Knights finish sweep of Yakima Valley, 15-3

Sunday, July 27, Corvallis, Ore. – The Knights steamrolled Yakima Valley for the third consecutive game, 15-3, to sweep the West Coast League South Division series.

The Knights (35-14 all, 31-14 WCL, 14-4 second half) outscored the Pippins 42-6 over the weekend and won for the sixth time in their last seven games. They maintained a solid hold on second place in the South Division overall standings, which would result in home-field advantage in the first round of the divisional playoffs.

Corvallis trailed 3-1 heading into the home fourth, at which point they erupted for 14 unanswered runs over their next four at-bats. A seven-run seventh inning capped the onslaught.

Cole Katayama-Stall (Portland) ignited the comeback with a bases-loaded triple that gave the Knights a 4-3 lead in the fourth. He then scored on Blake Wilson’s (Washington) single for a 5-3 advantage.

Maverek Russell (UCLA, pictured above) tripled and scored in the fifth. Thomas Ferroggiaro’s (Santa Clara) two-run double made it 8-2 in the sixth.

Corvallis sent 13 batters to the plate in the seven-run seventh. Blake Ketelsen’s (Stanford) bases-loaded triple was the big blow.

Russell finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks. He earned Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game honors.

Maddox Riske (USC) scored three times. Brooks Avery (LBCC) drove in two and Ian Fernandez (UCSB) was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs.

The game ended on a 4-6-3 DP started by Ferroggiaro and pivoted by Wilson. Ferroggiaro was involved in five double plays in the series; four involved Wilson.

Starting pitcher Zack Johnson (Linfield) won his third straight start and improved to 4-1 overall. He is 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA over 20 innings in four July outings.

Reliever Michael Singleton (George Fox) added three innings of scoreless, hitless relief. Chase Olson (Nebraska) pitched the ninth.

A Wilson Motors Night crowd of 2,179 raised the season attendance to 40,244 in 25 dates, an average of 1,617 per opening.

The Knights are idle on July 28. The homestand continues on July 29-31 against Walla Walla; all three games begin at 6:35 p.m. The Knights swept a three-game series with the Sweets at Borleske Stadium back on July 11-13.

July 29 is Albany Rollers Night. The Knights will wear special caps and jerseys commemorating Albany’s long-ago professional team. Incoming Oregon State freshman Tyler Bellerose (2-0, 1.74) is the Knights scheduled starter.

July 30 is Sandlot Night. Stay after the game to watch a special screening of the “Sandlot” movie on the Goss Stadium video board. Nebraska lefty Chase Olson (2-2, 3.19) gets the ball for Corvallis.

July 31 is Halloween in July, presented by the Sue Long Realty Group. Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume for some ballpark trick-or-treating, and a costume contest.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be stationed outside the stadium to take donations. Portland’s Trey Swygart (0-0, 0.00) is the Knights probable.

Box score