Rondeau leads Knights by Sea Dogs in opener

Henry Rondeau doubled three times, scored twice and drove in five runs on Wednesday to lead Corvallis to a 30-1 win over the Portland Sea Dogs in its opener.

A Linn-Benton Community College sophomore playing on a 10-day contract, the center fielder from Corvallis smacked RBI doubles in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings and singled in the eighth to lead a 25-hit Corvallis attack.

Left fielder A.J. Valencia, a 10-day signee from George Fox, added an inside-the-park grand slam, a double, five RBIs and five runs. Valencia's second-inning slam capped a 7-run rally off former Oregon State/Knights reliever Kevin Gunderson and gave the Knights a 10-1 lead.

Third baseman Trevin Stephens, another LBCC 10-day signee, also had an inside-the-park homer leading off the second inning, a two-run double in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the sixth to finish with four RBIs.

A third LBCC 10-day signee, right fielder Emilio Alcantar, doubled twice, singled, scored three times and drove in four runs. First baseman Austin Kelly (LBCC) and catcher/DH Tyler Hamilton (George Fox) had three RBIs apiece.

Starter Merrick Patito and seven relievers who pitched one inning each limited the Sea Dogs, a team of former college players, to three hits and no runs after the first inning. Patito is one of four returnees from the 2014 Knights.

The opener drew a crowd of 2,249 on the fourth annual PEAK Internet Science, Engineering & Art Day, presented by the OSU Colleges of Science and Engineering. The record of 2,485 was set in 2014, so the Knights are 236 fans behind last year's pace through a corresponding number of home dates.

The Knights open West Coast League play against Bend at 6:35 p.m. Friday against Vince Genna Stadium. Right-hander Ryan Walker of Washington State is their projected starter. The series continues at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday and concludes at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.

Corvallis begins the home portion of its WCL schedule against Bellingham at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. The first 250 fans get a pouch of Big League Chew and pack of Knights' trading cards compliments of Rob Nelson at Big League Chew.