AppleSox Continue Homestand Against Riverhawks Tonight

First Pitch: 7:05 p.m.
Park: Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Tickets: applesox.com/schedule
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com


GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Garrett Ahern makes his third consecutive start at home and fifth overall tonight... He allowed three unearned runs in four innings last Wednesday against Victoria and matched his season high with six strikeouts... The right-hander from Grand Canyon is 1-0 with a 2.59 ERA, 19 strikeouts, five walks and 17 hits over 17.1 innings in four games, all starts...

Edmonton Probable Pitcher: Daniel Orfaly will start for the fourth time in his fifth game tonight... He is 0-1 with a 10.38 ERA, eight strikeouts, 12 walks and 15 hits over 13 innings... The right-hander from British Columbia allowed four runs over five innings, marking the third time in four appearances that he has given up at least four runs...

Last Game: The AppleSox rallied back from a 6-0 deficit for a second consecutive game but fell to the Riverhawks, 13-11, last night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium... Wenatchee scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth but did not score again until a four-run ninth... Edmonton scored in seven-of-nine innings and Sam Kane led the way with a five-hit day for his third straight multi-hit game...

Scoring Last: The AppleSox have not scored first in a game over their last 12 games but are 7-5 in that span... Wenatchee is 14-9 overall when scoring last and most recently scored first with a four-run bottom of the first in an eventual 11-3 win vs. Kelowna June 24...

Troubles On The Mound: Despite winning the first half Wenatchee’s pitching staff has gotten off to a troublesome start in 2024... After posting the fifth-best ERA in the WCL in 2023 and their best ERA since 2012 with a 3.35 mark, Wenatchee is ninth this summer at 4.77 through 34 games... The AppleSox have surrendered 70 runs over their last eight games and have a 20.67 ERA in that time...

2024 WCL All-Stars: Evan Canfield, Jonathan Fitz, Max Hartman and Quincy Vassar have all been selected as 2024 WCL All-Stars representing the AppleSox July 17 at Joe Martin Field... The North Division First Half Champs will send the third-most players in the division to next week’s All-Star Game in Bellingham... Wenatchee’s four All-Stars are third behind Edmonton’s five and Bellingham’s six... Edmonton is sending Tate Dearing, Vicarte Domingo, Bryce McFeely, Jakob Poturnak and Michael Soper to the All-Star Game...

First Half Champs: For the first time since the two-half playoff berths began being awarded in 2016 the AppleSox have won the North Division first half title and have locked up home-field advantage as the top seed in the first round of the playoffs… This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons… Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title… The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35)…

AppleSox’ Huge Fifth Inning Not Enough vs. Edmonton

The Wenatchee AppleSox scored seven runs in the fifth but lost to the Edmonton Riverhawks, 13-11, on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. 

Wenatchee (22-12, 4-3 second half) erased a 6-0 deficit for the second straight game but did not score again after a seven-run bottom of the fifth. The AppleSox only collected three hits over their eight other innings at the plate. Wenatchee tied its single-game record for walks drawn in 2024 with 13 free passes. 

Max Hartman led the way offensively, hitting a grand slam in the fifth for his second home run of the season. Aidan Dougherty reached base four times with three hits and a walk in his first game back since June 30. 

Edmonton (20-11, 2-2 second half) scored in all but two innings and quickly tied the game in the top of the sixth before taking the lead for good with a four-run seventh. 

Hartman plated each of the first three men to reach base in the fifth to put the AppleSox on the board and only down two runs. Jonathan Fitz hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly five batters later and Cam Hoiland tied the game with an RBI single before Jake Larson scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. 

Dougherty doubled in a pair in the ninth and Cannon Peery followed with a two-run single but Wenatchee would not get any closer. 

The AppleSox face the Riverhawks again Wednesday night at 7:05. Fans are encouraged to bring their “bestie” and purchase tickets for a buy-one-get-one value at the gate. 

AppleSox Host Riverhawks For Hispanic Heritage Night

First Pitch: 7:05 p.m.
Park: Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Tickets: applesox.com/schedule
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com


GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Karsten Sweum makes his second start of the summer prior to his freshman year at Gonzaga... The southpaw surrendered five runs over 2.2 innings last Tuesday against Victoria while striking out three, walking six and allowing two hits... Sweum graduated from Glacier Park High School this spring and recorded a 2.31 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 33.1 IP in seven games as a senior to earn First Team All-WESCO 4A pitcher and utility player as well as co-MVP...

Edmonton Probable Pitcher: Edmonton has not listed a probable pitcher...

Last Game: The AppleSox rallied back from a 6-0 deficit by scoring 11 runs in the top of the sixth inning to defeat the Nanaimo NightOwls, 14-8, on Sunday afternoon at Serauxmen Stadium... Wenatchee sent 16 men to the plate in the sixth and 10 consecutive reached between the first and second outs being recorded...

Scoring Last: The AppleSox have not scored first in a game over their last 11 games but are 7-4 in that span... Wenatchee is 14-8 overall when scoring last and most recently scored first with a four-run bottom of the first in an eventual 11-3 win vs. Kelowna June 24...

