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KNIGHT BASEBALL 2008
League Champions - 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1992

(above) Early Season Baseball Team photo for 2008
Knights Double Up on COS
PFEIFFER LEADS ON THE MOUND
(Weed-4/17/08) The Shasta College baseball team beat College of the Siskiyous 10-5 Thursday behind Kyle Pfeiffer's strong eight-inning effort. Nate Wallen, Robert Brown and Curtis Cosby each drove in two RB for the Knights. Cory Fredenburg and Erik Larsen had an RBI apiece.
Susanville Split
KNIGHTS PACKED THEIR BATS
(Susanville-4/5/08) The Shasta College baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday with Lassen. The Knights won their first game 10-9 and dropped the second 16-14. Jake Sivicki drove in four runs and went going 4-for-4 with a home run and a double in the first game. Nate Wallen tacked-on a 2-for-5 performance, including a double and an RBI. Robert Brown earned the win. Brown homered in the second game and finished 3-for-4 with three RBI. Matt Lewis took the loss for Shasta (10-7 GVC, 16-17), which faces Feather River on Saturday.
Rout & Nail-biter Finish Sweep
KNIGHTS HAVE WON 8 OF 9
(Shasta College-3/30/08-Jeffrey Jen) Whether it was by a rout or by hanging on by the seat of their pants, the Knights are back in the playoff hunt. The Shasta College baseball team beat struggling College of the Redwoods 20-2 and 3-2 at home Sunday. The wins gave Shasta (9-5 Golden Valley Conference, 14-15) a three-game sweep of the Corsairs over the weekend. The Knights now are in a four-way battle with Feather River, Lassen and Butte for two league playoff spots. That scenario was difficult to envision three weeks ago when Feather River swept Shasta in a three-game series at home. But that woke the Knights out of an early-season funk, and they have won eight of their past nine GVC games. Shasta was expected to get a few games over Redwoods (0-14 GVC,
1-25). And the team did, albeit in different ways. "We needed this sweep," Knights sophomore shortstop Justin Sybesma said. "The team is playing well right now. Our mentality in practice is a lot different after what happened with Feather River. Everyone is really working hard in practice and it's paying off." The first game Sunday was an offensive display by a team hitting .245 entering the weekend. The Knights got 20 hits with stellar plate efforts from Erik Larson (4-for-5, double, four runs, RBI), Robbie Brown (3-for-4, double, two RBI), Nate Wallen (3-for-5, triple, three RBI) and Andrew Ramos (3-for-5, double, three RBI). Brandon Ottenwalter also drove in three runs, while Ben Mielke was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Shasta built a 6-0 lead through the first five innings, then really blew the game open with a nine-run sixth. For good measure, the Knights tacked on five more in the seventh inning. Kyle Pfieffer pitched seven shutout innings, allowing five hits, for the win. He lowered his season ERA from 7.15 to 5.93 with the outing. Shasta got another solid pitching effort in the second game from freshman Matt Lewis, who gave up two hits and a run in five innings, striking out six. "Our pitching has been outstanding the last three weeks," Knights coach Brad Rupert said. "(Kyle) Masteller, Pfieffer and Lewis, our three starters have stepped it up and kept us in games, giving us opportunities to win." Unfortunately, the hitting fell off in the second game, which went seven innings instead of nine. Curt Cosby drove in a run in the first inning before the Corsairs tied things at 1 in the top of the third. But Shasta broke through again in the fourth. Sybesma had an RBI single and catcher Bronson Ponciano-Ahue added a sacrifice fly. Redwoods scored once in the sixth to close to 3-2, but Robbie Brown came on to toss 12/3 scoreless innings, aided by Ponciano-Ahue's throw out of a Redwoods player trying to steal second, to nail down his fifth save of the season. While things are going better for the Knights, it remains a difficult road to the postseason. Shasta finishes with 10 road games in its last 11, starting with a three-game series at Lassen this weekend. Shasta is 3-9 in away games this season. "We have to win all these games on the road," Sybesma said. "It's going to be tough." But compared with three weeks ago or last season at this time, things are still looking better. "We're in the mix, we've still got something to play for in these next few games," Rupert said. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Knights Continue Surge
START SERIES WITH 3-0 WIN OVER REDWOODS
(Shasta College-3/29/08) The Shasta College baseball team beat Redwoods 3-0 at home Saturday. Kyle Masteller got the win, giving up four hits and striking out three. Robbie Brown went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI for Shasta (7-5 Golden Valley Conference, 11-15). The Knights host a noon doubleheader today against the Corsairs.
