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The Wenatchee AppleSox are the West Coast League champions following a thrilling come-from-behind 6-5 win over Bend Tuesday night. It marks the 4th title for Wenatchee in 6-years of WCL play, and second in a row.
In a see-saw battle, Wenatchee scored first with a run in the 1st on an RBI single by Collin Bennett. Bend countered in the 2nd, scoring four runs on only two hits, an error and two walks off AppleSox starter Zach Gallagher. The Elks added to its lead in the 4th on a two-out double by Donald Collins to score Evan Busby. Bend’s sudden 5-2 lead quieted the partisan 1,167 fans on hand at Paul Thomas, Sr. Field. But then came the Wenatchee 5th.
Trevor Brown started the frame with a bounding single over Bend’s third baseman Andy Hunter. An out later, Nick Rulli’s bounding single over the second base bag set things up for Kalei Hanawahine. The freshman from the University of San Diego slapped a 1-0 pitch off Bend starter James Nygren over the right field wall to tie the game at 5-5. The home run not only ignited the rabid AppleSox fans, but seemed to rejuvinate pitcher Zach Gallagher. The University of Hawaii right hander came out in the 5th and mowed down Bend’s toughest part of their lineup 1, 2, 3, including two strikeouts.
Wenatchee took the lead for good in the bottom of the 5th after Eric Peterson lifted a one-out double to left field. He scored two batters later on an RBI single by Eric Lane. Gallagher bore down following a walk and fielder’s choice in the 6th strike out the next five consecutive batters. Flame thrower Jeff Ames came on in relief in the 8th and retired the Elks in order, including two strikeouts. Then in the 9th, Bend’s one-out single by Busby was quickly squelched by Ames, who induced a fly ball out before striking out Taylor Ausbun to finish the AppleSox win. Immediately, Ames was mobbed on the mound by the entire team as Wenatchee celebrated.
Wenatchee finished the season 33-and-20, 4-and-1 in the post-season.