2024 WCL All-Stars: Evan Canfield, Jonathan Fitz, Max Hartman and Quincy Vassar have all been selected as 2024 WCL All-Stars representing the AppleSox July 17 at Joe Martin Field... The North Division First Half Champs will send the third-most players in the division to next week’s All-Star Game in Bellingham... Wenatchee’s four All-Stars are third behind Edmonton’s five and Bellingham’s six...

The Riverhawks: Dropped two-of-three games at home last weekend to Kamloops to give the NorthPaws their first road series victory of the summer and first overall series victory since June 4-6 vs. Bellingham... Are sending Tate Dearing, Vicarte Domingo, Bryce McFeely, Jakob Poturnak and Michael Soper to the All-Star Game...

Season Series Last Year: Wenatchee took five-of-six games to improve to 7-2 all-time against Edmonton... The AppleSox took two-of-three games at Re/Max Field June 30-July 2 before sweeping a three-game set July 28-30 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadum...

First Half Champs: For the first time since the two-half playoff berths began being awarded in 2016 the AppleSox have won the North Division first half title and have locked up home-field advantage as the top seed in the first round of the playoffs… This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons… Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title… The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35)…

Four AppleSox Named 2024 WCL All-Stars

Evan Canfield, Jonathan Fitz, Max Hartman and Quincy Vassar will all represent the Wenatchee AppleSox at the 2024 West Coast League All-Star Game July 17 in Bellingham.

The 2024 All-Star Game is the WCL’s first since 2019. Participants will partake in a pro style skills showcase prior to the game and will also compete in the Community Champions Game the night before.

Canfield has been dominant in his three seasons with the AppleSox, with his 100 strikeouts already third-most in franchise history. He has a 0.69 ERA in five games (four starts) this summer. Canfield has 31 strikeouts, eight walks and 18 hits over 31 innings and most recently tossed six scoreless innings at Bellingham June 28. He also earned WCL Pitcher of the Week after allowing one unearned run over eight innings at Kamloops June 14.

The incoming junior at Lewis-Clark State earned All-WCL Honorable Mention with Wenatchee in 2023 after recording a 2.03 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 12 games. Canfield was also lights-out in 2022 with a 1.22 ERA and 33 strikeouts in nine games with the AppleSox.

Fitz has impressed defensively ever since catching a runner stealing in his season debut June 11 vs. Bellingham but his bat awoke during an eight-game stretch from June 23-July 6 when he hit .458 (11-for-24) to raise his batting average from .167 to .313. Fitz has recorded three multi-hit games in that stretch, including back-to-back three-hit efforts last Friday and Saturday at Nanaimo. His 13 free passes and four multi-walk games helped him record a .469 on-base percentage through his first 15 games.

The incoming sophomore at San Diego graduated from Covington (KY) in 2023 after batting .511 with 19 doubles, six home runs and a 1.501 OPS as a senior. He earned the 2023 Kentucky Johnny Bench Award, team MVP honors, First Team All-State Honors, Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division I Player of the Year and Northern Kentucky Senior All-Star Series MVP.

Hartman leads the WCL with 31 runs and appeared in each of the first 32 games of the summer before getting this past Sunday off. He recently ended a 10-game hitting streak, tied for the longest by an AppleSox hitter this summer and tied for the eighth-longest in the WCL this season. Hartman became the first player in franchise history to record a five consecutive multi-hit games to begin his AppleSox tenure.

The incoming junior at Washington State shined with the Cougs this spring, hitting .286 with 11 doubles three home runs and 41 RBI in 49 games. Hartman batted leadoff in 46 of WSU’s 53 games in 2024 and opened this spring with a 10-game hitting streak. He had 17 multi-hit games and led the Cougs in RBI and stolen bases.

Vassar entered this summer with the most strikeouts among any WCL pitcher over the prior two seasons with 87 and has racked up 21 more to move into second place in AppleSox history with 108 in his career. He is three strikeouts all-time leader in punchouts and has resumed his role as a regular starter this summer. Vassar has started all six games that he has pitched in and has delivered several huge outings, including the franchise’s first complete game in nearly two year on June 29 at Bellingham and by only allowing one run in four innings on three days of rest June 9.

The incoming graduate senior at Vanguard is not only climbing the AppleSox record book for strikeouts, but is also close to becoming the team’s all-time leader in innings pitched. His 113.2 innings are third-most in franchise history and he is 9.1 away from becoming the team’s all-time leader. Vassar has tossed at least five innings in 10-of-22 starts in his three seasons with Wenatchee.

The quartet helped the AppleSox win the North Division First Half title to earn the top seed and home-field advantage in the North Division Series Aug. 10-12. Wenatchee will host Game 2 Aug. 11 and Game 3 Aug. 12 (if necessary).

Big Sixth Propels Wenatchee Past NightOwls

The Wenatchee AppleSox scored 11 runs in the top of the sixth inning and defeated the Nanaimo’s NightOwls, 14-8, on Sunday afternoon at Serauxmen Stadium. 

