The Wenatchee AppleSox repeated as WCCBL Champions Thursday night as the Sox beat the first place Spokane RiverHawks 7-2 at Avista Stadium. Wenatchee has now won all its WCCBL post-season games. Last summer, Wenatchee swept the Bellingham Bells. The Sox two wins vs. the Hawks improves its WCCBL Championship Series mark to 4-0.

Wenatchee jumped on Spokane early and led 7-0 before Spokane scored two runs late in the game. Right-handed starter Matt Fields of Gonzaga was the Sox star as he threw 7 shutout innings and worked into the eighth to pick-up the win. Ace DJ Lidyard of Lower Columbia College finished the game for Wenatchee and appropriately recorded the last out via strikeout (Lidyard led the league in strikeouts with 86). The Sox bats were sizzling as Wenatchee banged out 18 hits. Shortstop Brent Wyatt collected 4 hits.

Wenatchee’s playoff run started last Sunday with a doubleheader sweep of the Aloha Knights in Gresham, Oregon and ended with a championship road win last night at Spokane. The Sox had to win both games Sunday vs. the second place Knights to get into the WCCBL Championship Series and had to beat the league’s first place finisher, the Spokane RiverHawks, to win it. Coach Ed Knaggs troops won it with their backs against the wall and with the league’s best pitching staff. “We pitched like crazy, which is nice” said Coach Knaggs following the game. Knaggs has now won both WCCBL titles and will look for a three-peat next season, the league’s third campaign. In the post-game ceremonies Sox Owner Jim Corcoran was quick to thank Wenatchee’s fans and players. “We have the best fans…and our players are great in the community, they play hard and are just a super group of guys,” said Corcoran. Spokane had a wonderful second season in the WCCBL going from last place in 2005 (12-24) to first in 2006 (28-14) under the leadership of Owner Bill Hogeboom, Business Manager Matt McCoy and new Head Coach Steve Hertz.

The WCCBL is dedicated to player development, player exposure and to providing affordable summer entertainment to its member communities.