Corvallis Knights: Seven-time defending champs are off to a strong start (2024)

The start of each West Coast League season is a bit tricky for the Corvallis Knights.

Because Oregon State can potentially host NCAA postseason games, Goss Stadium isn’t available until the middle of June. This year that meant the Knights started the season with a scheduled 12-game road trip.

CJ Colyer, who is in his first season with the Knights, said it was a good experience.

“We started bonding real quick. Being on the road for 12 straight games helps us get together quick,” Colyer said.

Coach Brooke Knight said early season games are also interesting because every team in the league is still working to fill out its roster.

“The uniqueness of our league is the first couple of weeks, every organization is working with a thin crew, a motley crew of sorts with some temporary players. Slowly as quarter schools finish up guys roll in,” Knight said.

Corvallis thrived on the road, dropping just one game on the trip as they opened the season hoping to extend their domination of the West Coast League. The organization has won seven straight league titles and 10 overall.

Knight said the pitching staff deserves a lot of credit for the team’s strong start.

“I like the fact that for the most part we’re throwing a lot of strikes. We’ve been relatively competitive on the mound,” Knight said. “First-pitch strikes, get ahead in the count.”

The flip side of the long road trip is that the Knights are currently in the middle of a long homestand. Corvallis plays 15 games at Goss Stadium during this stretch, broken up only by two games at Springfield.

The team is also at full strength, bringing back a small group of returning players to anchor the group.

Catcher Tyler Howard, who will be a junior at the University of Portland next season, is one of the returning players.

He said his first summer with the Knights really helped his development as a player after he saw limited playing time with the Pilots his freshman year.

“Last year was my first taste of playing on a consistent basis in college baseball,” Howard said.

His goal this summer is to earn as many at-bats as possible as he continues to work on his swing.

“You can hit off a machine, you can do flips, you can do all the practice things, but when it comes to just getting better from a game standpoint, I don’t know if you can get better without facing live arms in that game action,” Howard said.

Colyer has spent the past four seasons playing for Pacific University and was the Northwest Conference player of the year this season. He has entered the transfer portal and is hoping to find a new home for his final collegiate season.

Colyer is a versatile player who can fill both corner outfield spots, play first base and pitch. He got off to a bit of a slow start, but Knight has high expectations for this summer.

“He’s a great guy to have on any team. His energy is good,” Knight said. “There’s a lot of thunder in that barrel and we’re counting on him to just find a way to put up some big thump numbers.”

Colyer has played for other teams in the West Coast League, but always kept an eye on the Knights.

“Facilities for one. Being here at OSU, it’s a beautiful place, beautiful stadium,” Colyer said. “Coaching staff, the development through them is a lot better than other places I’ve been. They work with us, trying to win as well as development is huge over here.”

Paul Vazquez is at a completely different place in his career. The Oregon State recruit graduated from high school just a couple of weeks ago and is getting his first taste of collegiate baseball.

“It’s kind of a head start to get familiar with the people in Corvallis and get to know everyone here in this beautiful town and get started on that next step and that next chapter,” Vazquez said.

Knight said he enjoys working with players straight out of high school.

“Most of your high school guys coming in are pretty talented players, with any team in this league. We’ve had some really good ones. Nick Madrigal, Adley Rutschman, Brooks Lee. There’s been quite a few over the years, (Andrew) Susac. You go right down the line,” Knight said. “For those guys, it’s even more of an anxious moment. They don’t have that year of college under their belt. They’re trying to acclimate. They want to be a guy just like everyone else.”

The Knights (13-2 West Coast League through Tuesday) will host Springfield on Thursday. The teams will continue their series with a game at Springfield on Friday, a game in Corvallis on Saturday and another game in Springfield on Sunday.

Corvallis will then host eight straight games, concluding with the annual fireworks night July 3.