Knights to Raise Awareness for Renovation of Taylor Field.

Corvallis to Leverage Reser's All-Star Series to Raise Funds

One of the primary missions of the Corvallis Knights baseball club is to help grow the game by partnering with the local high school and American Legion baseball teams.

To further realize that objective, the Knights will use the June 18-19 Oregon High School Baseball Association's Reser's All-Star Series at Oregon State's Goss Stadium to help raise money and awareness for the proposed renovation of Hansen Stadium at Taylor Field, the home venue for the Corvallis High and the T. Gerding Construction Marketmen programs since 1949.

Funds and awareness will be raised through Reser's All-Star Series advertising sales and an All-Star Series opening night VIP dinner.

The Reser's All-Star Series will help raise the profile of baseball in Oregon, and help the Taylor Field renovation dream become a reality.

It will match the top players in 5A and 6A, in a format to be determined. A single game will be played on June 18, a doubleheader on June 19, and a part of the series' proceeds will go toward the renovation project.

"We hope the Reser's All-Star Series can become the baseball equivalent of the Les Schwab Bowl," the popular football all-star game held every June, said Corvallis High coach Eric Dazey, a former player for the Crescent Valley High, Richey's Market and Oregon State programs.

"We want to create an event that every high school player in Oregon is drawn to, a dream-builder," Dazey said. "It's a great opportunity to be a drawing card for every player in 6A and 5A, and a great event for Corvallis."

Corvallis High School, American Legion and other programs have played at the Hansen Stadium at Taylor Field site since April 15, 1949. Several wooden grandstands, the last of which was condemned and torn down in December, 2008, have since graced the site.

The current renovation plans call for an 800-seat steel, brick and mortar U-shaped grandstand, with 100 theatre-style seats behind home plate and two 350-seat wings down each baseline. A storage room, clubhouse and other amenities will be added, as funding allows (pictured is a proposed design drawing).

The existing press box will remain, as will the new dugouts, built in 2010 and funded, in part, by a donation from the Knights.

"We are in the quiet phase of fund-raising but are well on our way to having one-half of the necessary money raised before we go to the general public for contributions," Dazey said.

This year marks the first time the series will be played in Corvallis. It was held in The Dalles from 1971-2007, and at McMinnville and Bend in subsequent years. Many of Oregon's greatest all-time players have participated, including former major-leaguers Harold Reynolds, Dale Murphy, John Jaha, Rick Wise, Scott Brosius and Danny Ainge, and current major-leaguers Kevin Gregg, Darwin Barney and Cole Gillespie.

The Corvallis Knights will promote and operate the series. Reser's Fine Foods in the title sponsor. Nike Team Sports will provide uniforms and equipment for the players and coaches, and host a reception for college, high school and youth coaches attending the series.