Quinlan, Barker playing for Adelaide in Australia

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

----------------------------

We have news about a couple of our distinguished alumni.

Former UC Santa Barbara outfielder Scott Quinlan (2014) and former Centralia College/Central Washington pitcher Devon Barker (2012-13) are playing for the Adelaide Bite in the Australian Baseball League this winter (summer in Australia).

Quinlan is batting .182 (2-11) in four games, with a homer and four RBIs since going on the active list upon recovering from a shoulder injury. Barker, a lefty, is 1-0, 5.02 in 10 games, with seven strikeouts in 14.1 innings.

Quinlan hit a 3-run homer on Friday to give the Bite a victory over Sydney. Please click here for more on that story, from the ABL website.

Best of luck to both players Down Under!

ABL veteran lefty Liam Baron (2008, 2009) of Linn-Benton CC and Gonzaga is on Perth's reserve roster.

----------------------------

The new team in the West Coast League will be known as the Gresham GreyWolves. They will play at Oslund Field at Mt. Hood Community College, the former home of the Aloha Knights.

Here is more on that story, from the WCL website.

-----------------

Remember, 2016 season tickets are on sale and may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. So do not miss out!

-------------------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! See you on Wednesday!

Zep traded to Oakland; Gale now a free agent

Happy Friday, everyone.

----------------------------

We have news about a couple of our distinguished alumni.

Veteran lefty relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski (2006) has been traded from the San Diego Padres to the Oakland Athletics. The A's will be the fifth major-league team for Zep, who has also pitched for Toronto, St. Louis, Cleveland and the Padres since being drafted in the fifth round in 2007 out of UC Riverside.

Marc split last season between Cleveland San Diego. He is 11-24 with a 3.96 ERA in 349 career games, with one save and 327 strikeouts in 345.1 innings. Please click here for more on that trade, from the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper.

Best of luck to Marc in his new surroundings.

----------------------------

Catcher Rocky Gale (2007, 2009) was not offered a 2016 contract by the Padres and is now a free agent. The former University of Portland star, a North Salem High School graduate, made it to the majors last year after six years in the organization and hit .100 (1-10) in 11 games as a September callup.

Rocky hit .307 (99-322) at El Paso in the triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2015, with a homer and 39 RBIs in 102 games. It was his second year in a row over the .300 mark, as he hit .303 for El Paso in 2014.

Rocky was selected by the Padres in the 24th round of the 2010 draft and played at every level of their minor-league system. He is a .258 lifetime hitter (339-1,312) in 414 minor-league games, with four homers and 157 RBIs.

Best of luck to Rocky in his search for a new team. His defense is highly regarded and the last two seasons have shown he has some pop in his bat, too.

-----------------

Remember, 2016 season tickets are on sale and may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. So do not miss out!

-------------------------------

The Walla Walla Sweets have signed pitcher Connor Cannon, a 2016-17 incoming freshman at Oregon, and outfielder Colton Sakamoto, an Oregon freshman, for the 2016 season.

For more details on those signings, please click here for a story from the Our Sports Central website.

---------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! Have a great weekend, and we will see you on Monday!

DJ Johnson signs with Miami

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Stopped by the WWHQ on Monday and it was hopping. Our cyber Monday sale may be over, but there is still ample team merchandise, etc., remaining and Knights' gear makes a great holiday gift. So stop in and see us, at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and 4th Street in beautiful downtown Corvallis!

----------------------------

We have good news from the minor leagues.

The Miami Marlins have signed free-agent pitcher DJ Johnson (2008-09) for the upcoming season. The former Mt. Hood CC star played for Chattanooga, Minnesota's affiliate in the double-A Southern League, in 2015, after helping us win the 2008 WCL championship and the 2009 West Division title and a berth in the WCL Championship Series.

Still just 26 years old, the Beaverton native was 1-2, 4.86 in 38 appearances with the Lookouts in 2015, with four saves and 41 strikeouts in 50 innings. He was also 1-0, 0.00 with three saves and 12 strikeouts in 10 innings over seven appearances at Class A Fort Meyers before being promoted to the Lookouts.

DJ has played six seasons in the minors and in affiliated baseball since leaving Western Oregon following the 2010 season. He has also been in the Tampa Bay and Arizona organizations, and with Traverse City in the independent Frontier League.

He is 9-9 lifetime in 133 games, with 26 career saves and 173 strikeouts over 169 innings. He has a live arm and has averaged more than one strikeout per inning.

Best of luck to a great guy.

-----------------

Remember, 2016 season tickets are on sale and may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. So do not miss out!

-------------------------------

Former West Valley High School standout Jace Van De Brake will return to the Yakima Valley Pippins for the 2016 season. He is a redshirt freshman from Gonzaga University who hit .275 (52 for 189) with six doubles, four triples and 23 RBI in 52 games for the Pippins last year. He also drew 30 walks and stole 14 bases.

