hit of the game resulted in a sixth run for the AppleSox. Helmstadter also knocked in a 2-RBI double, and Jansen collected the second of his 4 RBI.

Helmstadter was 2-for-5 on the night, with 3 RBI - a new personal-best in single game RBI for the AppleSox, this year.

Scoring was simplified in the sixth inning when Mitchell Holland went deep for his third home run of the season. The shot was of the solo variety to left field, and gave Wenatchee a 10-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

Dustin Hamilton took over at that point and nearly gave up the lead in a difficult outing. Four runs scored in the sixth inning and nine batters came to the plate, like the first inning.

AJ Proszek was ejected in the inning, disputing balls and strikes, after a borderline ball call by the home plate umpire during a pivotal at bat of the frame.

Kyle Blankenship pitched the seventh and eighth innings and dialed up a double-play ball twice, to get out of trouble. One was 6-4-3 in the seventh, and the other 5-4-3 in the eighth.

Sean Sparling retired the side in order in the ninth, after his guys scored three more runs in the final three innings for the 13-9 win.

With the win, the AppleSox have taken three-straight from Kelowna, and 3-of-4 on the season. The Sox picked up a game on all teams in the WCL East, who each lost last night.

Tonight is game two (five-of-six consecutive) and Brian Gadsby will make a spot start for the AppleSox, who are low on available arms. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. from Elks Stadium.

WP: Hunter Wells (5-1)
LP: Dalton Blackwell (0-1)

APPLESOX-FALCONS SERIES MOVES NORTH

The AppleSox look to carry their momentum from a series win against the WCL East leaders in Wenatchee, to British Columbia, as a home-and-home set continues, Thursday.

GAME NOTES

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (17-20, 14-19), fourth place in the WCL East, were the first team to win a series against the Kelowna Falcons (23-11, 22-11), since Yakima Valley won a series in the second three=game set of the year for the Falcons...Wednesday marked the first time the Falcons lost the third game of a set this season...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (17-20) (.459), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
The AppleSox won a series Wednesday night for the first time since  July 3-5 when they swept the Klamath Falls Gems...Kelowna lost game three of a series for the first time this season...the Falcons are now 9-2 in series this season and had an eight-series winning streak snapped...Keston Hiura had a multi-hit night for a fourth consecutive game...Hiura had two doubles Wednesday - both for RBI - which brought his total in the first series to five doubles...he went 6-for-12 on the series, and is batting over .500 on the season...Evan Douglas hit his seventh home run of the season -  a three-run shot in the sixth inning...Wenatchee got into some trouble in the ninth inning, after Hunter Villanueva and Justin Flores led off the top of the ninth with back-to-back solo home runs...Wednesday marked the first time this season that an opposing team hit at least one home run, but didn’t win...Brian Gadsby was forced into action in the ninth inning and got the final out of the game, catching Lane Lacrone looking at strike three for the win...Gadsby picked up his second save, and will start in game two for the AppleSox, Friday...a spot start due to Wenatchee being short pitchers.

WELLS, LIIKALA, NAMED 2015 ALL STARS
Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, League President Dennis Koho announced Monday...They will play for the WCL North All Star team, comprised of players from Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Victoria, and Yakima Valley...Kelowna and Bellingham each had five players selected, Walla Walla received four picks, Yakima Valley; three, and Victoria; one.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 847 games, the AppleSox own a 530-317 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 390-217 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 339-199 (.634) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 421-274 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 320-164 (.665) all-time home record, and is 220-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX WIN SERIES, LIFTED BY HAGGETT

The AppleSox won a WCL East series for the first time, Wednesday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (17-20, 14-19) won 6-4 Wednesday, and took the first series of two-consecutive against the Kelowna Falcons (23-11, 22-11) at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

The AppleSox scored first in the first inning, on a Keston Hiura RBI double. Hiura has been hitting over .500 over the last five games.

Zach Haggett (4-1) was outstanding for the AppleSox, Wednesday. He started the game by retiring the first seven batters he faced. Wade Gulden broke up the seven-consecutive retired with the first single of the game. The Falcons would only get one more hit off of Haggett over 7 2/3 innings. Max Carter singled in the fifth inning for the other hit.

Haggett received more run support from his club in the sixth inning, when Joel Lamont (3-1) walked two batters ahead of Evan Douglas. He promptly homered over the wall in right field to give Wenatchee a 4-0 lead. It was Douglas’ seventh home run of the summer.

Wenatchee added two in the seventh on an RBI double for Keston Hiura – his second of the game – and a wild pitch scored Wenatchee’s sixth run.

Three walks got Haggett into trouble in the eighth inning. He left the game with 120 pitches thrown, and a run came home to score on a wild pitch from Tony Contonio out of the bullpen. The run – charged to Haggett – ended a streak of 25 consecutive scoreless innings for the right-hander.

