Five AppleSox Alums Appear On MLB Opening Day Rosters

Today is Major League Baseball's Opening Day and five former AppleSox players have appeared on an MLB roster to begin the season. That figure is the third-best among the 16 West Coast League teams.

Griffin Canning (Los Angeles Angels, 2014 AppleSox Alum), Marco Gonzales (Seattle Mariners, 2010 AppleSox alum), James Kaprielian (Oakland Athletics, 2012 AppleSox alum), , Ryan Kreidler (Detroit Tiger, 2016 AppleSox alum) and Drew Rasmussen (Tampa Bay Rays, 2014 AppleSox alum) all made their respective major-league clubs to begin the 2023 season.

To learn more about AppleSox alums to appear in MLB games, please visit applesox.com/applesox-in-the-pros. To read more on the 40 WCL alums to appear on MLB Opening Day rosters, read more: https://westcoastleague.com/mlb-opening-day-rosters-feature-40-alumni/

AppleSox Sign Five Players From California Colleges

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Tuesday the addition of five new players to the AppleSox’ 2023 roster. Frankie Carney, Cole McGowan, Nick Putnam, Jacob Dahlstrom and Sebastian David all join the AppleSox from California colleges.

“There’s so much good talent in the state of California,” head coach Mitch Darlington said. “Some of these guys are Washington natives heading to California schools, which is cool to see because if you’ve got a place to play it’s hard to beat California. For some of these guys it’s neat to come to Washington for the summer for some cooler temperatures.”  

Carney is the first-of-two players at UC Irvine to join the AppleSox after his freshman year with the Anteaters. He has not appeared in any games yet this season but comes to the AppleSox with some acclaim for his work in high school. Carney batted .402, recorded a 1.149 OPS and stole 18 bags to earn First Team All-Western League honors as a senior at St. Augustine High School in San Diego in 2022. His work earned him a spot on the West team for the East vs. West All-Star Game at Petco Park in a matchup of the top high-school talent in the San Diego area.

The middle infielder got his first taste of college baseball and summer college baseball last year in the South Florida Collegiate League with the West Palm Beach Knights. Carney batted .308 and collected at least one hit in nine-of-15 games and seven of his 10 runs scored came in his final three games. 

“Really good speed,” Darlington said. “Likes to get on the bases and likes to run. Defense is one of his strengths, a really good glove up the middle. We could see him bouncing between shortstop and second base. He can get on base and make things happen. He’s gonna bring a ton of energy, a ton of speed and a good glove up the middle. Three things I love.”

McGowan is the other Anteater freshman signed to join the AppleSox. Like Carney, he has not gotten into any game action this spring but was a tri-sport athlete in high school, playing basketball and rugby in addition to baseball at Redwood High School. 

The San Rafael, Calif. native hit .329 with seven extra-base hits and 19 runs in 27 games as a senior. He batted .299 with five extra-base hits and 12 RBI in 20 games as a junior in 2021. McGowan was ranked as the 58th-best outfielder among high school players in California by Perfect Game. 

“He is another guy with really good speed,” Darlington said. “A guy who gets on base and makes things happen. Cole is a very good defensive outfielder, which is very important at our park where the wind blows out to right.”  

AppleSox fans may recognize the last name of the third addition to this week’s roster. Catcher Nick Putnam, younger brother of 2022 AppleSox pitcher Jake Putnam, has signed to join the 2023 AppleSox. He is in his freshman year at UC Santa Barbara and is looking to make his debut for the Gauchos. 

Putnam hit .253 with two doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI in 27 games as a senior at San Ramon Valley High School in 2022. The Danville, Calif. native continues the tradition of two players from the same family playing for the AppleSox. Other sets of brothers to play for the AppleSox in recent years include Michael and Zach Toglia as well as Marco and Alex Gonzales. 

“Nick is a 6-foot-6 catcher with a lot of power,” Darlignton said. “He can hit doubles, a lot of juice in the bat. It’s tough to crack that lineup there as an underclassmen but he’s a talented kid and I’m excited to keep the Putnam family in Wenatchee.” 

Dahlstrom is teammates with returning AppleSox pitcher Quincy Vassar and is also a West Coast League veteran after pitching in 12 games for Walla Walla in 2021. He has starred in his first year at Vanguard, recording a 3.73 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 15 walks in 31.1 innings over eight games (six starts). Dahlstrom’s best start came on Feb. 11 against Southwestern Assemblies of God University, when he tossed seven scoreless and hitless innings while only allowing one walk and striking out five. 

Dahlstrom previously spent parts of three seasons at Bellevue Community College from 2020-22. He recorded a 3.85 ERA while striking out 96 and walking 32 in 110 innings over 25 games (20 starts). 

“Their head coach had thrown out his name last year and Quincy brought up his name this fall,” Darlington said. “He is off to a great start at Vanguard as one of their starters and is going to be a big asset for us. I could see him getting a few starts with the AppleSox and then see where he goes from there.” 

David comes to the AppleSox as a highly-touted prospect who is committed to play at Stanford next year. He earned First Team All-Metro honors and earned a spot in the Metro League All-Star Game as a junior at Lakeside High School in Medina, Wa. last spring. 

David has previously played for USA Baseball’s 16U/17U National Team Development Program in August, 2021. Baseball Northwest ranked him as the eighth-best prospect in Washington this year. He also was invited to and participated in the Area Code Games in 2021 and 2022.

“Sebastian is a big-time talent,” Darlington said. “I am beyond ecstatic to have him with us. A really special player. A name to keep your eye on as the (MLB) Draft approaches in July. He’s got all the tools of a big-time prospect in the middle infield. The results and where he has been invited kind of speak for themselves.”  

To hear more of Darlington’s thoughts on the five players signed from California colleges stay tuned for the newest addition of the AppleSox Podcast on Thursday. You can listen to it and other previous roster-release episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Ticket packages for the AppleSox’ 23rd season are now on sale. Season tickets lock in your seats for all 31 home games and run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Double Play Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com.

AppleSox Add Three Players From Oregon Colleges

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Wednesday the signings of three players to the AppleSox’ 2023 roster. Bryce Johnson, Jhett Jacquot and Reeve Boyd are all either currently enrolled at or committed to colleges in Oregon.

Johnson is in his senior year at Eastlake High School and is one of the most touted high-school prospects in Washington. He was ranked as the third-best high school prospect in the state by Prep Baseball Report Washington last fall. Johnson is committed to play at Oregon State in 2024.

The Sammamish native shined in his junior year at Eastlake, recording a 1.77 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 18 walks in 59.1 innings over 11 games. Johnson and the Wolves reached the second round of the 4A State Tournament in 2022.  

“Bryce is going to be huge for us on the mound this summer,” Darlington said. “[His] fastball can run it up to 90 to 91 miles per hour, has a couple of good off-speed spitches and is just a really good competitor. I can see him being a starter for us depending on how he looks in those first few outings of the summer and depending on what Oregon State wants for his inning limit.” 

Jacquot is in his fourth year of school but will be a senior next year at Linfield. He began his college career in the COVID-shortened 2020 season at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Southeast Community College for the next two seasons. Jacquot did not play in his freshman year at Iowa Western but went on to play in 47 games over the next two years at Southeast. He recorded a .366 on-base percentage and was named an Academic All-American in 2022.

