Knights run wild in Fireworks Night victory over Bend Elks

Saturday, August 3, Corvallis, Ore. – Corvallis stole 13 bases in 13 attempts and literally ran away from Bend in an 8-1 victory before a Fireworks Night crowd of 2,953 at Goss Stadium.

Third baseman Thomas Ferroggiaro (Santa Clara, pictured above) was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. He also stole five bases in five attempts to claim Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game honors.

Colton McAnelly (Utah) continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 night, with a double, a run and an RBI. He is batting .429 (6-14) in his last six games, with three doubles, a triple and four RBIs, raising his average 27 points to .284.

New Gonzaga commit Ty Yukumoto stole four bases, walked three times and scored twice. Kevin Takeuchi (USC) was 3-for-4 with two steals, two runs and two RBIs and Luke Lavin (Stanford) doubled, singled and drove in a pair.

The Knights (44-12 overall, 38-12 WCL, 16-7 second half) remained two games ahead of Portland (36-14 WCL) in the race for the best overall record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Pickles defeated Yakima Valley 5-1 to keep pace.

Starter James DeCremer (Oregon State) went 4.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits. He struck out three, walked four, and fell one out short of going the necessary five innings to be credited with the decision.

Newcomer Zach Johnson (Salt Lake CC) was nails again in his second game since joining the club earlier this week. He retired all seven Elks he faced, with two strikeouts, and earned the victory. He has not allowed a hit in 4.1 innings in his two appearances.

Gabe Hernandez (CSUN) retired the final six Elks in order, also with two strikeouts. He has 14 consecutive innings without an earned run in his last six appearances.

The crowd of 2,953 pushed the season total to 50,342 in 32 openings. The Knights have surpassed the 50,000 mark in six of their last seven seasons; the team record is 61,288 in 2022.

The series concludes at 5:05 p.m. Aug. 4 at Goss Stadium in the regular-season home finale for the Knights. Payton Riske (2-2, 3.78) of Utah will start for Corvallis; Bend’s starter is TBA.

Corvallis concludes the regular season at Victoria on Aug. 5-7.

Corvallis claimed the first-half South Division championship and advanced to the West Coast League playoffs for the 17^th consecutive season. The postseason starts on Aug. 10; Corvallis will have the home-field advantage in the best-of-3 divisional round.

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