THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,406 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,406 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Story | 8/21/2019

Knights Earn Team of the Summer

Blake Dowson
Photo: Corvallis Knights (Corvallis Knights)

See also: Gonzales is Summer POY

The Corvallis Knights won the West Coast League title in 2016. They also won it in 2017. And again in 2018. And again this season.

The 2019 Knights went 54-14 on their way to the title, tied for the best record in franchise history with the 2001 club. The amount of dominance Corvallis showed on the field this year has earned them another title, as well — Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Team of the Year.

Summer rosters flip over every year. You can’t rely on one good recruiting class to win you four straight championships. Summer league teams start from scratch each season, building from the ground up.

If you build a solid foundation though, you get a head start. Corvallis has a huge head start every year.

“You have to have talented players. So it’s players first. You have to put the players first and make sure they’re engaged because it’s a long season,” Corvallis CEO Dan Segel said. “I think the formula is to keep it fresh and exciting and fun. You also have to have the structure to make them believe putting in the time will lead to results. And we do have that structure. Our head coach is a professional-style coach. He coaches over in Australia in the professional baseball league. He has the ability to meld a group together and create that chemistry to where they are playing for each other. That’s hard to do in summer ball.”

The Knights had plenty of talented players this summer. Eight guys who logged more than 100 at-bats hit at least .280. Five of those guys hit better than .300.

Briley Knight, head coach Brooke Knight’s son, was one of the players leading the charge this summer, hitting .357 while pacing the team with 18 doubles, eight home runs, and 42 RBI. (No, the team isn’t named after the coach and son, although after seven championships under Brooke and the summer Briley had, it does make you wonder.)

Knight was bettered by teammate Jake Holcroft in batting average, who led the league with a .368 mark. Knight was second, and teammate Brooks Lee, a 2019 grad and 2017 Jr. National Showcase participant, was third in the league with a .342 average.

Heading into the season, Coach Knight didn’t know if Briley would be a big part of the team or not. Last summer, he hit .212 while doing most of his work behind the plate. A switch to the outfield this spring at Utah unlocked some versatility and a whole lot of pop at the plate.

“It was really neat being able to watch his development this spring at Utah. He had to scratch and earn his way into the lineup there,” Brooke Knight said. “And I didn’t really know if he would be a middle-of-the-order bat for us, I just knew he would earn a spot in the lineup somewhere if he performed. But it’s been really special. He’s a good kid and works hard on his craft. When you’re the coach’s kid, you don’t really have any other option.”

Every player who shows up in Corvallis each summer knows they are there to put in work and win games. Championships aren’t exactly expected each year (Segel even said there’s been a good amount of fortune during their run of titles), but there is an expectation for development.

And according to Knight, with development comes wins. With wins comes championships. Championships are fun. Wash, rinse, repeat.

These guys are doing something right.

“What I’ve always sort of scratched my head at is when people say, ‘Summer ball is all about development and that’s really all it is.’ Or some teams are all about winning and not so much about development,” Knight said. “I completely disagree with that. I think you absolutely have to be committed to both. They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it’s the contrary. The more you develop, the more you win. And the more you win, the more you develop. That’s our intent when the season starts.”

The engine is really rolling down the tracks at this point. Segel said the recruitment process comes to them now, with coaches and teams requesting to place players with the Knights.

He said that’s mainly due to the relationships they have formed with different programs around the country, such as Cal Poly, or Portland, or Utah, or Oregon State, who they share a facility with.

As far as programs to partner with go, it’s not easy to find a better one than the Beavers.

“They know our program and pick out guys they think will fit good in that program and will take advantage of the structure and training,” Segel said of his relationship with Oregon State. “Our relationship started with Pat Casey and it became an amazing partnership…It’s really neat having that relationship because we share that facility. All credit goes to Pat Casey.”

Casey has since moved on from Oregon State, but Segel said a strong relationship has already been made with new head coach Mitch Canham.

It’s reset time for the Knights again. Within the next few weeks, according to Knight, the 2020 Corvallis roster will be set, with a number of Beavers sure to be penciled in, along with a number of other players from high-profile programs across the west coast.

The roster may change, but the formula and philosophy doesn’t. That’s what has built this dynasty, and what will continue to move it down the tracks.