Contonio got a strikeout to end the inning, but was in trouble in the ninth inning after giving up back-to-back solo home runs to Hunter Villanueva and Justin Flores. A walk of Max Carter, and another of Vinny Esposito, forced the AppleSox to turn to Brian Gadsby, with the score 6-3. An infield single got Kelowna its fourth run, but Gadsby struck out the next batter looking to end the game with the tying run aboard.

Gadsby earned his second save of the season.

Kelowna’s loss marked the first time they’ve lost the third game of a series this season, and broke up eight-consecutive series won for the Falcons (seven in game three).

The two teams will now take their battle north to British Columbia and face off in Kelowna. First pitch tomorrow is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., and AppleSox All Star Hunter Wells is scheduled to take to the mound.

WP: Zach Haggett (4-1)
LP: Joel Lamont (3-1)
S: Brian Gadsby (2)

SERIES-DECIDING GAME THREE WITH KELOWNA, WEDNESDAY

The AppleSox and Falcons will decide the first of two-consecutive series, Wednesday night, in a game that is expected to be a pitchers' duel. The two starters to either side have a combined 6-1 record.

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-20, 13-19), fourth place in the WCL East, look to win the first of two series in a six-game home and home stretch with the Kelowna Falcons (23-10, 22-10), who fell last night 6-3, after a great AppleSox comeback last night at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (16-20) (.444), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
Game two had an inauspicious beginning last night...Wenatchee was no-hit through 5 2/3 innings, by Kelowna starter Nat Hamby...Kelowna had just taken a 3-0 lead in the top half of the fifth inning...RBI through the first five innings belonged to Hunter Villanueva and Joey Crunkilton...Wenatchee got hits in bunches from that point on...Drew Helmstadter got the Sox first hit with two-outs in the fifth, and Danny Amaral followed it up with an RBI single, scoring Kyle Vanderkin, who walked earlier in the inning...the walk was one-of-three for Vanderkin, Tuesday...Amaral’s RBI was the first of three...Wenatchee had to wait until the bottom of the seventh to tie the score, as Helmstadter got another two-out single for Wenatchee...Amaral followed it up with an RBI triple to right field, and a relay throw got over the head of Kelowna’s third baseman to bring Amaral all the way around to score on the play...Colton Loomis, a Cashmere Native, pitching on Cashmere Night at the ballpark tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth inning...he was picked up by a defense that set a new single-game season-high with 3 double plays turned in last night’s game...the double plays came with bases loaded and no outs in the fifth inning, to end the top of the eighth, and get first two outs in the ninth...AppleSox took the lead in the eighth after Evan Douglas walked and Keston Hiura doubled...Mitchell Holland hit a go-ahead RBI single, then Sheldon Liikala added an RBI bunt single, and Amaral a walk...Loomis got the win, capping the ninth with a K.

TURNING AROUND THE DIVISIONAL RECORD
The AppleSox started divisional play at 2-8...last night was their third win in divisional action...Wenatchee has not won back-to-back games in divisional play this year.

ABOUT RUBBER-MATCH GAME THREES
Wenatchee is 0-2 in the rubber match game of series this year...the only two times the AppleSox faced a rubber match this year were both against Walla Walla and both on the road...both games were losses in walkoff fashion.

WELLS, LIIKALA, NAMED 2015 ALL STARS
Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, League President Dennis Koho announced Monday...They will play for the WCL North All Star team, comprised of players from Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Victoria, and Yakima Valley...Kelowna and Bellingham each had five players selected, Walla Walla received four picks, Yakima Valley; three, and Victoria; one.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 846 games, the AppleSox own a 529-317 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 389-217 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 338-199 (.634) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 420-274 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 319-164 (.665) all-time home record, and is 220-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.

APPLESOX EVEN SERIES WITH COMEBACK WIN

The AppleSox were led by a three-RBI performance from Danny Amaral, and great defensive play helped seal a win down the stretch, Tuesday.

WENATCHEE, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (16-20, 13-19) came-from-behind late in Tuesday night’s conterst to defeat the Kelowna Falcons (23-10, 22-10), 6-3 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

Early on it looked like the AppleSox could be in trouble for the second-consecutive night. Kelowna led 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, and Wenatchee was no-hit by Kelowna starter, Nat Hamby, for 5 2/3 innings.

Drew Helmstadter broke up the string of 5 2/3 hitless innings with a two-out single in the fifth. Danny Amaral followed with an RBI single that scored Kyle Vanderkin, who was aboard earlier in the inning with a walk.

In the sixth, Hamby stranded a Sox runner, and Wenatchee moved to 1-for-5 on the night with runners in scoring position.

