Sunday, May 31, Kamloops, B.C. – The Knights completed an impressive opening weekend of West Coast League action by thumping Kamloops 14-6 at Norbrock Stadium to sweep the series.
Corvallis (4-0 all, 3-0 WCL) scored seven times in the sixth inning to erase a 6-4 deficit. They added three more runs in the ninth inning to seal the deal in regulation time after capturing 10- and 11-inning marathons in the first two games.
Relievers Jack Galanida (George Fox) and Luke Salvesen (Utah) combined to blank the NorthPaws over the final four innings, protecting the lead. Each threw two innings, allowing three hits combined; both benefitted from double plays to keep Kamloops at bay. Galanida earned the victory.
Chanz Flores (LBCC, above left) was 4-for-5 with two runs, a double and an RBI. Gavin Brubaker (NW Nazarene, above, right) was 3-for-5 with three runs, a double and an RBI. Zane Garvey (Western Oregon) was 3-for-5 with four RBIs; for the series he was 6-for-13 (.462), with seven RBIs.
Xavier Rios (CSUN) went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI and shortstop Joey Marasco (George Fox) had three runs, two RBIs and several outstanding defensive plays.
Corvallis grabbed a quick 2-0 lead on RBI doubles by Flores in the first and Colton Schmokel (Concordia-Nebraska) in the second.
Kamloops recovered to take a 3-2 lead in the third, using an RBI single and two bases-loaded wild pitches to move back on top. The NorthPaws added another run in the fourth to double their lead to 4-2.
However, the Knights tied the game in the fifth. Marasco scored on the front end of a double steal; Brubaker singled, swiped second on the front end of the double steal, took third on an overthrow and scored on Garvey’s sacrifice fly.
Kamloops quickly regained a 6-4 lead by scoring twice in the fifth. The Knights responded immediately, though, by erupting for seven runs in the sixth.
Marasco’s two-run single tied the game 6-6. Corvallis went ahead 7-6 on a run-scoring balk and Garvey laced a two-run single for a 9-6 edge. Mark Carpenter (LBCC) worked a bases-loaded walk and Schmokel was hit by a pitch, forcing in the final two runs of the inning.
Brubaker hit a sacrifice fly, Gavey had an RBI single and Rios blooped an RBI double to close the scoring in the ninth.
Next up for the Knights is a six-game road trip to Walla Walla (June 2-4) and Portland (June 5-7). The roster will be strengthened by the addition of several more full-time players.
Their WCL home opener is set for June 10 against the Marion Berries, starting at 6:35 p.m. at Goss Stadium.