Thursday, July 17, Corvallis, Ore. – The Knights handled the Salem Sock Puppets 17-1 before an entertained Goss Stadium crowd of 1,849.
The non-counting exhibition game was played using a wide variety of rules, such as four outs in an inning, an out being recorded if a spectator caught a foul ball, etc. The Knights donned informal uniforms and played different positions.
Manager Brooke Knight sang the national anthem. On one play, Corvallis shortstop Brooks Avery fielded a ground ball, executed a perfect back flip, the still threw the baserunner out.
Assistant coach Beau Kearns, a former standout at Lewis-Clark State and with the Wenatchee AppleSox, pitched the first six innings for Corvallis. Knights alum Mike Gits (200,2001), who played at Oregon State and Western Oregon, pitched the seventh and eighth innings.
No statistics were recorded and the game does not count toward the Knights overall record.
Next up for the Knights (29-11 all, 25-11 WCL, 8-1 second half) is a WCL home series with the Springfield Drifters, set for July 18-20 at Goss Stadium.
Portland righty Trey Newmann (3-0, 6.12) will start the July 18 game for Corvallis; J’Shawn Unger of Iowa Western CC (4-0, 2.93) goes in the July 19 contest. Both games begin at 6:35 p.m.
Zach Johnson of Portland (2-1, 3.86) is the July 20 probable for Corvallis in the 5:05 p.m. series finale.
July 19 is Travis Bazzana Bobblehead Night. The first 500 fans will receive a bobblehead of the 2021 Knights star, who was the first pick in the 2024 MLB draft by Cleveland after a standout career at Oregon State.
July 20 is Pat Casey Night, recognizing the longtime OSU national-champion baseball coach. The first 250 fans will receive Goss Stadium replicas, courtesy of the OSU Dugout Club. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m.