With the 20th season in team history just 60 days away, the AppleSox are looking to add two more important members to their team. However, these two members won’t be taking grounders or collecting base hits for the club.
The AppleSox are now accepting applications for an official scorer and marketing intern for the 2019 season.
The official scorer can be any age, but must be able to score a baseball game and be comfortable scoring on a computer. This person will score the game on Pointstreak, the official statistic site of the West Coast League. He/she must be able to make quick decisions in the event of tough plays and potentially stay late to fix any issues that may arise over the course of scoring a game. The official scorer must be able to work all 32 AppleSox home games plus any postseason games and arrive at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium at least one hour prior to the start of each home game.
• Analyze effectiveness of on field promotions and develop ideas about new promotions.
• Analyze effectiveness of ads and develop ideas for new campaigns. • Develop and execute a marketing and sales plan for our Cashmere Night Event. Monitor on the night of the event and report results.
• Propose new promotions and help with the execution if approved. • Answer phone inquiries, direct calls, and provide basic company information; help with mail deliveries, receive and ship packages.
• Research on teams in our league and our community.
• Help update and post supervised social media and website content; respond to web correspondence, social media posts, and emails.
• High school degree or equivalent; must be enrolled in an accredited university/college program that provides credit hours for internships.
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel).
• Self-directed and able to work without much supervision.
• Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.
While the internship is unpaid, interns will have the opportunity to work on the AppleSox Guest Services crew during home games which pays $12.00 an hour.
For more information on either position or to apply, please email info@applesox.com, call 509-665-6900 or visit the team office at 610 N Mission St. #204 in Wenatchee.
The 20th season in Wenatchee AppleSox history begins on June 3. With promotions like cap night, two bobblehead giveaways and fireworks night, this promises to be a season you won’t want to miss. Guarantee that you have seats for all the exciting games by purchasing season tickets. They run as low as $115 and can be purchased at the team’s office at 610 N Mission St #204 in Wenatchee.
Yesterday, former AppleSox utilityman and new volunteer assistant coach Jacob Prater spoke with Don West on the Don West Show on News Radio 560 KPQ.
Head coach Kyle Krustangel added Prater to the AppleSox staff last month. Once he graduates from Seattle U in May, Prater will work with AppleSox hitters and aid assistant coach Cash Ulrich in working with Sox infielders. Krustangel is excited to add a coach fresh off his playing days to the team’s staff.
Prater started off by telling West about his senior season at Seattle U as well as what it’s like to play in the West Coast League.
Prater also commented on his excitement about returning to Wenatchee this summer. After graduating from Wenatchee High School, Prater played for the AppleSox in 2015, 2016 and 2018. He hit a combined .289 in his AppleSox tenure, including a team-high .359 in 2017. Last year, Prater won the inaugural Tommy Watanabe Award, given to the player who best exemplifies our late former player’s passion for the game of baseball.
With his playing career coming to an end, Prater wanted to continue his involvement in the game via coaching. He was grateful for the opportunity to coach with Krustangel.
Listen to the full interview between Prater and West below.
History will be made in the wee hours of March 20, 2019.
When the 2019 MLB season begins with the Seattle Mariners facing the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo, Japan, at 2:35 a.m. PST, Marco Gonzales will get the nod as the Mariners starter, thus becoming the first former AppleSox pitcher to start Opening Day.
Gonzales, who played for the AppleSox in 2010, went 13-9 with a 4.00 ERA last season. In addition to setting career-highs in wins and ERA, Gonzales' 1.22 WHIP was also a single-season best and he tossed his first career complete game on June 29.
With only 11 players returning from last season’s Opening Day roster, the Mariners are looking for leaders this season. Gonzales, 27, will be thrust into a leadership role despite making over 11 major-league appearances for the first time last year.
Regardless, he’s embracing the opportunity and looking to build off a stellar 2018.
“I always enjoy taking on a leadership role and I’ve got a great chance to do so this year,” Gonzales said at the Mariners Caravan stop in Wenatchee in January.
Gonzales was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals 18th overall in the 2013 MLB Draft and made his major-league debut the next season. After a torn UCL in his left elbow wiped out his 2016 season, Gonzales was traded to the Mariners in 2017 and has made his mark there ever since.
