AppleSox Look For Ninth Series Victory Tonight

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox aim to stretch their winning streak to five games tonight as they face the Nanaimo NightOwls at 6:35 at Serauxmen Stadium.

Wenatchee opened up a six-game road trip with a 12-8 victory last night. The AppleSox had two huge innings, scoring seven runs in the top of the fifth before adding four in the seventh. Carson Ohland led the AppleSox bats with a 4-for-4 night and drove in a pair of runs.

The road trip started off favorably thanks in part to the AppleSox’ patience at the plate. Wenatchee has drawn 10 walks in each of the last two games and is now fourth in the West Coast League with 174 free passes drawn.

Last night’s 10-run effort was the AppleSox’ eighth time scoring double-digit runs. Wenatchee’s 201 runs scored are second-most in the WCL behind the Victoria HarbourCats’ 243 runs. The AppleSox travel to Victoria this weekend in a matchup of two teams that would face each other in the best-of-three North Division Series if the season ended today.

A win tonight or tomorrow would match the AppleSox series win total from a year ago. Wenatchee is four wins away from matching the regular-season win total from the 2022 season. This is the AppleSox’ 11th series of the summer and they have won eight of the first 10 with four of those series victories being three-game sweeps.

Samuel Round makes his second start of the summer tonight and is coming off allowing two runs in four innings on July 2 against Edmonton. He gave up both of his runs in the third inning but came back out to put up a zero in the fourth. The incoming freshman at Gonzaga has no record and a 7.50 ERA, five strikeouts, four walks and six hits in six innings.

Seth Gurr goes for the NightOwls in his third start of the summer. The Nanaimo native is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA, eight strikeouts, no walks and four hits over 10 innings. Gurr fired six shutout innings against Port Angeles on June 30 while only allowing one hit and striking out four. Each of his previous starts have also come at home and he has not allowed a run in his last eight innings of work.

Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.

• 93.9 FM in Wenatchee

• 95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley

• 97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville

• 98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy

• 101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros

• 106.3 FM in the Methow Valley

All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.

Seven-Run Inning Propels AppleSox To Series-Opening Win

The Wenatchee AppleSox opened up their six-game road trip with a 12-8 win over the Nanaimo Night Owls on Tuesday night at Serauxmen Stadium.

Wenatchee (23-8) earned its fourth consecutive win and snapped Nanaimo’s six-game winning streak. The AppleSox finished one run shy of matching their single-game high for the summer.

Trent Liolios (1-0) earned his first victory in his first appearance on the mound in West Coast League action. Liolios had previously tossed 7.1 scoreless innings in three non-league outings. The incoming sophomore tossed 3.2 innings, struck out six and did not allow any runs until two scored off him in the eighth, his final inning on the bump.

Carson Ohland went 4-for-4 with a walk to record his third consecutive multi-hit game and his first four-hit game of the summer. He is batting .667 (8-for-12) in his last three games.

Ohland delivered the biggest blow of the AppleSox’ seven-run fifth inning, doubling in the final two runs of the inning. Wenatchee trailed 1-0 heading into the inning before sending 11 men to the plate. Each of the first six hitters reached base before an out was recorded. The AppleSox nearly drew as many walks (three) as they collected hits (four). Two different free passes with the bases loaded plated runs while a passed ball and a ground scored two others. Brandham Ponce drove in the other run with an RBI single.

The AppleSox gave up three runs in the bottom of the fifth but responded with another big inning later, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh. MJ Sweeney doubled in a run before Josh Williams plated two more on an RBI double of his own. An RBI groundout plated the final run of the frame and then a sacrifice fly in the ninth scored Wenatchee’s last run of the night.

The AppleSox face the NightOwls again on Wednesday night at 6:35 and have an opportunity to match last season’s total if they can win their ninth series of the summer. Radio pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. on 93.9 FM in Wenatchee or on kcsyfm.com worldwide.

AppleSox Embark On Six-Game Road Trip, Beginning In Nanaimo

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox are back on the road tonight to face the Nanaimo NightOwls at 6:35 p.m. at Serauxmen Stadium. This is the first of a six-game road trip that concludes on Sunday at Victoria.

At the conclusion of this road trip the AppleSox will have played 12 of their last 15 WCL games away from home. Wenatchee is 11-4 on the road this summer, including 5-1 in Canada. The AppleSox are 30-8 against Canadian teams since the start of last season and are 13-2 this season.

Wenatchee had its first off day yesterday since June 26 and looks to pick right where it left off at. The AppleSox played each of the previous days and went 8-5 in that stretch, with one non-league loss included.

Wenatchee capped the busy couple of weeks with a three-game sweep of the Kamloops NorthPaws over the weekend. The AppleSox took Friday’s game with a 7-6 victory in the bottom of the 12th for their fourth walkoff victory of the summer. Trent Liolios went 2-for-3 with a home run in a 5-1 win on Saturday and Easton Amundson drove in three runs on Sunday, including with a two-run homer in the seventh.