After not pitching in any of his first three years at school Jacquot has taken the mound twice in his first year at Linfield. The Lincoln, Neb. native has shown his versatility by also appearing in five games defensively. 

“Jhett's probably going to be on the mound most of the summer,” Darlington said, “but any time your pitchers can also play a position spot or be a two-way player just makes it easier to coach in the summer." 

Boyd is the AppleSox’ second Oregon State signee playing in Wenatchee this summer. Similar to Johnson he also appeared on Prep Baseball Washington’s Fall Rankings (No. 15). Boyd has primarily played shortstop at Seattle Prep and hit .357 with a 1.010 OPS last year. He was also named MVP of the Pacific Northwest Scout Games last August. 

“He’s a big-time talent out of the Northwest,” Darlington said. “A middle infielder who can play third base at times. Everything you want of a guy who you are recruiting out of high school. I could see Reeve playing a lot of middle infield for us and watching him grow.”

To hear more of Darlington’s thoughts on the three players signed from Oregon colleges stay tuned for the newest addition of the AppleSox Podcast tomorrow. You can listen to it and other previous roster-release episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Ticket packages for the AppleSox’ 23rd season are now on sale. Season tickets lock in your seats for all 31 home games and run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Double Play Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com.

AppleSox Sign Six NWAC Players To 2023 Roster

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Tuesday the addition of six players from NWAC schools to the AppleSox’ 2023 roster. Michael Schwarz, Joey Pearson, Andrew Monson, Michael Cunneely, Keegan Adams and Easton Amundson are all new to the AppleSox, although Monson and Amundson played in the West Coast League last summer while Adams also played summer college baseball a year ago in the Pacific International League.

“It’s fun to see these junior college players,” Darlington said,“because they’re going to sign somewhere good and go to a Division-I school. Take a guy like Joichiro Oyama, who came to us from Merced and is now at UC Irvine. Watch them grow with us and keep tabs on them as they leave us. A lot of these guys are going to go on and play at a  high level.”

Schwarz is one-of-three players this week with a connection to AppleSox pitching coach Mike Callia, who holds the same position at Lower Columbia College. Schwarz is in his sophomore season with the Red Devils and is 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA, 20 strikeouts and eight walks in 23.2 innings over four games (all starts). His finest outing to date came Feb. 24 when he only allowed two runs on four hits over eight innings in a 7-2 win over Bellevue. 

This is the second consecutive strong season from the 2021 Central Valley HS (WA) graduate. Schwarz earned All-NWAC Second Team honors in the East Region after recording a 2.20 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 28 walks in 77.2 innings over 14 games (13 starts) for the Red Devils.

"He is a special arm,” Callia said. “There aren't too many guys who are two-year aces in the NWAC and he has a chance to do that at Lower Columbia. Just a competitive kid, wants the ball every time. He wants to win and put it all on the line for the team, which is just the type of guy that we want on this team."

Pearson is the other arm from Lower Columbia signed to join the AppleSox this summer. He has only pitched in one game as a freshman this spring after recovering from injury but is coming off a tremendous senior year at Richland in 2022. Pearson tossed two no-hitters last spring, including against Moses Lake in the second round of the Washington State 4A Regionals to help eventually lead Richland to a third-place finish at State. 

Pearson earned SBLive Washington’s top pitcher of the year honor after going 6-1 with a 1.50 ERA, 35 strikeouts and nine walks in 40 innings. Perfect Game also ranked him as the 14th-best high-school player and seventh-best arm in Washington.

“Very special arm,” Callia said. “He has two elite breaking balls and he’s got a chance to play this game for a long time. He brings a lot of energy when he gets on the bump and has great intent with all of his pitches.” 

Monson is set to pitch in his second season in the WCL after appearing in 20 games with the Port Angeles Lefties last summer. He recorded a 3.44 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 16 walks in 31.1 innings over 20 games (one start). Monson did not allow any runs in 11 outings and had a 1.80 ERA after his first 17 games. He pitched once against the AppleSox on June 7 and did not allow any runs over 1.2 innings against the team that went on to lead the WCL in runs. 

The sophomore at Spokane Falls is four innings away from matching his total from a season ago, despite having currently pitched in seven fewer games. Monson has started two of his first three games this spring after solely pitching in relief a year ago. 

“He can run it up and touch 90 with his fastball,” Darlington said, “but has really developed a couple off-speed pitches that are swing-and-miss pitches. He has a good changeup and a good breaking ball and has three pitches that he can throw for strikes. He’s a guy where we haven’t decided what role he will play for us yet but will get a lot of innings.”

Cunneely also joins the AppleSox as a right-hander from Spokane Falls. He has pitched in three games (two starts) in his freshman year with the Sasquatch and has a 3.86 ERA with 13 strikeouts and six walks in 14 innings. Cunneely has tossed at least five innings in both starts while allowing a combined five runs over 11 innings. 

Similar to returning AppleSox right-hander and his teammate at Spokane Falls, Garrett Gores, Cunneely attended Gonzaga Prep. One of his best outings with the Bullpups came on May 14 when he struck out eight in a complete game two-hitter against Central Valley in a District 8 4A loser-out game. 

“Big, tall drink of water,” Darlington said. “Tall, lanky kid who can run it up to 90. Their coach is very high on him and the sky's the limit for this kid. I could see him having a good spring and then make big jumps this summer. I think him being around Mike Callia and some other division-I arms to help tweak some things and mentor him will help him have a good summer for us.” 

Adams is in the midst of taking a gap year before he will join Columbia Basin College next year. His collegiate career began at Centralia College, where he recorded a 3.48 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 22 walks in 54.1 innings over 13 games (11 starts). Adams allowed more than four earned runs in a game twice and recorded a season-high six punchouts in five innings against Green River on May 8. 

The 2021 Decatur High School (WA) graduate’s first time on the mound for the AppleSox this summer will be his game action since last summer with the DubSea Fish Sticks of the PIL. He appeared in three games in league play for the team formerly known as the Highline Bears, but did not pitch against the AppleSox in a pair of non-league games in mid-July.

“He was Centralia’s main guy last spring,” Darlington said. “He was a guy who I tried to pick up at the end of last summer but he had thrown too many innings at that point. He has some things to develop and is training at Diamond Sports trying to increase his fastball velocity. He is a few minor tweaks away from being a really dominant arm.”

Amundson was a key mid-season addition for the Bellingham Bells last summer and now switches jerseys to the team that they faced in the 2022 North Division Championship Game. He opened up his tenure with the Bells on an 11-game hitting streak and finished the summer batting .448 in 14 regular-season games before appearing in three postseason games. 

Amundson is a versatile option defensively as he has played first and third base at Lower Columbia while also playing the outfield for Bellingham. The 2021 Ridgevue High School (ID) graduate only appeared in 19 games as a freshman but has a .286 batting average with a home run and 6 RBI through 16 games this spring

“Big power bat in the middle of our lineup,” Callia said. “He tore the cover of the ball in the fall for us, batting .521. This is a guy who hit at a lot of different levels and has hit for us so far this spring. Just having quality at bats with a big presence in the box is going to be big for us this summer.”

