WALLA WALLA, Wash. (June 26, 2026) – The Walla Walla Sweets are starting to make a habit of finding ways to win close games at Borleske Stadium.

Landon Young broke a late tie with a two-run triple, the pitching staff held one of the West Coast League’s top teams to three runs and Carson McKinney closed the door as the Sweets beat the Wenatchee AppleSox 4-3 in Friday night’s series opener.

The victory was Walla Walla’s third in a row and continued a strong stretch to close the first half of the season.

Charles Rogers III set the tone on the mound. The right-hander tossed four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits without issuing a walk. He struck out three and retired the final eight batters he faced to keep the game scoreless through the early innings.

Walla Walla broke through in the fourth.

Isaac Torres singled and Cole Rogers worked a walk in his first Sweets appearance of the season. Austin Owens then singled to the left side, and a throwing error allowed both runners to score and give Walla Walla a 2-0 lead.

Rogers made his return felt throughout the night, reaching base three times with three walks and adding a stolen base.

Wenatchee tied the game in the seventh, but the Sweets answered immediately.

Troy Osborne reached with a single, and Sam Kane followed by working a walk. Young then drove a two-run triple into center field, bringing both runners home and putting Walla Walla back in front, 4-2.

It was another big swing for Young, who has provided steady production since returning from injury. Over his last three games, the third baseman has recorded seven hits and driven in eight runs.

Wenatchee pulled within one in the eighth, but Perry Stow limited the damage and finished four innings of relief with five strikeouts. He allowed three runs, only two earned, and earned his first win of the summer.

McKinney took over in the ninth and worked around a walk to finish the game. The right-hander recorded a strikeout and stranded the tying run to collect his third save of the season and second in a three-day span.

Gage Reeser led Walla Walla with two hits, while Hale, Osborne, Torres, Young and Owens each added one. Kane reached twice and stole a base, and Trevor Tse also drew a walk from the top of the lineup.

The Sweets pitching staff combined to allow seven hits and two walks while striking out nine. Rogers, Stow and McKinney kept Walla Walla in control of another tight game and held Wenatchee scoreless in six of the nine innings.

With the win, the Sweets have taken three straight games and opened the weekend with a victory over a Wenatchee club tied for the lead in the WCL North Division.

Walla Walla continue the series Saturday, June 27, against the AppleSox. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. at Borleske Stadium, with the first drone show in stadium history, featuring an Adam West Batman theme, scheduled as part of the night’s festivities.