Wenatchee (22-11, 4-2 second half) trailed 6-0 after five innings before sending 16 men to the plate and at one point had 10 straight hitters reach safely between when the first and third outs were recorded. Garrett Cutting delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a bases-clearing 3-RBI triple to make it 7-6 and pull the AppleSox ahead for good.

Four players recorded multi-hit games led by Evan Cloyd’s second four-hit effort in the last four games. Hunter Friedberg racked up three hits over his final three at-bats while Cam Hoiland and Cannon Peery also recorded two hits apiece. 

Hoiland plated Wenatchee’s first run with a bases-loaded walk before RBI singles by Friedberg and Kana Morisaki. Jake Larson was hit by a pitch before Cutting’s big swing. Cloyd doubled in Cutting before a walk and an RBI fielder’s choice by Antonio Gianni. Luca Boscarino singled as well before Hoiland put down a safety squeeze bunt to score Gianni before Friedberg singled in Boscarino for the final run of the inning. 

Friedberg kept the eighth inning going with a two-out single before Morisaki walked and Jake Larson singled in Friedberg. Morisaki scored on a passed ball and Larson scored on a wild pitch to end a three-run inning. 

Nanaimo (13-16) scored in each of the first three innings to race out to an early 5-0 lead. The NightOwls hit one-out solo home runs in each of the first two innings to give them five home runs over the final two days of the series. 

The AppleSox return home Tuesday to face the Edmonton Riverhawks for Hispanic Heritage Night and another $2 Off Tuesday. Tickets are available at AppleSox.com/schedule

NightOwls Walk Off AppleSox Saturday Night

The Wenatchee AppleSox lost for the first time in their history to the Nanaimo NightOwls, 9-6, on Saturday night at Serauxmen Stadium.

Wenatchee (21-11, 3-2 second half) had taken the first 10 head-to-head meetings against Nanaimo (13-15) over the last three seasons but dropped the second game of the weekend. Aaron Marsh hit a three-run walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth to end it.

The AppleSox rallied to tie the game up in the top of the ninth on a 2-RBI infield single by Jonathan Fitz. Fitz collected three hits for a second night in a row and has reached base seven times in the first two nights of the series.

The bottom of the ninth had some controversy before the NightOwls walked it off. First baseman Cannon Peery fielded a ground ball on a hop down the first-base line off the bat of Riley Paulino that appeared to be the final out of the inning but was ruled a foul ball. Paulino walked and the next batter also reached before Marsh’s blast.

Wenatchee wraps up the series Sunday afternoon at 1:05 before a three-game home series with Edmonton Tuesday-Thursday.

AppleSox Go For Series Win At Nanaimo

First Pitch: 6:35 p.m.
Park: Serauxmen Stadium
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com


GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Quincy Vassar looks to make AppleSox history tonight as he is six strikeouts away from become their all-time leader... He has 105 strikeouts over three seasons with the AppleSox and is looking to pass Hunter Boyd, who pitched for Wenatchee 2017-18 and punched out 110 hitters... Vassar has recorded at least six strikeouts in seven games in his career but has yet to this season... The southpaw at Vanguard is 1-3 with a 2.96 ERA, 18 strikeouts, eight walks and 26 hits over 27.1 innings in five games (all starts)...

Nanaimo Probable Pitcher: Joshua Torres starts for a third time tonight and carries a 2.00 ERA with six strikeouts, two hits and nine walks over nine innings... He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts in four innings June 30 at Victoria... Torres surrendered two unearned runs over five innings in his first start on June 22 at Portland...

Last Night: The AppleSox scored twice in the top of the ninth to come back and defeat the NightOwls, 5-4... Cannon Peery doubled twice, scored twice and drove in two runs to lead Wenatchee at the plate...

Congrats, Skip: With last night‘s victory head Mitch Darlington moved into second place in AppleSox head coach history with 85 victories... Darlington improved to 85-47 midway through his third season and moves past Kyle Krustangel, who went 84-78 from 2017-19... Darlington is now 409 wins away from passing Ed Knaggs for first place after Knaggs went 493-273 at the helm from 2001-14... Darlington also became the fastest head coach to earn 80 wins this summer...

Errors: After committing 14 errors in the three-game home series vs. Victoria earlier this week the AppleSox did not commit any miscues last night... Wenatchee‘s 52 errors are second-most in the league but its .957 fielding percentage is third-best...

End Of A Streak: Max Hartman‘s 10-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-4 night last night, his first hitless night since June 22 vs. Walla Walla... He finished tied with Elijah Pelayo (June 20-30) for the team‘s longest hitting streak... Hartman has played in all 31 games this summer and only has five games without a hit this season... He leads the West Coast League with 30 runs while his 39 hits are tied for second-most...

First Half Champs: For the first time since the two-half playoff berths began being awarded in 2016 the AppleSox have won the North Division first half title and have locked up home-field advantage as the top seed in the first round of the playoffs… This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons… Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title… The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35)…

AppleSox Take First Lead In Ninth, Beat NightOwls

The Wenatchee AppleSox scored two runs on an error in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Nanaimo NightOwls, 5-4, on Friday night at Serauxmen Stadium.