To hear more of Darlington and Callia’s thoughts on the six players signed from the NWAC stay tuned for the newest addition of the AppleSox Podcast on Thursday. You can listen to it and other previous roster-release episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Ticket packages for the AppleSox’ 23rd season are now on sale. Season tickets lock in your seats for all 31 home games and run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Double Play Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com.

AppleSox Welcome Back Five More Returners To 2023 Roster

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Monday five more returning players rejoining the AppleSox for the 2023 season. Evan Canfield, Jack DeDonato, Garrett Gores, Quincy Vassar and Nino Vultaggio return to give the AppleSox eight players who played for the team last season.

Four of these five players and six of the AppleSox’ eight returning players are pitchers. Darlington believes that each player will take a big step forward in 2023.

“Good pitching is hard to find,” Darlington said. “These six guys that we’re bringing back aren’t bottom of the barrel bullpen guys who didn’t see any innings. Moffitt and Vassar were starters for a full summer for the AppleSox, so you expect them to make a jump individually. Gores, Canfield and DeDonato were three guys who were key plug-and-play guys. They could come in any situation and close the game. You expect that those guys are going to grow themselves individually and lead to better things. You gotta find a way to retain good arms when you have them.”

Canfield regularly provided multi-inning relief efforts out of the bullpen for the AppleSox in 2022. He fired at least three innings of relief four times, including five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against Kelowna on July 5. The right-hander from Bothell’s finest work of the season may have been his final outing of the summer, a five-inning scoreless start against Walla Walla with five strikeouts on Aug. 5 to earn the win on the night the AppleSox clinched a playoff spot. In total, Canfield went 4-0 with a 1.22 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 29.1 innings in nine games.

Canfield is a redshirt freshman at Edmonds after not pitching for the Tritons in 2022. This summer will be his third consecutive year pitching in the West Coast League after briefly appearing for the Port Angeles Lefties in 2021. Canfield made his WCL debut on Aug. 4, 2021, against the AppleSox. The right-hander struck out seven hitters over 5.2 innings and only allowed two runs. Canfield went on to appear in two more games and posted a 3.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 12 innings.

“Some of his best performances were in late-inning relief,” Darlington said. “We never had a true closer and Evan was one of those guys that you could throw in the seventh inning with the lead and expect to finish the game. Really good fastball with a lot of movement but he really has two different changeups that are nasty and swing-and-miss pitches.” 

DeDonato has pitched in five games for the AppleSox over the previous two seasons but this time has signed with the team prior to the start of the summer. He joined the AppleSox in late June last season and recorded a 4.32 ERA with eight strikeouts, 10 walks and seven hits in 8.1 innings over three games. DeDonato was lights-out in his final game of the summer, allowing one run over five innings of relief to pick up the win against Yakima Valley on Aug. 3. He previously pitched in one game with the AppleSox in 2021.

The southpaw from Mercer Island is in his first season at New Mexico. He redshirted at Washington State last season after earning First Team All-State honors as a senior at Mercer Island High School in 2021. DeDonato recorded a 1.56 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 20.1 innings and also was ranked as the second-best left-handed pitcher in Washington by Perfect Game. 

“It was the tale of two different seasons for Jack,” Darlington said. “In the first few outings he struggled to find the zone and did not have his confidence but he recovered late to find it and had some huge moments for us down the stretch. He had an edge late in the season that looked ticked off on the mound, who wanted to go at guys and that was the mindset that he needed to flip the switch.” 

Gores spent the entire summer with the AppleSox and is back in the Apple Capital in 2023. He pitched in 10 games, with Gores’ finest coming on July 7 when he tossed 6.2 scoreless innings at Kelowna. He also stepped up and proved himself a team player a few times when the AppleSox were short on position players. Gores started at third base three times, including twice on a six-game road trip to Victoria and Edmonton after the AppleSox had sustained several injuries. He also started at first base in Game 1 of the North Division Series against Kamloops. 

The Spokane native is in his second year at Spokane Falls, where he recorded a 3.44 ERA and struck out 49 hitters in 52.1 innings over 12 games (five starts) a year ago. Gores has pitched in one game this spring, striking out five over three innings while only allowing a pair of runs on two hits and one walk. He hit .230 in 87 at-bats as a freshman but is hitting .455 through 11 at-bats this season, thanks in part to a 3-for-5 performance on March 5 against Edmonds. He drove in a run while also picking up a double and a triple. 

“Garrett did a lot of great things for us last summer,” Darlington said. “We used him in so many different roles. We used him as a starter, in the back end, in long relief. We would put him in games when our starter got touched up and we asked him to keep it where it was at. He could be used any way that you want. He hasn’t signed anywhere yet but if I were at a four-year school, then I would be all over Garrett Gores.” 

Vassar is set to pitch in his second season with the AppleSox after a standout showing in 2022. The Brewster native earned a spot in the rotation after a strong relief outing in the season opener and held onto it all summer. He tossed at least five innings in six-of-eight starts and struck out at least five hitters seven times. Vassar got the win on the mound in the series-clinching Game 2 of the North Division Series when he allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out eight in seven innings.  

The southpaw began his collegiate career at Bellevue Community College before transferring to Vanguard last year. He recorded a 1.91 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only eight walks in 28.1 innings over eight relief outings as a freshman in 2021. Vassar went on to post a 4.78 ERA with 24 strikeouts and just nine walks in 26.1 innings over 20 games (two starts) in 2022. He has already pitched in seven games this year, recording a 1.23 ERA with 20 strikeouts and four walks in 14.2 innings. Vassar has solely been used as a reliever this spring despite primarily being used as a starting pitcher with the AppleSox. 

“Quincy is super competitive.” Darlington said. “I think that’s one of his best attributes. He’s going to fight you tooth and nail and not give you anything easy. He’s going to go out there and expect to win and set the tone for our defense and the whole team.” 

Vultaggio was one of several late-season additions to the AppleSox last August who helped the team down the stretch on their postseason run. He joins the AppleSox on a 10-game contract for the upcoming season after batting a combined .296 in nine games between the regular season and postseason. Vultaggio’s best game was a 4-for-4 performance in Game 2 of the North Division Series against Kamloops when he drove in a run, doubled and scored twice.

Vultaggio transferred to Ohlone College (CA) after appearing in one game with Cal State Bakersfield last spring. He has a .273 batting average, two doubles, two home runs and 17 RBI through his first 13 games with the Warriors. Vultaggio has two multi-hit games and at least one hit in 8-of-13 games. He spent two seasons at Saddleback College before that, batting .292 with four home runs and 22 RBI in 2020 before going on to hit .317 in 15 games in 2021.

“Nino was a good friend of another one of our players last year, Michael Davinni,” Darlington said. “Mike knew we were losing some guys late in the summer and connected us with Nino, who had a great end of the summer with us. He reached out to me about wanting to be back and our roster was filled up at the time but I asked him if he would be available for the opening road trip to Bend and, credit to him, he jumped on it. We expect him to be around for Opening Day and for as long as he can.” 

Stay tuned over the coming weeks as more roster additions are announced for the AppleSox. Next week’s roster release will detail five pitchers joining Wenatchee from the NWAC.  

To hear more of Darlington’s thoughts on 2023 roster player signings subscribe to the AppleSox Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 

Ticket packages for the AppleSox’ 23rd season are now on sale. Season tickets lock in your seats for all 31 home games and run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Double Play Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com.

