Today
Opponent: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
When: 2:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Probable starting pitchers: Everett right-hander Yoervis Medina (2-2, 3.53 earned run average) vs. Salem-Keizer right-hander Edward Concepcion (3-3, 4.68)
Still fighting
The Everett AquaSox have little to play for, at least as far as the standings are concerned. Everett clinched the Northwest League West Division’s first-half title nearly a week ago, rendering the final seven games of the first half — and in a sense the remainder of the regular season — academic.
But even though the wins and losses may not matter much in the grand scheme, the Sox continue to fight for each victory.
That was most evident in Thursday’s 14-inning, 5-4 win at Salem-Keizer. The Sox kept battling to extend a contest that mattered little to them, wriggling out of several jams during extra innings.
“Every game for us is important,” Everett manager Jose Moreno said. “With young players we want to start building that mentality. Every day is important for us, every day you try to improve and we want to go after the wins no matter what.”
However, the Sox couldn’t avoid dropping a series for just the second time this season, losing two of three against the Volcanoes. Those were also Everett’s first two defeats at the hands of a West Division foe after beginning the season 12-0 against the West.
But the losses weren’t for a lack of effort.
“We beat ourselves,” Moreno said. “We had a couple games that were close, but we didn’t hit the big one with men in scoring position. Then our pitchers struggled a little early in the games with their fastball command. We made the adjustment, but it was too late.”
Sox hopeful on Wiswall
Everett third baseman Mickey Wiswall has a broken bone in his foot, but the Sox are hoping he’ll only miss two weeks.
Wiswall fouled two balls off his right foot during last Monday’s game against Eugene and hasn’t played since. A break was discovered, but rather than being a crack it was found to be a flake fracture, meaning a small piece of the bone chipped off. Sox trainer Spyder Webb said the injury should be easier to recover from than a standard break, but Wiswall remains in a walking boot.
The rest of Everett’s injured players are making good progress. Infielder Kevin Mailloux, who sat out all three games in Keizer because of a knee sprain, was back in the lineup Saturday. Pitchers Tyler Burgoon (elbow) and Chris Kessinger (dead arm), who have been out since the beginning of July, are progressing with their throwing programs. If they remain on schedule they’ll be available again beginning in August.
Celebrity baseball
The stars are coming out to Everett Memorial Stadium as the Sox host the Celebrity Baseball Challenge immediately following today’s afternoon game.
Among those scheduled to compete include NBA players Jon Brockman and Spencer Hawes, current Seattle Seahawk Lawyer Milloy, former Seattle Mariner Bucky Jacobson, former Everett Silvertip Mitch Love, Washington Stealth captain Jason Bloom, and on-air personalities from Q13 Fox television and KISW radio.
Half of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
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