Knights Sweep Butte
KYLE PEIIFFER & MATTHEW LEWIS GET WINS
(Shasta College-3/22/08) The Shasta College baseball team swept a doubleheader over Butte College on Saturday. The Knights took two of three from the Roadrunners over the weekend to move above .500 in Golden Valley Conference play. In the first game, Shasta won 7-3 behind a solid pitching effort from Kyle Pfeiffer. Jake Savicki went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Steven Candelaria went 2-for-4 and drove in one. The Knights won the second game 4-1 behind the pitching of Matthew Lewis. All of Knight's runs came in the fourth inning. Shasta's Nate Wallen and Robbie Brown hit singles to start things before a Butte College error scored Wallen. Savicki added an RBI single while Candelaria had a sacrifice fly. Matt Lewis earned the win and Brown got his second save of the day. The Knights (6-5 GVC, 11-15) host
College of the Redwoods on Friday and Saturday.
Rally Falls Short
KNIGHTS PLAY TWO TODAY
(Oroville-3/21/08) The Knights fell behind early allowing three runs in the first inning, rallied but came up short in a 5-4 loss to Butte College. The Knights scored three runs in the seventh but also gave up one run in the inning. The Knights host Butte College today in a double header starting at noon.
Knights Finish Sweep of COS
KYLE FEIFFER AND MATT LEWIS GET WINS
(Shasta College-3/15/08) The Shasta College baseball team came through with a three-game sweep of visiting College of the Siskiyous. After winning Friday's game 9-5, the Knights swept Saturday's doubleheader 11-7 and 7-2. Jake Savicki had the big hit in the first game during the third inning. With the bases loaded, Savicki smacked a three-run double. He had four RBI in the game. Kyle Pfeiffer picked up with win, striking out seven. Matthew Lewis got the win for Shasta (4-4 Golden Valley Conference, 8-13) in the second game. Scott Hogan went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. The Knights host Cosumnes River in a non-conference game at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The two teams then play a noon doubleheader Wednesday.
Back on Track, Top COS
MASTELLER GOES SEVEN INNINGS FOR THE WIN
(Shasta College-3/14/08-Jeffrey Jen) For a short time, the curse hanging over the Knights lingered. But a few key hits helped the Shasta College baseball team successfully put the a nightmarish weekend in the rearview mirror. Kyle Masteller went seven innings and Nate Wallen and Scott Hogan each smacked two-run doubles as the Knights beat College of the Siskiyous 9-5 Friday at home. "We needed this win pretty bad," said Hogan, a sophomore catcher who drove in three runs on the day. "Games like last week happen. You have to move on. We came out focused in practice all week. Our hitters came up and got the job done today." Wallen finished 3-for-5, while center fielder Jake Savicki went 2-for-4. The two teams meet again today at Shasta College for a noon doubleheader (originally scheduled for Weed), but the Knights needed Friday's win after a rough three-game sweep last weekend by Feather River. Shasta (2-4 Golden Valley Conference, 6-13) committed 22 errors in the three-game set. "I did not want to overemphasize it," Knights coach Brad Rupert said about the error-prone weekend. "I didn't want them to think about it. Today was a good win, but we need to keep it going." Against the Eagles (2-3 GVC, 8-10), Shasta had some defensive difficulties. A fly ball lost in the sun helped Siskiyous jump out to a 3-0 lead midway through the second inning. It could have been worse but Hogan threw out a runner at third and Masteller picked off a Eagles base runner. Then the Knights turned the tables on Siskiyous starter Andrew Swenson. Ben Mielke got the Knights on the board with a two-out, RBI single. Wallen then doubled in a pair before scoring on Jake Savicki's hit. And Shasta went from three runs down to a 4-3 lead. "Give Shasta credit," Eagles coach Billy Hefflinger said. "They got some key hits that turned things around for them. In conference, you can't give up three-run leads like we just did." Even better, the offensive burst gave Masteller a nice jolt, too. The sophomore from Corning looked shaky in the first two innings with a couple of walks and a pair of hit batters. Yet, when staked to a lead, he settled down. Outside of Bobby Mapes’ RBI sixth-inning single, the Eagles didn’t get to him again. “The lead perked my confidence up,” Masteller said. “I was just going out there, throwing strikes and letting my defense help me out. I found the umpire’s zone and my fastball was working good all game.” Masteller struck out four and scattered eight hits — his early wildness gone after the second inning. Siskiyous did hit him a bit with both Mapes and Eric Savage pounding out three hits, but could never string together a big inning. “We’re in a little bit of a rut right now,” Hefflinger said. “The key hits we were getting early in the season haven’t been happening for us.” In the fourth inning, Shasta expanded on its lead. Hogan doubled to right-center to score two runs, knocking out Swenson. Aaron Jorgenson, who entered with an 0.00 ERA over 11 innings, tossed a wild pitch that scored Hogan. That made it 7-3 Shasta, but Jorgenson recovered and sailed through the next three innings. Shasta didn’t touch the reliever until Wallen hit a bouncer for an infield single. Jake Savicki then added an RBI triple to right-center. A few batters later, the center fielder slid home safely ahead of the throw on Hogan’s bunt. The Knights turned things over to Brandon Ottenwalter for the final two innings. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Knights Fall in Hole
