Tuesday’s Sports Report: Bend Elks play in the smoke with a special guest; Portland Fire returns

Bend, Or. (KTVZ)- Despite smoky skies settling over Vince Genna Stadium, hundreds of fans still came out to support the Bend Elks Tuesday night in a special non-conference matchup during West Coast League All-Star Week.

The Elks, currently sitting third in the WCL South Division at 20-17, took the field in hazy conditions but didn’t let it slow them down — or their fans. Among the local talent in the lineup was Alex Via, a recent state champion and Oregon’s 5A Pitcher of the Year. Via, who is set to play at the University of Portland in the fall.

Tuesday’s game also featured a unique addition to the Elks roster: Will Taylor, known online for his role with Baseball Bat Bros. Taylor, a former college baseball player turned viral content creator, has amassed more than a million followers by reviewing and testing baseball bats — many of those videos filmed right at Vince Genna Stadium.

He nearly went yard in his first at-bat of the night, narrowly missing a home run on a long foul ball. But he got his big moment later, hitting an inside-the-park home run in his final trip to the plate. After the game, Taylor stayed on the field to sign autographs and take pictures with fans — an unforgettable experience for those in attendance.

The Elks cruised to a 15-5 victory and return to action Thursday night.