Kramer Scott Stakes Claim to Mr. August.

Senior-to-be Outfielder from University of Portland Leads Knights to WCL Title

In all likelihood, Corvallis Knights outfielder Kramer Scott (pictured) of University of Portland probably wasn't highlighted in scouting reports prepared by Bend and Walla Walla prior to the 2011 West Coast League playoffs.

A versatile left-hander who played all three outfield positions, Scott hit just .205 during the regular season, with no homers and 14 RBIs and was not considered to be one of the Knights' top offensive threats.

To the observant, however, there were signs the 6-foot, 195-pounder from Edmonds, Washington, was emerging from a summer-long funk in the waning days of the regular season.

Scott hit .400 (8-20) during a six-game hitting streak entering the playoffs, with two doubles, three RBIs and six runs scored.

He was rediscovering the form he displayed while hitting .299 in a breakthrough junior year with the Pilots in the spring.

"Something definitely clicked late in the season, but also when things click for you every ball you hit seems to drop," he said. "I hit a couple balls hard during the summer that always seemed to find someone on the opposing team's glove.

"I figured that things always end up balancing out in baseball so sooner or later balls would start to drop for me. It just happened to be at the perfect time."

Still, no one anticipated the offensive barrage he unleashed in the playoffs. Scott hit a robust .625 (10-16) in five postseason games, with a homer, two doubles and seven RBIs.

Say hello to "Mr. August".

Scott had at least one hit and one RBI in every game of the three-game WCL West Divisional Series against Bend and the two-game sweep of the Sweets in the Championship Series.

His average when he made contact (he fanned three times) was an astronomical .769 (10-13).

"Those were easily the hottest five games I have had in either college or summer ball," he said. "Hitting became a lot easier for me in the playoffs because I had quite a bit of confidence.

"I was seeing the ball well and it seemed like I could hit any pitch in any count, which is probably the best feeling you can get as a hitter."

He saved the best for last by slamming a majestic home run to right field leading off the seventh inning of the 11-4 rout of Walla Walla in the championship game. Appropriately, his lone homer came on the final at-bat of a productive and satisfying summer for a 10-day signee who stuck with the club the entire season.

"The home run was a pretty cool way to end my college summer baseball career," he said. "I believe it was the first home run I hit with a wood bat. It was an inside pitch that I just happened to get the barrel head out in front and hit it perfectly.

"Watching a ball go off into the night sky and over the wall and listening to the crowd cheer for you gives you goose bumps. It felt like I was floating around the bases instead of running. All I was really thinking about as I was rounding the bases was, 'That that was probably the farthest ball I have hit in my life,' and 'I would love to do it again.'"

His playoff run was memorable enough before that unforgettable swan song.

* Scott was 1-for-2 with the Knights' lone RBI in a 3-1 loss at Bend to open the divisional playoffs.

* He was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in a 7-5 Knights' win in game two. He then went 1-for-2 with an RBI in the 3-0 triumph that won the series and sent the Knights into the WCL Championship Series for the fourth time in five years.

* Scott was 2-for-4 with an RBI in a 14-3 opening-game victory at Walla Walla, then went 3-for-4 with a double, the aforementioned homer and two RBIs as the Knights prevailed 11-4 to wrap up the title.

The Knights won their final 11 WCL series, including the playoffs, were 27-6 in their final 33 games and did not lose back-to-back games in that span.

What made this Knights team so special?

"We did not have anyone on the team who thought they were a superstar and better than anyone else," Scott said. "Everyone was just a scrappy player who wanted to win, and who would do anything to win.

"This team was a lot closer than many teams I have been on and that is pretty amazing considering we were only together for 2-to-3 months. Being a part of a team like that is something I will never forget."