LOSE SERIES TO FRC
(Shasta College-3/8/08-Jeffrey Jen) Currently playing at the Shasta College baseball field is a comedy of errors. Rough and disappointing doesn't begin to describe the Knights' weekend, which concluded with a Feather River sweep of the home team. Shasta fell 11-4 and 7-3 to the Golden Eagles during Saturday's doubleheader, with defense again the culprit. A day after committing eight errors in a 20-3 loss to Feather River, the Knights continued to struggle in the field. Shasta had another eight errors in the first game, and six more in the nightcap. That's 22 errors in three games for the week. "You aren't going to win a lot doing that," Knights coach Brad Rupert said. "I'm at a loss for words. I can't explain it. I don't remember having a series where we dropped so many balls. Ground balls, fly balls, you name it." And Shasta had a shot midway through both games when the error bug started biting. In the first game, Curt Cosby hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 4. But trouble came two innings later. Starting pitcher Kyle Pfieffer hit a batter and gave up a walk. Reliever Brandon Ottenwalter added another walk and the bases were loaded with two outs. That was when Feather River hit a fly ball to center. Knights center fielder Jake Savicki lost the ball in the sun and it dropped, clearing the bases. Adrian Ramirez added an RBI single for the Golden Eagles in the seventh and three Knights errors led to three more runs in the eighth. The Knights had six hits in the game, with Cosby going 2-of-3 with two RBI against Golden Eagles starter Jeffrey Fisher-Gasper and reliever Andy Hebrard. Things started better in the second game. Robbie Brown's RBI double in the first inning put the Knights up 1-0. Starting pitcher Matt Lewis went three scoreless innings, but then came the fourth. The Knights committed four errors, including two by Lewis, and all by the infield. "We are going to be taking a lot of Ground balls in practice starting Tuesday," Rupert said dryly. Feather River scored three times before loading the bases again. That's when Ryan Giocomini put the hammer down with a bases-clearing double to left-center. That put Feather River up 6-1. Phil Mannelly added an RBI triple off Brown in the sixth inning. The lone late-game highlight of the day came in the bottom of the frame when freshman first baseman Rhett Schumacker hit a two-run homer over the left field fence. For the day, Feather River had 15 hits while the Knights had 12. But of the Golden Eagles' 18 runs, 13 were unearned. By contrast, Feather River had two errors during Saturday's doubleheader and even got on base a few times with bunt singles. "That's a good team over there," Rupert said. "We made a lot of mistakes, but they had some clutch hits and took advantage of those mistakes." Shasta host College of the Siskiyous at 2 p.m. Friday. The two teams then travel up to Weed for a noon doubleheader Saturday. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Split Opens GVC Play
ROBERT BROWN WITH TWO BOMBS IN GAME ONE
(Shasta College-3/1/08) The Knights opened up GVC play with a split with Lassen College. Game One:  Shasta- 4-0 Lassen. Kyle Masteller went complete came shutout.  He had 9 strikeouts and walked one.  Robert Brown went 3x4 with two home runs and two RBI's.  Andrew Ramos had a two out double to right field to plate two. Game two: Lassen-6-4 Shasta. The Knights Defense let them down in game two. The Cougars from Lassen scored 3 unearned runs in the 2nd  inning.  The Knights would load the bases twice only to produce one run. Curt Cosby went 3-3 with 3 RBI's. Steve Shamblin took the loss. The Knights are 1-1 in conference; 6-10 overall.  Shasta plays Feather River College 1-1 Friday at 2:00.  Saturday at 12:00 DH all games are at Shasta College. 
Knights Take Pair
SWEEP YUBA 11-0 & 3-2
(Marysville-2/19/08) Shasta 11-3, Yuba 0-2 -- The Knights swept their doubleheader with a blow out and a nail-biting pitchers duel. In the first game, Brandon Ottenwalter earned the win as Shasta's offensive onslaught gave him plenty to work with. Nate Wallen drove in four as did Rhett Schumacker. Jake Savicki had three RBI on two doubles with two doubles. In the nightcap, Robert Brown earned the win after Nate Wallen drove in Savicki off back-to-back doubles
in the eighth.
Knights Fall in Bay Area
HOGAN & SYBESMA LEAD
(San Jose-2/17/08) Even though Scott Hogan and Justin Sybesma went 2-3 at the plate the Knights still came up on the short end of a 7-1 score to Canada College. Kyle Masteller took the loss for the Knights (2-7) who take on San Mateo College today, 2/17/08.
