Big changes for alum Chris Rabago

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you all had great weekends.

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Alum Chris Rabago of UC Irvine, our 2012-13 Joe Segel Hustle Award winner, has evolved into a switch-hitting catcher/shortstop as he heads into his second year in the Colorado organization.

According to Baseball America magazine, Rabago told development supervisor Duane Espy he could catch and hit left-handed. He did some catching for the Knights in 2012, but never hit left-handed.

He played at Tri-City in the Northwest League in 2014 and hit .225 with six doubles and 12 RBIs in 169 at-bats, all as a right-handed hitter. He started hitting left-handed in the instructional league, where he also worked extensively on his catching.

"He is really good," Rockies catching coordinator Mark Strittmater said. "He's athletic. He's quick. He blocks the ball tremendously. He's got plenty of arm. His feet work tremendously.

"(He) catches the ball very, very well. We put him on the blocking machine where it (does) random pitches, you don't know if it's in the dirt or in the air. He was unbelievable.

"He's just a natural at it. He shocked all of us. This is going to be one of those really good moves for him in his career. Plus he's a switch-hitter with gap power."

Chris can work with his brother, Hector, in the off-season. A former New York Yankees prospect, Hector was a catching coach this year at one of the Yankees' two clubs in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League after playing five seasons in their system as a catcher, second baseman and third baseman.

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The Adelaide Bite, managed by Knights' skipper Brooke Knight, are in first place in the Australian Baseball League with a 7-5 mark after going 3-1 against Brisbane in their most recent series.

Here's a roundup of former Knights in the ABL:

ROCKY GALE (2007, 2009, Adelaide) : The former Portland catcher is hitting .121 (4-33) in 11 games, with five RBIs. He is in the San Diego minor-league system. He hit almost .300 at triple-A El Paso this season.

COLIN FELDTMAN (2013, Adelaide) : The former Portland pitcher is 0-0, 9.00 in two games, with eight strikeouts in five innings. He is not in affiliated baseball.

LIAM BARON (2008-09, Perth) : The former Linn-Benton CC and Gonzaga pitcher is 0-0, 1.04 in five appearances, with seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings. He is a Perth native and a many-year veteran of the Heat.

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The Walla Walla Sweets have signed Alex Fisher, Jason Rosen and Dan Whittaker of the University of Portland for the 2015 season. Here is more, from the Our Sports Central website.

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That is all for today. Have a great day and we will see you on Wednesday.

UCSB star Dalton Kelly back for another season!

Happy Friday, everyone. We have another roster move to announce, so let's get right to it.

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The Knights have signed UC Santa Barbara junior Dalton Kelly, one of the stars of our 2014 West Coast League runners-up.

Dalton hit .344 in 40 games, with seven doubles, four triples, seven homers and 34 RBIs. He was first-team all-WCL as a utility players and was ranked as the WCL's No. 5 pro prospect by Baseball America and Perfect Game.

Hindered by back injuries, Dalton hit .154 (2-13) in 11 games at UCSB as a sophomore, with no homers or RBIs. He appeared in 27 games (10 starts) and hit .244, with two extra-base hits and nine RBIs as a freshman. He hit .333 with runners on base and .429 with runners in scoring position and had four multi-hit and three multi-RBI games.

Welcome back, Dalton!

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The Colorado Rockies have added alum Tyler Anderson (2009) to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He is a left-handed pitcher who was selected in the first round of the 2012 draft after a great career at Oregon.

Anderson was the first Corvallis Knights alum taken in the first round. Here is Baseball America reporter Vincent Lara-Cinisomo's analysis of Anderson:

"Health issues have dogged Anderson, the 2014 Texas League Pitcher of the Year, the past two seasons as he was diagnosed in September with a stress fracture in his left elbow, the same injury that caused him to be scratched from the Arizona Fall League in 2013. His stuff is fringy, with an 89-90 fastball, but it plays up due to competitiveness and his willing to challenge. Deception is another important asset."

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The Yakima Pippins have signed San Jose State pitchers Josh Nashed and Rashaan "Turtle" Kuhaulua for the 2015 season. Here is more, from the Our Sports Central website.

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That is all for today. Have a great weekend and we will see you on Monday.

Knights sign three from UC-Irvine

Happy Wednesday, everyone. We have some roster moves to announce, so let's get right to it.

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The Knights have signed three players from UC Irvine for the 2015 season: Freshman left-handed pitcher/first baseman Cameron Bishop; freshman middle infielder Cole Kreuter, and sophomore right-handed pitcher Michael Martin.

