Bend advances to Championship Series with 10-7 win vs. Knights at Goss Stadium before crowd of 1,091.

Mitch Haniger (pictured) of Cal Poly hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to pull the Knights within 9-6.

"I had a lot of fun this summer and it was nice playing in a competitive environment. I'm lucky to have coaches like Travis Hanson, Ryan Wing, Billy Clontz and Coach Knight," said Haniger.

"I was sitting on a fast ball and I got it and put a good swing on it," said Mitch about his homer.

Bend scored early and often to take a 9-1 lead after 3 1/2 innings, but Corvallis rallied to close within two runs after second baseman Matt Duffy of Long Beach State hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.

Closer Mitch Patito of UC Riverside pitched three scoreless innings to keep the Knights in the game, but Bend's bats proved to be too much as the Elks raked 16 hits and scored 10 runs.

The Elks' defense played errorless ball for a second straight night and Bend second baseman Tommy Richards of Washington State continued to rob the Knights of hits as the junior-to-be turned what looked like a Mitch Haniger first-inning RBI single up the middle into an inning-ending out to prevent Corvallis from knotting the score 1-1.

Richards also went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead the Elks to the 10-7 victory.

The son of owner Jim Richards went 18-for-31 vs. the Knights this season.

Corvallis made a valiant comeback to make the game interesting late, but it wasn't enough as the Elks held on to advance to their first WCL Championship Series.

Bend will play Wenatchee with game one slated for Vince Genna Stadium on Saturday.

Starter Chris Mendoza of Santa Clara took the loss as the Elks knocked the frosh out of the game in the second inning. He was replaced by hometown product Aaron Corwin of Feather River College who tossed three innings and allowed 3 runs.

Corvallis finishes the season with a 37-19 overall record.