AppleSox rally past Corvallis to win WCL championship

WENATCHEE — Reese Vassar delivered a three-run triple in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night to lift the Wenatchee AppleSox to an 8-7 comeback victory over the Corvallis Knights in the West Coast League Championship Game at Paul Thomas Sr. Field.

The championship is Wenatchee's sixth WCL title and its first since 2012. The AppleSox also defeated Corvallis in the championship game in 2009 and 2012.

Corvallis took a 3-0 lead in the first two innings. Dakota Chun drove in two runs with a single in the top of the first before Maverek Russell added an RBI single in the second.

Wenatchee responded with four runs in the bottom of the second.

The AppleSox loaded the bases with no outs before Paxton Bigby drove in a run with an infield single. A fielder's choice brought home another run, and Vassar tied the game with an RBI single. Noah Field gave Wenatchee a 4-3 lead two batters later with a run-scoring single.

Ryder Young's sacrifice fly in the third extended the AppleSox lead to 5-3.

The Knights scored once in the fourth before taking a 7-5 lead with three runs in the fifth. Ryan Severns drove in a run with a single with two runners aboard, and an error on the play allowed the go-ahead run to score. Kellen Segel followed with an RBI single.

Wenatchee remained down by two until the eighth.

Young singled with one out and Bigby walked with two outs. Segel, who led Corvallis with six saves this season, moved from left field to the mound and hit Kanoa Morisaki with a pitch to load the bases.

Vassar then drove an 0-1 pitch into deep right-center field for a three-run triple, putting Wenatchee ahead 8-7.

Easton Brooks retired the Knights in order in the ninth to secure the championship. Brooks earned the victory after pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.