AppleSox Announce First Three Members of 2023 Roster

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Monday the first three players of the 2023 roster. Hunter Gibson, Jack Moffitt, Brandham Ponce are the first three returning players signed to suit for the AppleSox again in 2023. 

“Those guys know what we accomplished last summer and they know what the goal is.” Darlington said. “They know what we’re all about and we expect them and our other returners to be leaders on this summer’s team.” 

Gibson returns to the mound in 2023 for the AppleSox after appearing in 10 games a year ago, tied for the third-most among Sox pitchers. He was sidelined due to injury during the 2022 college season but returned and made an impact on the mound for the AppleSox. He had a 2.70 ERA after his first seven appearances following a five-inning shutout performance in relief against Corvallis on July 17 in which he struck out six, walked and allowed one hit. 

The Ellensburg native recorded a 2.96 ERA with 37 strikeouts and four walks over 27.1 innings in 10 appearances at Big Bend in 2021 as a freshman. Gibson tossed four scoreless innings in his season debut for the Vikings on Feb. 18 against Spokane Falls. He only allowed one hit, struck out six and walked three. 

“He primarily pitched in home games last summer as he lived in Ellensburg and commuted from there around his work schedule,” Darlington said. “He was coming off an arm injury last summer and he had some innings and pitch count limits. I really think you are going to see a different type of pitcher this summer. Him getting a full spring season and his velocity increasing lead me to believe he will have a great season with us after a great season at Big Bend.” 

Moffitt was with the AppleSox from start to finish last season, making his debut on the road in the third game of the season before getting the start in the 2022 North Division Championship Game. He allowed three-runs-or-less in eight-of-10 starts and saved his best for last in the final game of the season as he only allowed one unearned run in a season-high six innings and struck out three Bellingham batters. Moffitt tossed five-or-more innings in three-of-his-final-four starts and struck out a season-high six batters in five scoreless innings against Kamloops on July 20.

Moffitt has been at Gonzaga since 2020 but only appeared in one game over his first three years until this spring. He has pitched in two games, both in relief, after solely being used as a starter in Wenatchee. Moffitt previously played summer collegiate baseball for the Wheat City Whisky Jacks in 2021, posting a 4.75 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 53 innings over 13 games (11 starts).

“I felt like from his first start all the way to the end that he kept getting better and better,” Darlington said. “I think he’s going to come in more polished. He’s a guy with a heavy fastball that got up as high as 94 miles per hour. The big thing for him is going to be developing that off-speed pitch. It’s about finding a changeup that he can locate for a strike and finding a breaking ball that he can throw in any count.”

The AppleSox’ 2022 home run leader is back for 2023. Ponce whacked four home runs in the regular season before adding another one in the postseason. The utilityman appeared at first base (four times), third base (six times), left field (five times), right field (three times) and on the mound (twice) while also serving as the designated hitter once last summer in 22 games with Wenatchee. He thrived at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium, batting .327 with all five of his home runs in 16 games there. 

Ponce transferred to Washington State after two huge seasons at Big Bend and is in his first season in Pullman. His first hit with the Cougs was a big one as he smacked a bases-clearing double on Feb. 18 in a win over Villanova. 

Ponce began his collegiate career at Central Arizona in 2020 when he hit .206 in 20 games for the Vaqueros. He transferred to Big Bend and hit .354 with 3 home runs and 25 RBI in 28 games in 2021 and then batted .339 with six home runs and 42 RBI in 2022. Ponce was named to the ABCA Rawlings All-America Third Team and All-NWAC First Team and was also named NWAC East Region MVP as a utility player. 

“Beyond excited for him to be back with the AppleSox,” Darlington said. “His leadership is one of the biggest reasons why we wanted to have him back. The leadership that he provided for our dugout and the way that he rallied the troops and kept guys focused, kept them locked in. I can’t imagine the summer without Brandham. The guy has an infectious smile and the kid hit some massive home runs for us down the stretch.” 

Stay tuned over the coming weeks as more roster additions are announced for the AppleSox. Next week’s roster release will detail four more returning players. 

To hear more of Darlington’s thoughts on the first three members of the 2023 roster stay tuned for the newest addition of the AppleSox Podcast on Thursday. You can listen to it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Ticket packages for the AppleSox’ 23rd season are now on sale. Season tickets lock in your seats for all 31 home games and run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Double Play Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com.

Kelly Joins 2023 AppleSox Coaching Staff

AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Friday the addition of Colton Kelly to the team’s 2023 coaching staff.

Kelly is in his first season as an assistant coach for Wenatchee Valley College and will remain in the Apple Capital to coach the AppleSox this summer. He works with Knights head coach Aaron Vaughn, who served as the AppleSox pitching coach in 2022.

“We’re going to split duties with hitters,” Darlington said. “He’ll have full control of the outfield and coach first base. It’s good for us to keep that Wenatchee Valley College connection. He knows the local field and knows guys in the area. He’s another guy who has eyes in the NWAC.”

Kelly played at Skagit Valley College in 2014 before transferring to Columbia Basin College. The outfielder sat out in 2-5 because of transferring and went on to hit .324 in 24 games with the Hawks in 2016. Kelly again took a year off before joining Oklahoma Wesleyan and posted two more phenomenal years at the plate, batting .341 in 2018 and then .387 in 2019 on the back-to-back conference regular season and postseason champions.

The Moses Lake native spent the previous two seasons working as an assistant coach at Skagit Valley before joining Vaughn’s staff in Wenatchee. Kelly also has previous West Coast League experience from when he played 16 games with the Yakima Valley Pippins in 2016.

“I’m excited to be uncomfortable,” Kelly said. “I am comfortable in the NWAC. I played with two different schools and I’m going into my third season coaching in it. I’m excited to be around some higher lever and learn from them just as much as I can teach them.”

Kelly joins pitching coach Mike Callia as Darlington’s two assistants for the 2023 season. Wenatchee is coming off winning the 2022 North Division Second Half title to earn their 14th postseason appearance in 22 seasons. They swept the Kamloops NorthPaws in the North Division Semifinals but fell to the Bellingham Bells in the North Division Championship Game.

Ticket packages for the AppleSox’ 23rd season are now on sale. Season tickets lock in your seats for all 31 home games and run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Double Play Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com.

Hear more from Kelly as he chats with AppleSox broadcaster Joel Norman about his baseball career and his excitement about joining the AppleSox.

AppleSox Release 2023 Schedule

The Wenatchee AppleSox unveiled on Tuesday their full schedule for the 2023 season, the 23rd in franchise history.

The AppleSox will play 31 home games and 27 road games. The 2023 season begins on Friday, June 2 on the road against the Bend Elks. The AppleSox’ 2023 home opener is Tuesday, June 6 versus the Springfield Drifters.

The popular July 3 Fireworks Night returns in 2023 as the AppleSox host the DubSea Fish Sticks as we celebrate the Fourth of July. An additional Fireworks Night has been added on Friday, June 9 against Victoria to celebrate the return of another summer of collegiate baseball in the Apple Capital of the World.

Other home game schedule highlights include a Father’s Day game against the Kelowna Falcons on June 18, Christmas in July on July 25 and a 12-game homestand from July 17-30. A full promotional schedule will be released in the spring.