“I knew coming in they had this great legacy and this great run of success making the playoffs every year, but I didn’t have any idea how they did it,” West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer said. “I think it’s difficult for an outsider, even a commissioner, to understand exactly what they’re doing. But I have a better understanding now and obviously it’s tremendously impressive. It’s a run of success like none other in collegiate summer baseball.

“Shortly after I accepted the job as Commissioner, a co-owner of another team in the league described Corvallis as the Yankees of the West Coast League. I had no idea just how right he was.”
Give us your feedback
College | Story | 4/14/2026

College Players of the Week: April 14
Vincent Cervino
Article Image
April 14th Perfect Game/Player of the Week:  Jaquae Stewart, INF/OF, Texas State  The Texas State Bobcats (24-12) are sitting in second place in the ultra-competitive Sun Belt Conference, and they have one of the most explosive offenses in the country.  They average right at 8-runs per game and can slug with the best of them, averaging almost 2-home runs per game as well.  Sitting in the middle of the order, Jaquae Stewart, is putting together a career year and is becoming the focus of opposing teams.  The 5-10/234 junior from Sinton, Tx is your classic lefthanded power hitter and is thriving in his move from Austin to San Marcos.  While it wasn’t the best week for his club, Stewart was sensational, collecting 8 hits in his 19 at-bats, scoring 5 runs, launching 5 home runs and driving in an insane 17 runs.  For the season, he is now slashing...
Read More
Showcase | Story | 4/14/2026

PG Announces Prospect Gateway Schedule

Hannah Jo Groves
Article Image
PG has announced the dates for Prospect Gateway events across the country - unique opportunities for young players to receive professional feedback and prepare for the next level. The Prospect Gateways are for players ages 13U-14U and serve as a qualifier for the National Showcase. Kevin Schuver, the senior director of showcases at Perfect Game, said these events are chances for players to step out of their comfort zone and show what they’re really made of. “Perfect Game Prospect Gateways aren’t just events. They’re doorways into something bigger. For young athletes, they serve as the first real step beyond their local fields, where raw ability begins to meet visibility and purpose.” At the event, each player is assigned a PG advisor who will watch and advise them individually. There will also be other scouts giving tips on how to enhance and develop a...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/13/2026

PG & MLB Clubs Offer Discount Tickets

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH THREE MLB CLUBS TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE TICKET DISCOUNTS FOR YOUTH TEAMS    Sanford, Florida (Friday, April 10, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced a new fan engagement initiative in partnership with three Major League Baseball clubs — the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals — to provide exclusive discounted ticket opportunities for teams participating in Perfect Game events.    Through the collaboration, youth baseball and softball teams competing in...
Read More
College | Rankings | 4/13/2026

College Top 25: April 13

Vincent Cervino
Article Image
In a season where remaining in the Top 25 has become a war of attrition, the No. 1 UCLA Bruins (33-2) are making the game look much easier than it is in all reality.  Winners of 27-games in a row, this club continues to win games by any means necessary as they continue their historic run.  Beyond the incredible win streak, the Bruins have started off Big Ten play (18-0) by sweeping their first six conference weekend.  Adding to their resume, in Game 1 of their series at Rutgers, they won a 14-inning thriller by a score of 4-1where their pitching staff registered an eye-popping 30-strikeouts while only surrendering 1 walk and 4 hits throughout.  In most any other season, the No. 2 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (30-5) would be sitting atop the poll as they are putting together a historic season of their own.  They swept Florida State (24-11) who was previously ranked...
Read More
Draft | Story | 4/10/2026

PG Draft: Favorite Position Group

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
Every draft class has its strengths. Some years its a loaded group of prep infielders, some years its a deep collection of college arms. In this year’s class, certain position groups stand out above the rest to us. This week, the draft team dives into their favorite position groups. Groups that we believe are loaded with depth, upside, and big league potential. College Infielders It’s hard not to get excited about the crop of college infielders in this year’s class because of who is at the top. Roch Cholowsky alone makes the group exciting. He’s got gold glove potential at the next level and an offensive profile that should make him one of the Top 15 to 20 prospects in all of baseball the second he gets drafted. Justin Lebron is another player with as much upside in the class. He is a premium athlete that can really pick it at short and has big upside with the...
Read More
Press Release | Press Release | 4/10/2026