The seventh inning provided more excitement for Wenatchee, as again with two outs, Helmstadter and Amaral sparked a rally for Wenatchee. Helmstadter started with a single, and was drive in on an Amaral RBI triple to right field that got over the head of Joey Crunkilton. A relay throw from shallow right field got over the head of Kelowna’s third baseman and bounced into the Wenatchee dugout, bringin Amaral all the way home on the play, while evening the score at 3.

Max Carter (0-1), was charged with the loss after allowing the first two runners of the inning aboard, on a walk and double. Keston Hiura had another two-hit night for Wenatchee – including his third double of the series. Mitchell Holland drove in Evan Douglas as the go-ahead run with a hard single over Lance Lacrone’s head at short.

Two more runs came to score in the inning on a bunt single for Sheldon Liikala and RBI bases-loaded walk for Danny Amaral.

Colton Loomis (1-1) relieved AppleSox starter Gage Burland, who did a great job of holding the Sox in the contest, with only the three runs allowed all night (one driven in on an RBI). Loomis had some troubles with the strike zone but was picked up by a stout Wenatchee defense.

The AppleSox turned a single league game-high 3 double plays Tuesday, including one for Burland with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and no outs. Another got Loomis out of the top of the eighth, and the third followed a four-pitch walk in the top of the ninth. Loomis capped the game with a strikeout, and the Cashmere native clinched the win on Cashmere Night at the ballpark.

The series concludes Wednesday, with Kid’s Day, presented by Fred Meyer. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m., and Zach Haggett (3-1) will pitch for the AppleSox.

WP: Colton Loomis (1-1)
LP: Max Carter (0-1)

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS

GAME NOTES
BASEBALL BLURBS

APPLESOX CONTINUE SIX-GAME STRETCH WITH DIVISION LEADERS
The Wenatchee AppleSox (15-20, 12-19), fourth place in the WCL East, dropped last night’s series-opener against the Kelowna Falcons (23-9, 22-9), 7-1 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field...outside of this current six-game stretch, the two teams will meet three more times in Kelowna July 28-30...the AppleSox are playing their 16th franchise season (11th in the WCL) and are led by first-year skipper, AJ Proszek (15-20) (.429), who is in his 3rd season with the Sox, after managing the pitching staff in 2013 and 2014...Proszek is assisted by Miles Kizer and Cory LeBrun, both in their first seasons.

LAST NIGHT
Wenatchee was hit hard in the first inning by Kelowna a night ago...RBI singles and doubles accounted for two runs, while a balk forced home a third run in the frame...Micael Taylor was handed his first loss as a starter last night, now going to 1-3 on the season...his command of the zone was spotty at times, throwing 87 pitches, with 47 crossing for strikes...Kelowna teed off on him for two additional runs in the fourth inning, an RBI single and solo HR from Hunter Villanueva, his third home run of the season...Matt Hearn, Kelowna’s second baseman had a great night at the plate, Monday, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk...Hearn and his teammate Brandon Grimsley each had a stolen base, and Ryan Crowe caught two Falcons stealing to open the series...Sean Sparling pitched after Kyle Blankenship provided initial relief...Blankenship walked five, and as a staff the AppleSox walked nine and struck out four last night...the AppleSox lone run came in the sixth inning on a Keston Hiura RBI double, that scored Evan Douglas...Hiura had another multi-hit night, with both of his knocks being doubles.

PREVENTING THE HOME RUN
The AppleSox gave up a home run last night in the fourth inning...just the fourth time an opponent has hit one on Wenatchee this seaosn, the lowest total for any pitching staff in the WCL.

OFF DAY NOT SERVING ITS PURPOSE
Wenatchee is now 1-4 when playing after an off day. The AppleSox are 4-1 prior to the off day, with their only win after an off day in backwards fashion, June 20 against Walla Walla after dropping the series finale at Victoria June 28, 11-10...Four times the potential for a multi-game winning streak was snapped by the off day this season...a momentum killer.

WELLS, LIIKALA, NAMED 2015 ALL STARS
Hunter Wells and Sheldon Liikala were named to the 2015 WCL North All Star team, League President Dennis Koho announced Monday...They will play for the WCL North All Star team, comprised of players from Bellingham, Kelowna, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Victoria, and Yakima Valley...Kelowna and Bellingham each had five players selected, Walla Walla received four picks, Yakima Valley; three, and Victoria; one.

APPLESOX ALL-TIME
Through the first fifteen franchise seasons and 845 games, the AppleSox own a 528-317 (.628) record...the AppleSox are 388-217 (.647) since the inception of the WCL in 2005...Wenatchee is 337-199 (.634) all-time in WCL league games (including playoffs), and 55-15 (.786) all-time in non-league contests since 2005...all-time, the AppleSox are 419-274 (.609) against league opponents (including playoffs) and 107-40 (.728) vs. non-league teams...Wenatchee owns a 318-164 (.665) all-time home record, and is 220-172 (.565) on the road...Wenatchee is 34-29 all-time in extra-inning games.