Corvallis sweeps Kitsap to open WCCBL season. Knights beat Jackets 7-4 in series finale.

Josh Hogan collected three hits Saturday night as the Knights racked up 42 hits on the series. The junior-to be at University of Oregon went 6 for 11 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI and made several outstanding plays at second base during the series.

Corvallis outscored Kitsap 26-7 to record a series sweep at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

Taylor Starr of Oregon State made his Knights debut tossing 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball. The frosh from Longview, Washington reached his pitch count early and was removed for southpaw Liam Baron of Linn-Benton CC. Baron earned the win as the frosh from Perth, Australia pitched 3 2/3 strong innings. Baron retired the first 9 batters he faced and struck out 5 BlueJackets. Junior right-hander Ben Rue of Concordia closed out the game tossing 1 2/3 innings allowing a run in the ninth.

"We are very pleased with our start," said Corvallis head coach Brooke Knight. "I'm most impressed with the quality of our guys as people, and that makes a difference."

"It's early, but we have a chance to be special this season. Our pitching was good and we obviously hit very well."

"We are looking forward to playing the Volcanoes tomorrow and getting home to Corvallis to play in front of our fans," said Knight.

Knights' starters Jon Berger and James McLaughlin of San Diego State and Starr combined to allow only three runs over 16 2/3 innings of work.

Sophomore outfielder Billy Clontz of Mt. Hood CC registed his sixth RBI of the series with a two-out RBI single in the Knights' two-run fifth.

Sophomore Doug Cherry of University of Washington made his first start with the Knights at shortstop. Cherry went 1 for 3 with a RBI.

With the win, Corvallis takes the early lead in the WCCBL West with a 3-0 mark and extends its winning streak to 4 games.

The Knights also extended their regular season win streak vs. Kitsap to 9 games. Corvallis and Kitsap met in last year's WCCBL West Divisional Series.

Corvallis plays an exhibition game vs. the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the San Francisco Giants short-season class A affiliate, on Father's Day at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, Oregon.

Michael Cusick, a Salem native, is scheduled to start Sunday's game. Cusick is a returnee and starred at Western Oregon this past spring.

The Knights home opener is Tuesday, June 17 at 6:35 pm vs. the Spokane RiverHawks at the newly expanded Goss Stadium.