Sunday’s game was Amundson’s last of the season and it will be up to players like Liolios and MJ Sweeney to replace him. Amundson finished his summer leading the West Coast League in home runs (7), second in slugging percentage (.578), third in runs (26), tied for third in RBI (25) and tied for fourth in walks (20). Liolios made his first two starts at first base on Saturday and Sunday and went 4-for-8 against Kamloops with 5 RBI. Sweeney has recorded hits in each of seven of his first nine games in WCL play and has already driven in five run. He is tied with Marcus Harrison for the most starts at first base among active players (5), though Harrison has not played since July 2.

Nanaimo enters tonight’s game red-hot with six consecutive victories thanks to back-to-back sweeps of Port Angeles and Walla Walla. Tonight is only the NightOwls’ seventh game of the against a team currently holding a winning record. Nanaimo dropped each of the previous six instances by being swept by Kelowna and Bellingham. They are 17-7 against the rest of their opponents, which are a combined 40-83. The NightOwls’ final 24 games are against teams with a combined 88-70.

Quincy Vassar gets the ball for Wenatchee in his fifth start of the season. The left-hander at Vanguard is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA, 19 strikeouts, 11 walks and 14 hits in 21 innings. Vassar has tossed at least five innings in every game this summer and in 10-of-12 starts in two seasons with the AppleSox. He tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out seven NightOwls on July 8 last summer at Serauxmen Stadium.

Vassar is opposed by fellow southpaw Nathan Buchan. The incoming sophomore at the University of Redlands is 2-2 with a 4.41 ERA, 12 strikeouts, nine walks and 18 hits over 18.1 innings in five games (all starts). Buchan did not make it out of the first inning in his last start on June 27, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on five hits, four walks and one strikeout in one-third of an inning against Yakima Valley.

Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.

• 93.9 FM in Wenatchee

• 95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley

• 97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville

• 98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy

• 101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros

• 106.3 FM in the Methow Valley

All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.

'21 Alum Hales Selected in Fourth Round of 2023 MLB Draft

The first player with ties to the Wenatchee AppleSox has been taken in the 2023 MLB Draft. Right-handed pitcher Skylar Hales was selected 108th overall by the Texas Rangers on Monday afternoon.

Hales pitched for the AppleSox in the 2021 season, going 1-2 with a 2.16 ERA, 43 strikeouts, nine walks and 17 hits allowed over 25 innings in nine games. Hales’ most impressive outing that summer was on July 24, when he tossed 4.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen against Yakima Valley, who went on to advance to the West Coast League Championship Series. Hales struck out 11 Pippins, walked one and allowed two hits to earn his only win of the summer.

He had a 3.42 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 55.1 innings this spring at Santa Clara. Hales helped the Broncos win the West Coast Conference Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Twenty former AppleSox players have gone on to appear in a major-league game. That list could grow to 21 if 2017 alum Alek Jacob makes his debut this week. Jacob was added to the San Diego Padres active roster over the weekend. For a full list of AppleSox players to appear in MLB please visit applesox.com/applesox-in-the-pros.

The MLB Draft concludes on Tuesday with round 11-20 on Tuesday, starting at 11 a.m. Coverage of the MLB Draft can be found on MLB.com.

AppleSox Sweep Weekend Series, Season Series vs. NorthPaws

Easton Amundson homered in his final game of the summer and the Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Kamloops NorthPaws, 11-6, on Sunday afternoon at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee (22-8) plated four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back from there. Amundson, Trent Liolios, Mason Strong and Frankie Carney all recorded multi-hit games while the AppleSox drew 10 walks. They sent at least seven men to the plate in each of the first three innings and led 7-1 heading to the fourth.

The AppleSox improved to a West Coast League-best 22-8 and earned their fourth three-game series sweep. The AppleSox won all six games against the NorthPaws this summer and improved to 13-1 in two seasons versus Kamloops. weep of the summer. Wenatchee

Amundson launched his WCL-leading seventh home run of the season in the eighth inning. His two-run shot came with two outs to plate the AppleSox’ final two runs of the game in his final at-bat. The incoming junior at Liberty University is taking time off before heading to school in early August.

Amundson ends his season in a tie for the second-most home runs by an AppleSox player in a single summer and two behind Taylor Sparks’ franchise record of nine home runs in 2012. He also finishes the summer second in the WCL in slugging percentage (.578), third in runs (26), tied for third in RBI (25) and tied for fourth in walks (20).

Andrew Monson (1-0) struck out six in three innings of relief in his first appearance at home. He allowed one unearned run in his second appearance of the summer after finishing second in the WCL in games pitched a year ago with Port Angeles.

Wenatchee took a comfortable lead in the first inning thanks to a two-out, 2-RBI single by Liolios. An RBI groundout with runners at second and third plated the first run before Liolios’s hit and then a passed ball scored the fourth and final run of the inning.

The AppleSox added to the lead in the second inning thanks to some clever baserunning. Izzy Lopez led off with a walk and moved to second on a balk. He broke for third on a pitch that Reeve Boyd grounded to the left side and got to the base as the ball was beginning to be fielded. Lopez broke from third just as Kamloops shortstop Trent Green began to throw to first base to retire Boyd and Lopez slid around the tag at home plate.

Strong singled in a run in the third inning to record his sixth multi-hit game of the summer. The incoming junior has recorded a hit in each of his last five games and is batting .393 (13-for-33) in eight games this month.