Knights Top Mendo, Again
EIGHT PITCHERS USED
(Ukiah-2/12/08) The Knights (2-6 overall) came out on top of Mendocino College for the second time in a one week span, 8-6. Head Coach Brad Rupert used eight pitchers to top Mendocino College. Kyle Pfeiffer got the win and Matt Lewis got earned the save. The hitting stars were Steven Candeleria who had a bases loaded single to drive in two runs. Nate Wallen went 3-4 with a double and Jake Savicki added a double that drove in two more runs.
Sierra Tops Knights
NON GVC GAME
(2-09-08) Ben Severe pitched four innings and took the loss against Sierra College. The Knights came out on the short end of a 7-4 score. Center fielder Jake Savicki was 3-4 with 3 RBI's. Eric Larson was 2-5 with a double. The Knights
(1-6) head to Ukiah to take on Mendocino on Tuesday.
Shutout Knights
SCHUMACKER GOES 2-4
(Sacramento-2-7-08) Cosumnes River 12, Shasta 0 -- The Knights had trouble making contact as they struck out 11 times and fell to the Hawks. Rhett Schumacker was the only player with a multi-hit day as he went 2-for-4. Kyle Pfeiffer was the losing pitcher, giving up seven runs in the first inning, two in the second and two in the third. Shasta (1-4) takes on American River at 2 p.m. today.
Knights Break Through
SEVEN PICTHERS HELP WITH WIN
(Shasta College-2/5/08-Jeffrey Jen) First home game of the season, first win of the season. Taking advantage of errors and wild pitches, the Shasta College baseball team broke through with a 9-4 victory Tuesday over Mendocino. While the Eagles struggled on the mound and in the field, the Knights (1-3) didn't make many mistakes even though a whole staff of pitchers were tossed out for the early season game. Outfielders Nate Wallen and Erik Larsen and shortstop Justin Sybesma all had two hits for Shasta. One has to feel for Mendocino. The Eagles haven't had much chance to practice on a very wet field -- the reason why the game, originally scheduled to be in Ukiah, was moved to Redding. In return, the home game Shasta has next Tuesday against Mendocino will now be a road date. It isn't like the Knights have had too much time practicing outdoors either. After a dry first week of practice, rain has forced them indoors. "It's good to be outside and see live pitching," Knights baseball coach Brad Rupert said. "I'm not a good gym coach. You can only do so much regularly hitting tennis balls." Against the Eagles, Shasta jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings. After Mendocino closed to within 4-3 in the top of the fifth, the Knights quickly rebounded with two more runs in the bottom frame. That gave them a bit of a cushion which was padded with three more in the eighth. Rupert threw out seven pitchers in the nine-inning game. Starter Kyle Pfeiffer threw two scoreless innings before the arms came trotting out of the bullpen in John Greene, Ben Severe, Andrew Ramos, Steve Shamblin, Kyle Masteller and Matthew Lewis. Of the lot, only Masteller threw two innings, the seventh and eighth. But all did well enough to limit Mendocino to six hits on the day. Rupert also sent out three catchers during the game in freshmen Will Sykes, Bronson Ponciano-Ahue of Hawaii and sophomore Scott Hogan. Sykes had an RBI single in the second inning, while Ponciano-Ahue singled in a run in the fifth. Hogan added a bunt single in the eighth. "We threw a lot of guys," Rupert said. "We're still looking for who will come out of the bullpen for us. There's still jobs to be won. My goal was to get competition and have guys competing for jobs all the time. We got two guys, in some cases three, at every position." With the first win out of the way, Shasta now takes to the road for the rest of the month. The Knights are at Cosumnes River on Thursday, American River on Friday and Sierra on Saturday. The next Shasta home game is a doubleheader against Golden Valley Conference foe Lassen on March 1. Reporter Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Knights Close with Fresno
SAVICKI & WALLEN HITTING WELL
(Fresno-2/1/08) Fresno 8, Shasta 5 -- The Knights fell for the second time in as many days at the Fresno Tournament. Matt Stellar took the loss, pitching five innings and giving up 11 hits. Jake Savicki went 3-for-5 and Nate Wallen was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple. Steve Bryant drove in two runs. The Knights finish their stint at the tournament against Porterville at 11 a.m. today.
Merced Tops Knights
BAD FOURTH INNING DOES IN KNIGHTS
(Fresno-1/31/08) Merced 7, Shasta 0 -- The Knights' undoing was the fourth when the Blue Devils scored six runs, three unearned. Offense was also lacking for Shasta, which had five singles with no player tallying multiple hits. Kyle
Pfieffer picked up the loss after going five innings and allowing seven hits,
one strikeout and four walks. Shasta (0-1) faces host Fresno at 3 p.m. today.

(Printable copy of the Knight Baseball schedule)

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