This past offseason, Gonzales agreed to a two-year, $1.9-million contract to buy out his two final years of team control in which he could have made the major-league minimum. Gonzales does not become a free agent until 2024.
In his sole season with the AppleSox, Gonzales was a part of the fourth West Coast League Championship squad in team history. Gonzales most notably went 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA and a league-high 66 strikeouts but also hit .256 in 82 at-bats and hit a home run in Game 2 of the East Division Series against Kelowna.
After the AppleSox defeated the Bend Elks in three games to claim the West Coast League Championship, Gonzales went to Gonzaga where he continued his successful work in the state of Washington. He had a 2.30 ERA over three seasons and racked up West Coast Conference hardware, winning Player of the Year twice, Freshman of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. He was also an All-American and the recipient of the John Olerud Award.
Along with Gonzales, 10 other former AppleSox players have moved on from Wenatchee to MLB. Others of note include Jason Hammel, who won the World Series with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. The number of AppleSox players in the pros will only grow this season with others like Keston Hiura, the top-ranked prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, on the way.
The Wenatchee AppleSox have finalized their complete schedule for the 2019 season. While West Coast League games were already determined in November, management still wanted to add more home games to the schedule.
The 2019 AppleSox schedule features 32 home games and 27 road games.
The 20th season in AppleSox history will now begin a day earlier, thanks to a non-league game with the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase. This team will comprise of players from the CCL, a summer college baseball league.
On June 22 and 23, the AppleSox will face the Highline Bears for the third straight season. This is the first time that they will play multiple non-league games against Highline and the first time that the Sox will play multiple non-league games against the same opponent since 2017.
The third non-WCL opponent is a very special one as the AppleSox will welcome the United States Military All-Stars team to Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. on July 15. The AppleSox will wear their special stars-and-stripes caps for this game, one of only four games in which the Sox will don those hats this season.
Finally, the non-league schedule concludes on July 31 with a home date against the River City Athletics. This will be the third straight season in which the AppleSox and Athletics meet on the ballfield.
Last season, the AppleSox played four non-league games. After dropping the first one, the Sox took each of the final three by a combined score of 22-5.
All home games will start at 6:35 p.m., except for Sundays and July 3. Home games on Sundays will start an hour earlier at 5:35 and first pitch for the July 3 fireworks night will be at 7:05.
For the first time in team history, the AppleSox will have a bobblehead giveaway night. However, there won’t be just one given away, but two this season. First, on July 9, the first 400 fans in attendance will receive a bobblehead of AppleSox team mascot Coyote, presented by Denny’s. The AppleSox will also be giving away a bobblehead of former pitcher and current Seattle Mariner Marco Gonzales. Date and sponsor of the Gonzales bobblehead to be determined.
Another new promotion for the 2019 season will be ‘$2 Off Tuesdays.’ For all five of the AppleSox Tuesday home games (June 4, 11; July 2, 9; Aug. 6), fans will be able to purchase general admission tickets for $5, instead of $7, and premium seats for $10, instead of $12. The savings don’t stop there; select concession items will also be decreased in price by $2.
Other promotions and the dates of their giveaway for the 2019 season will be announced at a later date. The AppleSox are also planning a cap night and rally towel night among other giveaways.
To ensure your seats for fireworks night, both bobblehead nights and all the other exciting games coming up this summer, purchase season tickets today by visiting the AppleSox team office on 610 N Mission St #204. Season tickets run as low as $115.
Thursday morning on “Wake Up Wenatchee Valley” on NCW Life, the Wenatchee AppleSox unveiled new on-field gear for the 2019 season. The Sox will have new home jerseys for their 20th season as well as stars-and-stripes hats.
The jerseys were created by BSN Sports and the hats by New Era. AppleSox assistant general manager Allie Schank was actively involved in the design process for both products.
For the jerseys, Schank wanted to intertwine classic parts of previous AppleSox uniforms with slight modifications to create a simple, clean look.
Another element that was brought back with the new home jerseys was the script AppleSox logo, first seen on the team’s original blue and red jerseys that were the only jerseys worn by the AppleSox until a white jersey was added in 2007.
