Ridgefield Raptors go cold in 11-3 loss to Corvallis Knights

RIDGEFIELD — To beat a team like the Corvallis Knights, an opponent needs to bring its best.

In two games of their season-opening series against the Knights, the Ridgefield Raptors simply haven’t played to that top level consistently.

The Knights, winners of six consecutive West Coast League championships, once again showed why they’re the juggernaut of the league until proven otherwise. The Knights earned an 11-3 win Saturday at Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex by coming back from an early two-run deficit and incrementally adding to its lead from the third inning onward.

Ridgefield’s Britton Beeson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Raptors a quick 2-0 lead, but it was short-lived.

Corvallis (2-0) got one run back in the second inning after Ridgefield (0-2) pitcher Sawyer Allen hit two Knights batters with pitches, setting up Cameron Rowe for an RBI base hit.

Allen then walked the Knights’ first two batters the next inning and gave up a single to load the bases.

Blake Avila and Luke Thiele each followed with singles that brought home two runs and gave Corvallis a 3-2 lead.

Corvallis added two more runs in the fifth inning on a JC Ng RBI single and a Ridgefield fielding error committed by short stop Josh Mansur allowing Thiele to score.

The Knights’ pitching, meanwhile, largely kept the Raptors off the scoreboard despite giving up 10 hits.

After Corvallis starting pitcher Sean Wiese gave up a solo home run to Andy Allanson in the third inning, Neil Feist came on the mound to relieve Wiese, scattering three hits across three innings with three strikeouts and a walk.

Kaleb Woltz followed with 1 1/3 innings pitched that included five strikeouts and just one hit allowed.

Ridgefield used five pitchers including Allen, who gave up four earned runs before getting pulled during the third inning. Blake Hammond, Camden Oram and Cale Mathison each gave up at least one earned run.

The final game of the series will be played Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Three moments

Beeson’s bomb – Ridgefield got the scoring started early in the first inning thanks to a two-run home run by Beeson, of Fullerton College, on the heels of a Jake Tsukada leadoff single.

Missed opportunity for more – Ridgefield’s Jack Salmon and Jeff Hoffman put the Raptors in good shape to build on their lead with a pair of singles to start the second inning. However, Corvallis pitcher Sean Wiese bounced back with a strikeout and a pair of ground outs, stranding two Ridgefield runners.

Corvallis slams the door – Ridgefield’s last stand came in the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs for clean-up hitter Isaac Lovings. Corvallis relief pitcher Bransen Kuehl got Lovings to strike out looking to end the inning.

Three players

Blake Avila – The Central Arizona College product led Corvallis in hits (4), including a solo home run in the seventh, and had a hand in the Knights’ three-run third inning with an RBI single.

Jeff Hoffman – Two hits from the Willamette University player led the Raptors. Hoffman also manned first base and made a handful of important outs with Corvallis runners in scoring position.

Cameron Rowe – The Knights’ No. 8 hitter from Utah Valley added two hits and an RBI for the visitors.

Three numbers

4 – Errors charged to the Raptors, after the team committed three errors in Friday’s series opener.

2 – Home runs hit by the Raptors, a two-run shot from Beeson in the first inning and a solo homer from Andy Allanson in the third.

3 – Consecutive wins for the Knights over the Raptors dating back to last season. 

CORVALLIS 11, RIDGEFIELD 3

Corvallis 013 020 122—11 12 1

Ridgefield 201 000 001—3 10 3

Corvallis

Pitching – Sean Wiese 1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 K, 1 BB; Neil Feist 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 K, 1 BB; Kaden Woltz 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB; Branden Kuehl 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K, 2 BB; Chance Wallace 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K, 0 BB. Highlights – Ty Yukumoto 1 R, SB; Tyler Quinn 1-4, 2 R, RBI; Sam Stem 1-5, 2B, 1 R, RBI; Ethan Hedges 2-5, 2B, 1 R, RBI; Blake Avila 4-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI; Luke Thiele 1-5, 2 R, RBI; JC Ng 1-2, 2 RBI, SB; Cameron Rowe 2-5, RBI; Kellen Segel 1 R.

Ridgefield

Pitching – Sawyer Allen 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 K, 2 BB; Blake Hammon 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 K, 1 BB; Camden Oram 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 K, 2 BB; Brayden Youkon 1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 1 BB; Cale Mathison 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 K, 2 BB. Highlights – Jake Tsukada 1-4, 1 R; Britton Beeson 1-5, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI; Andy Allanson 1-3, HR, 1 R, RBI; Trent Prokes 1-3; Andy Ambriz 1-5; Jack Salmon 1-3; Spencer Siegel 1-1; Jeff Hoffman 2-4; Josh Mansur 1-4.