NANAIMO, B.C. — Early home runs made it look promising. One inning halted those hopes.

The Nanaimo NightOwls surrendered an inning to forget, giving up 11 runs in a sixth inning that seemed to have it all in a tough way, in a 14-8 loss to the Wenatchee AppleSox to conclude a three-game series at historic Serauxmen Stadium on Sunday.

Wenatchee takes the series 2-1 and improves to 22-11 overall, while the NightOwls remain right in the playoff chase at 13-16.

A ball that hit the knob of a Wenatchee bat was ruled a hit-by-pitch and after a bases-clearing triple, some walks, a few more hits, and a would-be double play not completed, the AppleSox had exceeded the numbers possible on the Serauxmen Stadium scoreboard.

The NightOwls pounded out 14 hits, three fewer than the AppleSox. The game had so much promise after Nevan Noonan hit a home run in the first inning, his third, and Drew Rutter, who was 4-5, doubled home two runs for an early 3-0 lead — made 4-0 when David Draayers hit a solo shot in the second inning, his first of the season.

A 6-0 Nanaimo lead had the strong crowd feeling good on a blue-sky scorcher on Sunday afternoon, but the sixth inning happened — and seemed to go on for 45 minutes.

Adison Mattix was dominant as the starting pitcher. He went five innings with four hits and five strikeouts, and was barely touched by Wenatchee hitters. The bullpen will want to file this game under “learning experience” — combining for 13 hits allowed, four walks, and three plunked batters.

Standings Link 

Catcher Kurt Felix was 2-3 with a double and three runs driven in, Deshon Thomas was 3-4 with four runs scored, and Aaron Marsh, a night after his walk-off three-run home run led to a dramatic 9-6 victory, was 2-6 to raise his average to .313.

The Kelowna Falcons arrive for a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday set at Serauxmen, all 6:35pm starts.

At these games against Kelowna, ticketed fans will all get a chance to win highly valued concert tickets for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, arriving in Vancouver in December. Each person entering, after showing their ticket, gets an entry to win two concert tickets.

Tickets are available online, at the gate, or get general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Parksville. The NightOwls are in a busy homestand after setting a franchise record on Monday with 3,127 in attendance for the Canada Day Classic doubleheader and fireworks show.

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Mascots from around the city came to the ballpark to celebrate Harvey’s birthday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 7, 2024

For immediate release 

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Victoria HarbourCats celebrated Harvey the HarbourCat’s birthday by scoring a season-high 19 runs, convincingly beating the Kelowna Falcons 19-5.

After scoring just two runs in the previous two games of the series, the HarbourCats wasted no time this afternoon. A Cam Schneider (Fresno State) RBI single made it 2-0, his first of four RBIs. The third baseman scored on a wild pitch later in the inning, giving Victoria an early 3-0 lead.

Luck was on Victoria’s side as a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the fourth made it 4-0 before a high pop-up was lost in the sun allowing two runs to score in the fifth inning, extending the lead to 6-1 the Cats a 6-1 lead.

BOX SCORE

Tyrus Hall was back in the leadoff spot and reached based three times, scoring three runs (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

HarbourCats starter Holden Hess (ULM) picked up the win in his best outing of the season. The big right-hander pitched six innings, striking out six, and giving up one run. All his pitches were working for him as he consistently kept Falcons hitters guessing. It’s Hess’ second straight six-inning outing, as he also picked up the win on Canada Day in Nanaimo.

Shea Lake (Hawaii Pacific) pitched an inning of relief giving up two earned runs, his first appearance since June 19.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Victoria blew the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tate Shimao (Hawaii) increased his team lead in RBIs to 20 with a two-run single to get things going, making it 10-4. After a Michelle Artzberger (ULM) RBI fielder’s choice added another run, Michael Crossland (UC San Diego) recorded his first RBI of the season with a single, giving his team a 12-4 lead. Three more runs crossed the plate in the inning through a balk, a sacrifice fly, and an error which capped off a seven-run frame.

Gunner Antillon’s seventh inning sacrifice fly was his eighth RBI of the season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart) 

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Crossland hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning extending the lead to 19-4. His first long ball of the season was a 102 MPH laser over the Wilson’s Group Stadium sign in left field.

Garrett Villa (Angelo State) threw a scoreless eighth inning and Jake Finkelstein (Montana State) struck out three and gave up one run in the ninth inning to close out a 19-5 victory for his team.

The HarbourCats are back in action Tuesday at 6:35 PM to take on the Dub Sea Fish Sticks. It’s $10 Tuesday! All premium reserved and general admission tickets are just $10! Get tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets, by coming to the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street in advance, or by calling 778-265-0327.

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NANAIMO, B.C. — Giving up a late lead hurt. Winning in walkoff fashion healed the wound.

Aaron Marsh blasted a three-run shot to right field in the bottom of the ninth to give the Nanaimo NightOwls a 9-6 win over the visiting Wenatchee AppleSox in front of 985 people at historic Serauxmen Stadium.

Marsh took a 3-2 pitch deep off Micah Bujacich beyond the massive Save On Foods sign to plate with teammates Riley Paulino and Michael Easter on base. Wenatchee had scored two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game 6-6 after the NightOwls had led the game pretty much from the second inning on.

Mitchell Middlemiss was 3-4 with two runs scored, and Hsu He-Chieh was 2-5 in the leadoff spot. Ayden Hadley hit his first home run of the season, in the fourth inning, and Easter added a solo shot in the fifth. The NightOwls outhit Wenatchee 12-8 but committed the games two errors.

Josh Torres had another strong start, going four innings and yielding just two hits and one run, striking out five. Grant Jakobson, David Stewart and Paul Montgomery pitched in relief before Ryan Inouye came on for the ninth inning with two runners aboard, eventually getting the win.

The NightOwls are back on the island for a stretch now, completing this series with Wenatchee in perfect weather on Sunday afternoon (1pm).

The Kelowna Falcons then arrive for a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday set at Serauxmen.

Tickets are available online, at the gate, or get general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Parksville. The NightOwls are expecting more strong crowds for this homestand after setting a franchise record on Monday with 3,127 in attendance for the Canada Day Classic doubleheader and fireworks show.

Tickets Link

Next week, the games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, ticketed fans will all get a chance to win highly valued concert tickets for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, arriving in Vancouver in December.

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