The script logo has only been used on a white AppleSox home jersey twice before, 2009 and 2014, the teams’ 10th and 15th anniversary seasons, respectively. Similar to those two previous anniversary jerseys, the AppleSox season anniversary patch is on the left sleeve.
The 20th-season jerseys will serve as the team’s primary home jerseys for the 2019 season, replacing the previous whites with the club’s “diamond” logo on the left patch. Those jerseys can be purchased by visiting the team’s office on 610 N Mission St in Wenatchee. The 20th-season jerseys will be auctioned off following the 2019 season.
The stars-and-stripes hats will similarly have the script “Sox” logo like the all-blue hats worn last season and the previously released all-red hats revealed earlier this offseason. With one new hat already added to the on-field attire repertoire, Schank wanted another special one to commemorate one of the AppleSox series of the season: the Fourth of July series.
The hats, similar to the new home jerseys, are primarily white, but incorporate the team’s other two primary colors of red and blue plenty to create a patriotic homage.
Schank, a Georgia native, drew inspiration for the hat design from one of her hometown teams.
The stars-and-stripes caps will be worn each night of the AppleSox’ July 2-4 series against the Kelowna Falcons. The teams’ 2019 Fireworks Night, presented by Numerica Credit Union, is scheduled for July 3.
The AppleSox red and blue on-field hats, in addition to other fitted and adjustable styles by New Era, are on sale at the team’s office on 610 N Mission St in Wenatchee. The stars-and-stripes hats will go on sale starting July 1.
Fans will have the opportunity to see the new jerseys and hats for themselves on March 4 at the AppleSox Hot Stove Party at Abby’s Legendary Pizza from 5:30-7 p.m. Secure your spot today by calling 509-665-6900.
The 20th season in Wenatchee AppleSox history begins on June 4. Season tickets run as low as $115 and can be purchased today at the team’s aforementioned office location.
(L to R) Tyler Von Dracek, Kyle Krustangel and Cash Ulrich coached yvc to the 2016 NWAC Championship in 2016 and now look to bring home hardware as AppleSox coaches. Von Dracek will join the Applesox coaching staff in 2019.
Yakima Valley Community College pitching coach Tyler VonDracek has been hired to take the same role with the Wenatchee AppleSox, head coach Kyle Krustangel announced on Tuesday.
VonDracek previously coached in the West Coast League with the Cowlitz Black Bears last summer.
Additionally, Krustangel announced that former AppleSox player Jacob Prater will return to the team in 2019 as a volunteer assistant coach. Prater will assist both offensive and defensive strategy, Krustangel said.
VonDracek, like the AppleSox other assistant coach, Cash Ulrich, has spent the last four seasons on Krustangel’s Yakima Valley coaching staff. The trio hopes to replicate some of the recent success that they’ve had with the Yaks over the last few years with the AppleSox in 2019 and beyond.
After coaching alongside Krustangel and Ulrich for the duration of the Yaks’ 2019 season, VonDracek will join his fellow coaches in Wenatchee in late-May.
Since joining Yakima Valley College in 2016, VonDracek has been an instrumental part of the teams’ recent success. In his three years as an assistant pitching coach there, the team has posted a 3.09 ERA and won the NWAC in his first season. In 2019, he will move up to be the primary pitching coach.
VonDracek played at Yakima Valley College for two seasons (2011-13) and was a two-year starter. He went on to play at Whitworth University for his remaining two years. In his senior year, Whitworth won the NWC tournament and went to the NCAA Regional in Texas for only the second time in school history. VonDracek graduated from Whitworth with a degree in Kinesiology.
In the summer of 2015, VonDracek was the pitching coach of the Spokane Bandits AAA Senior American Legion team that was head coached by Krustangel. The team was 27 games over .500 and finished 3rd in the Washington State Tournament.
VonDracek played high school baseball for RA Long High School and was a two-time letter winner and All-GSHL in Longview, WA.
After spending three seasons with the AppleSox as a player, Jacob Prater will return as a coach in 2019.
