Knights top Elks 15-2, clinch berth in WCL playoffs.

Shortstop Peter Van Gansen (pictured) had four hits, scored four times and stole a base as Corvallis downed Bend 15-2 on Monday to clinch a playoff berth for the seventh year in a row.

The Knights (36-17 all, 32-17 WCL) doubled their lead over Bend (30-19 WCL) to two games in the South Division race with their fourth straight win. They also guaranteed a second-place finish (at worst) in the division; the top two teams in each division advance to the postseason, which starts on Aug. 13.

A rising sophomore-to-be at Cal Poly, Van Gansen singled three times, tripled, and raised his average 23 points to .305. It was his second four-hit game of the summer; he also went 4-for-4 at Medford on June 19 in his second game with the Knights.

"I just saw the ball really well tonight," Van Gansen. "I tried to let the ball get deep because the last game we played I was really in front of everything."

Third baseman Cody Lenahan of Portland tripled twice, singled, scored three times, drove in four runs and had two outstanding diving defensive plays in the seventh inning to complement his partner on the left side of the infield. Lenahan has nine RBIs in his last four games to take the team lead with 32.

Kevin Kline of Dixie State singled three times and drove in two; Seth Heck had two hits and two RBIs and Joe Duffin unloaded his third homer and an RBI double. The 15 runs and 20 hits were season-highs; Corvallis has 26 runs and 13 extra-base hits in their last two games.

What prompted the turnaround?

"Probably knowing the playoffs are coming up, and knowing we have a good chance of taking it all," Van Gansen said. "And we're playing Bend, who is right behind us in second place. That gave us a lot of motivation."

Lefty Andrew Naderer (3-1) of Grand Canyon gave up single runs in the second and third innings but then retired 11 of the final 12 Elks he faced in a season-long six-inning stint. He had four strikeouts and had 50 strikes in 71 pitches. Kevin Flemer (1) and Jared Priestley (2) combined for three innings of scoreless relief.

The Wilson Motors Night crowd of 1,707 increased the season total to 36,413 in 28 openings, an average of 1,300 per game.

The series resumes at 6:40 p.m. Thursday. Righties Chris Bishop (3-2, 2.47)of Corvallis and Taylor Elman (4-1, 3.06) of Bend are the scheduled starters.