Applesox light the night against Spokane

Oregon State University freshman Cole Gillespie hits two-run home run

The Wenatchee Applesox started the fireworks celebration early.

The Fourth of July celebration was a combination of America's favorite past time and favorite holiday as the Applesox light up the Spokane River Hawks' baseball team in the 10-2 win Sunday at Larson Field.

Wenatchee's Cole Gillespie brought some fireworks of his own, knocking a two-run home run off Spokane's Bobby McEwen in the first inning.

"Cole Gillespie, the guy that opened up in the first inning," Wenatchee manager Ed Knaggs said. "He has been so consistent all year in the heart of that line up and puts a charge into the ball." Wenatchee manager Ed Knaggs said.

There wasn't much to celebrate for the River Hawks, who scored two runs on eight hits, while giving up 10 runs on 12 hits in the game. Spokane also struck out nine times in the game.

The difference turned out to be pitching as Wenatchee rode the back of Travis Kane through six innings. Both runs were credited to the Walla Walla Community College sophomore, but maintained a no-hitter threw the first five innings of work.

"It is good that Travis Kane came out and threw strikes and we were able to get runs early for him," Knaggs said.

Wenatchee opened the game with Brent Walker reaching on a second baseman error. Jason Anderson drove Walker in with a single to left field and scored on Gillespie's two run home run to center field.

"A home run to me I will take any day," Gillespie said. "It is nice being the fourth of July, but I will take hits anytime."

Spokane battled back in the bottom of the fifth with Troy Hanzawa reaching on a short stop error and Brad Wark reached on a single to right. Matt Robinson put the River Hawks on the board with a two-run double to right field.

"The nice thing is we got down quick, but then we got back into it. We see we can come back when it is close," Spokane manager Kevin Stocker said.

Wenatchee followed the River Hawk inning with three runs in the sixth, including a two-run triple off the bat of Aaron McGuinness to give the Applesox a 6-2 lead.

Jason Anderson cushioned the lead in the seventh with an RBI double and Hector Estrella and Jon Hee hit back-to-back RBI singles to put the game out of reach at 9-2.

Justin Ehlers hit a sacrifice fly RBI to right field in the eighth for the final run of the game off Spokane's third pitcher of the game Brett Sommer.

"We needed somebody to come in and shut the door and we didn't have that," Stocker said. "We had to use a lot of pitchers the last couple games so tonight was a game of pitching by committee."

Wenatchee gave the ball to Elliot Cribby to finish the final three innings and allowed four hits to stop the River Hawks as the Applesox claimed a 10-2 victory.

"The key to our success was pitching because they were kept off balance at the plate all night," Gillespie said.