Knights thump Sweets 11-2 in series opener

Tuesday, July 29, Corvallis, Ore. – The Knights altered their identity for a night, but their history of success remained unchanged.

Playing as the Albany Rollers to honor a long-ago minor-league team, Corvallis steamrolled Walla Walla 11-2 in a South Division matchup before a Goss Stadium crowd of 1,396. Corvallis also clinched a postseason berth for the 18th year in a row.

The Knights (36-14 all, 32-14 WCL, 15-4 second half) have now won four games in a row and 7 of 8 since dropping the first two games of a July 18-20 home series with Springfield. They are 4-0 vs. the Sweets this summer.

First baseman Trey Swygart (Portland, pictured above) was 2-for-5 and drove in three runs. He had a two-run single in the first, when the Knights jumped ahead 3-0, and an RBI groundout in the second, when they again scored three times to double their advantage.

Shortstop Blake Wilson (Washington) had two hits and two runs; left fielder Kellen Segel (LBCC) had two hits and was hit twice and reached first safely in 4 of 5 at-bats.

Second baseman Thomas Ferroggiaro (Santa Clara) celebrated his 21^st birthday with a two-run triple, a single and a run scored. Center fielder Brock Ketelsen scored three times and had two RBIs. Ketelsen leads the team with 43 runs scored in 28 games. Ferroggiaro was named Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game.

Incoming Oregon State freshman Tyler Bellerose continued his impressive summer with three scoreless innings in another solid start. He allowed one hit, struck out two and lowered his ERA to 1.35. He has surrendered just two runs and nine hits in 13.1 innings over five appearances.

Lefty Mac Zawistoski (Eastern Illinois) blanked the Sweets over the middle three innings, spacing two hits and three walks. He struck out four and finished his stint by spearing a line drive and doubling a runner off first to end the top of the sixth.

Chance Wallace (Utah Valley) finished up and earned a three-inning save. He had three strikeouts.

Corvallis has scored in double figures in four straight games, outscoring the opposition 53-9. The crowd of 1,396 raised the season total to 41,820 in 26 outings.

Game 2 of the series, set for 6:35 p.m. July 30, is Sandlot Night. Stay after the game to watch a special screening of the “Sandlot” movie on the Goss Stadium video board.

Nebraska lefty Chase Olson (2-2, 3.19) gets the ball for Corvallis. Peysen Sweeny of Washington (0-1, 8.30) starts for Walla Walla.

The series concludes on July 31 with Halloween in July night, presented by the Sue Long Realty Group. Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume for some ballpark trick-or-treating, and a costume contest.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be stationed outside the stadium to take donations. Portland’s Trey Swygart (0-0, 0.00) is the Knights probable, opposed by Seattle U,’s Isaac Hallam (0-4, 6.37).

Corvallis plays at Springfield over the weekend. Scheduled starters at Luke Kalfsbeek (Cal Poly) on Aug. 1, Troy Cooper (Cal Poly) on Aug. 2 and Zach Johnson (Linfield) on Aug. 3.

In other team news, first baseman-pitcher Quin Dufort (Portland) has returned to the team after missing much of the season with illness. He hit .111 with an RBI in three games before leaving the team in early June.

Dufort also played for the Knights in 2024 and hit .298, with no homers and 24 RBIs in 39 games. He was also 0-2, 7.00 in limited action on the mound.

Also, pitcher Trey Newmann of Portland has left the club at his request. He was 3-0, 6.27 in 10 games, with 42 strikeouts in 28.2 innings.

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