Amanda Knight Named 2024 Staff Member of the Year

Saturday, September 7, Corvallis, Ore. – On-field public address announcer Amanda Knight was named the club’s 2024 Staff Member of the Year as voted on by the team’s front office. A native of Rockingham, Western Australia, Knight joined the team in 2023 as the team’s on-field personality.

“We are so lucky to have Amanda,” said Corvallis Knights Director of Operations Derek Buchheit. “She is an excellent ambassador of our program, and her spirit energizes Goss on a nightly basis.”

Amanda, who is the wife of Corvallis skipper Brooke Knight, was a baseball rookie when she joined the team as the club’s on-field host in 2023.

In her second season, she blossomed in her role. “It’s not easy getting up and talking in front of one, two, sometimes even three thousand people. But, this summer, Amanda was confident on the mic and was a superstar,” said Buchheit.

In addition to her on-field PAA duties, Knight is a key part of each game’s promotional plan. She assists with the development of an involved “script”, coordinates pre-game activities, finds participants for on-field games, mentors interns and helps with special announcements.

“We are proud of Amanda,” said Knights Baseball Club CEO Dan Segel. “She has a strong work ethic, relates well with our fans and is always looking to help out where she can.

“Her enthusiasm for the role and team-first attitude is very much appreciated.”

Corvallis has strong Australian connections.

Oregon State supernova Travis Bazzana, the #1 pick in July’s MLB Draft, is a native of Sydney, and played for the Knights in 2021 (and was named the West Coast League’s MVP).

Knights’ skipper Brooke Knight, who has won 10 titles in Corvallis, heads back Down Under this winter to coach the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League. This will be Knight’s third stop in the ABL, previously coaching the Perth Heat and Adelaide Bite (now Giants).

Coach Knight’s son Briley, the 2019 West Coast League MVP, won the ABL championship with the Giants last winter, knocking in the game-winning RBI in the finals deciding game.

2017 Knights’ MVP Jordan Qsar played for Brooke Knight with the Perth Heat during the 2019-2020 season. And former Knights, Crescent Valley High School and Oregon State star Kevin Hooker is the Detroit Tigers Pacific Rim scout, based out of Perth.

The organization’s Staff Member of the Year Award is one of the club’s highest honors. Previous winners were Connor Heath (2023), Derek Buchheit (2020 & 2022), the late Jennifer Beaumont (2021),  Sarah Hoechlin (2019), Nicole Schroeder (2018), Jared Carr (2017), Melissa Sullivan (2016), Anna Seydel (2015), Brooks Hatch (2014), Lil’ K and Mack the Knight (2013), Jeremy Ainsworth (2012), Bre Miller (2011), Doug Blair (2010), Brian Brooks (2009), Stro Strohmeyer (2008) and Holly Jones (2007).