Perfect Game and vivenu Partner Up

Article Image
    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923  www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH VIVENU TO POWER DIGITAL COMMERCE ACROSS YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL    Sanford, Florida / New York, New York (Friday, April 10, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, has selected vivenu as its ticketing and commerce partner to unify revenue operations across its tournament ecosystem.    With 1.6 million tickets sold annually, 9,800 events in 40+ states and an immense social footprint, Perfect Game has built the most influential pipeline in amateur baseball. The organization has produced over 2,200 MLB alumni, and...
Read More
General | Blog | 4/10/2026

Wolforth Throwing Mentorship: Article 64

Ron Wolforth
Article Image
What Do Barry Zito, Justin Verlander, Trevor Bauer, and Dallas Keuchel All Have in Common? By Ron Wolforth | Texas Baseball Ranch® | PG Arm Care Take a second and think about the question posed in the title before you read on. Four Cy Young Award winners. Four of the most decorated pitchers of their generation. What's the common thread? The first answer is obvious… they all won the most prestigious individual award in pitching. Most of you probably got there immediately. The second answer is less obvious… they all trained at the Texas Baseball Ranch® at some point in their development. Interesting, maybe, but not the point of this article. The third answer is the one I really want you to sit with, because it has direct relevance to your career right now: they all move completely differently. And they all attack hitters completely differently. Don't rush past that....
Read More
College | Story | 4/9/2026

Coppy's Corner: April 6 POY Deep Dive

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
I’m beyond thrilled to be a contributor to Perfect Game, widely recognized as the premier organization for amateur baseball. Working in baseball operations for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves for nearly 20 years, the importance of amateur baseball cannot be understated. Nobody does it better and I am honored to be working with great baseball people like Jered Goodwin, Vinnie Cervino, Craig Cozart, and many others.  Each week I huddle with Vinnie and Craig to discuss Top 25 rankings and Players of the Week. In "Coppy’s Corner", I will dive deeper into these Players of the Week, providing analysis from 20+ years working in baseball front offices at the highest level. My hope is that you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it.  Player of the Week: Andrew Williamson – University of Central Florida (UCF)  Williamson can flat-out hit. While...
Read More
High School | General | 4/10/2026

High School Notebook: April 10

Jheremy Brown
Article Image
You like 6-foot-9 lefties up to 100 mph? 2026 Brody Bumila (MA) was electric in season opener, super easy upper-90s, multiple 100s. Easy operation w/ simple delivery despite size. Punched out 9 over 3, double digit whiffs. @PG_Draft pic.twitter.com/BChMhKIIhO — Perfect Game New England (@PG_NewEngland) April 2, 2026 Brody Bumila, LHP, Bishop Feehan (MA), Class of 2026 He's 6-foot-9, 18 years old, left-handed and was up to 100 mph (upwards of 3 times on some guns) in his first start of the year in low-30 degree temperatures. That's really all you need to know. Oh, and the opposing team arrived 40 minutes late. Coming off a state-championship run in basketball, Texas signee Brody Bumila made his first start of the spring on April 2nd and didn't disappoint in front of at least 40 scouts packed tightly together behind the backstop.  Knowing it was going to be a quicker look given...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 4/9/2026

Don't Boot the Loot Scout Notes

Cam McElwaney
Article Image
‘30 UTL Chase Jelks (GA) lifts this one deep into the gap & rolls around the bags for a triple. Loose LH swing w/ feel to lift. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Georgia pic.twitter.com/leF4GMTawJ — Perfect Game Youth (@PGYouthBB) April 4, 2026 Chase Jelks (2030, Atlanta, Ga.) put together a great weekend for The Dream 14u Black in their run to a championship game appearance, hitting .444 with two triples and a double along with three RBI. He controlled the zone throughout the event in the box and finished with a 6:1 BB:K ratio because of it while also swiping five bags as well. It was a strong showing for Jelks, something that’s becoming common this spring in PG events.    ‘30 MIF Cohen Carter (TN) hits this one on the screws into the gap for a triple. Functional & compact swing. #DontBootTheLoot @PG_Tennessee pic.twitter.com/YVUfxbHBxx — Perfect Game...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.