West Coast League Brings Back All-Star Game.
October 19, 2010Corvallis to Host WCL's Best in 2011
The WCL announced today that the six-year old summer collegiate wood-bat league is bringing back its All-Star Game after a two-year hiatus.
West Coast League president Ken Wilson named Corvallis as the site of the 2011 All-Star Game to be held Tuesday, July 26th at Goss Stadium.
The Corvallis Knights will host the event for the first time.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be awarded the West Coast League All-Star Game," said Corvallis Knights team president Dan Segel. "This is a special opportunity to bring together the very best of the WCL, and bring community together. It's also an opportunity to showcase our fine City and its surrounding areas."
"The team is very thankful for the support of the Mayor and Visit Corvallis for helping us secure this event. There were many deserving sites and interested members, but the league chose Corvallis primarily because of our teammates lobbying efforts.
"We're going to have fun with this!"
Tickets for the 2011 WCL All-Star Game will go on sale next week ($10 reserved, $5 GA). Game time is set for 7:05 pm.
As part of the All-Star Game festivities, prior to the actual game, the WCL will hold a Home Run Derby featuring the league's top sluggers. Immediately following the All-Star Game, the Corvallis Knights will treat its fans to a spectacular fireworks show.
"Sports are a big part of life in Corvallis," said Nia Ridley, Sports and Tourism Development Director at Visit Corvallis. "We were pleased to support the Corvallis Knights in their quest to bring the All-Star Game to town, and we're so happy for them, and all of Corvallis, that this event will be held here in 2011."
The inaugural All-Star Game was hosted by Wenatchee in 2006. A crowd of 1,083 at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium was treated to an exciting game that featured appearances by current major league pitcher Marc Rzepczynski of the Toronto Blue Jays and infielder Eric Sogard of the Oakland A's.
Seven Knights participated in the inaugural All-Star Game for the West team (pictured, l-r: Jared Prince of Washington State, Ryan Selden of Riverside CC, Erik Ammon of Oregon State, James Wallace of CSI, Rzepczynski of UC Riverside, Zach Borba of UNLV and Mark Samuelson of UC Riverside).
Despite the game ending in a 6-6 tie, AppleSox fans gave the All-Stars a standing ovation for their outstanding play. Both teams were loaded with future pros including Rzepczynksi, Sogard, Oregon State second baseman Joey Wong, Gonzaga third baseman Darin Holcomb, USC ace pitcher Tommy Milone, Washington southpaw Nick Haughian and Cal Poly slugger Grant Desme.
Prior to the inaugural game, Holcomb put on an unforgettable power display edging future Arizona Fall League MVP Desme to win the league's Home Run Derby with an astounding 15 home runs. Holcomb, who earned WCL MVP honors following the season, was named the All-Star Game's top prospect by the MLB Scouting Bureau.
The WCL All-Star Game was last played in Moses Lake in 2008, and in Bellingham in 2007. The East beat the West 4-1 in 2007 and the contest ended in another tie, 2-2, in 2008. The top prospects of the 2007 and 2008 games, as named by the MLB Scouting Bureau, were both Corvallis Knights, southpaw Matt Way of Washington State and closer Taylor Starr of Oregon State.
"The league is pleased to have this showcase event at Goss Stadium," said West Coast League president Ken Wilson. "Knights' fans have been very supportive, and we're excited to give them the chance to see the top college players and future professionals on the field together for one special evening."
