Corvallis Opens 2008 Season in Canada.

Knights to Play Three Canadian Teams in Okotoks Invitational

The Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Club of the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) is hosting the inaugural Pacific Northwest Summer Collegiate Challenge Cup at Seaman Stadium in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada Thursday, June 5 through Sunday June 8.

The Challenge Cup pits the WMBL defending champion Okotoks Dawgs versus Corvallis and the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League and the Lethbridge Bulls of the WMBL.

Okotoks managing director John Ircandia, Corvallis team president Dan Segel and Kelowna GM Mark Nonis are thrilled to bring this quality of baseball to Seaman Stadium and the fans of Okotoks. Ircandia stated, "We are proud to showcase Seaman Stadium to these quality programs and players. They will find out what an exceptional facility this is. And the fans of Okotoks who were so phenomenal as the Dawgs captured the 2007 WMBL Championship, will have an opportunity to watch first hand some of the best summer collegiate baseball on either side of the border. This will be an incredible showcase of talent and will continue to build on the close ties between the Dawgs and the West Coast Collegiate League."

The Knights open tourney play Friday, June 6 vs. the host Dawgs at 7 pm (Mountain Time). Corvallis plays two on Saturday, June 7 at Seaman. The Knights face Lethbridge at noon followed by WCCBL rival Kelowna at 3 pm. Sunday will feature the tourney's final two games, a championship game at 2 pm and third place contest at 11 am.

New field manager Brooke Knight is taking 20 players to Canada. Most of the roster is still in school. "We will compete and represent Corvallis and the League well in Canada. I'm excited about this tournament. It's a fun way to kick-off the season. While we will be shorthanded, I like the crew we're taking up," said the Knights' skipper.

Friday's game will be Knight's first. Brooke is the Knights' fourth head coach in the team's wood bat era.

For more information on the tournament please visit dawgsbaseball.ca.

Corvallis Knights Challenge Cup Roster

Pitchers
#10 Chris Brookey, University of North Carolina at Asheville (freshman)
#16 Liam Baron, Linn-Benton CC (freshman)
#17 Dylan Jones, Mt. Hood CC (freshman)
#18 David Stilley, Washington State (freshman)
#26 Jerad Thompson, Mt. Hood CC (sophomore)
#31 James McLaughlin, San Diego State (junior)
#32 Jon Berger, San Diego State (junior)
#37 Ben Rue, Concordia University (junior)
#38 Nicholas Opitz, Mt. Hood CC (freshman)

Catchers
#12 Travis Anderson, Feather River College (freshman)
#40 Ian Bridges, Sonoma State University (junior)

Infielders
#3 Josh Hogan, Mt. Hood CC (sophomore)
#6 John Eshleman, Mt. San Jacinto CC (freshman)
#9 Bo Thunell, George Fox University (junior)
#14 Grant Glover, Mt. Hood CC (sophomore)
#28 Kyle Stalker, Willamette University (junior)

Outfielders
#4 Logan Lotti, Sierra College (sophomore)
#7 Billy Clontz, Mt. Hood CC (sophomore)
#20 Bryant Kraus, University of Portland (junior)

Head Coach: Brooke Knight, #13. Pitching Coach: Jason Hawkins, #29. Assistant Coach: John Hessel, #11. Head Trainer: Jeremy Ainsworth. Strength & Conditioning Coach: Jake Roy.