Kreuter (6-1, 180) is from Miami, Fla., and played for Victoria and Wenatchee as a graduated high school senior last summer. He hit .250 (8-32) in 13 games at Victoria, with two RBIs, and .229 (19-83) in 24 games at Wenatchee, with eight RBIs.

He is son of former major league catcher/USC coach Chad Kreuter and the grandson of UCI coach Mike Gillespie. He graduated from Westminster Christian High School.

"Cole has demonstrated uncommon instincts and IQ for the game and will no doubt, adapt well to the UCI style of play, which requires completeness in all facets of play," Gillespie said.

The 6-4, 225-pound Bishop is from Brea, Calif., and played at Brea Olinda High School.

"Cameron has demonstrated power, and throws strikes with a power arm," Gillespie said. "He is a great student committed to academic excellence and his future in baseball is unlimited."

Martin signed with the Knights last season but missed the 2014 summer due to injury. He was 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in five games at UCI last year. The 6-1, 200-pounder played at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego.

Welcome to the team, guys!

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Alum Jimmie Sherfy (2011) was 1-0, 0.93 in nine appearances with the Salt River Rafters in the 2014 Arizona Fall League. He had 10 strikeouts and allowed just five hits and one run in 9.2 innings. Salt River defeated Peoria for the AFL championship, giving the former Oregon reliever another ring to match the one he earned with the Knights in 2011.

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The Walla Walla Sweets have signed outfielder Jon Hechtner and catcher Juan Gamez of North Dakota State for the 2015 season. Here is more, from the Our Sports Central website.

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The Medford Rogues have signed junior infielder/outfielder John Kinne of Columbia; junior right handed pitcher Billy Olson of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and sophomore left-handed pitcher Kade Wagner and freshman outfielder Jackson Overlund of Cochise Junior College. Here is more, from Our Sports Central.

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That is all for today. See you on Friday.

Update on our Down Under Knights

Happy Monday, everyone. Great weekend in Corvallis, with plenty of sunshine, and the Beavers stunning No. 6 Arizona State on Saturday night. Let's hope that's a harbinger for a great week to come.

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The Adelaide Bite, managed by Knights' skipper Brooke Knight, are tied for third place in the Australian Baseball League with a 4-4 mark. They trail first-place Brisbane by two games.

Here's a roundup of former Knights in the ABL:

ROCKY GALE (2007, 2009, Adelaide): The former Portland catcher is hitting .043 (1-23) in seven games, with three RBIs. He is in the San Diego minor-league system. He hit almost .300 at triple-A El Paso this season so we know his bat will get going soon.

COLIN FELDTMAN (2013, Adelaide): The former Portland pitcher is 0-0, 4.50 in one appearance, with three strikeouts. He is not in affiliated baseball.

LIAM BARON (2008-09, Perth): The former Linn-Benton CC and Gonzaga pitcher is 0-0, 0.00 in four appearances, with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings. He is a Perth native and a many-year veteran of the Heat.

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Good news for our partner program, the University of Portland. The new synthetic surface is now installed at Joe Etzel Field on campus and the Pilots are practicing on it. Here is more, from the UP website.

We have several Pilots on our roster this season, and we have enjoyed a great relationship with them in the past.

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The Yakima Valley Pippins have signed Indiana State catcher Taylor Steen and middle infielder Tyler Friis to contracts for next season. Here is more on that story, from the Our Sports Central website.

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That is all for today. See you on Wednesday.

Portland's Sanders headed to Corvallis

Happy Friday, everyone. We are back, following some computer issues that kept us off-line for much of the week. So now it's time to play catch-up, just in time for the end of another work week.

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More updates to the roster today.

The Knights have signed freshman infielder/pitcher Travis Sanders of the University of Portland for the 2015 season. A former standout at Lake Oswego High School, Sanders is a 5-foot-11 right-handed pitcher who also plays middle infield.

He was a four-year letterman at LOHS and earned all-state all-Three Rivers league honors as a pitcher and an infielder. Sanders was selected for an Area Codes tryout in 2013 and he was a USA National Team Identification series participant in 2012.

"Travis is another two-way player who throws a fastball in the upper 80s and has a strikeout slider," UP coach Chris Sperry said. "He's a good competitor and he's a bulldog on the field."

Welcome to the team, Travis.

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Alums Tommy Hanson (2005), Drew Garcia (2007), Jim Murphy (2007) and Nick Struck (2009) are now free agents and can sign with any major-league team.