The AppleSox face fellow West Coast League-founding members Bellingham, Bend and Kelowna for six games apiece in the 2023. June 13-15 marks their first-ever trip to Springfield a year after the Drifters joined the WCL. As it so often does, the push to make the postseason may come down to the final days of the season and the AppleSox will spend all of those on the road as their regular season ends with a six-game road trip from Aug. 1-6, beginning in Bellingham and wrapping up in Kelowna.

Wenatchee plays four non-league games starting with a June 19 game against the Redmond Dudes. It will be the first-ever meeting between the AppleSox and the Dudes, a Pacific International League team. The only two-game non-league series comes on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 against the Northwest Star Academy. The aforementioned July 3 game against DubSea will mark the sixth consecutive season that the AppleSox have played at least one non-league game against the Fish Sticks.

All AppleSox home games will start at 6:35 p.m. with the exception of both Fireworks Nights on June 9 and July 3 (7:05) and all Sundays (1:05). Stay tuned for an announcement on road game times for the 2023 season.

Ticket packages for the AppleSox’ 23rd season are now on sale. Season tickets lock in your seats for all 31 home games and run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Double Play Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com.

AppleSox Add Callia To 2023 Coaching Staff

Head coach Mitch Darlington announced on Monday the addition of Mike Callia as the Wenatchee AppleSox’ pitching coach for the 2023 season.

Callia is in his first year as the Director of Player Development and Assistant Pitching Coach at Lower Columbia College and will join the AppleSox after the conclusion of the NWAC season in late May. He played three seasons for the Red Devils before transferring to West Texas A&M and wrapping up his playing career this past spring.

“The AppleSox brand is awesome,” Callia said. “It feels like they are in the postseason every year. You hear about the top West Coast League teams and the Wenatchee AppleSox are always up there. I’m really thrilled to get to Wenatchee and get going.”

Callia, a Renton native, comes to the AppleSox with a plethora of summer collegiate experience. He spent three years playing in the Expedition League from 2018-21 and played in the West Coast League with the Victoria HarbourCats in 2019. He appeared in 27 games over four years of summer ball, including 12 games in 2020 with the Western Nebraska Pioneers.

Callia remained with the Pioneers as their pitching coach in their transition to the Independence League in 2022. Under Callia’s guidance, Pioneers pitcher Griffin Allen won the Independence League Pitcher of the Year award with a 2.55 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 67 innings over 11 games (all starts). After helping the Pioneers win a league championship last season, Callia is excited to be back in the WCL in search of another championship. 

“The level of play (in the WCL) is a little bit higher, which I am really fired up about,” Callia said. “These guys come over to get better. They don’t come over here to just throw and have fun. They want to get better heading back to their colleges. That’s part of the job that I take very seriously. At the end of the day it’s not about how many innings can this guy pitch, it’s about how many productive innings he can throw.”

Callia spent three years at Lower Columbia but only pitched in 2019 and 2021 due to injury in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic. His strong 2021 season helped lead to a transfer to West Texas A&M as Callia posted a 3.41 ERA with 34 strikeouts and only nine walks over 31.2 innings in seven games, all starts. Callia was also an NWAC champion as a freshman in 2019.

“I am thrilled to have Mike joining our coaching staff in 2023,” Darlington said. “His energy and passion for developing pitchers will be a huge addition to the organization.”

Darlington, Callia and a to-be-named hitting coach will lead the AppleSox in the dugout for the 2023 season. The AppleSox won the 2022 North Division Second Half title to earn their 14th postseason appearance in 22 seasons. They swept the Kamloops NorthPaws in the North Division Semifinals but fell to the Bellingham Bells in the North Division Championship Game.

Stay tuned for the AppleSox’ full schedule in early November following the league announcement. Season tickets for the 2023 season are now available and tickets to all home games run as affordable as $145 for general admission bleacher seats while reserved premium seating is $245. Additionally, fans can get 10-ticket Value Admission Ticket Packs for $60. These 10 general-admission ticket punches can all be used at once or spread out over the course of the season over multiple games. To purchase 2023 ticket packages please visit applesox.com/season-tickets, call 509-665-6900 or email allie@applesox.com

2016 Alum Kreidler Makes MLB Debut

Infielder Ryan Kreidler became the 19th former AppleSox player to appear in an MLB game when he made his major-league debut for the Detroit Tigers on Sep. 2.

Kreidler is the second member of the 2016 AppleSox to make his WCL debut in less than a week after Michael Toglia debuted for the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 30.

Kreidler suited up for the AppleSox six summers ago prior to his freshman year at UCLA. He hit .183 in 44 games in WCL play but also hit .294 in five non-league games. Kreidler’s most memorable performance of the 2016 season came in his second-to-last game of the summer when he went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored on Aug. 6 against Bellingham. He finished tied for fourth in the WCL with 31 runs scored.

Kreidler also play summer college baseball the next two years by suiting up for the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League in 2017 and then the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League in 2018.

The Tigers selected Kreidler in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft after three strong years at UCLA. Kreidler combined to slash .261/.351/.409 with 51 extra-base hits in 170 games for the Bruins. He finished his collegiate career strong with an impressive junior year in 2019. Kreidler opened the season on a 16-game hitting streak and went on to bat .300 with 18 doubles in 63 games.

Kreidler did not pick up a hit in his major-league debut but bounced back the next night to go 2-for-3 with an RBI against the Kansas City Royals. He started in each of the first three games that he appeared in over the weekend.

Toglia and Kreidler may not be the last members of the 2016 AppleSox to appear in an MLB game. Outfielder Matt Frazier (Pittsburgh Pirates), pitcher Casey Legumina (Minnesota Twins) and outfielder Jeremy Ydens (Washington Nationals) are all at least at the High-A level of the minor leagues.

To learn more about other AppleSox players to appear in an MLB game please visit applesox.com/applesox-in-the-pros.

Toglia Becomes Latest AppleSox Alum To Make MLB Debut

Former AppleSox player Michael Toglia was called up by the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday to make his major-league debut.

Toglia is now the 18th former AppleSox player to appear in an MLB game. He is the first former AppleSox player to make his MLB debut since Drew Rasmussen did so on Aug. 19, 2020.

Toglia shined in his summer with the AppleSox in 2016. The then-incoming freshman at UCLA hit .306 with 22 extra-base hits and won West Coast League MVP. Toglia also smacked seven home runs to lead the WCL and was a 2016 WCL All-Star.

Toglia didn’t finish playing summer ball after his stellar season in Wenatchee. He spent the 2017 and 2018 summers with the Cotuit Kettlers in the Cape Cod League. Toglia ended the 2018 season ranked as the No. 15 prospect in the Cape by Baseball America and the No. 9 position player prospect in the Cape by D1Baseball

The switch-hitter continued to swing a hot bat at UCLA, where he batted .307 with 36 home runs in 178 games over three seasons. Toglia was an All-Pac 12 Team member for his final two years of college after earning a spot on the All American Freshman Team.

The Gig Harbor, Wash. native was selected 23rd overall by Colorado in the first round in the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Toglia’s trip to the majors was not delayed despite not playing in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent three seasons in the minors and smacked 61 home runs over that time with four different clubs, starting at Low-A ball in 2019 after being drafted.

To learn more about other AppleSox players to appear in an MLB game please visit applesox.com/applesox-in-the-pros.

