Gazette-Times reporter

Good closers must have short memories.

So any thoughts of a July 13 meltdown at Bellingham had long been exorcised from Taylor Starr’s mind when the Corvallis Knights’ right-handed closer took the mound on Sunday to get the final three outs and protect a 3-1 lead over Kitsap.

A leadoff single made it interesting. But the rising sophomore at Oregon State retired the next three BlueJackets — aided by an excellent defensive play by first baseman Ian Bridges — for his sixth save and the Knights (21-9) prevailed 3-1 before 444 fans at Goss Stadium to capture their sixth consecutive West Coast Collegiate Baseball League series.

“I hadn’t pitched since by last outing, and my last outing was a little rough,” Starr said. “I wanted to clear my head and get on a good stage for the all-star game so I’m glad I got an inning. It made my confidence level go up.”

Starr gave up a game-tying, two-out, two-run single and then walked in the winning run at Bellingham to keep the Knights from sweeping the series. It was his first blown save after converting five consecutive — albeit sometimes eventful — save opportunities.

“I tried to flush it immediately after it happened,” Starr said. “It sticks with you a little bit but once you get out on the bump it kind of flushes out.”

The Knights’ bullpen by committee shut down the BlueJackets (16-17) over the final three innings to give OSU rising sophomore Josh Osich his second win. He allowed five hits and a run, with seven strikeouts and no walks, over six innings. Scoreless innings by Jon Berger and Chris Brookey then set the table for Starr.

“I was a starter in high school but I love closing,” Starr said. “The adrenaline , the competition that brings to the plate in the ninth, is awesome.”

Logan Lotti was 3-for-3 with an RBI, Billy Clontz drilled an RBI triple, Dean Green had a sacrifice fly and several outstanding diving plays by second baseman Josh Hogan, the pivot man on two double plays, keyed the victory. It moved the Knights five games ahead of idle Bend and 61/2 games ahead of third-place Kitsap in the West Division heading into the three-day all-star break.

“We’re pleased, it’s a good spot to be in,” Knights coach Brooke Knight said. “We’ve got 12 league games left (six home, six away) so hopefully we can keep the momentum going.

“At this point its important to come out every day and go about your business, but they’re having a lot of fun. They’ve made some strong friendships and that’s helping us on the field.”

The Knights allowed just one run over the final 18 innings to win the series after dropping Friday night’s opener 4-2. Osich lowered his ERA to 1.52 and improved his strikeout/walk ratio to 25/6. He’s 2-0, 1.58 over his last three starts, with 18 strikeouts and five walks; he had 26 walks and 19 strikeouts at OSU this past spring.

“He’s made some really positive strides and hopefully he can continue that the rest of the summer,” Knight said. “I’m excited to see him finish this season, and get ready for the spring.

“He’s grown, developed another pitch or two, and shown some confidence.”

Clontz and Lotti will join pitchers Berger, Starr, Jared Eskew and Ryan Platt at Tuesday’s all-star game, at Moses Lake. PLatt is the West’s scheduled starter. Pitcher Eddie Orozco (knee) and Hogan (wrist) were also selected but will stay home to rest their injuries.

“It feels good to win a couple of games before the all-star break,” said Lotti, an OSU signee who was 7-for-10, with a homer, triple, two doubles and six RBIs in the series. “It sets a good tone for the team and I am sure everyone is looking forward to the rest.”

The Knights play host to their Gresham affiliate team at 6:35 p.m. Thursday and face East Division leader Wenatchee on Friday-Sunday. Shorthanded with the recent loss of John Wallace (legal problems) and Davis Duren (quit), they will recall first baseman/outfielder Bryant Kraus from Gresham after Thursday’s game for the Wenatchee series and perhaps beyond.

A rising senior at Portland who played at Linn-Benton, Kraus homered for the Knights in their June 6 opener at Okotoks, Alberta, and homered again for Gresham in their 5-2 win over the Knights on July 17.

Corvallis 3, Kitsap 1

KITSAP 000 001 000 — 1 7 1

CORVALLIS 011 010 00x — 3 7 0

Paul Dickey, Bryce Bowell (7), Ian Opsal (8) and Lawson Hipps; Josh Osich, Jon Berger (7), Chris Brookey (8), Taylor Starr (9) and Alex Burg. WP: Osich (2-0). LP: Dickey (1-6) S: Starr (6). 2B: Bartlett 2, K; Lotti, C. 3B: Clontz, C.

Hits: Kitsap 7 (Bartlett 2, Buser 2, Aona, Hipps, Heere), Corvallis 7 (Lotti 3, BUrg 2, Clontz, Hogan).

RBI: Kitsap 0; Corvallis 3 (Lotti, Clontz, Green).