Thursday, August 1, Corvallis, Ore. – Corvallis wrapped up the nonleague portion of the season with a 19-6 rout of the Cascade Collegiate League Showcase team before a Goss Stadium crowd of 1,436.
The Knights (42-12 overall, 36-12 WCL, 14-7 second half) took advantage of 15 walks and five hit batters to hit double-digits with only nine hits. They finished 6-0 in nonleague games and 3-0 vs. the Showcase squad.
Colton McAnelly (Utah) was 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and three runs. He was named Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game.
Ty Yukumoto (Pacific) was 2-for-2, reached base safely in all six plate appearances, and scored five runs. Ben Leid (Central Washington) and Kellen Segel (LBCC) also had two RBIs. Every starter scored at least once.
Starter Jackson Walker (Yakima Valley CC, pictured above) allowed one run over three innings in his Knights debut and earned the win. Reliever Russell Holly went 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings and had one strikeout in his initial appearance.
Corvallis remained two games ahead of Portland (34-14) in the race for the best overall record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Pickles lost 5-4 at Cowlitz in the finale of that South Division series.
The Knights begin a split-venue series with Bend on Aug. 2 at Vince Genna Stadium in Bend. The Aug. 3 (7:15 p.m.) and Aug. 4 (5:05 p.m.) games will be played at Goss Stadium, concluding the home portion of the schedule.
The Knights have not announced their projected starting pitchers. Bend will use Reid Madariaga (3-1, 4.67) of Cumberland, Jackson Elder (3-1, 3.71) of Utah and Andrew Harbour (2-2, 2.34) of USC, in order.
Corvallis claimed the first-half South Division championship and advanced to the West Coast League playoffs for the 17th consecutive season. The postseason starts on Aug. 10; Corvallis will have the home-field advantage in the best-of-3 divisional round.