June 4, 2025

For immediate release

EDMONTON, A.B. – The Edmonton Riverhawks improved to 2-0, handing the visiting Victoria HarbourCats their second straight loss.

It was an early start with an 11:05 AM first pitch local time for the Riverhawks School Spirit Day, which saw thousands of school kids in the crowd. For the second straight game, the Hawks jumped out to an early lead, scoring one in the first and four in the second. North Sannich’s Jacob Thompson (Minot State) started the game and pitched 1-2/3 innings, giving up five runs on four hits while walking five.

BOX SCORE

The hosts handed James Brock the ball, and the Cats hitters could not solve him. The UBC right-hander threw five shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out three.

Edmonton added three more runs in the fourth and one more in the sixth to make it 9-0. Hawks designated hitter Max Stagg, who had two hits in the series opener, continued to hurt the Cats this afternoon, going four for five.

WCL STANDINGS

Nolan Bushko (ETBU), Cade Rusch (IUS), Marcus Janovsky (UBC), and Tristin Thomas all pitched out of the bullpen for Victoria.

The Cats’ sole run of the day came from a Cutis McKay (Niagara) groundout in the eighth inning. Jack Johnson (Baylor) increased his hitting streak to five games with a single in the opening frame.

The HarbourCats look to avoid the sweep tomorrow at 6:05 PM PST. Julian Orozco (Cal Baptist) is your projected starter.

BUY TICKETS HERE

We are TWO DAYS AWAY from the HarbourCats home opener Friday, June 6th at 6:35 PM against the Port Angeles Lefties. Saturday, June 7th, is our first of four FIREWORKS nights of the season! Don’t miss out! Grab tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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The Kamloops NorthPaws lost their first game of the season on Tuesday night at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham. The Bells scored three in the first inning, and then neither team plated a run for the rest of the game. Pitching was on full display, as there were just five combined hits in the game.

In the bottom of the first, NorthPaws starting pitcher Mason Chien had an 0-2 count and ended up walking the leadoff batter. A crafty bunt forced a throwing error and put runners on the corners. A couple of pitches later, Bellinghams’ third batter hit a ground ball up the third base side that third baseman Joey Marino struggled with on the transfer from glove to throwing hand, allowing the runner to be safe and the first run to score.

During the next at-bat, Chien threw ball four that turned into a wild pitch, making it 2-0. The Bells would add a base hit to load the bases, and a past ball would bring in the third and eventual final run of the ballgame. Chien would get out of the bases-loaded jam and cap the damage at just three runs.

Unfortunately for the NorthPaws, they couldn’t keep their bats hot. Bells Lefty starter Callum Young threw three no-hit innings before exiting the game. Kamloops had a pair of runners on after Marino and Keegan Drinkle both walked, they would be stranded on base. The NorthPaws would leave nine runners on base and were unable to get that extra situational hit to get on the board.

In the fifth, Kamloops had their best chance to score. A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out when Shortstop Anthony Setticassi sent a fly ball to left center field that looked to be deep enough for Kieran Gaffney to tag from third. Gaffney tagged up, but the throw from left field was perfect; the Bells turned two and escaped the inning unscathed.

In the sixth, the NorthPaws had runners at second and third with one out when catcher Matt MacDonald hit a sharp grounder to first that was snagged by the first baseman. Cade Palkowski was bolting for home, but yet another great throw got him at the plate, preserving the shutout.

“They made some nice plays out there tonight; if those plays go our way, it’s a completely different game, but it went their way tonight,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson.

Despite the offensive woes, the pitching staff combined for eight scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and walking two batters. Keith Manby went three innings, striking out a pair of Bells, while Macallister Gatzke and Luke Petrie both finished the game with clean innings. After giving up nine runs to Port Angeles on Sunday afternoon, this is a massive feat for a staff that can only gain confidence from this collective performance.

“This definitely helps, but I’ll always have confidence in this staff; I think we have a lot of good arms and a lot of depth; if we go out there and pitch to our strengths no matter who we face, I think we’ll have a good shot,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.
Although the offence didn’t come through in certain moments, the bullpen’s efforts can be something for the team to build upon as the series continues.

“They (the bullpen) gave us a chance to still be in that game, so we definitely owe them one,” said Jepson.
The NorthPaws will be back at it on Wednesday night for game two in Bellingham. Same time, same place, 6:35, first pitch, and you can watch on West Coast League TV or listen along on the NorthPaws Mixlr.

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June 3, 2025

For immediate release

EDMONTON, A.B. – The Edmonton Riverhawks handed the Victoria HarbourCats their first loss of the season, winning 13-3 Tuesday night.

Hawks shortstop Robert Phelps set the tone early, leading off the bottom of the first with a home run off Cats starter Carson Burks (Hill College). The lefty from Buna, Texas, made his second appearance of the season after an impressive debut in Kelowna. He didn’t fare as well tonight, giving up three earned runs on six hits in three innings of work, striking out a pair.

BOX SCORE

The hosts continued to tack on runs early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Edmonton put the game beyond doubt with a four-run fourth inning giving, them a resounding 8-0 advantage.

Curtis McKay (Niagara) got the HarbourCats on the board in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly. The second basemen had two hits, including a double for his second multi-hit game of the young season.

Jack Johnson (Bayler) continued his hot start to the season with an RBI single in the eighth. He now has a four-game hit streak and leads the team with six hits.

WCL STANDINGS

Logan Shepherd (Tacoma CC), Isaiah Afework (Tacoma CC), and Xander McAfee (Texas Arlington) all made their HarbourCats debuts. Afework went one for three while McAfee had three hits and reached base four times.

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) and John Ondus (Niagara) threw two and three innings, respectively, to finish the game.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Tomorrow is Edmonton’s School Spirit Game, which means first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 AM PST. You can watch the game HERE.

We are just days away from the HarbourCats home opener Friday, June 6th at 6:35 PM against the Port Angeles Lefties. Saturday, June 7th, is our first of four FIREWORKS nights of the season! Don’t miss out! Grab tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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