Joining Van De Brake from Gonzaga is junior catcher Zach Bonneau, who played in the West Coast League last summer with the Victoria HarbourCats.

For more details, please click here for a story from the Our Sports Central website.

---------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! See you on Friday!

Knights sign former Cowlitz star Joseph Balfour

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and are ready for the mad dash toward Christmas or whatever holiday you may celebrate!

----------------------------

We have another signing to announce.

The Knights have signed junior pitcher Joseph Balfour of San Jose State, a 6-foot, 185-pound native of Sherwood who pitched at Mt. Hood CC in 2015 after spending 2014 at St. Martin's University.

Balfour was 10-01, 1.19 in 13 starts at Mt. Hood in 2015, with 66 strikeouts and five complete games in 98 innings. He was the MVP of the NWAC's Southern Division and was a first-team NWAC all-star

Balfour earned second-team all-West Coast League honors last summer as the ace of the Cowlitz Black Bears. He was 4-1, 2.02 in seven starts for a 21-33 team, with 17 strikeouts in 44.1 innings.

Welcome to the Knights!

-------------------------

Former Aloha Knights star Matt Hague (2005), the MVP of the International League last year while playing for the Buffalo Bisons, has signed with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Central League. The Bisons are Toronto's triple-A affiliate and Matt spent the end of the season with the big club.

Here is more on that story, from the Buffalo News newspaper. Best of luck to Matt, the No. 10 "Slider Guy" in much of our promotional material in our early years in Corvallis.

Also, the Los Angeles Angels have promoted alum Bobby Scales (1997), a former big-league infielder with the Mets and Cubs who played at Michigan, to a Special Assistant to GM Billy Eppler.

Scales, 38, enters his fourth season with the team after serving as the Director of Player Development the past three seasons. Scales will work with Eppler and the operations staff, focusing on player evaluation throughout major- and minor-league levels.

Bobby grew up in Southfield, Mich., and played 14 years in five MLB organizations (Padres, Cubs, Phillies, Red Sox, Mets), and with the Nippon-Ham Fighters and Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Pacific League. He was originally selected by San Diego in the 14th round of the 1999 draft out of Michigan and made his MLB debut on May 5, 2009, with the Cubs.

-----------------

Remember, 2016 season tickets are on sale and may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. So do not miss out!

-------------------------------

The Bellingham Bells have hired Jake Whisler as an assistant coach. A native of Klamath Falls, he has three years of experience as a player in the West Coast League, playing for the Medford Rogues and the Klamath Falls Gems. He also played one game with the Knights in 2011.

Whisler will join current head coach Mike Gange, pitching coach and recruiting coordinator Jim Clem, and assistant coach Dane Siegfried. With the recent promotion of Gange to head coach, Whisler will fill the final assistant coach position on the staff.

For more details, please click here for a story from the Our Sports Central website.

---------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! See you on Wednesday!

Caleb Henry signs 10-day contract

Happy Wednesday, everyone. Hope you are all ready for a great holiday weekend!

----------------------------

We have another signing to announce.

The Knights have inked Corban University sophomore pitcher Caleb Henry to a 10-day contract for the 2016 season.

A graduate of West Salem High School, Caleb was 0-1, 5.14 in three games with us in 2015 after signing at midseason. He had no walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.

He was 6-3 with a 3.80 ERA as a freshman at Corban in 2015, with 39 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched over 11 games.

He was a Central Valley Conference all-star, was honorable-mention 6A all-state and played in the Reser's Oregon All-Star Series as a senior in 2014. He was all-conference, the CVS Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-state as a junior, and second-team all-league as a sophomore.

Welcome back!

-------------------------

Remember, 2016 season tickets are on sale and may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. So do not miss out!

-------------------------------

The Walla Walla Sweets have signed left-handed pitcher/outfielder Nick Vigo and catcher Hayden Duer of Cal State-Monterey Bay for the 2016 season. Vigo is a junior transfer from College of the Canyons; Duer is a freshman from Davis, Calif.

For more details, please click here for a story from the Our Sports Central website.

---------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! No Blog of Friday because of the holiday; we will see you on Monday!

Cody Lenahan headed to Frontier League

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you all had a great weekend.

----------------------------

We have some alumni news to report.

Former Knights' infielder Cody Lenahan (2013), a second-team all-West Coast League selection for us in that championship season, has signed a free-agent contract with the Lake Erie Crushers of the independent Frontier League.

He was rated as the 14th-best pro prospect in the WCL by Perfect Game after that season. He hit .314 (60-191) in 50 WCL games, with a homer, 36 RBIs, and oft-spectacular defense at third base.

