The Kamloops NorthPaws are off to Vancouver Island to continue a six game road trip after dropping two of three in Wenatchee. Kamloop sits in last position in the North Division for the second half of the WCL season at 6-10, 4.5GB
KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws are off to Vancouver Island to continue a six game road trip after dropping two of three in Wenatchee. Kamloop sits in last position in the North Division for the second half of the WCL season at 6-10, 4.5GB.
Up next, the Paws are in the provincial capital for a weekend set in Victoria against the HarbourCats. Victoria is 7-8 in the second half, 4th spot in the North Division.
Kamloops is set to return home to Dearborn Ford Field at NorBrock Stadium on Tuesday, July 30 as they welcome the Bellingham Bells to the Tournament Capital.
GAME 1
The Wenatchee AppleSox dominated the opening game of the three game set on Tuesday night south of the border as they beat the NorthPaws 15-0.
Aidian Dougherty led the way for Wenatchee with a 3-3 night at the dish, also walking twice and driving home 6 RBI in the win. Matthew Henning, Evan Cloyd, James Castagnola, and Cannon Peery all added a pair of RBI each.
The Kamloops NorthPaws managed just four hits in the loss, with two coming from All-Star Joey Rico.
Sawyer Jensen got tagged with the loss, allowing 6ER, 8H, 2BB over 3.0IP.
Quincy Vassar got the win, pitching 6.0IPm 4H, 6K, 0ER.
GAME 2
The Paws returned serve in the middle game of the set, scoring eight runs in the first two innings en route to a 9-3 win.
The combo of Cade Webber, 5.0IP, 4H, 3ER, 7K, who picked up the win, and Lucas Smith, 4.0IP, 1H, 4K, 0ER, who earned the save, pitched a stellar game for Kamloops.
The offense came to play with Jacob French leading the way from the leadoff spot in the order. French had 3 hits in the victory to bring his average on the season to .330.
Along with French, Joey Rico, Michael Weber, and Anthony Setticasi had an RBI in the win. Only four of the nine runs for Kamloops in the game scored via an RBI.
Hunter Gibson was credited with the loss, pitching 1.1IP, 8R, 5ER, 5H.
GAME 3
The rubber match was the closest of the series with both teams holding leads, before the AppleSox scored the winning run in the 8th inning to take the game 5-4 and win the series 2 games to 1.
Kolby Lukinchuk got the start for the Paws, 7.0IP 5H 4R 3ER earning a no-decision.
After allowing a run in the first, Kamloops struck for two in the second to take a 2-1 lead. The Paws would lead the game again at 4-2, before the AppleSox scored three unanswered in the late innings to win. The winning run was scored on a sac-fly from Brady Bean.
Andrew Monson earned the win pitching the final 3 innings of the contest.
Dylan Betancourt took the loss after pitching 0.1IP, 1ER. 2BB.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE Friday, July 26 at Victoria, 6:30 first pitch Saturday, July 27 at Victoria, 6:30 first pitch Sunday, July 28 at Victoria, 1:00 first pitch Monday, July 29 – Off-Day Tuesday, July 30 vs Bellingham, 6:35 first pitch Wednesday, July 31 vs Bellingham, 6:35 first pitch Thursday, August 1, vs Bellingham, 6:35 first pitch Friday, August 2, vs Kelowna, 6:35 first pitch (Fan appreciation night) Saturday, August 3 @ Kelowna, 6:35 first pitch Sunday, August 4 vs Kelowna, 2:05 first pitch
FOR MEDIA REQUESTS Jenna Forter General Manager Kamloops NorthPaws p. 250-200-1415 www.northpawsbaseball.ca
THIS IS A SPECIAL note for all HarbourCats season ticket holders to get their seats set up next week to be in line for the 2026 All-Star Game festival packages, July 14-15, 2025 – full details soon to be released.
Individual Season Ticket Members who have fully renewed or have initiated a payment plan for their 2026 seats, will have first dibs on securing their seats for the All-Star festivities via a special pre-sale window.
We will also offer this pre-sale window to anyone who has purchased a Season Ticket Equivalent Flex Pack (32-Game Flex Pack).
If you are a 2025 HOST FAMILY, please let us know as soon as possible if you intend to return as a host for 2026 and we will save your seats AND you will also be eligible for the pre-sale window for the All-Star activities.
If your season seats are part of a CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP deal, again please let us know as soon as possible that you will be renewing that sponsorship for 2026 (contact your sales rep) and we will save your seats AND you will also be eligible for the pre-sale window for the All-Star activities.
Once the pre-sale window has passed, any unclaimed Season Ticket seats (for All-Star festivities only) will be released and we will open up sales to the general public.
**IF YOU ARE a traditional 10/12-pack holder, now is the time to trade up for Season Tickets or a 32-Pack Season Ticket Voucher Equivalent to get All-Star Game privileges!
Contact GM Christian Stewart at the HarbourCats office (778-265-0327 or chris@harbourcats.com) to make arrangements!
The excitement around baseball and the 2026 season has hit new heights!
Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.
VICTORIA, BC — A very familiar name and face is returning to Victoria to lead the pitching staff of the HarbourCats.
Zachary Swanson — who has served as batboy, pitcher and play-by-play voice of the team — has been hired as Pitching Coach for the 2026 season by Todd Haney, the Head Coach who is entering his sixth season as the Victoria skipper.
Swanson is in his first year as the pitching coach at Hawaii Pacific University (D2) in Honolulu, under Head Coach Dane Fujinaka, a former HarbourCats catcher who coached in the Toronto Blue Jays system.
“After coaching Zach a couple of seasons, I am thrilled for the opportunity to coach with him now,” said Haney, who started Swanson on the mound against the Corvallis Knights in Game 1 of the WCL championship series in 2019.
