Wheeler, Hernandez team up to stymie Springfield in 3-1 victory

Tuesday, July 16, Corvallis, Ore. – The Knights were shorthanded but a makeshift lineup handled Springfield 3-1 to sweep the two-game miniseries before a crowd of 1,665 on a comfortable night at Goss Stadium.

Incoming Oregon State freshman outfielder Hustyn Wheeler (pictured, above) was 2-for-4 and drove in the go-ahead run to earn Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game honors. His two-out RBI single in the fourth inning gave the Knights a 2-1 lead they would not surrender.

Corvallis (32-8 overall, 28-8 WCL, 6-3 second half) took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI groundout by Colter McAnelly (Utah). A bases-loaded walk to Kasen Khansarania (UCLA) plated an insurance run in the sixth inning.

The Knights were without skipper Brooke Knight and seven players who were in Bellingham participating in All-Star Game pregame festivities. Associate head coach Ed Knaggs ran the club in Knight’s absence.

Cohen Gomez (Stanford) made his starting debut and allowed one unearned run and three hits in four innings. He struck out two and walked two.

Caleb Debban (George Fox) followed with two scoreless innings, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and two-on situation in the sixth. He was credited with the decision, as Gomez did not pitch the required five innings.

Gabe Hernandez (CSUN) finished with three scoreless frames to earn the save. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, struck out two and did not allow a hit.

The WCL All-Star Game is set for July 17 at Bellingham, to be televised by the MLB Network. Seven Knights will compete for the South Division squad in the league’s first midsummer classic since 2019.

The all-star Knights are pitchers Tyner Horn (Nebraska), Kaden Segel (Portland) and James DeCremer (Oregon State) and position players Kevin Takeuchi (USC), Blake Wilson (Washington), Brandon Cabrera (Lewis-Clark State) and Ty Yukumoto (Pacific).

Segel will be the starting pitcher for the South team. Corvallis skipper Brooke Knight and his staff will coach the South.

The Knights return home on July 18 for a nonconference game against the Northwest Stars. On July 19 they host the Bend Elks in the opener of a three-game series split between the two cities; the July 20 and July 21 games will be in Bend.

July 19 is Alyrica Cap Giveaway Night. The first 750 fans receive a free Knights cap, courtesy of Alyrica Networks.

Corvallis has clinched the first-half South Division championship and will advance to the West Coast League playoffs for the 17^th consecutive season. The postseason starts on Aug. 10.

Box score