HOLCROFT BECOMES PORTLAND HIT KING Former Corvallis Knights all-star outfielder Jake Holcroft became the University…
Homers by Lavoie, Loveless lead offensive barrage in 13-3 win
Wednesday, July 20, Corvallis, Ore. – Corvallis unleased two homers among its 16 hits in a 13-3 romp over Cowlitz before a Goss Stadium crowd of 1,531.
Brady Lavoie (San Diego State) and Ethan Loveless (Portland) each stung 2-run homers in the fourth inning. It was the third homer of the year for Lavoie and the second for Loveless.
The Knights (26-13, all, 26-12 WCL, 8-4 second half) clinched the series by improving to 6-1 in their last seven games. They scored twice in the first and second innings, four times in the third and the homer-fueled four-run fourth put them on top 12-1.
Kiko Romero (Arizona in 2023) was 3-for-5 with a triple, two singles, two RBIs and a steal. Ely Kennel (Oregon State in 2023) had two hits and two RBIs and Ryan Stafford (Cal Poly) had two RBIs.
Every Corvallis starter had at least one hit and one run.
Corvallis starter Duke Brotherton (pictured, above) of Washington State gave up one run in five innings for his first win since June 16. He spaced four hits, struck out four, retired the final seven batters he faced in order and dropped his ERA from 6.43 to 5.26.
The series finale is set for 6:35 p.m. Thursday. Righty Cam Day of Utah (0-0, 0.93) will make his second start of the summer for the Knights.
The Knights then host the Portland this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A nonleague game with the Northwest Star Nighthawks (July 25) and games with Springfield (July 26, July 28) complete the homestand.
The Knights clinched their 15th consecutive postseason berth on July 7 by winning the South Division’s first-half championship by two games over Ridgefield. They will be the No. 1 seed in the South Division playoffs.
The playoffs begin on Aug. 9 with the best-of-3 opening round. Corvallis will open the home portion of the postseason with Game 2 on Aug. 10. If necessary, Game 3 will be at Goss Stadium on Aug. 11.
Wednesday’s crowd of 1,531 raised the season total to 31,499 in 18 dates. That’s an average of 1,750 per outing.
Related Posts