Cody played at the University of Portland. The Crushers play in Avon, Ohio.

-------------------------

Heard from several people over the weekend asking about 2016 season tickets. They are now on sale and may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. So don't miss out!

-------------------------------

The coaching staff for the Victoria HarbourCats will return essentially intact for the 2016 season, the team announced. They led the team to a 29-24 mark in 2015, their best-ever finish, and were 21-8 down the stretch.

The coaching staff will be head coach Graig Merritt ; pitching coach Alec Adame; assistant coach Joe Meggs; assistant coach Jerry Pena, and bullpen coach Andrew Wilson. Wilson is the only newcomer.

For more details, please click here for a story from the Our Sports Central website.

---------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! See you on Wednesday.

Four alums granted free agency

Happy Friday, everyone.

----------------------------

We have some alumni news to report.

Four former Knights became minor-league free agents after the 2015 season. They are now eligible to re-sign with their former organizations, or find a new team entirely.

The free-agent Knight are:

* Shortstop Brent Morel (2006-07). He finished the season with Nashville, Oakland's affiliate in the triple-A Pacific Coast League. He had a great second half with the Sounds after being granted free agency by Pittsburgh, hitting .331 (45-136) in 34 games, with two homers and 24 RBIs.

* Third baseman Alex Burg (2008), who finished the season in the Texas organization after being released by Miami in the off-season. He played in single-A, double-A and triple-A in 2015 and ended up with Round Rock in the PCL after having 22 homers and 65 RBIs in 133 games in single-A High Desert of the California League and double-A Frisco of the Texas League.

* Pitcher D.J. Johnson (2008-09), who finished the season with Chattanooga, Minnesota's affiliate in the Southern League after being signed as a free agent out of independent ball in 2014. DJ was 1-2, 4.86 in 38 games with the Lookouts after being promoted from single-A, with four saves and 41 strikeouts in 50 innings.

* Second baseman Drew Garcia (2007), who finished the season with Charlotte, the Chicago White Sox's affiliate in the triple-A International League. He hit .217 (59-272) in 83 games, with a homer and 16 RBIs after being promoted from double-A Birmingham of the Southern League.

-------------------------

It's a Friday, so it's time to update the stats of our three alums in the Arizona Fall League.

* Pitcher Greg Mahle (2012, Angels) has recovered nicely from a horrible start and is 0-1, 9.58 in 10.1 innings over nine games with the Mesa Solar Sox, with 14 strikeouts. He finished the 2015 season at Arkansas in the double-A Southern League after starting the season in the high-A California League.

* Outfielder Nick Torres (2012, Padres) is hitting .264 (23-87) in 21 games with the Peoria Javelinas, with two homers and seven RBIs. He finished the story with Lake Elsinore in the high-A California League after starting the year with Fort Wayne in the low-A Midwest League.

* Catcher Chris Rabago (2012, 2013, Rockies) is hitting .207 (6-29) with a double in eight games with the Salt River Rafters. He finished the season with Grad Junction in the rookie-level Pioneer League.

The season ended on Thursday. No Knights are involved in the championship game, which pits Scottsdale against Surprise on Saturday.

-------------------------------

Remember, 2016 season tickets went on sale last week. We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. Tickets may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

---------------------

Don't forget we seek a high-energy, engaging, business-minded, tech-savvy individual to fill a part-time or full-time ticketing position through the 2016 season. We hope to hire a Ticketing Manager for the 2016 campaign by the end of the year. This could be up to a 40-hour per week position that begins in January and runs through the end of August. Attendance at all 2016 games is mandatory.

If you have questions, call our office at 541-752-5656. To apply, send your resume to [email protected] with a brief description of your experience and why you're interested.

----------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! Have a great weekend, and we will see you again on Monday.

Knights sign George Fox catcher to 10-day deal

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

----------------------------

More signing news to report.

The newest Knight is left-handed hitting junior catcher Andrew Reichenbach of George Fox University, who has signed a 10-day deal for the 2016 season. He is a 6-foot-1, 225-pounder who played at Newberg High School.

Andrew was a second-team Northwest Conference all-star in 2015, when he hit .321 in 34 games, with 13 doubles, three homers and 23 RBIs as the cleanup batter. He played at Mt. Hood CC in 2014 after graduating from Newberg, where he was a first-team all-state selection and a participant in the Reser's Oregon All-Star Series.

Reichenbach earned honorable mention all-WCL honors last summer as a member of the Bellingham Bells, where he hit .286 with six doubles, a homer and 14 RBIs.

Welcome to the Knights, Andrew!

-------------------------

The Pittsburgh Pirates have released alum David Andriese (2010-11) after two seasons in the minor-league organization. An outfielder from UC Riverside, David hit .222 in two seasons in the short-season New York-Penn League, with a homer and 19 RBIs in 66 games.

