Sunday, July 14, Walla Walla, Wash. – The Knights dropped their first series of the summer by falling 3-1 to the Sweets in the finale of their West Coast League series at Borleske Stadium.
Corvallis (30-8 overall, 26-8 WCL, 4-3 second half) had won 10 series in a row before losing the final two games of the weekend set against the Sweets.
Quin Dufort (Portland) scored Ty Yukumoto (Pacific) with the Knights’ lone run with an RBI groundout in the fourth inning. No Knight had more than one hit; Corvallis left the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh innings and stranded nine runners overall.
Control issues by starter Laif Palmer (Oregon State) enabled Walla Walla to score twice and erase a 1-0 deficit in the fifth inning. They added another run in the sixth to complete the scoring.
Garren Rizzo (USC) was the most effective pitcher for Corvallis, allowing one walk in two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts.
The Knights returned home after game and will host the Springfield Drifters on July 15 and July 16 in 6:35 p.m. contests at Goss Stadium.
July 15 is Mack the Knight’s birthday party, sponsored by Papa’s Pizza. Come celebrate with Mack, Lil’ King and their many mascot friends. Papa’s will hand out free slices of pizza, Mack’s favorite food.
July 16 is Armed Forces Night, sponsored by Pioneer Connect. Active military, National Guard and Reserve members and veterans can pick up their free tickets at the box office, starting at 6 p.m.
Springfield’s scheduled starting pitchers are Kyle Larsen (3-3, 5.18) of Pierce College and Brady Baltus (3-0, 0.75) of New Mexico State. The Knights starters are TBA.
The WCL All-Star Game is set for July 17 at Bellingham, to be televised by the MLB Network. Seven Knights will compete in the league’s first midsummer classic since 2019.
Corvallis has clinched the first-half South Division championship and will advance to the West Coast League playoffs for the 17th consecutive season. The postseason starts on Aug. 10.