Summer Collegiate

NightOwls Set Off Pre-Canada Day Fireworks in Win Over Victoria

Published

5 days ago

July 1, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

VICTORIA, B.C. — The ka-boom before the ka-boom — and even more ka-boom set for Monday, July 1.

On the night before Canada Day, and shortly before the host Victoria HarbourCats set off their famous June 30 fireworks show, it was the Nanaimo NightOwls who lit the fuse in a convincing 13-4 win at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in Victoria.

Building an early 7-0 lead, and punctuating with a four-run inning in the eighth, the NightOwls earned their third win in seven games between the island rivals — and setting up an interesting Monday, July 1, at Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo, when the Re/Max Generation Island Cup will be determined in the closest race in three years.

The NightOwls can win their first Island Cup with a sweep of the doubleheader on Monday, with first game slated for a 4pm start, with an approximately 7pm start for the second outing (one ticket gets entry to both games). The second game is a make up because of Saturday’s rain out.

In front of more than 4,000, Nanaimo pounded out 13 hits, including Nevan Noonan going 2-6 with four runs driven in. Mike Easter was 2-4 with two runs driven in, Deshon Thomas was 2-5 with two RBIs, Wiley Waters was 1-4 with two RBIs, and Riley Paulino was 1-4 with two runs, two walks, and two runs driven in. Noonan hit a two-run home run in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Nanaimo scored two in the first, three in the second, and two more in the third to race into the lead. Waters had a triple to score two in the first, Noonan scored two with a single in the second, and Thomas also drove in a pair with a single in the third.

Tickets Link

Victoria scored three in the fourth to give a hint of a comeback, but the HarbourCats were held to seven hits and made two costly errors. Michelle Artzberger hit a solo shot to right in the bottom of the ninth to complete the Victoria scoring.

Nanaimo starter Josh Torres had a strong start, going four-plus innings, giving up six hits, and three runs (two earned), striking out five and allowing one walk. Li Sih-te was strong in two scoreless innings, leading to two spotless innings from Paul Montgomery. Grant Jakobson finished the game off in the ninth inning.

The NightOwls will send Adison Mattix and Aidan Boice to the mound in the starting assignments on Monday, which will see Nanaimo unveil new Canada Day red jerseys sponsored by the Serauxmen Service Club. The first game will start at 4pm, the second game tentatively slated for 7pm — both seven-inning games.

After the second game, the NightOwls are set to have their first-ever in-season fireworks show, which would start at darkness after the completion of the game, sponsored by Kw’umut Lelum Foundation and Maxxam Insurance — tickets available at the gate, at nanaimonightowls.com, or with general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Parksville and Ladysmith. The fireworks are the only Canada Day fireworks being done in the mid-island region.

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls Drop Series Opener to Wenatchee

Published

4 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — Not getting insurance runs earlier came back to haunt the Nanaimo NightOwls in a 5-4 home field loss to the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday.

The AppleSox scored two runs in the ninth, on an awkward infield chopper, to go from trailing to leading at Serauxmen Stadium. This was the first game of a three-game series in Nanaimo between the two North Division teams.

Boxscore Link

The NightOwls came out looking very much like the team that hadn’t had to travel all day, as Wenatchee had. Nanaimo scored three times in the first inning, keyed by triples from Wylie Waters and Mitchell Middlemiss, then added another run in the fourth to hold a 4-2 lead.

Wenatchee got within one in the sixth, setting the stage for the come from behind ninth inning. The NightOwls had two runners on base when the final out was recorded.

Standings Link

The NightOwls outhit Wenatchee 11-9 thanks in part to Middlemiss going 3-5. Nanaimo made the only errors of the game, and two of those three were charged in the final inning.

nightowls.tv / WCL Pixellot

Jake Fleury was strong in his start on the mound, striking out four in four innings with no walks, but allowing three hits and two runs. Landon Welter followed him, with Armaan Drar coming in to make clutch pitches to escape a jam and go two scoreless innings. Hayden Cuthbertson took the loss.

The NightOwls are back on the island for a stretch now, completing this series with Wenatchee with games Saturday evening (6:35pm) and 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 weekend series after setting a franchise record on Monday with 3,127 in attendance for the Canada Day Classic doubleheader and fireworks show.