Liolios picked up his third RBI on a fielder’s choice in the sixth. A throwing error on that out brought in a second run. Liolios went 4-for-8 over the weekend and drove in five runs.

The AppleSox are off on Monday before traveling to Nanaimo for three games against the NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Wenatchee is then off to Victoria on Friday to continue the six-game road trip. The next home game is July 17 against the Bend Elks.

AppleSox Take Weekend Series vs. Kamloops

Trent Liolios picked up two hits, including his first home run of the summer, and the Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Kamloops NorthPaws, 5-1, on Saturday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Liolios launched a two-run shot over the right-field fence with two outs in the eighth to plate the AppleSox’ second and third runs of the inning.

Wenatchee (21-8) earned its eighth series victory of the summer thanks to a late push. The AppleSox trailed 1-0 after six innings before evening the game up in the seventh and taking the lead in the eighth. The victory gives Wenatchee the best overall record in the West Coast League and an opportunity to earn its fourth sweep of the summer on Sunday.

Mason Strong directly contributed to the tying and go-ahead runs scoring in the sixth and seventh, respectively. He doubled to lead off the sixth, was sacrificed to third and scored on a balk. An inning later he hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run after a pair of walks to open up the frame.

The biggest play of the game came while the game was still tied in in the top of the seventh when the AppleSox recorded a big out at home plate. Robin Villenueve singled into left field with runners at first and second but a perfect relay home prevented Gage Mestas from scoring from second. Leftfielder Josh Williams fired a strike to the cutoff man, third baseman Brandham Ponce, who turned and sent a perfect throw to catcher Carson Ohland.

Griffin Allen recorded the win with 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in his AppleSox debut. Joey Pearson struck out the side in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal the win.

Wenatchee looks to earn its fourth sweep of the summer when it hosts the NorthPaws at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday in the series finale. It’s a Family Fun Day with a baseball card giveaway to fans who arrive early. There will also be live music after the game performed by Chris Jones and kids can run the bases as well.

AppleSox Host NorthPaws On Armed Forces Night

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox look to win their weekend series against the Kamloops NorthPaws as they face them at 6:35 p.m. at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee earned its fourth walkoff victory of the summer last night, defeating the NorthPaws 7-6 in 12 innings. Brandham Ponce delivered the walkoff single with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning. It was the second time that the AppleSox walked off an opponent in a series opener after also defeating the Victoria HarbourCats in the 10th inning on June 9.

Last night’s 12-inning affair was the AppleSox’ longest game since also playing two 12-inning games last season at home against Corvallis on July 17 and at Yakima Valley on Aug. 2. Both were losses and Wenatchee had lost each of its last four games that went at least 12 innings since since a 5-4 win against Walla Walla in 12 innings on June 15, 2016. The longest game in AppleSox history was a 7-6 win in 16 innings at Kitsap on Aug. 6, 2005 and the longest home game in AppleSox history was a 5-4 win over Kelowna in 15 innings on July 20, 2006.

The AppleSox are 1-0 to open the second half and now 7-3 in the first game of a series. They have been better in the second game of a three-game set, holding a 7-2 mark but have dropped each of those last two opportunities with a loss last Saturday at Edmonton and another on Wednesday at Port Angeles.

Felix Schlede returns to Wenatchee to make his first start of the summer tonight. Schlede pitched in five games last season and started in four of them. He dazzled in his first outing on June 12, 2022, striking out 10-of-the-16 hitters that he faced in four innings. Schlede finished the summer with an 0-2 record and an 11.67 ERA with 18 strikeouts, 19 walks and nine hits allowed over 12.1 innings. He recorded a 3.79 ERA with 28 strikeouts, 20 walks and 12 hits over 19 innings in 13 games in relief as a freshman at Central Arizona this spring.

Nathan Gray toes the rubber for the NorthPaws as they look to even up the weekend set and snap a four-game losing streak. The incoming freshman at Pima Community College has split the summer between pitching and hitting. He is batting .167 in 18 games at the plate, including a combined 0-for-4 in two games against the AppleSox last month. Gray has a 2.74 ERA with 13 strikeouts, five walks and 21 hits allowed in 19.2 innings. This is his second start of the summer, following giving up four earned runs on seven hits, three walks and five strikeouts last Saturday against Kamloops.

Tonight is Armed Forces Night at the ballpark. Fans who show their military ID at the gate can purchase general admission tickets for just $5. This offer can only be used at the gate in person but all other tickets can be purchased at AppleSox.com/2023-schedule.

Ponce Walks Off NorthPaws Friday Night

The Wenatchee AppleSox overcame blowing a five-run lead to defeat the Kamloops NorthPaws, 7-6, on Friday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Brandham Ponce singled in the game-winning run to score the second run of the bottom of the 12th inning to give the AppleSox their fourth walkoff victory of the summer.

The NorthPaws took their first lead in the top of the 12th with a two-out RBI double to make it 6-5. They sent 10 men to the plate in the top of the ninth to score five runs after stranding 11 men in the first eight innings.

Sebastian David was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the inning, was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on an error. Reeve Boyd reached on a fielder’s choice to tie the game. MJ Sweeney drew a two-out walk and then Ponce singled to right field to plate Boyd and win the game.