-------------------------------

Remember, 2016 season tickets went on sale last week. We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June. Tickets may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

---------------------

Don't forget we seek a high-energy, engaging, business-minded, tech-savvy individual to fill a part-time or full-time ticketing position through the 2016 season. We hope to hire a Ticketing Manager for the 2016 campaign by the end of the year. This could be up to a 40-hour per week position that begins in January and runs through the end of August. Attendance at all 2016 games is mandatory.

If you have questions, call our office at 541-752-5656. To apply, send your resume to [email protected] with a brief description of your experience and why you're interested.

----------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! See you on Friday.

Duffy second in NL Rookie of the Year voting

Happy Monday, everyone. Hope you all had a great weekend.

----------------------------

Good news to report on the national front.

Alum Matt Duffy (2010) of the San Francisco Giants was the runner-up in the voting for the National league Rookie of the Year Award, which went to slugger Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs.

An 18th-round draft choice out of Long Beach State in 2012, Matt hit .292 (185-633) in 149 games in 2015, with 30 doubles, six triples, 10 homers and 85 RBIs after winning the starting third baseman's job in April. He was a second-team all-West Coast League selection in 2010, when he played shortstop for us following his freshman year for the Dirtbags.

Here is more on the story, from the McCovey Chronicles website.

Congrats to Matt! Two players from our 2010 club have now reached the majors, Duffy and pitcher Matt Boyd of the Detroit Tigers and Oregon State.

-------------------------------

Our 2016 season tickets went on sale last week. We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June.

Tickets may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

Due to increased attendance and reserved seating demand in 2015, sections F, G and 5 at Goss Stadium will now become reserved seats. To review the 2016 schedule, please click here.

June will be here before you know it. See you at the ballpark!

---------------------

And also remember, we are looking for a high-energy, engaging, business-minded, tech-savvy individual to fill a part-time or full-time ticketing position through the 2016 season.

We hope to hire a Ticketing Manager for the 2016 campaign by the end of the year. This could be up to a 40-hour per week position that begins in January and runs through the end of August. Attendance at all 2016 games is mandatory.

If you have questions, call our office at 541-752-5656. To apply, send your resume to [email protected] with a brief description of your experience and why you are interested.

----------------------

The Yakima Valley Pippins have signed three players from UC Irvine for the upcoming season. They are outfielder Mikey Filia and pitchers Mitchell Miller and Jordan Bocko. It will be the third year in a row the Pippins have signed players from UCI.

Please click right here for more details, from the Our Sports Central website.

-----------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! See you on Wednesday.

Knights mourn passing of Tommy Hanson

Happy Veteran's Day, everyone. Many thanks to those of you who have served our country in the military.

----------------------------

Knights Nation is in shock today, mourning the passing of former star pitcher Tommy Hanson of Riverside City College, a mainstay on our 2005 Aloha Knights team, our Pitcher of the Decade for 2000-09, the 2005 WCL Pitcher of the Year, and a big supporter of the Knights. Here is president Dan Segel's statement on Tommy's death.

Tommy passed Monday of undetermined causes in Atlanta, where he starred for the Braves for four seasons before arm injuries prematurely ended his career. Here is more on Tommy, from CNN.com.

-------------------------------

Remember, season tickets for the 2016 season go on sale at noon on Thursday. We will play 34 home games in 32 dates this summer, starting in early June.

Tickets may be purchased over the phone at 541-752-5656; by e-mail at [email protected], or online by clicking here. Current season-ticket holders can reserve their same seats by purchasing before Dec. 31.

Due to increased attendance and reserved seating demand in 2015, sections F, G and 5 at Goss Stadium will now become reserved seats. To review the 2016 schedule, please click here.

June will be here before you know it. See you at the ballpark!

---------------------

And also remember, we are looking for a high-energy, engaging, business-minded, tech-savvy individual to fill a part-time or full-time ticketing position through the 2016 season.

We hope to hire a Ticketing Manager for the 2016 campaign by the end of the year. This could be up to a 40-hour per week position that begins in January and runs through the end of August. Attendance at all 2016 games is mandatory.

If you have questions, call our office at 541-752-5656. To apply, send your resume to [email protected] with a brief description of your experience and why you're interested.

----------------------

The Walla Walla Sweets have signed Oregon State freshman pitcher Bryce Fehmel, a 6-foot 1-inch, 185 pound right-handed pitcher and infielder from Agoura Hills, Calif. Fehmel will enter his first season in the West Coast League with the Sweets after his freshman campaign in the Pac-12. Please click right here for more details, from the Our Sports Central website.

-----------------------

That is all for today. News gets a little harder to find in the offseason but we still plan to post on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the 2016 season starts! See you on Friday.