Knights rally for 5-3 win over Raptors in WCL playoffs opener

Saturday, August 10, Ridgefield, Wash. – Corvallis took the first step toward an eighth consecutive West Coast League championship by rallying to defeat Ridgefield 5-3 in Game 1 of the South Division divisional series.

The Knights (48-13 overall, 1-0 playoffs) thus took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series by improving to 7-0 vs. the Raptors this summer. Game 2 is set for 6:35 p.m. Aug. 11 at Goss Stadium in Corvallis.

The projected starting pitchers are Fresno State’s Carson Revay (4-2, 3.75) for Ridgefield and Portland’s Kaden Segel (5-0, 1.84) for Corvallis. Revay is 0-1, 13.50 in his lone game against the Knights in 2024; Segel is 1-0, 5.00 in two appearances against the Raptors.

Corvallis trailed 3-0 after two innings but fought back with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and a three-spot in the sixth. Meanwhile, three Corvallis pitchers blanked the Raptors over the final seven innings, enabling the offense to come alive and turn the tables.

Shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Gonzaga) was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, knocking in the go-ahead runs in the decisive sixth inning. Quin Dufort (Portland) was also 2-for-3.

Ridgefield led 3-0 for three innings but the Knights began their comeback by scoring on a bases-loaded balk in the fourth. In the fifth, Thomas Ferroggiaro (Santa Clara) singled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice and scored on Blake Wilson’s (Washington) single to draw the Knights within 3-2.

Corvallis finally pulled even in the sixth on a two-out, two-strike RBI single by Colter McAnelly (Utah). It plated Kasen Khansarinia (UCLA), who reached second on a fielder’s choice and a walk. Another walk loaded the bases and Yukumoto laced a two-run single to send the Knights up 5-3.

Starting pitcher Tyner Horn (Nebraska) shook off a shaky start and blanked the Raptors over the final three innings of his five-inning stint. He struck out two and allowed three runs on six hits.

Horn walked the first two batters he faced and one came around to score. In the second inning he was touched for a two-run triple, but he prevented further damage by ending the inning on a double play.

Caleb Deban (George Fox) pitched a scoreless sixth but was relieved by Gabe Hernandez (CSUN, pictured above) after the first two batters in the seventh reached safely. Hernandez escaped the jam unscathed and stymied the Raptors the rest of the way for a three-inning save.

Ridgefield had the tying run at the plate with one out in the eighth, but a strikeout and a popout ended the threat. An error and a walk put runners at the corners with two outs in the ninth, but Hernandez induced a game-ending 4-3 groundout to send the Knights back to Corvallis on a high.

Hernandez threw 29 strikes in 45 pitches and extended his streak of not allowing an earned run to 19.2 innings over 10 appearances. He has four saves, a win and 13 strikeouts over that span.

Game 3, if necessary, would be at 6:35 p.m. Aug. 12, also at Goss Stadium. Ridgefield has listed Blake Hammond (0-0, 3.46) as its starter; Corvallis has not announced a possible starting pitcher. Hammond did not pitch against Corvallis in the regular season.

The Divisional championship game against the victor of the Portland-Bend series is tentatively set for Aug. 14. Portland took a 1-0 lead in that series with a 7-2 victory at Bend in Game 1.

In the North Division playoffs, host Victoria edged Wenatchee and host Edmonton beat Bellingham 3-1 in Game 1. Those series will resume in Washington on August 11.

The WCL title game is set for Aug. 16. Corvallis will have the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs because it has the league’s best overall record.

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