The Barometer Online

Issue date: 6/5/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Casey Grogan Members of the 2008 West Coast League Champion, Corvallis Knights watch on during a game last season at Goss Stadium. The Knights will feature four Oregon State Beavers this season, plus a signed recruit in Andrew Susac.

As the Beavers store away their caps and uniforms, a different team will take to Goss Stadium for a summer of baseball action.

Last season's West Coast League champions, the Corvallis Knights, begin their quest for a repeat Tuesday, June 9 against the Bend Elks.

The WCL is one of many summer baseball leagues that caters to collegiate athletes who wish to hone their craft during the summer months. Summer leagues, including the WCL, use wood bats and become a showcase of true hitters, strong pitching and excellent defense.

"Summer league is really good if you don't get a lot of time at your college to play everyday and get some innings in," said Cal Poly and Corvallis Knights outfielder Adam Melker. "Using a wood bat may be tough for the summer, but [it] only makes you better when you get a metal bat back in your hands."

Strong pitching and excellent defense are the key attributes that led the Knights to the WCL Championship last summer. After knocking off the rival Elks, Corvallis took the championship series from the Wenatchee AppleSox.

All but two of the Knights' infielders during the 2009 season are returning players from 2008. Returning to the infield will be D.J. Johnson of Mt. Hood Community College, Richie Jimenez of Riverside CC, Josh Hogan of Oregon and Doug Cherry of Washington.

Joining the returnees will be Cal Poly's Kyle Smith and Oregon State's Carter Bell.

"It was good for me to play in a wood-bat league because we used wood bat playing at Mt. Hood," Johnson said. "I feel that playing with a wood bat is the way the game should be played, because you don't get the cheap hits that you would with a metal bat. So it really shows what kind of a player you are."

A dependable third baseman last season for Corvallis, Cherry is the top returning hitter on the Knight's roster, having hit .294 with 20 RBI last season. During the 2009 school season, Smith hit .332 for the Mustangs with five home runs.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools