Five Knights Earn First-Team All-West Coast League Honors

Thursday, August 22, Corvallis, Ore. – The Corvallis Knights were the most represented summer program on the all-West Coast League teams announced yesterday. Five Knights were selected to the first first team, including shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Gonzaga), utility man Kevin Takeuchi (USC), starting pitcher Kaden Segel (Portland), relief pitcher Gabe Hernandez (Cal State Northridge) and relief pitcher Caleb Debban (George Fox).

The slick-fielding Yukomoto, a returnee from the Knights’ 2023 championship club, led Corvallis in runs scored (45), walks (38) and stolen bases (21) while hitting .315 in WCL play. Yukumoto started the WCL All-Star Game in Bellingham at shortstop. Late in the summer, Ty committed to Gonzaga of the WCC.

Takeuchi captured the Corvallis triple crown leading the club in batting average (.323), homers (5) and RBIs (45). He also led the Knights in doubles with 16. His 45 RBIs was tops in the WCL. The rising sophomore played in the WCL All-Star Game and earned first-team honors as a utility player as he started in left field and at third base and second base.

Segel, a fourth-year Knight, anchored a deep staff and went 6-0 overall, including a playoff win, while posting a 1.84 ERA and striking out 30 and walking only 5 over a team-leading 39 innings pitched. The rising senior right-hander started the WCL All-Star Game for the South and tossed two scoreless innings.

Hernandez and Debban both excelled out the bullpen with Hernandez emerging as the team’s closer and Debban posting an impressive 1.18 ERA over 30.1 innings The senior-to-be southpaw went 4-1 with two saves. Hernandez, a rising sophomore, tied for the league lead in appearances with 21 and registered 3 saves while posting a 2.20 ERA and 4-1 won/loss mark over 36.2 innings pitched.

Nebraska righty Tyner Horn and USC right-hander Garren Rizzo both earned second-team all-WCL honors. Both rising sophomores, Horn was selected as a starting pitcher and Rizzo as a reliever. Horn appeared in the WCL All-Star Game and struck out 39 over 32.2 innings pitched while posting a 2.20 ERA. He won his playoff start at Ridgefield. Rizzo went 5-0 with 24 strikeouts over 18 innings pitched while recording a 2.00 ERA.

Three Knights were honorable mention selections, starting outfielder Brendon Cabrera of Lewis-Clark State, starting catcher Tyler Howard of Portland reliever Sean Wiese of Arizona Christian.