Austin Ohland drove in three runs with a pair of RBI doubles, one in the fourth to open the scoring and another in the eighth to plate a pair of runs. His two doubles were his first two extra-base hits of the season and he scored after his second double thanks to an RBI single by his younger brother, Carson, two batters later.

Josh Williams plated the AppleSox’ other run with an RBI single in the seventh, driving in David after his leadoff double.

Bryce Johnson (2-1) earned his first win at home by tossing the final four innings in relief. He gave up two unearned runs but struck out eight and ended every inning with a strikeout, including punching out the side in the 10th.

Wenatchee goes for the series victory on Saturday night at 6:35. Felix Schlede returns for his first start of his second summer with the AppleSox.

AppleSox Open Second Half Tonight At Home

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox return home this weekend to face the Kamloops NorthPaws tonight beginning at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee looks to reset after dropping two-of-three games to the Port Angeles Lefties earlier this week. The AppleSox enter tonight on a two-game losing streak after having dropped back-to-back games for only the second time this season. Wenatchee has not lost three consecutive games this season.

The AppleSox’ offensive struggles continued last night as they outhit the Lefties, 8-7, but lost, 3-2. Wenatchee is now batting .220 (63-for-286) in its last nine games and has been held to five-runs-or-less six times in that span. The AppleSox finished the first half with a 19-8 record, good for the second-best overall record in the West Coast League and the best first-half record in franchise history since the league’s shift to the two-half playoff model in 2016.

Wenatchee and Kamloops met earlier this season June 21-22 with the AppleSox taking all three games, including earning a doubleheader sweep on June 22. Wenatchee is 5-4 since earning its third three-game sweep of the summer.

The NorthPaws were just swept by the Bellingham Bells last night to fall to a WCL-worst 7-23. Their loss combined with the AppleSox loss allowed for the Bells to clinch the North Division First Half title and earn the top seed in the first round of the postseason. Kamloops has been swept six times this season.

Hunter Gibson gets the start for the AppleSox to open up the weekend. He has tossed six innings in each of his first two starts of the summer and is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, 12 strikeouts, nine hits and one walk over 12 innings.

Gibson is opposed by Christian Spitz, who is 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA, 11 strikeouts, 21 hits and 12 walks over 17.2 innings in five games (two starts). He is coming off surrendering seven runs (all earned) in the first inning against Kelowna last Friday.

Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.

• 93.9 FM in Wenatchee

• 95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley

• 97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville

• 98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy

• 101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros

• 106.3 FM in the Methow Valley

All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.

AppleSox Drop First Series Since Early June

Mason Strong finished a triple away from hitting for the cycle but the Wenatchee AppleSox fell to the Port Angeles Lefties, 3-2, on Thursday night at Civic Field.

Port Angeles (10-20) earned its first-ever series victory over Wenatchee (19-8) by taking the final two games of the series. This was also the first time in the six-season history of the two teams facing each other that the Lefties won consecutive games in the same summer against the AppleSox.

Fur the second straight night the Lefties scored first thanks to a three-run first inning. They ousted starter Ryan Martinez (2-1) two batters into the third inning but were silenced the rest of the way thanks to perhaps the best relief effort of the season. Jadon Williamson entered with runners at first and second and no one out and proceeded to toss six shutout innings and strike out six. The right-hander retired each of the first 14 hitters that he faced before allowing a two-out single for the only blemish against him.

Strong collected the AppleSox’ first three hits of the game in his first three plate appearances. He put Wenatchee on the board with a one-out solo home run in the top of the fourth. His first home run of the summer snapped the team’s 10-game homer-less streak.

The AppleSox got their other run in the ninth on a two-out RBI single. Brandham Ponce singled with one out and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Henington that nearly resulted in an infield single. MJ Sweeney delivered two batters later but a soft groundout stranded the tying run at first and ended the game.

Because of the AppleSox’ loss and the Bellingham Bells’ 7-5 victory over the Kamloops NorthPaws the AppleSox will need to either win the second half division title or earn one of the two wild card spots to make the postseason.

The AppleSox return home Friday night to face the NorthPaws at 6:35. The series opener is sponsored by Chelan PUD and tickets can be purchased at applesox.com/2023-schedule.

AppleSox Conclude First Half Tonight At Port Angeles

GAME NOTES

The first half of the 2023 season wraps up tonight as the Wenatchee AppleSox face the Port Angeles Lefties at 6:35 at Civic Field.

Wenatchee is tied with the Bellingham Bells for first place in the North Division and it all comes to tonight to determine who wins the first-half playoff berth. If the AppleSox win, then they will automatically clinch the North Division’s first half playoff berth. Even if Bellingham wins the two teams will have the same record and Wenatchee holds the tiebreaker thanks to its +62 run differential compared to the Bells’ +33. The Bells must win and the AppleSox must lose for Bellingham to earn the North Division first half title.

If the AppleSox and the Bells lose there will technically be a three-way tie for first place as all three teams would finish 19-8 in the first half. The AppleSox hold the tiebreaker over Victoria as well by virtue of sweeping them June 7-9.

