Drifters stun Knights in 11-inning victory

Monday, June 16, Corvallis, Ore. – Springfield forced extra innings with an improbable comeback and then defeated the Knights 4-3 in 11 innings before a season-high crowd of 1,664 at Goss Stadium.

The Knights (6-8 all, 5-8 WCL) twice were one strike from winning in the ninth. But a hit batter on an 0-2 pitch with two outs gave the Drifters new life, and a triple by pinch-hitter Isaiah Ibarra on a 2-2 pitch cut the lead to 3-2.

Bryant Starr followed with a single to tie the game. In the 11^th, Ibarra’s two-out, two-strike double drove in the go-ahead run and the Knights were retired in order in the bottom half.

Shortstop Antonio Castro (Cal Poly, pictured above) had an RBI single and several outstanding defensive plays. Returnee Thomas Ferroggiaro (Santa Clara) had an RBI single in his 2025 debut; catcher Xavier Rios (CSUN) drove in the Knights other run.

Reliever Mac Zawistoski (Chaminade) pitched three scoreless innings to earn Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game honors. He allowed one hit, struck out three, and walked one.

Cal Poly reliever Troy Cooper went two scoreless frames in his 2025 debut, with a strikeout.

Ferroggiaro and center fielder Brock Ketelsen (Stanford) joined the club on Monday and made their 2025 debuts. Ferroggiaro is a returnee; he hit .295 in 43 games for the Knights in 2024, with a homer and 16 RBIs.

The Knights now head to Longview, Wash., for a June 17-19 series against the Cowlitz Black Bears. They return home to host the Ridgefield Raptors on June 20-22.

June 20 is Forestry Night, starting at 6:35 p.m. The first 250 fans will receive a Lil’ King mini-bat, courtesy of Starker Forests.

June 21 is State Farm Dash for Cash night, with a special 7:05 p.m. starting time. The game will be paused in the fourth inning so kids 12 and under can come on to the field and chase $1,000 in cash.

The presenting State Farm agents are Monica Baez, Jim Kuhlman, Severn Thomas, Suzanne Roppe and Jeff Mills.

June 22 is the Corvallis Clinic Foundation’s annual Strike Out Cancer Night, starting at 5:05 p.m. It supports Project H.E.R., a comprehensive oncology support group for cancer patients.

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