Valiant Pippins Eliminated From West Coast League Playoffs

CORVALLIS, OR - The Yakima Valley Pippins were eliminated from the West Coast League postseason after dropping Wednesday night’s elimination game, 7-3, against the Corvallis Knights at Goss Stadium.

The Yakima Valley Pippins (32-24) fell behind 3-0 in the 1st inning, rallying to within one run in the top of the 6th inning, 4-3, but were unable to mount a furious comeback.

Jace VanDeBrake (Gonzaga) belted a 2-run home run in the 6th inning, leading Yakima Valley with four hits in the series. Gavin Velasquez (Cal State Fullerton) gave up three runs in the 1st inning, taking the loss after pitching five innings allowing four runs on nine hits.

Colton Kelly (Columbia Basin CC) delivered an RBI squeeze bunt in the 5th inning, cutting the deficit 3-1. Corvallis benefited from six hits with two outs, including the game-winning hit in the 5th inning from Zak Taylor against Velasquez, extending the lead, 4-1.

Ryan Garcia (UCLA) pitched 2.1 innings in relief allowing two runs, striking out two. After cutting the lead to one, 4-3, Freddy Smith (Cal State Northridge) doubled into the left field gap in the 6th inning, eventually left stranded on the bases against the Knights bullpen.

Trailing 5-3 in the 7th inning, the Pippins again left runners on base, this time striking out with runners at 1st and 3rd. Corvallis would score two runs in the 8th inning against Garcia and Connor Zwetsch (Oregon), who surrendered two-out hits over 0.2 innings of relief.

Christian Koss (UC Irvine) finished 2-5 at the plate including a run scored, while Trevor Achenbach (Oklahoma Wesleyan) extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 2-4 effort at the plate. The Yakima Valley Pippins concluded their third year in the West Coast League 32-24 overall, amassing 96 wins over the first three seasons.