Cannon Peery doubled twice, scored twice and also drove in two runs to give Wenatchee (21-10, 3-1 second half) its third straight win. Jackson Campbell (1-0) fired four scoreless innings in relief to keep Nanaimo (12-15) at bay until the AppleSox’ ninth-inning rally.

Wenatchee trailed 4-3 entering the ninth inning before the AppleSox scored twice on an error. Max Hartman and James Castagnola set the table for the rally with a walk and a hit by pitch, respectively. Evan Cloyd put down a sacrifice bunt to move both men up 90 feet. Peery hit a high chopper over the mound that Nanaimo shortstop Nevin Noonan intended to throw to first but could not corral. The ball hit off his glove and ricocheted to where his second baseman would have been. Hartman broke for home on contact and immediately scored and Castagnola scored all the way from second without hesitation.

The NightOwls threatened in the bottom of the ninth on back-to-back two-out singles but David James shut the door for his second save.

Nanaimo raced out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with all three runs coming with two outs. Two RBI triples around an RBI single put the NightOwls in the lead eight batters into the game. They added another two-out run in the fourth for their final run of the night.

Peery helped the AppleSox strike in the top of the second on a one-out double before Antonio Gianni hit a sacrifice fly two batters later. Peery drove in Cloyd on another double after a leadoff hit by pitch in the fourth.

The AppleSox go for the series win on Saturday night when they face the NightOwls again at 6:35. Quincy Vassar starts and is six strikeouts away from becoming the AppleSox all-time leader.

AppleSox Make First Road Trip Of Second Half

First Pitch: 6:35 p.m.
Park: Serauxmen Stadium
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com

GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Caleb Costa makes his first start since June 16 at Kamloops… He is 1-0 with a 9.34 ERA in four games with six strikeouts, six walks and 10 hits over 8.2 innings... Costa last pitched on June 22, surrendering four runs (three earned) on two hits and one walk in 0.2 innings vs. Walla Walla... Costa allowed three runs over four innings in his lone start vs. the NorthPaws...

Nanaimo Probable Pitcher: Jacob Fleury starts for the first time this summer after allowing a run in each of his first four relief appearances… He is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA, eight strikeouts, one walk and 11 hits over seven innings... The incoming freshman at Skagit Valley surrendered one run in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen on Monday against Victoria...

Last Night: The AppleSox scored five times in two different innings and held on late for an 11-10 win… The HarbourCats scored four times in the seventh and four more times in the eighth to nearly erase a nine-run deficit but JD Goodcase recorded a six-out save to seal the win... Cam Hoiland gave up two runs (one earned) over five innings to get his first win of the summer...

Colossal Cloyd: Evan Cloyd turned in his best night of the summer at the plate last night by finishing a triple away from hitting for the cycle and drove in four runs… Cloyd launched his first home run on a solo shot to open the second, doubled in two runs in the third, singled in a run in the sixth and singled again in the eighth... He also drew a walk in the fifth in his first multi-hit night of the summer...

The NightOwls: Enter this weekend a game back of Victoria for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North… Have never beaten the AppleSox in nine head-to-head matchups... Opened the season 5-2 and are 10-13 since... Have played nine games against Victoria and went 4-5 in those games... Are led by Riley Paulino, who is hitting a WCL-best .387 in 18 games...

Series Last Summer: Wenatchee took all six games against Nanaimo, sweeping them at Serauxmen Stadium July 11-13 and then again at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium July 21-23... Josh Williams feasted on NightOwls pitching, hitting four home runs in six games while batting .357 with a 1.244 OPS... Williams, Izzy Lopez, Nick Putnam and Frankie Carney all went deep in an 18-1 waxing on July 13 to record the first game in team history in which four different players went deep in the same league game...

First Half Champs: For the first time since the two-half playoff berths began being awarded in 2016 the AppleSox have won the North Division first half title and have locked up home-field advantage as the top seed in the first round of the playoffs… This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons… Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title… The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35)…

Cloyd’s Big Day Leads AppleSox To Win

Evan Cloyd finished a triple away from hitting for the cycle and the Wenatchee AppleSox defeated the Victoria HarbourCats, 11-10, on Thursday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee (20-10, 2-1 second half) earned its ninth series win and improved to 11-4 at home with two different five-run innings. They surrendered the game’s first run in the top of the first but tied it in the second before a five spot in the third. Victoria (15-15, 1-2 second half) got within four runs with one in the sixth before Wenatchee scored five more times that inning. The HarbourCats recorded back-to-back four-run innings in the seventh and eighth.

Cloyd launched his first home run on a solo shot to open the second, doubled in two runs in the third, singled in a run in the sixth and singled again in the eighth. He also drew a walk in the fifth in his first multi-hit night of the summer.

Roberto Gonzalez reached base three times with a hit by pitch and two walks and also scored twice. Max Hartman also scored twice and leads the West Coast League with 29 runs. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI single in the sixth. Hartman is tied with Elijah Pelayo (June 20-30) for the longest hitting streak by an AppleSox player this summer and is five games away from matching the longest in the WCL.

Cam Hoiland (1-0) allowed two runs (one earned) over five innings to earn his first win. He surrendered an unearned run in the first inning and then induced two double plays to end the next two innings. JD Goodcase got the final six outs and twice stranded the tying run on the basepaths to earn his first save of the summer.

