EVERETT — The 2024 Everett AquaSox have not been an easy out this season.
They entered the final five games of the season still mathematically alive for a spot in the Northwest League Championship Series.
Heading into Tuesday’s games, one more Vancouver win or an Everett loss would clinch it for the Canadians. The Frogs (30-31 second half, 62-65 overall) had Tuesday off while Vancouver (34-26, 64-59 through Monday) began a six-game series against Eugene. Results of the first game of the Eugene series were not available at press time.
The team with the best first-half record faces the second-half champion in the Northwest League Championship Series next week. Vancouver holds the tiebreaker over the the Frogs.
No matter the results of this week, though, the AquaSox stayed alive for the postseason into the final week of the season. That was aided by 4-2 series victory over Eugene, plus a 5-4 victory over first-half champion Spokane (38-23, 76-49) on Monday.
Spokane has been the class of the league all season, but the AquaSox kept the season alive with a 6-5 victory on Monday night. Trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Freuddy Batista and Colt Emerson each hit RBI singles to send the game into the 10th.
Former Washington Husky pitcher Stefan Raeth struck out two Spokane Indians in the top of a scoreless 10th. Caleb Cali was the runner placed at second base to begin the bottom of the inning, and Spokane intentionally walked hot-hitting slugger Lazaro Montes. Hunter Fitz-Gerald’s line-drive single loaded the bases, and the Frogs won when Spokane pitcher Davis Palermo hit Bill Knight with a pitch to score Cali.
All that kept the Frogs in contention for at least one more day.
Players of the week
Hitter: Michael Arroyo. It was a strong offensive week for the AquaSox, who scored 51 runs in seven games. Five Frogs recorded an OPS over 1.000, but Arroyo stood out with a strong display of consistency (11 hits spread out over six games), power (three home runs, four doubles) and speed (three stolen bases). Arroyo, the 12th-ranked prospect in the Seattle Mariners minor league system, recorded a 1.314 OPS and a .379 batting average while playing in all seven games.
Pitcher: Nick Payero. Making his fourth start of the season for Everett, the 24-year-old right hander pitched six strong innings in Friday’s 12-6 victory over Eugene, allowing just three hits and one run. Payero, undrafted out of Seton Hall, is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA since joining the AquaSox in August.
The week ahead: As of press time, it’s possible that this week means everything —or means nothing — for the postseason. If Vancouver lost Tuesday night, it’s simple: The AquaSox must win five straight at Funko Field in Everett and Vancouver must lose five straight. Hillsboro (31-29 second half) remained a factor as well. Everett wraps up the regular season on Sunday against Spokane, which has already clinched a spot in the series and the best overall record in the league.
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