Wenatchee is hoping to bounce back tonight after falling to Port Angeles last night. The AppleSox committed four errors a night after capitalizing on five Lefties errors. Wenatchee erased a 3-0 hole after the first inning with a two-out RBI double followed by four consecutive hits to produce two runs in the seventh inning. The AppleSox’ final two errors allowed for two go-ahead runs to score in the bottom of the frame.

The AppleSox send Ryan Martinez to the mound for the rubber match as they go for their seventh consecutive series win. The incoming sophomore at Pacific is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in four games, all starts. He has fired at least five innings in every game and is coming off a 6.2 innings effort last Friday at Edmonton. Martinez allowed a hit in every inning but only two runs (one earned) and struck out five while not issuing any walks.

Jack O’Brien tosses for Port Angeles in the series finale. He was also slated to pitch last Thursday against the AppleSox but was bumped back a day. The right-hander at Hawaii Pacific is 2-1 with a 4.27 ERA in seven games (six starts). O’Brien has struck out 23, walked 14 and allowed 31 hits over 33.2 innings. He is coming off suffering his first loss last Friday against Nanaimo when he allowed three runs on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts over six innings in a 3-0 defeat. O’Brien has tossed at least five innings in four of his starts.

Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.

• 93.9 FM in Wenatchee

• 95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley

• 97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville

• 98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy

• 101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros

• 106.3 FM in the Methow Valley

All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.

AppleSox Drop Second Game Of Series To Lefties

The Wenatchee AppleSox rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game but fell to the Port Angeles Lefties, 5-3, on Wednesday night at Civic Field.

The loss drops the AppleSox to 19-7 and they are tied with the Bellingham Bells for first place in the North Division with one game remaining in the first half for both teams.

It all comes down to Thursday night. If the AppleSox win, then they will automatically clinch the North Division’s first half playoff berth. Even if Bellingham wins the two teams will have the same record and Wenatchee holds the tiebreaker thanks to its +62 run differential compared to the Bells’ +33. The Bells must win and the AppleSox must lose for Bellingham to earn the North Division first half title.

Quincy Vassar struck out a season-high seven hitters in five innings. He recovered from a rocky start to fire at least five innings for the fourth time in as many starts this summer.

Port Angeles was shut out on Tuesday for the second time in the first four games of the season series with Wenatchee but guaranteed it wouldn’t be shut out again by sending eight men to the plate and scoring three times in the first inning.

Mason Strong recorded a two-out RBI double in the third to plate Sebastian David after his one-out single. The AppleSox strung together four consecutive base-hits in the seventh to briefly tie the game as Izzy Lopez and Reeve Boyd drove in a pair of runs with consecutive doubles.

Two AppleSox errors and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh helped score the two go-ahead runs.

Wenatchee goes for the road series victory and the season-series victory against Port Angeles at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday. Listen live on 93.9 FM in Wenatchee or worldwide at kcsyfm.com. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 with a preview of the game, a player interview and more.

AppleSox Go For Series Victory At Lefties

The Wenatchee AppleSox take on the Port Angeles Lefties tonight at 6:35 in the second game of a three-game set at Civic Field.

The AppleSox are fresh off picking up their fourth shutout of the summer last night thanks to eight scoreless innings from Garrett Gores. The incoming junior at Gonzaga punched out 11 and recorded an immaculate inning in the fifth. Wenatchee capitalized in five Port Angeles errors, three of which came in the first inning. The Lefties are third in the West Coast League with 46 errors.

Gores and the AppleSox are looking to move a step closer to earning the first North Division’s first half title. Wenatchee sits a game ahead of Bellingham with two games remaining in the first half for both teams. A Wenatchee victory tonight all but certainly clinches the first half title. A Bellingham win this evening would keep the two teams in the same spots as they are entering tonight and even if the AppleSox lost tomorrow and the Bells won, the AppleSox would likely still hold the tiebreaker. It would come down to each teams’ run differential and the AppleSox currently sit at +64 while the Bells are +31.

Pitching continues to be an impressive strength for the AppleSox this summer as Gores recorded the team’s best starts of the year. His 11 strikeouts were the first time an AppleSox pitcher recorded double-digit punchouts since Felix Schlede struck out 10 in four innings on June 12, 2022. His eight-inning outing was the longest since Ryan Mullan tossed eight innings at Edmonton on June 24 last season. Wenatchee has the second-best ERA in the WCL at 2.97 just behind Bellingham’s 2.68 mark.

The AppleSox go for their seventh consecutive series victory and eighth overall tonight as they send Quincy Vassar to the mound. The left-hander from Brewster has not pitched since dominating the Kamloops NorthPaws on June 21 to earn his first win of the summer. Vassar allowed a hit to the first batter of the game but none after that over his six innings on the mound. The lefty at Vanguard struck out five and recorded his third different start of the summer with at least five innings thrown.

He is opposed by Colby Scheuber, who suffered a tough-luck loss last Thursday against the AppleSox. The right-hander at Grays Harbor College only surrendered one run over six innings but the Lefties fell to the AppleSox, 1-0. Scheuber is 0-2 with a 2.76 ERA, 11 strikeouts, five hits and 13 hits in three appearances, two starts.

Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.

• 93.9 FM in Wenatchee

• 95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley

• 97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville

• 98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy

• 101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros

• 106.3 FM in the Methow Valley

All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.

