Knights top Ridgefield 12-5, win South Division playoff series

Sunday, August 11, Corvallis, Ore. – One series down, two single-game championships to go.

Corvallis completed its initial steps toward an eighth consecutive West Coast League championship by rallying to defeat Ridgefield 12-5 in Game 2 of the South Division divisional series before a Goss Stadium crowd of 1,125.

Corvallis (48-13 overall, 2-0 playoffs) thus swept the best-of-3 series and improved to 8-0 vs. the Raptors this summer. Corvallis is 5-0 all-time against the Raptors in the postseason, eliminating them in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Center fielder Blake Wilson (Washington, pictured above) was 4-for-6 with a double and four RBIs to earn Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game honors. Second baseman Kevin Takeuchi (USC) was 2-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and a run.

Shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Gonzaga) reached base safely in five of his six plate appearances and was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs. Third baseman Thomas Ferroggiaro (Santa Clara) was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and three runs.

First baseman Colter McAnelly (Utah) scored three times and catcher Tyler Howard (Portland) was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

Starting pitcher Kaden Segel (Portland) was touched for a three-run homer in the first but then allowed just one run over the next four innings. He struck out two, walked one, and got the decision.

Reliever Sean Wiese (Arizona Christian) surrendered a homer to the first batter he faced, then retired nine of the next 10 to get the Knights safely to the ninth inning. Payton Rise (Utah) threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close it out.

Corvallis trailed 4-0 after 2.5 innings, then rallied for eight unanswered runs over their next three at-bats to surge ahead 8-4. Ridgefield drew within 8-5 in the sixth but Corvallis matched that with four more unanswered scores for a final 12-5 advantage.

The South Division championship game against Portland is set for 6:35 p.m. Aug. 14 at Goss Stadium. The Pickles crushed the Elks 16-6 at Walker Stadium to sweep that series; Portland prevailed 7-2 at Bend in the opener.

In the North Division playoffs, host Wenatchee topped Victoria 9-1 and host Bellingham blanked Edmonton 2-0, evening both series at 1-1. Those series will conclude in Washington on August 12.

The division winners advance to the Aug. 16 WCL title. As long as Corvallis keeps winning, the Knights will have the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs because they had the league’s best overall record.

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