The last time the Victoria HarbourCats and Wenatchee AppleSox met was in the 2019 West Coast League North Division playoff final won by the HarbourCats.
With apologies to Zero Mostel, then a not-so-funny thing happened on the way to the next two seasons. The 2020 WCL campaign went dark for all teams due to the pandemic and the same in 2021 for the Canadian teams while the U.S. teams played last season.
The AppleSox (5-10) returned to Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park on Tuesday night following the two-year absence and edged the HarbourCats (7-8) 8-6 in 10 innings.
The AppleSox came in riding a six-game losing streak after dropping consecutive home-and-away three-game sets to the Bellingham Bells. The AppleSox, from the central Washington community known for its orchards, were happy to be facing any team not named the Bells.
Left-handed batter Joseph Redfield, son of former major-leaguer Joe Redfield and headed from junior college to NCAA Div. 1 Sam Houston State, led the Victoria offence with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored Tuesday. Colton Moore had two hits and two RBIS.
AppleSox starter Riley Sinclair from Seattle University was touched for four hits and three earned runs over two innings. Victoria starter Cooper Crompton from Iowa Western went four complete innings, allowing two hits and two unearned runs with four strikeouts.
The series continues with games tonight and Thursday night at Royal Athletic Park.
Meanwhile, the Nanaimo NightOwls (7-8) are in a set against the fellow-expansion Kamloops NorthPaws (9-8) at Serauxmen Stadium, which began with a 2-1 NightOwls victory Monday and continued Tuesday night before concluding tonight.