* A right-handed pitcher, Hanson spent 2014 with Charlotte, the Chicago White Sox's affiliate in the triple-A International League. He was 3-5, 6.16 in 10 games, with 32 strikeouts in 49.2 innings.

* Garcia is a middle infielder who played at Colorado Springs, Colorado's triple-A Pacific Coast League affiliate, in 2014. He hit .237 (72-304) in 96 games, with four homers and 36 RBIs. He played at UC Riverside.

* Our 2007 MVP from Washington State, Murphy played with Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia's affiliate in the International League. He hit .240 (95-396) in 116 games, with 11 homers and 47 RBIs.

* A right-handed pitcher, Struck spent the season with Chattanooga (double-A) and Albuquerque (triple-A) in the Dodgers' organization. He was a combined 5-7, 5.48 in 23 games, with 60 strikeouts in 108.1 innings. He played at Mt. Hood CC.

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The Yakima Valley Pippins have agreed to terms with manager Marcus McKimmy to return for the 2015 season, the team announced. Here is more on that story, from the Our Sports Central website.

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That is all for today. Go Beavers, and we will see you on Monday.

Knights sign LBCC's Kelly

Happy Friday, everyone. The end of another work week.

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More updates to the roster today.

The Knights have signed sophomore pitcher Austin Kelly of Linn-Benton Community College for the 2015 season. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander, Kelly pitched at the University of Portland as a freshman and was 1-6 in 12 games, with a 5.64 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.

A native of Happy Valley, Austin letter at Central Catholic as a sophomore before transferring to Clackamas High for his final two seasons. He was the Oregon 6A Pitcher of the Year, the Gatorade State Player of the Year, the Oregon 6A State Championship MVP, the Brian T. Meehan Oregon Baseball Player of the Year, the 62nd Oregon Sports Awards' Prep Baseball Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection and first-team Three Rivers League all-star as a senior.

Austin went 9-2 with a 1.49 ERA during his senior season, allowing 13 earned runs on 38 hits, with 55 strikeouts in 61 innings. He also hit a team-best .414 (36-for-87) with 13 doubles, two triples, three homers, and 25 RBIs in helping Clackamas win the TRL title and reach the state title game. As a junior, he was first-team all-state, all-TRL, and the TRL Pitcher of the Year. He was also Clackamas High's MVP as a junior and senior.

Austin played for the North Team in the 2013 Oregon All-Star Series at Reser Stadium and was named the Series MVP. He will pitch and play first base at LBCC.

Welcome to the team, Austin.

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The Walla Walla Sweets have signed DeSales High School pitcher, and Walla Walla native, Cameron Richman, a University of Portland signee, and Cal Poly signee Alex McKenna , an outfielder from Bishop Alemany HS in Canyon County, Calif. Here is more on the signings, from Our Sports Central.

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That is all for today. Go Beavers, and we will see you on Monday.

Knights sign Portland lefty Cole Doherty

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

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More updates to the roster today.

The Knights have signed junior left-handed pitcher Cole Doherty of the University of Portland for the 2015 season. He is a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder from the Austin suburb of Round Rock, Texas, who played at RRHS and at Blinn (jr.) College before transferring to UP.

Doherty was 0-1, 3.13 with one save in 12 appearances for Blinn in 2014, when the Bucs finished fifth in the junior college World Series. He had 23 strikeouts in 23 innings. He was 1-0, 7.71 in five games in 2013, with three strikeouts in seven innings.

He was first-team all-district and led Round Rock to area championship in 2012. He played for the Austin Slam summer team.

Welcome to the team, Cole.

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Right-handed pitching alum Jimmie Sherfy (2011) is 1-0, 0.00 in seven games with the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. He has seven strikeouts in eight innings, has allowed just three hits and has two holds.

Sherfy played for Mobile in the double-A Southern League and for Visalia in the high-A California League this past season, in the Arizona organization. He played college baseball at Oregon.

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From the better-late-than-never department: Two Knights alums received the top awards for the 2014 Concordia University baseball team.

Junior outfielder Blake Drake (2013) was voted Most Valuable Player for the second straight season after leading the team in several offensive categories. The St. Louis Cardinals draftee hit .320 after starting all 49 games in centerfield. Drake led the Cavaliers with 51 runs, scores, 14 doubles and 21 stolen bases.

Right-handed starter Harrison McGhee (2014) was named the Most Valuable Pitcher after posting a 1.45 ERA in a team-best 86.2 innings. He went 5-3 and held opponents to a .200 batting average. The sophomore struck out 96 batters against just 30 walks. Harrison is returning to the Knights in 2015.