Gores Records Immaculate Inning, AppleSox Shut Out Lefties

Garrett Gores struck out 11 hitters in eight shutout innings to lead the Wenatchee AppleSox to a 7-0 win over the Port Angeles Lefties on Tuesday night at Civic Field.

Gores (1-2) did not walk anyone and only allowed two hits in his fifth and final start of the sophomore. The incoming junior at Gonzaga retired the side in order in each of his final five innings and retired each of the last 18 hitters that he faced consecutively.

He recorded an immaculate inning in the fifth by delivering six consecutive pitches that were swung and missed. Gores tossed two strikes that were taken before inducing another swing-and-a-miss to wrap up the inning. All 11 of his strikeouts were swinging.

Wenatchee (19-6) remains in first place in the North Division and still in control of its own destiny to clinch a playoff berth by Thursday. The Bellingham Bells defeated the Kamloops NorthPaws, 5-1, on Tuesday night to remain one game behind the AppleSox. Wenatchee eliminated the Victoria HarbourCats from winning the first half by matching their win total. The AppleSox hold the tiebreaker over the HarbourCats by virtue of sweeping them June 7-9.

The Sox came out hot scoring three runs in the top of the first inning before adding singular runs in the second and fifth before a two-spot in the eighth. Frankie Carney led the way with a 2-for-4 game and one walk. Kyle Henington joined the team in Port Angeles and went 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored.

The AppleSox three-run first inning came due to three errors by the Lefties. Carney led off with an opposite-field single and took off for second before a ground ball to the left side and as the throw came across the field continued to come around third. The throw toward third to try and get him missed the target and Carney scored.

The Sox weren’t finished. Ponce reached first on an error and Henington was hit by a pitch before Izzy Lopez singled in Ponce. A pickoff throw to first got away and Henington scored from third for the final run of the inning.

MJ Sweeney led off the second with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mason Strong. Carney hit a ball into shallow left-center to plate a run in the fourth and hustled to second to turn it into a double. A sacrifice fly and an error scored two more runs in the eighth to cap the scoring.

Wenatchee leads The AppleSox go for their seventh consecutive series victory on Wednesday night as they face the Lefties at 6:35.

AppleSox Face Lefties In Independence Day Matchup

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox are back on the road after a quick stop home on Monday as they face the Port Angeles Lefties tonight at 7:15 at Civic Field. This is the second series between the AppleSox and the Lefties in the last week after Wenatchee took two-of-three from Port Angeles last week at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Tonight’s game is the first game of the AppleSox’ final three-game series of the first half of the 2023 season. At the conclusion of Wenatchee’s 27th game on Thursday a division winner for the first half will be decided. Wenatchee sits in first place in the North with an 18-6 record and is one game ahead of Bellingham. The AppleSox control their own destiny when it comes to clinching the North Division. Three AppleSox wins this week automatically clinch a playoff berth but Wenatchee can also clinch a playoff berth with just two wins even if Bellingham wins all three games as long as Wenatchee has a better run differential than Bellingham at the end of gameplay on Thursday. The AppleSox can also clinch with just one win if the Bells only take two of three games and Wenatchee, again, has a better run differential than Bellingham at the end of gameplay on Thursday.. The Victoria HarbourCats have already completed the first half with a 19-9 record and are automatically eliminated from winning the first half if Wenatchee wins once. The AppleSox hold the tiebreaker over the HarbourCats by virtue of sweeping them June 7-9.

The AppleSox are rolling in league play with six consecutive series victories. Wenatchee took two-of-three against the Edmonton Riverhawks over the weekend at RE/MAX Field thanks to two offensive outburst on Friday and Sunday. The AppleSox scored four-or-more runs in an inning three times, including putting up an eight-spot in the top of the third on Sunday. Nick Putnam led the way in that inning and the game with 4 RBI via a bases-clearing double in the third before hitting another RBI double in the ninth.

The weekend’s 26-run outburst came on the heels of scoring a combined five runs in three games against the Lefties last week. Wenatchee hit .186 (16-for-86) in the three games, including .147 with runners in scoring position. The struggles at the plate largely did not matter thanks to the AppleSox’ pitching staff, which shut out the Lefties last Thursday in a 1-0 series-clinching win. Wenatchee’s three shutout victories lead the West Coast League and its 3.10 ERA is fifth-best out of 16 teams.

In between their stop in Wenatchee and this series the Lefties were swept by the Nanaimo NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Port Angeles is on a five-game losing streak and has scored 11 runs in that time. The Lefties are a league-worst 3-9 at home and have lost their last three home games after being swept by Kelowna June 23-25.

Garrett Gores tosses for Wenatchee looking to get in the win column in his final start of the summer. The AppleSox have won half of the four games that Gores has started but he has been on the hook for the loss in each of the last two. The Gonzaga commit pitched strong in his last outing, allowing three runs over five innings last Tuesday against Port Angeles but the AppleSox lost, 3-1. Gores is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA, 15 strikeouts, four walks and 20 hits over 20 innings. Tonight will be his 15th appearance on the mound in his second summer with the AppleSox.