Four AppleSox Earn 2022 All-WCL Honors

Joichiro Oyama, Aiva Arquette, Matt Halbach and Grant Sherrod earned 2022 All-West Coast League honors on Thursday as announced by West Coast League commissioner Rob Neyer.

Oyama was honored as All-WCL First Team at second base a day after winning WCL co-MVP. Arquette earned All-WCL Second Team at shortstop while Halbach and Sherrod both got honorable mentions.

Oyama rewrote the AppleSox’ record books in 2023 by becoming the franchise’s new single-season record-holder for walks (42), stolen bases (42), runs (54) and plate appearances (276). The incoming junior at UC Irvine also broke WCL records for stolen bases, runs and plate appearances while also leading the league in triples (6), a figure that also tied an AppleSox single-season record.

Oyama played in all 54 regular-season games for the AppleSox and all three postseason games. He reached base at least once in 53-of-54 regular-season games with either a walk or a hit. The Okinawa, Japan, native recorded three different hitting streaks of at least nine games, including a 12-game hitting streak from June 29-July 15. Oyama also recorded 22 multi-hit games before going on to hit .467 (7-for-15) with six runs and multi-hit efforts in all three postseason games.

Arquette finished second behind Oyama on the AppleSox with a .335 batting average and was a dependable middle-of-the-order bat. The soon-to-be freshman at the University of Washington led the AppleSox and finished tied for fourth in the WCL with 39 RBI. Arquette recorded 19 multi-hit games, including a four-hit effort in his AppleSox debut on June 6 against the Port Angeles Lefties in the 2022 home opener. The Kailua, Hawaii, native wasn’t bothered by playing every day at shortstop and appeared in 36 consecutive games, league and non-league combined, from June 21-Aug. 1.

Halbach hit .329 with 17 multi-hit games and showcased his versatility by playing first base, third base, left field and right field. The incoming sophomore at UC San Diego regularly batted either second or third in the AppleSox batting order and never went back-to-back games without collecting a base hit until his final two games of the regular season. Halbach recorded a personal-best eight-game hitting streak July 3-15 and batted .371 during it. Two of his most exciting moments of the season came during that streak when he hit a go-ahead and eventual game-winning home run in the fifth inning against Kelowna on July 5 and then hit a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the ninth against Corvallis on July 15. Halbach helped the AppleSox walk off the Knights on July 16 when he reached on an error in the ninth for Wenatchee’s only walkoff victory of 2022.

Sherrod finished 2022 on a tear, batting .352 over his final 18 games. In the midst of that impressive stretch the incoming junior at South Carolina Upstate recorded a 10-game hitting streak, one-of-three AppleSox double-digit hitting streaks in 2022. Sherrod was an on-base machine, drawing 25 walks and posting a .408 on-base percentage in 41 games. One of the most memorable moments of the summer came when Sherrod was pulled from first base with one out in the ninth in the AppleSox’ 10-1 victory over Walla Walla on Aug. 5 so that Sherrod could get a standing ovation from fans and a chance to say goodbye to his teammates before leaving for school the next day.

For a look at other players honored across the West Coast League please view the full release on westcoastleague.com.

Oyama Named WCL co-MVP

The West Coast League announced on Wednesday that AppleSox infielder Joichiro Oyama won a share of the league’s 2022 Most Valuable Player award with Ridgefield’s Jacob Sharp.

Oyama posted one of the greatest seasons in the 22-year history of the Wenatchee AppleSox. The incoming junior at UC Irvine became only the seventh player in team history to play in every regular season game in league play and shattered AppleSox records along the way. Oyama is the new AppleSox’ single-season record-holder for plate appearances (276), runs (54), stolen bases (42) and walks (42) while also tying for the single-season record for triples (6). He also broke the WCL single-season record for runs and stolen bases with his historic 2022 campaign.

"Oyama's game can best be described as electric,” AppleSox head coach Mitch Darlington said. “He brings a ton of energy to the top of the lineup and his ability to single-handedly manufacture runs is impressive to watch. Jo's discipline and love for the game is going to take him a long ways in this game. Our entire organization is excited to see Jo's career blossom at UC Irvine."

Oyama was an on-base machine for the AppleSox this summer. He reached base at least once in 53-of-54 regular-season games with either a walk or a hit. The Okinawa, Japan, native recorded three different hitting streaks of at least nine games, including a 12-game hitting streak from June 29-July 15. Oyama also recorded 22 multi-hit games before going on to hit .467 (7-for-15) with six runs and multi-hit efforts in all three postseason games.

This is the second time this season that the WCL has honored Oyama. He also won the league’s Moss Adams Player of the Week Honor for June 6-12 after batting 13-for-25 and scoring 11 runs in six games, five of which were AppleSox victories.

In addition to his brilliant on-field play Oyama was also honored with the AppleSox’ Tommy Watanabe Award for his love of the game and respect for all involved in it. Oyama was a clubhouse and fan favorite for his big season but also his infectious personality that touched all whom he came into contact with whenever he was at the field.

Oyama is the fourth AppleSox player to be honored as the league’s MVP. This is the first year that two players have shared the WCL MVP honor. Oyama joins Steve Marquardt (2005), Mitchell Gunsolus (2012) and Michael Toglia (2015) as AppleSox players to win WCL MVP.

Men Left On Base Cost AppleSox

Jack Moffitt tossed a season-high six innings but the Wenatchee AppleSox fell to the Bellingham Bells, 4-2, in the North Division Championship Game on Saturday night at Joe Martin Field. 

Wenatchee out-hit Bellingham, 10-4, but could not overcome stranding 10 men on the basepaths. The AppleSox tallied two runs after scoring 29 in a two-game sweep of the Kamloops NorthPaws in the North Division Semifinals. 

The Bells broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out 2-RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning on a long fly ball that right field Steven Meier nearly made a fantastic running catch on. 

Moffitt cruised through the first five innings before allowing a pair of unearned runs in the sixth. A ground ball to short with the bases loaded and one out looked like it would end the inning but second baseman Joichiro Oyama’s throw to first sailed high and into the Bellingham dugout to allow two runs to score. 

Oyama scored Wenatchee’s first run with a one-out triple in the third and came home on a sacrifice fly by Xander Orejudos. 

Wenatchee loaded up the bases with one out in the seventh but only scored once. Adam Fahsel put down a suicide-squeeze bunt single to score Meier. The AppleSox tried the same play again but CJ Horn’s bunt back to the mound led to a force out at home and Brandham Ponce flew out to center to end the AppleSox’ best chance of the night.

The AppleSox did have a chance to take the lead again in the eighth. Cole Cramer hit a one-out triple to center off the glove of centerfielder Touissant Bythewood, but he was stranded at third. Bythewood made the AppleSox pay with his 2-RBI double in the bottom of the inning.

The Bells face the Corvallis Knights on Monday night in the West Coast League Championship Game at 6:35 at Goss Stadium. Corvallis defeated the Ridgefield Raptors, 5-2, on Saturday night in the South Division Championship Game.

The AppleSox qualified for the postseason this summer for the 14th time in their 22nd season but could not make it to the West Coast League Championship Game. Wenatchee broke single-season records in walks, runs, stolen bases and RBI this summer while Joichiro Oyama broke single-season records for runs, stolen bases, walks and plate appearances while also tying for single-season records for triples and games played.

