McAnelly, Dufort spark Knights to opening-night win at Cowlitz

Friday, May 31, Longview, Wash. – The Corvallis Knights opened the defense of their West Coast League championship with an impressive 10-0 opening-night victory over the Cowlitz Black Bears before a crowd of 625 at David Story Field.

Pitcher/DH Colter McAnelly (Utah, pictured right) pitched five scoreless innings and went 1-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs to pace the Knights (2-0 all, 1-0 WCL). He allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out five in a solid debut outing with the seven-time defending WCL titlists.

Returnee Ty Yukumoto (Pacific) was 2-for-4 with two runs and first baseman Quin Dufort (Portland, pictured left) was 3-for-5 with a run for Corvallis. Returnee Kellen Segel (LBCC) and newcomers CJ Coyler (Pacific) and Kevin Takeuchi (USC) all had RBIs.

The Knights scored five times in the third inning to break a scoreless tie. They  added single runs in the fourth and fifth frames and locked it up with McAnelly’s two-run triple in a three-run sixth inning.

Relievers Dom Tatone (Umpqua CC) and Gabe Hernandez (Cal State Northridge) each threw two perfect innings of relief to complete the shutout. Corvallis pitchers combined to retire the final 16 Black Bears in order.

The series continues at 6:35 p.m. on June 1. Payton Riske (Utah) is the scheduled starter for the Knights, opposed by Chase Brushe (Chemeketa CC). The June 2 series finale, set for 1:05 p.m., matches Caleb Debban (George Fox) for Corvallis vs. Zach Swanson (Oregon State) for Cowlitz.

This series begins a season-opening 12-game road trip to Cowlitz, Bend, Yakima Valley and Portland.

The Knights open the home portion of the season on June 14 when they host the Port Angeles Lefties at Goss Stadium.

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