James Castagnola gave the AppleSox the lead permanently in the third with a 2-RBI bases-loaded single for his fourth and fifth runs driven in of the series after three on Wednesday night. Cloyd followed two batters later with a 2-RBI double before Garrett Cutting grounded out to short to plate the fifth run of the third.

Cloyd added another RBI single in the sixth to drive in the final run of the frame after Hartman’s RBI single and Jake Larson’s bases-clearing 3-RBI double.

The HarbourCats made it interesting with a huge rally in the seventh and eighth. Goodcase allowed a single to the first batter that he faced in the eighth but stranded him at second. He got two quick outs in the ninth before an error but again got out of it on a ground ball to end the game.

Wenatchee won the season series against Victoria, 4-2, and improved to 18-6 in division play. The AppleSox now travel to Nanaimo to face the NightOwls for the first time this summer. First pitch on Friday night at Serauxmen Stadium is at 6:35.

AppleSox Host HarbourCats On Fourth Of July

First Pitch: 6:35 p.m.
Park: Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Tickets: applesox.com/schedule
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com


GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Cam Hoiland makes his second start and third appearance of the summer in the rubber match… Hoiland appeared in relief on Sunday at Bellingham and surrendered two runs on two walks and a hit in the seventh… He made his summer debut in the mound June 24 with four strikeouts over four shutout innings against Kelowna… The incoming senior at Cal Poly recorded a 2.35 ERA with five strikeouts and one walk in three games this spring…

Victoria Probable Pitcher: Payton Hawkinson pitches for the fifth time and starts for the third time this summer tonight… He has a 0.90 ERA but did allow a run on a leadoff solo home run by Aidan Dougherty in the ninth inning in his first outing of the summer June 8 vs. Wenatchee… Hawkinson has struck out eight, walked six and allowed six hits over 10 innings… He has twice pitched a season-high four innings and most recently tied a scoreless third inning on Sunday…

Last Night: The AppleSox scored five times over the seventh and eighth innings to rally back from two different deficits and win, 7-6… Wenatchee trailed 3-2 entering the seventh before James Castagnola hit a 2-RBI single to put the AppleSox in the lead… Victoria stormed back with a three-run top of the eighth but could not hold the two-run lead… Jake Larson and Castagnola drew back-to-back two-out bases-loaded walks before Roberto Gonzalez scored the eventual winning run on a wild pitch…

Rubber Match: Tonight is the first rubber match that the AppleSox are playing since June 20… Wenatchee has won three-of-four times in the final game of a three-game series where both teams split the first two games... A win tonight would give the AppleSox their seventh series victory but a loss would be their fourth series loss…

Clutch Castagnola: James Castagnola has played a huge role in the late innings in the AppleSox’ last two games… He drove in three runs over two plate appearances last night after previously playing two runs over the eighth and ninth innings on Sunday… Castagnola has 8 RBI already in six games with five of them coming in his last two games…

Free Passes: The HarbourCats’ pitching staff has done an excellent job at limiting walks in the first half of games but has faltered in the later innings the last two nights… AppleSox hitters have not drawn any walks in the first five innings the last two nights but have then gone on to walk a combined 11 times over the final four innings… Victoria pitching has issued 104 walks, the third-fewest in the West Coast League…

First Half Champs: For the first time since the two-half playoff berths began being awarded in 2016 the AppleSox have won the North Division first half title and have locked up home-field advantage as the top seed in the first round of the playoffs… This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons… Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title… The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35)…

AppleSox Rally To Beat HarbourCats In Front Of Packed House

The Wenatchee AppleSox treated a franchise-record crowd of 2,294 fans to a 7-6 win on Wednesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee (19-10, 1-1 seconds half) scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings to send its largest crowd in franchise history home happy.

James Castagnola drove home three runs and Roberto Gonzalez reached base four times. Garrett Ahern punched out six over four innings before Hunter Gibson struck out five over the next three.

The AppleSox trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh before Castagnola gave them their first lead of the night with a 2-RBI single. The HarbourCats answered with a three-run top of the eighth to take a 6-4 advantage but the lead would not make it to the ninth. Jake Larson and Castagnola drove in runs with back-to-back two-out bases-loaded walks before Gonzalez scored from third on a wild pitch.

The HarbourCats struck first with a three-spot in the second inning thanks to three AppleSox errors. Ahern twice induced ground balls that looked to be sure double plays but the AppleSox were unable to record a single out either time.

Wenatchee scored its first two runs thanks to Cam Hoiland reaching on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice in the second and then a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

The AppleSox wrap up the home series against the HarbourCats on Thursday night at 6:35 before hitting the road for Nanaimo this weekend. Tickets for Thursday’s night’s Fourth of July game are available at applesox.com/schedule

AppleSox Face HarbourCats For Fireworks Night

First Pitch: 7:05 p.m.
Park: Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Tickets: applesox.com/schedule
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com


GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Garrett Ahern gets the ball as the AppleSox look to even up the mid-week series… The right-hander from Grand Canyon is 1-0 with a 3.37 ERA in his first three games of the summer… He has 13 strikeouts, three walks and 12 hits over 13 innings… Ahern earned his first victory of the summer last week against Kelowna… He allowed four runs on six hits, one walk and five strikeouts over a season-high five innings…

Victoria Probable Pitcher: Spencer Hatch faces the AppleSox for the second time this summer after suffering the loss and giving up two runs on two hits and one walk in the sixth on June 9… He is 2-1 with a 7.20 ERA in 4 games ahead of his freshman year at Tarleton State... Hatch has punched out six hitters, walked two and allowed six hits over five innings...