“Zach brings energy, experience and expertise to the HarbourCats coaching staff. Our pitchers will love working with him.”
Swanson, the son of Managing Partner Jim Swanson, is a Lambrick Park grad who spent time with both the Eagles and Mariners BCPBL programs. He spent two college years with the San Diego Christian (NAIA) Hawks, then moved to the Park-Gilbert (NAIA) Buccaneers in Arizona, under Head Coach Kelly Stinnett, a long-time MLB catcher, to complete his college playing career.
Swanson will work with Bullpen Coach Darius Opdam Bak, who filled the same role last summer under now-retired Scott Anderson, who held the pitching coach job for three seasons. Opdam Bak is a former HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide (CCBC) pitcher who is now Pitching Coach of the Golden Tide.
Swanson, who will be 26 by next season, earned his MBA and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Park-Gilbert business program. He served as pitching coach at Skyline High School (6A) in Mesa, AZ before accepting the HPU offer. He is married to Madeline, and they reside in Kailua, HI.
“This is an extremely special opportunity for me, to return home and coach in front of this amazing city is such a privilege,” said Swanson. “I’m excited to coach some great young men and bring a West Coast League championship home to Victoria.
“It is a tremendous honour to have the chance to coach alongside Coach Haney, someone I consider a mentor. His intensity and passion for player development combined with his true joy for the game are traits that I admire as a coach.”
Swanson was 7-3 in his collegiate career, including playoffs and non league, including five starts.
Opdam Bak was a HarbourCat for two seasons and spent four seasons with the Golden Tide, as a dependable starter. He made eight starts last spring for the Tide, going 3-1 — he made 17 CCBC starts overall.
Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.
Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park will be abuzz with fans packing the seats for at least 31 home games in 2026, as well as the West Coast League All-Star Game.
October 23, 2025
For immediate release
VICTORIA, BC — Who is the next Nathan Lukes, to don the V-Cat logo and start a path to the World Series?
That will come into focus starting in May of 2026 when the Victoria HarbourCats — the first collegiate summer league team of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lukes, a playoff star this fall — begin an eventful West Coast League campaign with a road series in Portland.
It won’t just be the games with the HarbourCats to look forward to, it will also be about the 2026 WCL All-Star Game being played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park as part of a planned Festival of Baseball, July 14-15. The HarbourCats are hosting the event in both 2026 and 2027.
“No question, this is the most anticipated season yet for us — the All-Star Game, after a very strong schedule leading up to that, and playoffs to follow,” said Christian Stewart, the GM of the HarbourCats. “The variety of visiting teams, the rivalries with teams like Nanaimo, Wenatchee and Bellingham, facing the other tough Canadian teams — it’s a great mix for our fans and our corporate partners.”
The HarbourCats open on the road on Friday, May 29, against the Pickles, then are back on the island for the home opener on Tuesday, June 2, against the Edmonton Riverhawks.
Tentative plans for fireworks dates are Saturday, June 6 (vs. Kelowna Falcons, now managed by former Blue Jay Gregg Zaun), Tuesday, June 30 (vs. the Nanaimo NightOwls), and a special event on Monday, August 3 featuring local talent and a fireworks show to follow.
Further plans to announce popular features such as the Woofability Bark in the Park, the Mayfair Optometric School Spirit game (and maybe a second game!), something we are calling “Early Father’s Day,” and Harvey’s Birthday will be announced soon. Game times remain the popular 6:35pm, except for Sundays (1pm) and the School Spirit games (11am).
“Getting two teams from Oregon at our park this year will be fun — we have the first visit from the Springfield Drifters (June 12-13-14) and a rare appearance by the Bend Elks (July 7-8-9),” said Stewart, who is taking season ticket bookings and doling out 12-packs of tickets already.
“We plan to have the All-Star Game package on sale in short order, too — we love that we have so much time to plan out the WCL schedule and make it work for promotions and logistics. We are known for our creative ideas — this schedule will make things a lot of fun next summer.”
HOME GAMES 2026 June 2-3-4 (T-W-Th), vs. Edmonton Riverhawks June 5-6-7 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Kelowna Falcons June 12-13-14 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Springfield Drifters June 16-17-18 (T-W-Th), vs. Redmond Dudes (non-league) June 24 (Wed), vs. Nanaimo NightOwls June 26-27-28 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Bellingham Bells June 30 (Tues), July 2 (Thurs), vs. Nanaimo NightOwls July 7-8-9 (T-W-Th), vs. Bend Elks ALL-STAR GAME FESTIVITIES — Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15 July 17-18-19 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Wenatchee AppleSox July 24-25-26 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Kamloops NorthPaws July 28-29-30 (T-W-Th), vs. Port Angeles Lefties August 3 (Mon), vs. SIBL All-Stars (non-league)
ROAD GAMES 2026 The HarbourCats visit the following teams — Portland Pickles (May 29-30-31), Edmonton Riverhawks (June 9-10-11), Port Angeles Lefties (June 19-20-21), Nanaimo NightOwls (June 23, 25, July 1, and July 21-22-23), Kelowna Falcons (July 3-4-5), Kamloops NorthPaws (July 10-11-12), Bellingham Bells (July 31, August 1-2), Wenatchee AppleSox (Aug 3-4-5).
NOTE: SINGLE-GAME TICKETS, ALL-STAR GAME TICKETS and FLEX-PACK VOUCHER RENEWALS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. We are finalizing a few logistics and dates and building the 2026 ticketing system and anticipate all those to go on sale in the next few weeks.
Season tickets and 12-game flex packs are NOW on sale on line at harbourcats.com/tickets or by stopping into the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
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