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That is all for today. See you on Friday.

Knight-coached Bite tied for ABL lead

Happy Monday, everyone. Today's Blog will be abbreviated because it's a very slow time in the West Coast League.

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The Adelaide Bite, managed by Knights' skipper Brooke Knight, are in a four-way tie for first place after the first round of play in the Australian Baseball League. Four of the six teams have 2-2 record after splitting season-opening series; two have yet to play.

Here's a roundup of former Knights in the ABL:

ROCKY GALE (2007, 2009, Adelaide): The former Portland catcher is hitting .077 (1-13) in three games, with two RBIs. He is in the San Diego minor-league system.

COLIN FELDTMAN (2013, Adelaide): The former Portland pitcher is 0-0, 4.50 in one appearance, with three strikeouts. He is not in affiliated baseball.

LIAM BARON (2008-09, Perth): The former Linn-Benton CC and Gonzaga pitcher is 0-0, 0.00 in one appearance, with three strikeouts in four innings. He is a Perth native and a many-year veteran of the Heat.

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Yakima Pippins general manager Danny Tetzlaff is stepping down from his position to return to his native North Carolina, the team announced. Zachary Fraser, president of Pacific Baseball Ventures, owners of the Yakima Valley club, will serve as interim GM until a successor is named. Here is more on that story, from the Our Sports Central website.

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That is all for today. See you on Wednesday.

Feldtman, Gale, Baron in ABL

Happy Friday, everyone. Today's Blog will be abbreviated because it's a very slow time in the West Coast League.

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Three former Knights are playing in the Australian Baseball League, which began its season earlier this week.

Pitcher Colin Feldtman (2013) and catcher Rocky Gale (2007, 2009) are playing for Knights' coach Brooke Knight and the Adelaide Bite. Feldtman made his debut last night in a 23-4 rout of Brisbane and allowed one run in two innings. Gale has played in both Adelaide games and is 1-for-10 with two RBIs.

Both players starred at the University of Portland. Gale just completed a great year at El Paso, San Diego's triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League; Feldtman is not in affiliated baseball.

Alum Liam Baron (2008, 2009) is back for another season with the Perth Heat. He is on their active roster but has not pitched yet. A Perth native, Liam pitched at Linn-Benton and at Gonzaga before heading back home.

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Right-handed pitching alum Jimmie Sherfy (2011) is 1-0, 0.00 in six games with the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. He has six strikeouts in seven innings and has allowed just three hits.

Sherfy played for Mobile in the double-A Southern League and for Visalia in the high-A California League this past season, in the Arizona organization. He played college baseball at Oregon.

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That is all for today. Go Beavs, have a great weekend, and we will see you on Monday.

Knights sign WSU freshman RHP Ryan Walker

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

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The Knights have signed right-handed pitcher Ryan Walker, a freshman at Washington State, for the 2015 season. He is a native of Arlington, Wash.

Walker was named a first-team Wesco Conference 4A North all-star in 2013 and 2014 as an infielder at Arlington High School, but he will pitch at WSU.

"Ryan has a low angle delivery that creates great deception," WSU pitching coach Gregg Swenson said. "He has a plus arm speed that will allow him to add velocity once his strength catches up to him.

"He has pitched for some great teams in his prep career and has a high ceiling as a Coug."

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The Arizona Diamondbacks have released former Corvallis star Taylor Ard (2009), a third baseman who played at Mt. Hood CC and at WSU before signing with Seattle after the 2012 season. He was first-team all-WCL and was named the No. 3 pro prospect by Baseball America and Perfect Game after his season with the Knights, when he hit .359 with five homers and 40 RBIs in just 40 games.

He spent two years in the Seattle system before being released after the 2013 season. He played independent baseball in 2014 and then was signed by the Diamondbacks and played in Hillsboro, Missoula and South Bend. He had a career .265 minor-league average in 227 games, with 24 homers and 128 RBIs.

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San Francisco Giants' alums Andrew Susac (2009) of Oregon State and Matt Duffy (2010) of Long Beach State each went 0-for-1 on Tuesday in a 10-0 loss at Kansas City in Game 6 of the World Series.

The series is now even at 3-3 and concludes tonight with Game 7 from Kansas City. Here is more on Duffy, from the New York Times.

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Former Knights' star Josh Hogan (2007-09) will return to the Medford Rogues for his third season as their coach. Here is more on that story, from the Our Sports Central website.

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That is all for today. See you on Friday.