Falcons Visit Sox
- Updated: June 16, 2018
The Kelowna Falcons open up a six-game road trip as they head south of the border to take on the Wenatchee AppleSox for a three-game series beginning on Saturday night at Paul Thomas Field.
2018 Season Series
Saturday, June 16th @ Paul Thomas Field (7:05 PM)
Sunday, June 17th @ Paul Thomas Field (6:05 PM)
Monday, June 18th @ Paul Thomas Field (7:05 PM)
Monday, August 6th @ Elks Stadium (6:35 PM)
Tuesday, August 7th @ Elks Stadium (6:35 PM)
Wednesday, August 8th @ Elks Stadium (6:35 PM)
2017 Season Wrap
The Falcons come into the 2018 season after making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons in 2017 where Kelowna finished atop of the North Division during the first half of the season with a 17-10 record before wrapping up the year with a 28-26 record and were one of four teams to qualify for the postseason. The Falcons met with the Victoria HarbourCats before bowing out of the playoffs in two games to their Canadian foes.
The AppleSox finished the 2017 season second overall in the North Division standings but were not able to qualify for the playoffs, sitting two games back of Kelowna in the first half of the season standings and just a game behind Victoria and Bellingham in the second half. Wenatchee is looking to get back into the postseason for the first time since 2013.
2017 Season Series
Wenatchee had their way against Kelowna a season ago, sweeping the Falcons and winning all six games in the season series. The AppleSox started with a sweep at Paul Thomas Field in Wenatchee with a pair of one run victories and a 9-3 win before moving north and completing the season sweep at Elks Stadium on two 7-4 wins plus a 9-7 victory. The last Kelowna victory against Wenatchee came on July 28th, 2015 in the way of a 3-1 score.
A Series Ago
The Falcons come into their set against Wenatchee aiming to get back in the win column after falling in two of the three games of a mid-week series against the Victoria HarbourCats. Kelowna fell in the opening game of the series by a 13-7 score in 10 innings before bouncing back thanks to 8 strong innings from starter Jared Akin to propel them to a 7-1 victory. Victoria left with the series win, however, as they scratched out a 4-3 win in the final game of the three-game set on Thursday.
The AppleSox enter this series in a similar spot as the Falcons, coming in with a 3-5 record and dropped two of three games in a series against the Corvallis Knights in Oregon during the week. Wenatchee opened the series with a 4-0 shutout victory before falling by a 12-3 score in the second game of the series. Corvallis would win the series in the rubber match on Thursday with a 5-3 win.
Returnees
Kelowna:
P Cal Hehnke (Junior, University of Nebraska-Omaha)
INF Taylor Wright (Freshman, University of Maryland)
INF Matt Voelzke (Sophomore, George Fox University)
OF Lucas Soper (Junior, University of British Columbia)
OF Davis Todosichuk (Junior, Okanagan College)
OF Trent Tinglestad (Sophomore, Everett Community College)
Wenatchee:
P Hunter Boyd (Senior, College of Idaho)
P Steen Fredrickson (Sophomore, Montana State University)
INF Jacob Prater (Senior, Seattle University)
INF Jake Taylor (Senior, Seattle University)
OF Cole McKenzie (Sophomore, Yakima Valley Community College)
Who’s Hot
Kelowna:
P Jared Akin (6’3, 217 lbs/Hillsboro, Oregon, USA)
After an opening start no-decision against Corvallis, the sophomore from Lower Columbia College pitched a gem on Wednesday night against Victoria, going eight strong innings allowed just a run, which came in the 8th inning on a solo shot. Akin struck out five while walking just a pair and surrendering seven hits to earn the victory for the Falcons and provide a much-needed spark from the mound.
OF Lucas Soper (6’1, 190 lbs/Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN)
One of the nine Canadians on the Falcons, the University of British Columbia native is making his presence felt as the season starts to pick up. Soper has helped the Falcons to one of the best team batting averages in the WCL and sits 3rd on the team with a .370 average along with a double and three RBI’s this season, along with provided great defense and range in the outfield.
OF Cody Crowder (6’2, 185 lbs/Shepherd, Texas, USA)
The sophomore from Centenary School has continued his hot start since coming to Kelowna as he leads the Falcons with 13 hits and a batting average of .394, which ranks him in 3rd in the West Coast League amongst players with 30 or more at bats. Crowder is also tied for the team lead in homers with one and leads the Falcons with eight RBI’s while being the only player on the roster to get into every game of the season.
Wenatchee:
INF Mason Marenco (5’10, 190 lbs/North Bend, Washington, USA)
A red shirt freshman from Gonzaga University, Marenco has been a big part of the Wenatchee offence to start the season with 10 hits in just 28 at-bats. The extra base hits have been a big key for the North Bend, Washington native as well as he has collected a home run plus three doubles and a triple this season along with tying for the team lead with four RBI’s. He’s been able to get on base in other ways as well drawing a team high six base on balls.
P Grady Miller (6’4, 210 lbs/Wenatchee, Washington, USA)
The big left-hander has gotten off to a hot start on the mound for the AppleSox this season as he has started two games and allowed just three runs. The hometown Wenatchee-born hurler has thrown 10.2 innings this season, yielding just three runs on six hits and six walks along with striking out nine. His opening outing on Opening Night against Victoria saw him go six innings while allowing just a pair of hits.
P Curtis Bafus (6’6, 240 lbs/Woodinville, Washington, USA)
Hailing from Virginia Commonwealth University, the towering right-hander has provided Wenatchee with stability in his two starts this season, especially in his latest outing on Tuesday against Corvallis. Bafus went seven innings while allowing six hits, walking one batter and striking out an impressive nine in a 4-0 win for the AppleSox. Overall in the 2018 season, the Woodinville, Washington native has compiled a 3.85 ERA over 11.2 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts and three walks.
The Falcons and AppleSox open their three-game set on Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM and running through to Monday night at Paul Thomas Field. Kelowna continues the road trip on Tuesday to play the Yakima Valley Pippins for a three-game series before returning home on Friday, June 22nd for a weekend series against the Pippins. Fans can listen to every Falcons game with the Voice of the Falcons, Trevor Miller HERE.
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