AppleSox Face Bellingham In North Division Championship Game

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox continue their postseason run by traveling to face the Bellingham Bells in the North Division Championship Game on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Joe Martin Field.

Wenatchee is two wins away from capturing its sixth West Coast League Championship and seventh league championship, but now must win consecutive do-or-die road games. The winner of the North Division Championship Game will face the winner of tonight’s South Division Championship Game, a matchup between the Corvallis Knights and the Ridgefield Raptors, in the West Coast League Championship Game.

The AppleSox advanced to the North Division Championship Game by sweeping the Kamloops NorthPaws in the North Division Semifinals. Wenatchee won Game 1 on Tuesday, 12-1, at Norbrock Stadium before returning home and winning, 17-2m on Wednesday at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee led the WCL in runs scored and finished in second in batting average in the regular season and carried that momentum into the postseason. The AppleSox hit .415 and scored 29 runs in the two victories over Kamloops. Wenatchee scored 13 more runs than the next two closest teams did in the first round (Corvallis and Ridgefield both scored 16 runs apiece) and allowed the fewest runs in the Semifinals.

Seven-of-nine AppleSox hitters who appeared in both games are batting .444 or better. Joichiro Oyama and Xander Orejudos both hit .500 and scored six runs apiece while batting first and second, respectively, in the batting order both nights.

Now the AppleSox face the Bells, who swept the regular-season series between the two teams with a win in all six games June 14-19. The AppleSox’ bats were shut out only twice this season and both instances came in a three-day span against the Bells, June 14 and 16.

Bellingham advanced to the North Division Championship Game by sweeping their semifinal series against Victoria. The Bells scored three runs in the sixth in Game 1 on Tuesday to break a 2-2 tie and then scored three more times in the eighth inning to pick up a series-opening 8-2 victory. Bellingham swept Victoria with a three-run bottom of the eighth inning on Wednesday to come back from a 2-1 deficit.

Malcom Moore has led the way for the Bells at the plate this postseason. The incoming freshman at Stanford is a perfect 8-for-8 in two postseason games after hitting .400 in 13 games in the regular season. Moore has recorded eight multi-hit games in the 15 that he has played in, including four games with three-or-more hits. He went 5-for-5 on Wednesday with 2 RBI in the series-clinching victory.

The 2022 North Division Championship Game can be listened to live on kcsyfm.com on your computer or smart phone. If you live in Washington you can listen on your radio on any of the following stations:

·      Wenatchee: 93.9 FM

·      East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM

·      Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM

·      Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM

·      Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM

·      Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM

·      Methow Valley: 106.3 FM

Coverage of the game begins at 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show. Stick around after the game to hear the postgame show with player and coach interviews if the AppleSox win. 

Listen to the latest edition of the AppleSox Podcast to learn more about the AppleSox’ opponent, the Bellingham Bells. AppleSox broadcaster Joel Norman catches up with Bells broadcaster Ryan Carlson. Subscribe to the AppleSox Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts by searching ‘AppleSox.’

AppleSox Sweep NorthPaws, Advance To Division Championship

The Wenatchee AppleSox swept their first-round playoff series against the Kamloops NorthPaws with a 17-2 victory on Wednesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

The AppleSox won the first two games in the best-of-three North Division Semifinals and now advance to face the Bellingham Bells this weekend in a do-or-die North Division Championship Game on Saturday at Joe Martin Field.

The AppleSox dazzled in what turned out to be their final home game of the 2022 season. Wenatchee matched a 2022 single-game high by blasting three home runs and finished one hit away from their single-game hight for runs and hits this summer.

Brandham Ponce played in his first game for the AppleSox since July 20 and delivered with a huge night, finishing a triple away from hitting for the cycle. Ponce went 4-for-5 with three runs, 2 RBI and a walk. He homered to lead off the third inning and nearly hit his second in as many innings in his next at-bat but settled for an RBI double off the left-center field fence.

CJ Horn and Xander Orejudos also hit home runs in the offensive onslaught with their two blasts coming in a seven-run sixth inning. It was the first time since July 1 against Bend that Wenatchee homered three times in the same game.

Every AppleSox hitter recorded at least one hit and seven recorded multi-hit efforts. Joichrio Oyama reached base four times, collected three hits and scored three runs. Nino Vultaggio went 4-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored and Cole Cramer drove in four runs with a three-hit night.

Even with all of the offense the AppleSox still got a superb effort on the mound for the second straight night from a pitcher from Brewster. Quincy Vassar struck out eight in seven innings and only allowed a pair of runs in his first appearance since July 24 at Walla Walla.

Vassar and the AppleSox got off on the wrong foot when a triple and a throwing error scored a run in the top of the first but Vassar would go on to retire 11 consecutive hitters from midway through the first inning until the end of the fourth. Wenatchee took an 8-1 lead before Kamloops broke that stretch of dominance from Vassar.

The AppleSox won seven-of-eight games against the NorthPaws this summer, outscoring them 90-40. Wenatchee also won 15-of-17 games against expansion teams in 2022.

Now the AppleSox will face the Bellingham Bells in the North Division Championship Game this Saturday at Joe Martin Field. The Bells swept the Victoria HarbourCats in their North Division Semifinals Series with an 8-2 in Victoria on Tuesday and a 4-2 win at Bellingham on Wednesday. Wenatchee dropped six games in six straight days against the Bells, June 14-19, in the regular season.

The winner of Saturday’s North Division Championship Game will face either Yakima Valley, Corvallis or Ridgefield in the West Coast League Championship Game. Ridgefield swept Portland while Corvallis forced a deciding Game 3 with a 5-3 win on Wednesday. The WCL Championship Game will be held at the ballpark of the team with the best overall record in the regular season. Wenatchee (27-27) had the worst overall record of all five remaining teams.

AppleSox Return Home For Game 2 vs Kamloops

The Wenatchee AppleSox return to Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium to face the Kamloops NorthPaws in Game 2 of the North Division Series Semifinals tonight at 6:35.

The AppleSox won Game 1 last night with a 12-1 victory at Norbrock Stadium. Wenatchee scored three-or-more runs in three different innings while Conner Ashworth and Brooks Rasmussen combined to strike out 11 hitters.

Last night’s win marked the fifth consecutive game that the AppleSox struck out at least nine hitters in. Wenatchee pitching finished the regular season fourth in the West Coast League with 448 strikeouts.

A Wenatchee victory tonight sends them to this weekend’s singular North Division Championship Game. The winner of this series will face the winner of the Victoria-Bellingham series. Bellingham took Game 1 on the road last night.

If the AppleSox lose tonight then they will face the NorthPaws in a do-or-die Game 3 tomorrow night at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee sends Quincy Vassar to the mound hoping to advance to the next round. He’s the second straight Brewster native to start for the AppleSox in as many days. Vassar finished fifth in the WCL with 45 strikeouts over nine games this summer. The southpaw went 2-3 with a 4.74 ERA but tossed five-or-more innings in five-of-seven starts. 

One-of-the-two games that Vassar didn’t toss five innings in was against the NorthPaws on July 19. The lefty struck out six and only allowed one hit in four shutout innings vs Kamloops and was pulled with the AppleSox ahead 13-0.