Fireworks Night: Tonight is the AppleSox’ annual Fireworks Night and Wenatchee is trying to snap out of a funk in recent years during this holiday stretch… Non-league included, the AppleSox are 1-4 on July 3 since 2018… Last season the crowd of 1,998 on July 3 represented the most fans at an AppleSox game since 2,126 fans came to the Fireworks Night game on July 3, 2018…

Last Night: The AppleSox committed six errors and fell to the HarbourCats, 12-9… Cam Hoiland collected four hits and Cannon Peery recorded two two-out RBI doubles… Wenatchee pitching combined to walk nine hitters… Victoria pitching walked one hitter over the first six innings and then five over the last three innings… The loss snapped a four-game home winning streak and was the AppleSox’ first loss against a North Division team at home since June 11…

First Half Champs: For the first time since the two-half playoff berths began being awarded in 2016 the AppleSox have won the North Division first half title and have locked up home-field advantage as the top seed in the first round of the playoffs… This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons… Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title… The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35)…

New Faces: Garrett Cutting, Jake Larson, Kanoa Morisaki and Karsten Sweum all made their summer debut last night… Wenatchee has now used 51 different players over its first 28 games of the summer… The AppleSox suited up 55 players last summer and a franchise-record 57 in 2022… Stephen Hammergren, Elijah Pelayo and Sam Round all saw their summer come to an end after the road trip to Bellingham…

Errors Plague AppleSox vs. HarbourCats

The Wenatchee AppleSox battled but fell to the Victoria HarbourCats, 12-9, on Tuesday night at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium.

Wenatchee (18-9 first half, 0-1 second half) could not overcome committing six errors in its first game of the second half and only lost its fourth home game of the summer. Cam Hoiland led the offense with four hits and Cannon Peery drove in two runs on two doubles.

Six straight hitters reached base with two outs and five scored in the third and Victoria (14-13 first half, 1-0 second) held onto it from there. They also scored one in the fifth, three in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

The AppleSox cut the deficit to one with a three-run sixth. Peery made it a one-run game with his second two-out RBI double after a couple of errors plated the first two runs. He was left stranded as the potential go-ahead run and the HarbourCats regained the four-run lead with three runs in the seventh.

Wenatchee returns to action Wednesday night with his its annual Fireworks Night game. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and a fireworks show will follow the game. Tickets are available at AppleSox.com/schedule and gates open at 6.

AppleSox Open Up Second Half With Military Appreciation Night

First Pitch: 6:35 p.m.
Park: Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Tickets: applesox.com/schedule
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com


GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Karsten Sweum makes his summer debut prior to his freshman year at Gonzaga this fall... He graduated from Glacier Park High School this spring and posted a 2.31 ERA in seven games as a senior... Sweum struck out 65, allowed 15 hits and walked 20 over 33.1 innings...

Victoria Probable Pitcher: Jagger Beck makes his second appearance and first start tonight against Wenatchee… He hurled a scoreless fifth inning vs. Nanaimo on Sunday, striking out one and not allowing any hits or walks... Beck is heading into his freshman year at Hawaii this fall and went 7-1 with a 0.73 ERA in 11 games this spring at Sutter High School in California…

Last game: The AppleSox pulled off a remarkable comeback to defeat the Bellingham Bells, 11-8, on Sunday afternoon... Wenatchee trailed 5-0 after giving up four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but snapped a 27-inning scoreless streak with five runs in the eight and sixth in the ninth... That victory helped the AppleSox salvage the three-game road trip and finish the first half 18-9…

The HarbourCats: Split a doubleheader at Nanaimo yesterday after falling to them in Victoria Sunday… Finished the first half 14-13, including 8-7 away from home… Are trying to make the playoffs for a fourth straight season… Currently sit fourth in the North Division and would face the AppleSox in the first round if the season ended today…

First Half Champs: For the first time since the two-half playoff berths began being awarded in 2016 the AppleSox have won the North Division first half title and have locked up home-field advantage as the top seed in the first round of the playoffs… This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons… Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title… The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35)…

Season Series So Far: Wenatchee took two-of-three games at Victoria June 7-9 with the AppleSox taking the first game in 12 innings before scoring four runs in the sixth to take the series finale... Wenatchee lost the middle game on June 8 but hit three home runs in the game with Antonio Gianni leaving the yard twice and Aidan Dougherty going deep...