Prater has just begun his senior season at Seattle University and is pursuing a coaching career following his collegiate tenure. Through seven games, Prater is hitting .357 and is tied for second on the team with two stolen bases. He’s batted second and played second in all seven of the Redhawks games. Prater has reached base safely in all but one game and five consecutive.
The Wenatchee High School graduate played for the AppleSox in 2015, 2017 and 2018, and played every position except for center field, pitcher and catcher in that time. The utilityman hit a combined .289 in his AppleSox tenure, including a team-high .359 in 2017. Last year, Prater won the inaugural Tommy Watanabe Award, given to the player who best exemplifies our late former player’s passion for the game of baseball.
Fans will get an opportunity to meet VonDracek at next Monday’s AppleSox Hot Stove Party from 5:30-7 p.m. at Abby’s Legendary Pizza. RSVP today by calling 509-665-6900 or emailing info@applesox.com.
The 20th season in Wenatchee AppleSox history is less than four months away and excitement is building for the big campaign.
Brush off the snow on your car and head over to the AppleSox Hot Stove Party to talk some baseball on March 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Abby's Pizza in Wenatchee.
Team owner Jose Oglesby, head coach Kyle Krustangel and other members of the AppleSox front office will be on hand to chat with fans. The AppleSox will also be giving away prizes to fans in attendance.
The AppleSox Hot Stove Party is free to season ticket holders and sponsors. All other fans can attend for $15 per person, including a pizza and salad buffet. Beer and wine is available.
Please call 509-665-6900 or email info@applesox.com to RSVP.
A fan-favorite event is once again returning to Wenatchee.
On Tuesday, Jan. 15, the Seattle Mariners will be stopping in Wenatchee for one of the nine stops on their “Mariners Caravan.” Fans are encouraged to come down to Pybus Public Market for the free event from 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Mariners pitchers Shawn Armstrong and Marco Gonzales (a 2010 AppleSox alum), broadcaster Dave Simms and the Mariner Moose will all be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
Gonzales is fresh off a breakout season with the Mariners in which he set career-highs in wins, ERA, innings-pitched and strikeouts as well as many other categories. After having his first healthy season since debuting in 2014, Gonzales will look to buoy that success into becoming a top-of-the-rotation starter in 2019.
He was a part of the AppleSox 2010 West Coast League Championship team and set the single-season record for strikeouts that year with 26 punchouts. This will be the second straight year in which Gonzales will help represent the Mariners for their Caravan stop in Wenatchee.
Armstrong only appeared in 14 games with the Mariners this season and didn’t make his season debut until late August. Nonetheless, he made his presence felt, posting a 1.23 ERA. Armstrong did not allow any runs in his first 10 appearances (a span of 11.1 innings-pitched) and struck out at least one batter in all but two of his 14 appearances.
Armstrong figures to have an opportunity to pitch in prominent, high-leverage situations in 2019 thanks to several trades of workhorse relievers from the 2018 season.
The AppleSox will be sponsoring the event and team mascot Coyote will be on hand to take part in the festivities and greet fans.
The Wenatchee AppleSox unveiled a new logo to mark their 20th season on Thursday night at a sponsor appreciation event at Highlander Golf Course in East Wenatchee.
“I hope in another 20 years we will have another commemorative logo to unveil,” Oglesby said.
The logo was designed by Tom Roche with feedback from the AppleSox front office. This is the third commemorative logo in team history along with 10th and 15th anniversary logos.
Merchandise with the teams’ new 20th anniversary logo will soon be on sale ahead of the landmark season.
It’s not too early to purchase season tickets either. Opening Day is 175 days away but season tickets can be yours today. Visit the team office at 610 N. Mission St. #204 or call 509-665-6900 today to purchase merchandise or season tickets today.
While the AppleSox’ 2019 league schedule has been released, the full team schedule has not been announced yet. There are open dates on the schedule that the team hopes to fill with non-league opponents.
Once the AppleSox play three in Port Angeles on June 18-20, there are four open dates on the schedule before the team’s second-longest road trip of the season. June 25-30 has the Sox first crossing the border and traveling to Victoria for three games before returning to the States and playing the Cowlitz Black Bears for three more.
Follow the AppleSox on Twitter and like them on Facebook for the latest information regarding the release of the full schedule.