Colby Ring tosses for the NorthPaws in a must-win game. He went 2-2 with a 5.81 ERA in 11 games (9 starts) in the regular season. The left-hander from Antelope Valley struck out 34, walked 32 and allowed 40 hits in 38.2 innings this season. 

Ring pitched against Vassar back on Aug. 3 and the AppleSox scored 11 runs (eight earned) on seven hits and three walks in 2.1 innings against him. He twice tossed six shutout innings against the Edmonton Riverhawks this year. 

Tickets to tonight’s game are available now at saferseating.com and fans are encouraged to beat the lines for walk-up ticket sales by purchasing their seats in advance online.

Tonight’s game can be listened to live on kcsyfm.com on your computer or smart phone. If you live in Washington you can listen on your radio on any of the following stations:

·      Wenatchee: 93.9 FM

·      East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM

·      Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM

·      Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM

·      Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM

·      Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM

·      Methow Valley: 106.3 FM

Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show. Stick around after the game to hear the postgame show with player and coach interviews if the AppleSox win. 

AppleSox Take Game 1 At Kamloops

The Wenatchee AppleSox scored three-or-more runs in three innings to defeat the Kamloops NorthPaws, 12-1, in Game 1 of the North Division Semifinals on Tuesday night at Norbrock Stadium. 

Adam Fahsel and CJ Horn both went 3-for-4 at the plate with Horn driving in three runs and Fahsel plating two. Xander Orejudos went 2-for-3 with three runs, two walks and 1 RBI.

Conner Ashworth punched out five hitters and did not allow any hits in the first five innings before exiting a couple batters into the sixth. It was Ashworth’s second start of the summer and his longest outing in five appearances with the AppleSox.

Rasmussen came in during the sixth inning and allowed one inherited run to score on a double steal but struck out three straight hitters in that inning and extended his scoreless streak to 11.1 innings in three relief appearances. The right-hander from Columba Basin struck out seven in four scoreless innings.

The AppleSox scored three runs in the third and then three more in the fifth before blowing it open with a five-run sixth inning. Wenatchee never trailed and stole four bases on five attempts. Wenatchee collected 12 hits but also drew seven walks and one hit by pitch. They only collected one extra-base hit, which came on a Joichiro Oyama double with one out in the seventh.

Game 2 is Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium at 6:35. If Wenatchee wins, then it advances to the North Division Championship Game. If the AppleSox lose, then they will face the NorthPaws again at 6:35 on Thursday. 

AppleSox Open Up Postseason At Kamloops

The Wenatchee AppleSox open up the postseason with Game 1 of the North Division Semifinals against the Kamloops NorthPaws tonight at 6:35 at Norbrock Stadium.

The AppleSox are back in the postseason for the 14th time in their 22nd season of existence. Wenatchee is looking to win its sixth West Coast League Championship and seventh league title overall (2003 Pacific International League Champions).

Wenatchee started the season slow, going 12-15 in the first half, but flipped that record to win the North Division Second Half title and earn home-field advantage in the first round. Joichiro Oyama led the way this year, becoming the seventh player in AppleSox history to play in every league game of the regular season. The incoming junior at UC Irvine also broke AppleSox’ single-season records for walks, stolen bases and runs scored while tying the team’s single-season record for triples. Oyama won WCL Player of the Week for June 6-12 and also broke the league’s single-season records for stolen bases and runs scored.

The AppleSox now face the NorthPaws, who are the only team of the four 2022 expansion squads to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. Kamloops is the fourth team to make the playoffs in their first season in the WCL, not including the league’s first season in 2005. The NorthPaws join the Medford Rogues in 2013, the Yakima Valley Pippins in 2014 and the Portland Pickles in 2018 on that list.

This best-of-three series means that the AppleSox will have faced each other at least eight times in the last four weeks. Wenatchee took five-of-six games in the regular-season series, sweeping Kamloops at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium July 19-21 before taking the series at Norbrock Stadium July 29-31.

The NorthPaws salvaged the most recent series against the AppleSox with an 11-6 win on July 31 and that victory marked their first of five consecutive to help propel them to a playoff spot. Kamloops was second in the first half with a 13-10 mark but went 13-17 to finish the season 26-27 and in third place in the North Division.

Following tonight’s Game 1 the series shifts to Wenatchee for Game 2 on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Tickets can be purchased now at saferseating.com

Tonight’s game can be listened to live on kcsyfm.com on your computer or smart phone. If you live in Washington you can listen on your radio on any of the following stations:

·      Wenatchee: 93.9 FM

·      East Wenatchee/Rock Island: 98.1 FM

·      Lake Chelan Valley: 95.3 FM

·      Brewster/Pateros: 101.3 FM

·      Okanogan Valley: 101.9 FM

·      Omak/Tonasket/Oroville: 97.7 FM

·      Methow Valley: 106.3 FM

Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 6:10 p.m. with the Horan Estates Winery Pregame Show. Stick around after the game to hear the postgame show with player and coach interviews if the AppleSox win.

Oyama Breaks WCL Steals Record In AppleSox Loss

Joichiro Oyama stole two bases to set the West Coast League’s single-season record but the Wenatchee AppleSox lost to the Walla Walla Sweets, 7-5, on Sunday afternoon at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. 

The incoming junior at UC Irvine finished the season with 42 stolen bases, passing Patrick Caulfield’s 41 stolen bases in 2019. Ironically, Oyama set the record against the same team that Caulfield played for that summer. 

In addition to breaking the West Coast League’s stolen base record for a single season, Oyama also shattered the league’s record for runs scored with 64 in 2022. Oyama set AppleSox single-season records for runs, stolen bases, walks and tied for the most triples. 

Oyama also picked up a pair of hits to record his 22nd multi-hit game of the summer. His appearance in Sunday’s regular-season finale was his 54th game played of the season, meaning that he suited it up in every West Coast League regular season game played of the 2022 season. He became the seventh player in the 22-year history of the AppleSox to appear in every regular season league game. 

Oyama helped the AppleSox tie the game up when he doubled in a run following a Steven Meier one-out triple in the third inning. Oyama stole second and then scored on an RBI infield single by Ezra Samperi to make it 2-1, AppleSox. 

Walla Walla tied it up with a run in the next half inning and the game remained tied at 2-2 until the bottom of the seventh. Cole Cramer doubled to left-center before Nino Vultaggio doubled a pop fly in shallow right that was lost in the sun to put runners at second and third. A fielder’s choice and a walk loaded up the bases with one out and another fielder’s choice scored a run to give the AppleSox the lead and then they added a run of insurance a backpack throw to third then went into left field. 

Wenatchee went into the ninth looking to win the game but could not overcome allowing five runs to score with Walla Walla down to its final two outs. Oyama broke the stolen-base record in the bottom of the ninth on a double steal. The throw came to second but went into center field. Steven Meier, who stole third on the play, collided with the third baseman as he tried to round third and was awarded home plate due to defensive interference but Oyama was caught in a rundown. 

Though the AppleSox could not pick up their fourth sweep of the summer they did win their ninth series. Wenatchee will take on the Kamloops NorthPaws in the North Division Semifinals this week. Game 1 is Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. at Walla Walla while Games 2 and (if necessary) 3 are in Wenatchee on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, at 6:35 each night.