New Faces: In addition to Karsten Sweum the AppleSox welcome in three other new players today in Garrett Cutting, Jake Larson and Kanoa Morisaki... Cutting played for the AppleSox three years ago and now returns for his last summer of college baseball... Cutting and Larson will help shore up the middle infield with Elijah Pelayo departing while Morisaki is a super utilityman who can catch and pitch and play the infield and outfield...

AppleSox Win 2024 North Division First Half Title

The Wenatchee AppleSox have punched their ticket to the 2024 West Coast League Playoffs and locked up home field advantage in the first round. The AppleSox are the 2024 WCL North Division First Half Champions thanks to an 18-9 record. This is the 16th playoff berth in franchise history and the fourth in the last five seasons.

The 2024 season marks the first time since the WCL adopted the two-half playoff format system in 2016 that the AppleSox have recorded the best record in the North Division in the opening 27 games. Wenatchee rallied to score 11 runs over the final two innings on Sunday to defeat the Bellingham Bells and eliminate them from winning the division in the first half. Wenatchee had to wait for the result of Edmonton's game on Monday before officially claiming the title. The AppleSox and the Riverhawks both finished with 18-9 records in the first half but Wenatchee (+37) held a better run differential than the Riverhawks (+35).

Wenatchee has now ensured that it will host Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3 of the North Division Series. The postseason begins Aug. 10 and the AppleSox would host the next two days against a to-be-determined opponent. By claiming the first half Wenatchee ensures that it begins the postseason as the top seed and will face the fourth-seeded team and second wild card in the best-of-three Division Series.

Playoff ticket information will become available at a later date with information available at applesox.com. Stay tuned to AppleSox social media pages for more info on the postseason.

Wild Comeback Puts Wenatchee On Precipice Of First-Half Title

The Wenatchee AppleSox clawed back from a 5-0 deficit after seven innings to defeat the Bellingham Bells, 11-8, on Sunday afternoon at Joe Martin Field.

Wenatchee (18-9) eliminated Bellingham (17-10) from winning the first half and will await the result of Monday’s Port Angeles vs. Edmonton game. If the Riverhawks lose then the AppleSox will win the North Division first half title and earn home-field advantage in the first round of the West Coast League Playoffs. If the Riverhawks win, then the AppleSox will still win the North Division first half title so long as Edmonton does not win by a margin of at least 16 runs.

The AppleSox were shut out in each of the first two games of the weekend set against the Bells and had not scored a run in 27 straight innings prior to the top of the eighth on Sunday. Wenatchee scored five times in the eighth and sixth times in the ninth to salvage the series.

Bellingham scored the lone run of the first six-and-a-half innings in the bottom of the second and carried that lead into the bottom of the seventh. It scored four runs after the seventh-inning stretch to take what seemed like a commanding 5-0 lead against the AppleSox.

Wenatchee finally broke through in the eighth thanks to the first five hitters reaching base. Elijah Pelayo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth to drive in the AppleSox’ first run of the weekend. Roberto Gonzalez doubled to left-center to drive in two on a ball that was misread and put the AppleSox within two runs. James Castagnola singled in a run two batters later before Evan Cloyd reached on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded and two outs to tie the game.

Wenatchee took its first lead of the weekend in the ninth when Jonathan Fitz doubled and Pelayo singled to put runners at first and third with one out. Gonzalez put down a bunt first-base side that was flipped home but was not in time to get Fitz and the AppleSox led, 6-5. Max Hartman laced a double down the right-field line to drive in Pelayo and back-to-back walks to Hunter Friedberg and Castagnola gave Wenatchee back-to-back insurance runs. Cannon Peery was hit by a pitch with the bases-loaded to drive in the fourth run of the inning before Antonio Gianni hit an opposite-field 2-RBI single to make it 11-5, AppleSox.

The Bells put the tying run at the plate twice in the bottom of the ninth despite the six-run AppleSox’ lead. Each of Bellingham’s first five hitters reached base safely and three runs scored but Carson Boesel came on and got the final two outs with back-to-back strikeouts to earn his first save of the summer.

Wenatchee awaits the result of Monday’s game to determine who will win the first half. The AppleSox return to action on Tuesday night at home against the Victoria HarbourCats at 6:35 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. Tickets are available now at applesox.com/schedule

Vassar Twirls Gem, Sox Bats Quieted Again

Quincy Vassar only allowed one run in eight innings but the Wentchee AppleSox fell to the Bellingham Bells, 1-0, on Saturday night at Joe Martin Field.

It marked the second straight game that Wenatchee (17-9) was shut out and the third time in the last seven games. Bellingham (17-9) moved into a tie for first place in the North Division with one game remaining for both teams in the first half.

The Bells scored the game’s only run thanks to a pair of back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the eighth. A high chopper over the mound toward second baseman Antonio Gianni resulted in an out at first base but also brought in the lone tally of the night.

The AppleSox’ best chance to score came in the second when Evan Cloyd led off with a double. Luca Boscarino singled to right field two batters later and Cloyd was waved home from third but thrown out on a perfect relay home. Wenatchee out-hit Bellingham, 6-3, and Vassar only walked two hitters while also striking out four.