Gores is opposed by Drew Standen. He earned the victory against the AppleSox in the game that Gores pitched in last week, only allowing one run on three hits over five innings. Standen struck out nine, one off his single-game high set on June 9 vs. Springfield. He is 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 37 strikeouts, seven walks and 16 hits over 22 innings.

Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.

• 93.9 FM in Wenatchee

• 95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley

• 97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville

• 98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy

• 101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros

• 106.3 FM in the Methow Valley

All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.

AppleSox Drop Final Non-League Game of 2023

Joey Pearson fired four scoreless innings in relief but the Wenatchee AppleSox fell to the DubSea Fish Sticks, 5-4, on Monday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Pearson entered in the third inning with nobody out and two aboard and allowed one run to score on a fielder’s choice dominated from there. The incoming sophomore at Lower Columbia struck out six, including four consecutive from the first out of the fourth to the first out of the fifth.

Wenatchee trailed 4-2 after three innings as DubSea scored in each of those frames. Marty Kaplan doubled in a run in the bottom of the second and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Sebastian David.

The AppleSox would not score again until the ninth inning. Pearson dominated in the middle innings before exiting after the sixth. The Fish Sticks scratched across an insurance run in the seventh that proved to be the game-winner when the AppleSox scored twice in the bottom of the ninth. David reached on an error and Brandham Ponce doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Mason Strong hit a sacrifice fly and MJ Sweeney singled in Ponce with two out but the tying run was left stranded at first.

Monday’s game was the most attended AppleSox game since July 3, 2018, with 1,998 fans in attendance. Wenatchee’s next home game is Friday at 6:35 against the Kamloops NorthPaws in the first game of the weekend set. Friday’s game is sponsored by Chelan PUD while Saturday is Armed Forces Night and Sunday is another Family Fun Sunday. Show your military ID at the gate on Saturday and get general admission seats for $5. Kids can run the bases after Sunday’s game and there will also be a live music performance from Chris Jones after the 1:05 p.m. game. Tickets for all three games can be purchased at applesox.com/2023-schedule.

The AppleSox are on the road again on Tuesday when they face the Port Angeles Lefties at 6:35 p.m. in the first game of a three-game set. Wenatchee can clinch a postseason berth by winning all three games or winning at least as many as the Bellingham Bells do before Thursday. Listen live to the action on kcsyfm.com.

AppleSox Win Sixth Straight Series

The Wenatchee AppleSox earned another series victory thanks to a 12-4 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks on Sunday afternoon at RE/MAX Field.

Wenatchee (18-6) scored eight runs in the third inning and never looked back from there. They only collected three hits in the inning but all directly produced runs as Austin Ohland and Mason Strong produced RBI singles and Nick Putnam hit a 3-RBI double in between. Putnam led all AppleSox hitters with 4 RBI by adding an RBI double in the ninth.

Samuel Round (1-0) allowed two runs over four innings in his first start in West Coast League action before Jadon Williams only gave up two unearned runs and struck out five over the final five innings.

Putnam drove in the most runs but the AppleSox got performances from all throughout their lineup. Strong recorded his second consecutive multi-hit game with a 2-for-5 day and hit .384 (5-for-13) in the series. Frankie Carney drew three of Wenatchee’s eight walks and scored multiple runs in a game for the seventh time this summer. Reeve Boyd also drew a pair of walks and collected two hits en route to scoring a team-high three runs. Izzy Lopez collected two hits and manufactured a run all on his own when he scored after a wild pitch and two balks following his two-out single in the fifth.

With the win and Bellingham’s loss to Victoria, the AppleSox sit a full game ahead of the Bells for first place in the North Division. The HarbourCats concluded their first half on Sunday and finished 19-8. One win would tie the AppleSox with them and Wenatchee would hold the tiebreaker due to sweeping a series against Victoria June 7-9. Bellingham, like Wenatchee, concludes the first half on Thursday. If the AppleSox match or best the number of wins that the Bells get in the next three games, then Wenatchee will win the North Division’s First Half title and clinch a postseason berth.

The AppleSox return home Monday night to host the DubSea Fish Sticks for Fireworks Night presented by Kenady Real Estate Group. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. with a fireworks show to follow. Tickets can be purchased now at applesox.com/2023-schedule.

AppleSox Fall On Canada Day

Mason Strong singled in a pair of runs in the first inning but the Wenatchee AppleSox fell to the Edmonton Riverhawks, 11-2, on Saturday night at RE/MAX Field.

The AppleSox scored first but suffered their second road loss of the season in 10 road games. The Riverhawks scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and added three runs in the eighth to even up the weekend series.

Saturday’s loss marked the first time this season in the second game of a three-game series. The AppleSox were previously 7-0 in the middle game of a series.

Wenatchee looks to win its eighth series on Sunday when it faces Edmonton at 12:05 p.m. Gonzaga commit Sam Round makes his first start of the summer as the AppleSox look to improve to 3-1 in rubber matches.

AppleSox Face Riverhawks on Canada Day

GAME NOTES

The Wenatchee AppleSox continue their three-game road trip against the Edmonton Riverhawks with a 6:05 p.m. game tonight at RE/MAX Field.

