Knights Advance to WCLCS.
August 12, 2016Corvallis to Face Bellingham
The Corvallis Knights are advancing to the West Coast League Championship Series for the eighth time in 10 years thanks to a sweep of the Yakima Valley Pippins in the South Divisional Series (SDS).
With the Knights two first-round playoff series wins, Corvallis improved its overall record to 43-20 on the season.
The Knights took game one of the SDS at Yakima County Stadium 4-2 this past Tuesday and closed the series the next night before a crowd of 1,679 at Goss Stadium, 7-3.
Oregon State's Kyle Nobach and San Diego's Roman Garcia led the Knights with 4 hits in the SDS, as Corvallis hit a sizzling .324 as a team. Nobach tripled and had 2 RBIs while Garcia doubled and collected 3 RBIs.
Matt Kelly of University of Portland was the Knights game one star, coming up with a big two-run single off WCL ERA leader Zach Draper of the Pippins in the fourth-inning. Kelly also singled in the 9th and scored the Knights final run.
WCL Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 1-7 Chris Burkholder of Dartmouth (pictured) finished the SDS for Corvallis, tossing three scoreless innings to earn the save. Lefty starter Aaron Pope of Dixie State pitched 5 innings and recorded the win. Washington State southpaw Trenton Dupre was credited with the win in game one as he tossed two scoreless innings of relief, and Knights closer Chase Kaplan (Kansas in 2017) registered his team-leading 10th save with a scoreless inning of work in the ninth.
Corvallis opens the WCLCS at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham tomorrow at 7:05 pm. The series moves to Goss Stadium on Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16 (if necessary). Start times in Corvallis are 6:40 pm.
The Bells and Knights met six times in June with Corvallis winning both series 2-1, taking the season series 4 games to 2.
Bellingham swept Victoria in the North Divisional Series (NDS) and finished 6-2 vs. the WCL's top club. The HarbourCats set a new WCL single-season mark for wins with 40.
The Bells enter the WCLCS red hot, as Bellingham scored 12 runs in their finale with the Cats and only allowed 3 runs scored in the NDS.
Bellingham features WCL batting champ Shane Hanon of Edmonds CC (.331) and WCL saves leader Sam Hellinger of Gonzaga (13).
Bells shortstop Chase Strumpf, an incoming UCLA frosh, is swinging a sizzling stick as he hit two home runs in Bellingham's 12-1 win at Victoria.
Other Bells to watch are outfielder Andru Cardenas of Chico State who led the WCL in stolen bases with 23 and WCL All-Star Game Home Run Derby champion Jake Vieth, a left-handed hitting slugger who will play first base at Gonzaga next spring.
Bellingham's strength is pitching as they feature outstanding starting pitchers and dynamic relievers. The Bells starting staff is exceptional and is led by Spencer Howard of Cal Poly (2-0, 1.33), Tyler Palm of Oakland (1-1, 2.08) and Jon Olsen of UCLA (5-2, 2.10).
The bullpen showcases two of the very best hurlers in the WCL in Hellinger (2-1, 0.32) and hard-throwing incoming Cal frosh Jared Horn (1-0, 1 sv, 1.50). They are complemented nicely by Jeff Gelinas of Maine (1-0, 2.16) and Josh Zavisubin of Puget Sound (4-1, 2 sv, 2.57).
This summer's WCLCS is a rematch of the 2014 WCLCS, which Bellingham won 2 games to one to capture their first WCL crown. Corvallis is looking to win their fourth WCL title.
Both teams are playing very well with Bellingham toppling the #1 seed in the WCL postseason - Victoria - and Corvallis winning 12 of their last 13 games.
You can listen to Saturday's game on KEJO 1240 AM. The voice of the Knights, Mike Parker, calls all the action.
Probable starting pitchers are to be announced.