The Brewster native tossed the AppleSox’ first complete game since June 24, 2022 at Edmonton when Ryan Mullan also went eight innings in a 2-1 loss. It was the longest outing of the 24 games that he has pitched in over the last four years in the West Coast League. His 105 strikeouts are second-most in AppleSox history and he is six away from becoming the franchise’s all-time leader.

The North Division first half playoff berth is still up for grabs heading into the final game of the first half on Sunday. Wenatchee must win and get either an Edmonton loss or for the Riverhawks to at least finish with a worse run differential than the AppleSox. Wenatchee’s run differential sits at +34 while Edmonton’s is . The Riverhawks have two games remaining in the first half against Port Angeles on Sunday and Monday. If Bellingham wins Sunday, then it wins the first half playoff berth. First pitch is at 1:35.

Sox Play Penultimate Game Of First Half Today

First Pitch: 6:35 p.m.
Park: Joe Martin Field
Watch: wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv
Listen: kcsyfm.com


GAME NOTES

Wenatchee Probable Pitcher: Quincy Vassar makes his second career start against Bellingham and first one against them since June 15, 2022... The southpaw gave up four runs on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts over five innings and suffered the loss... He is 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA in four games, all starts this season... Vassar has struck out 14, walked six and allowed 23 hits over 19.1 innings... He allowed five runs (one earned) on seven hits, one walk and two strikeouts over four innings vs. Walla Walla last Saturday...

Bellingham Probable Pitcher: Caleb Cassie makes his second start of the summer against the AppleSox after previously giving up two runs in four innings at Wenatchee on June 12... He suffered the loss despite only giving up three hits, issuing three walks and striking out six batters... Cassie is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in three games (two starts)... He struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning 11 days ago against Kamloops in his most recent outing...

Last Night: Each of the Bells’ first four hitters of the bottom of the 11th inning reached base and Bellingham walked off Wenatchee with a 1-0 win... Both recorded five hits apiece with two of the Bells’ hits coming in the ninth... Wenatchee’s best threats came in the first and sixth innings as the first two hitters of the game reached base to open the game and they loaded up the bases with one out in the sixth...

Clinching Scenarios: Wenatchee and Bellingham wrap up the first half of the season tomorrow and Edmonton wraps up the first half on Monday at Port Angeles... The AppleSox are one game ahead of the Bells and a game-and-a-half ahead of the Riverhawks for first place... Wenatchee can clinch the North Division first half playoff berth and home-field advantage in the North Division Series with A) Two victories, B) One victory and one Edmonton loss, C) One victory and three Edmonton wins and a better run differential than the Riverhawks...

Blank Sheet: Last night marked the second time this summer that the AppleSox were shut out... In its last six games Wenatchee has scored 41 runs but also been shut out twice... The AppleSox have only been shut out four times in 133 games over the last three seasons but three of those instances have been at Bellingham...

Red Hot Hartman: Max Hartman recorded three hits last night to reach base safely three times in a game for the ninth time this summer... He reached on a drag bunt single to lead off the 11th but was stranded at third base... Hartman recorded his ninth multi-hit game and third three-hit game... He is batting .434 over his last five games with four multi-hit games in that span...

Strikeout Leaderboard: Evan Canfield tossed at least five innings for the fourth time in as many starts this summer... He struck out five and has an even 100 punchouts in his AppleSox career, good for third-most in franchise history... Canfield is one back of Quincy Vassar for second place in franchise history and 11 away from becoming the new AppleSox’ career leader in strikeouts... Hunter Boyd (2017-18) is the franchise leader with 110 strikeouts... Canfield’s 31 strikeouts this summer are already two away from passing his total with Wenatchee in 2022 and five back of last year’s figure... He is tied for the second-most strikeouts in the WCL this summer...

Bells Beat AppleSox In Eleven Innings

The Bellingham Bells opened up the weekend with a walkoff 1-0 win in 11 innings over the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday night at Joe Martin Field.

Four straight Bellingham hitters reached to open the bottom of the 11th as Logan Degroot hit an opposite-field single to drive in the only run.

Max Hartman recorded three hits for each base safely three times in a game for the ninth time this summer. He reached on a drag bunt single to lead off the 11th but was stranded at third base. Hartman recorded his ninth multi-hit game and third three-hit game. He is batting .434 over his last five games with four multi-hit games in that span.

Stephen Hammergren (2-1) only surrendered one hit in four innings of relief but that hit became the only run to score. He got out of a two-out bases-loaded jam in the 10th but departed after allowing the leadoff man to reach in the 11th.

Evan Canfield tossed at least five innings for the fourth time in as many starts this summer. He struck out five and has an even 100 punchouts in his AppleSox career, good for third-most in franchise history. His 31 strikeouts this summer are already two away from passing his total with Wenatchee in 2022 and five back of last year’s figure.

He sits one strikeout back of Saturday night’s starter, Quincy Vassar. He gets the ball hoping to get the AppleSox back even this weekend. Wenatchee is a game ahead of Bellingham and a game-and-a-half back of idle Edmonton, who hosts Port Angeles Saturday night. An AppleSox’ win and a Riverhawks’ loss would clinch the North Division first half title for Wenatchee. If the AppleSox lose Saturday, then they must win on Sunday afternoon to earn the first half title.