It is Canada Day north of the border and the AppleSox and Riverhawks expect to play in front of a large crowd. A year ago on this date the Riverhawks shattered the West Coast League attendance record with 7,890 fans in attendance. This is the first time in the 23-year history of the AppleSox that they are playing in Canada on Canada Day.

The AppleSox won the series opener, 12-3, last night in front of 3,432 fans. Wenatchee trailed 1-0 after three innings before erupting for four runs in the fourth and then eight more runs over the final four innings. Ryan Martinez only allowed two runs (one earned) over 6.2 innings to earn the victory and give the AppleSox their third straight triumph.

Last night’s win also moved Wenatchee into a tie with Bellingham for first place in the North Division. Wenatchee (+58) holds the tiebreaker over Bellingham (+43) for first place in the North Division due to a higher run differential. The first half ends on Thursday and the team in first place will earn the top playoff spot in the North Division for the postseason. Bellingham plays Victoria this afternoon and lost to the HarbourCats, 6-4, last night.

Last night’s win gave the AppleSox their fourth different winning streak of at least three games. Wenatchee has twice recorded a five-game winning streak and would need to record their fourth sweep of the summer this weekend to match that. Wenatchee has thrived away from home, improving to 9-1 on the road with last night’s victory. The AppleSox’ best single-season road record was a 20-7 mark in 2011. That season is one of five seasons in team history that the AppleSox have posted a better road record than home record in league play (2000, 2004, 2009, 2014). Wenatchee is already three wins away from matching last summer’s road victory total with 17 games remaining away from home.

Bryce Johnson makes his second start of the summer tonight for the AppleSox. The incoming freshman at Oregon State made his debut on June 22, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts in four innings at Kamloops. All three runs scored in the first two innings before Johnson shut down the NorthPaws over the final two innings. The right-hander recorded a 0.37 ERA and struck out 110 over 76.1 innings in 14 games as a senior at Eastlake High School in Seattle this spring. He helped them win the 4A State Championship, was named All-KingCo 4A MVP and 1st Team Pitcher and SBLive Washington's 2023 High School Player of the Year.

Johnson is opposed by right-hander Brady Kobitowich, a second-year Riverhawks arm. The incoming sophomore at Niagara University is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA, eight strikeouts, two walks and 14 hits over 13.2 innings in two previous starts. The Edmonton native allowed four runs over 7.2 innings, struck out 4, walked one and allowed 10 hits in his most recent start last Saturday. He recorded a 4.46 ERA with 38 strikeouts, 11 walks and 39 hits over 38.1 innings in 14 games (two starts) last summer. Kobitowich pitched against the AppleSox on June 24, 2022, allowing one run on two hits over 0.2 innings.

Fans can tune in to the action tonight and all season long on KCSY Sunny FM. Pregame coverage presented by Kenady Real Estate Group begins at 6:10 p.m. You can listen online worldwide at kcsyfm.com, the TuneIn radio app or on one of the following translators.

• 93.9 FM in Wenatchee

• 95.3 FM in the Lake Chelan Valley

• 97.7 FMin Omak, Riverside, Tonasket and Oroville

• 98.1 FM in East Wenatchee, Rock Island and Quincy

• 101.3 FM in Brewster and Pateros

• 106.3 FM in the Methow Valley

All West Coast League games can also be watched on wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv.

---

A new month is here and that means new wallpapers to keep our schedule handy! Check out more options at applesox.com/wallpapers

AppleSox Defeat Riverhawks, Move Into First Place

The Wenatchee AppleSox are tied with the Bellingham Bells for first place in the North Division after a 12-3 victory over the Edmonton Riverhawks on Friday night at RE/MAX Field.

Wenatchee (17-5) scored four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good and added five more runs in the seventh.

Ryan Martinez (2-0) allowed 10 hits in 6.1 innings but only allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out five. Chelan native Braiden Boyd earned his second save with 2.1 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed one run in the ninth but struck out two in his third appearance.

The first three hitters in the AppleSox order (Josh Williams, Frankie Carney and Easton Amundson) all recorded multi-hit games as did the ninth hitter, Ty Kennedy. Ten hitters came to the plate in the fourth inning as the AppleSox scored four runs thanks to more walks drawn (four) than hits collected (three). The AppleSox had been retired in order in each of the first three innings before exploding in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.

Edmonton wouldn’t get another run until the seventh and even after that the AppleSox had an eight-run lead. Kennedy’s first hit of the game was a two-out RBI infield single that he beat out to bring home Carson Ohland from second in the sixth. In the five-run seventh Amundson doubled in a run before a hit by pitch and a walk, both with the bases loaded, plated the next two runs. A fielders choice and a double steal attempt that brought him Izzy Lopez from third plated the final two runs of the frame.

Kennedy singled and Williams doubled to open the eighth before Carney grounded out to plate Kennedy and Amundson singled in Williams for the AppleSox’ final two runs of the game.

Wenatchee (+58) has now won three straight and holds the tiebreaker over Bellingham (+43) for first place in the North Division due to a higher run differential. The first half ends on Thursday and the team in first place will earn the top playoff spot in the North Division for the postseason.

The AppleSox look to extend their winning streak to four games and attempt to win their seventh series of the season on Saturday night at 6:05. Listen live to the action on kcsyfm.com