Knights take opener with 11th straight victory over Pickles

Tuesday, June 11, Portland, Ore. – Corvallis increased its South Division lead over Portland to 1.5 games with an 8-3 victory over the Pickles in the opener of their West Coast League series at Walker Stadium.

The Knights (9-1, 8-1 WCL) extended their winning streak to three games with the convincing triumph, their 11^th straight in the rivalry. Corvallis has not lost a regular-season game to Portland (6-2 WCL) since July 4, 2022.

Third baseman Kevin Takeuchi (USC, pictured above), the reigning WCL Player of the Week, had a huge night with a grand slam, two singles, four RBIs, a stolen base and a run.  His homer – his and the team’s second of the summer – gave them an insurmountable 8-0 lead in the sixth inning and increased his team-leading RBI total to 13.

Shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Pacific) scored four times and stole two bases. The Knights had only six hits but they stole four bases and took advantage of eight walks and two hit batters.

Starting pitcher Ethan Foley (Ohlone College) turned in his second strong performance, striking out six and allowing just one hit in four innings. He has allowed two hits and no runs in eight innings in his two appearances, with 11 strikeouts.

Reliever Tyler Horn (Nebraska) earned the decision in his Knights debut, striking out four in two scoreless innings. CJ Colyer (Pacific) struck out two in a scoreless ninth to finish the game. Four Corvallis pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.

Game 2 of the series is set for 7:10 p.m. June 12. The projected starting pitchers are Caleb Debban (1-0, 1.80) of George Fox University for the Knights, opposed by Japanese national Kenny Ishikawa (1-0, 0.00) for Portland.

Probables for the 7:10 p.m. June 13 series finale are Colter McAnelly (2-0, 0.00) of Utah for Corvallis and Dylan Smith (0-0, 0.00) of Northern Colorado for the Pickles. It ends the Knights 11-game, season-opening road trip to Cowlitz, Bend, Yakima Valley and Portland.

Corvallis kicks off the home portion of the season on Friday, June 14 when they host the Port Angeles Lefties in a 6:35 p.m. contest at Goss Stadium.

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