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.

Tickets Link

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats bats go quiet, lose 2-0 to the Falcons

Published

4 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Michelle Artzberger is batting .357 with seven RBIs in his first seven HarbourCats games (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 5, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Kelowna Falcons edged the Victoria HarbourCats in what turned into a pitcher’s duel in the series opener, winning 2-0 on Pride Night.

Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist) started his fifth game of the season for the HarbourCats. The right-hander struggled with control, walking four and hitting one batter, but pitched out of trouble on multiple occasions striking out four. Palmer gave up zero runs on just one hit over three innings.

Falcons starting pitcher Carson Kimbell pitched six shutout innings, giving up two hits while striking out five.

BOX SCORE

Ryne Palmer leads the HarbourCats with 19.1 innings pitched (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Brandon Bertsch (Texas) was impressive over a season-high four innings pitched. He gave up one run, a fourth-inning sacrifice fly, on one hit while striking out one batter.

Brett Harvey (Puget Sound) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to keep the HarbourCats within one.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Flynn Ridley (Ottawa) walked the lead-off batter in the top of the ninth and that came back to haunt him as Nate Castellon’s RBI single gave the Falcons a crucial insurance run, making it 2-0.

Returning for a second straight season, Michael Crossland (UC San Diego) made his season debut going 1-4 with a ninth-inning double. That brought the tying run to the plate but Tyrus Hall (Bossier Parish) grounded out to end the game.

WATCH GAMES HERE

It was Pride Night at the ballpark, presented by The Oswego Hotel (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Carter Boone made his season debut for the Falcons, pitching the final three innings giving up one hit while striking out three.

The HarbourCats hope to find their offensive rhythm tomorrow for another 6:35 PM game against the Falcons. It’s Burpees for Charity Night with KidSport! 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. You can also purchase general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods in the South Island.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a host family of the HarbourCats players? Read all about how rewarding the experience is through the eyes of our very own Helen Edwards HERE. If you are interested in becoming a host family, email Cindy at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats earn bragging rights over the NightOwls, win the 2024 Island Cup

Published

16 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

July 5, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Walk-off wins, fireworks on and off the field, and tension down to the last day, the Victoria HarbourCats edged the Nanaimo NightOwls five games to four to win the 2024 RE/MAX Generation Island Cup! The HarbourCats have won the cup three years, since the inaugural Island Cup in 2022.

This season the NightOwls and the HarbourCats faced off nine times, which was an increase in games from last season and made for a great rivalry on the field. The HarbourCats won two of the first three games this season against the Owls, capped off by a walk-off win on School Spirit Day in front of 5000 fans.

Later in June, the HarbourCats opened a series in Nanaimo with back-to-back wins, increasing their lead in the Island Cup to four games to one. Victoria was one win away from clinching the cup, but Nanaimo did not go away quietly. The Owls comfortably won the next two games against Victoria, scoring 13 runs in each of those wins.

Due to a postponement caused by rain, the Island Cup came down to a doubleheader on Canada Day, with the Cats needing one more win. The HarbourCats won game one of the doubleheader holding on for a 4-3 victory. The NightOwls won game two 5-4 on a walk-off win of their own, meaning the hotly contested season series went to Victoria.

You can access the full box scores for all nine games below.

June 11: Nanaimo 7-4 Victoria

June 12: Victoria 8-4 Nanaimo

June 13: Nanaimo 1-2 Victoria

June 18: Victoria 8-3 Nanaimo

June 19: Victoria 4-2 Nanaimo

June 20: Victoria 5-13 Nanaimo

June 30: Nanaimo 13-4 Victoria

July 1 Game one: Victoria 4-3 Nanaimo

July 1 Game two: Victoria 4-5 Nanaimo

Thank you to Alex Burns and RE/MAX Generation for their incredible support.

The HarbourCats are back at home TONIGHT for a weekend series against the Kelowna Falcons. Tonight’s 6:35 PM first pitch is Pride Night presented by The Oswego Hotel! Saturday is the Burpees for Charity game with Kidsport, also at 6:35 PM. Sunday’s 1:05 start is Harvey the HarbourCat’s Birthday! You won’t want to miss the celebration! 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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