West Coast League
Dearing Deepens NorthPaws Canadian Talent Pool
The Kamloops NorthPaws newest pitcher adds to the depth of Canadian talent on the 2021 roster.
Tate Dearing, a 6’2” right-hander from Surrey, will bring his deceptive mix of pitches to the mound at Norbrock Stadium.
Dearing throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, 12-6 curve, slider and circle changeup.
“I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to come in, light up the radar gun and blow it by you at 95 or 96 so I have to take a step back and get crafty,” he said. “I utilize a lot of off-speed pitches and keep pitchers relatively off balance.”
Dearing began his collegiate career at Polk State College but returned home after his first season for personal reasons. He joined Douglas College for the 2020 season, starting one game before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the season to a halt. He had committed to Georgia Gwinnett College for this season, but with the uncertainties of international travel opted instead to stay in B.C.
Photo Credit: Polk State College
“Tate is a guy who figures into our starting rotation. He’s a great competitor and is able to get guys out in multiple ways,” said head coach Cole Armstrong, who first coached Dearing on a little league travel team about a decade ago. “He’s been on the big stage with the Junior National Team and at a powerhouse Junior College program. He’s battle tested and hungry for an opportunity like this one.”
Staying close to home was one of two key reasons for Dearing to want to join the NorthPaws.
“The second part that was the icing on the cake was my grandpa lives in Kamloops. I haven’t seen him for a couple years so it will be nice that he can come out and watch me play every game,” Dearing said.
Growing up playing baseball, hockey and soccer, Dearing said it felt they he was in Kamloops every other weekend for a tournament.
One visit when he was in grade 11 stands out in particular because his phone rang, and Team Canada was calling.
“I remember the morning I got my phone call, we were at Best of the West. I pitched at Norbrock at a night game and I woke up the next morning to a phone call from [head coach Greg Hamilton] saying I’m on the team,” he said.
His stint with the Junior National Team took him to Florida, Panama, Dominican Republic and across Canada.
“It’s surreal being able to wear that Canada across your chest and do it consistently and create bonds with guys across the country. The first time I wore the jersey and went out and pitched I don’t think I was able to stand still. I was so shaky and so nervous,” Dearing recalled. “Obviously you’re there for a reason, but that doesn’t matter in the moment. I was shaking out of my pants, so hopefully nobody noticed.”
Dearing comes to the NorthPaws as one of the few players on the roster with past experience in the West Coast League. He posted a 1.42 ERA across five appearances for the Bellingham Bells in 2019.
The Kamloops NorthPaws are an expansion West Coast League franchise bringing the highest calibre baseball Canada’s Tournament Capital has ever seen. The West Coast League, founded in 2005, has 15 teams across Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta featuring some of the top collegiate players during a 54-game summer season. Find the NorthPaws online at www.northpawsbaseball.ca, @northpawsbaseball on Instagram and Facebook, or @northpawsbb on Twitter.
Jai Berezowski had three hits and three RBIs, including a pair of home runs (Photo: Justin P. Morash)
July 17, 2025
For immediate release
VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats came out on top in non-league action Thursday night, defeating the Victoria Mavericks 12-2.
Victoria native Jack Finn (Illinois State) started for the HarbourCats and got off to a great start with a three-up-three-down first inning. He surrendered a solo home run to Dylan Price in the top of the third inning, and then gave up a second run on a Josh Walker RBI single later in the frame. The lefty’s evening was done after three innings, giving up a pair of runs on four hits while striking out two.
The Cats answered back in the bottom half through a Jai Berezowski (Golden Tide) solo home run and a Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) two-out RBI single to tie the game up 2-2.
Clayton Broeder (Angelo State) made his Cats debut out of the bullpen and threw two scoreless innings, striking out four and collecting the win.
Jack Finn made his first appearance since June 12 (Photo: Justin P. Morash)
The HarbourCats blew the game wide open with a five-run fourth inning. Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) and Isaiah Afework (TAMU-CC) both hit solo home runs. Berezowski crushed his second home run of the game over the scoreboard in left field. A Jake Butler (George Mason) sacrifice fly capped off the huge inning, giving the Cats a 7-2 lead.
Butler drove in his second run of the game with an RBI single in the sixth inning that extended his team’s lead to 9-2. Peter Tassler (MSU Denver) recorded his first hit as a HarbourCat, an RBI single to make it 10-2 in the seventh inning. The hosts tacked on two more runs in the eighth to push the lead to 12-2.
Jacob Thompson (Minot State), Dillon Dibrell (Central Oklahoma), and Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) all pitched in relief for the Cats, combining for four scoreless innings.
WATCH GAMES HERE
The HarbourCats are back in West Coast League action tomorrow at 6:35 PM in Bellingham as they open a three-game set against the Bells. The Cats lead the North Division second-half standings with a 10-2 record, while the Bells sit three games back of the lead with a 7-5 record.
Kamana Nahaku had two hits in his second game back with the HarbourCats (Photo: Justin P. Morash)
Due to popular demand, we are expanding our $12 Tuesday seats. ALL remaining Premium Reserved seats (normally $22 a seat), on July 22 vs Dub Sea and July 29 vs Kamloops, are now just $12. PLUS, WE NOW HAVE $12 THURSDAYS! All remaining Premium Reserved seats for our Thursday games on July 17, July 24 and July 31 are now just $12. Come watch the best baseball in town for the best price anywhere!
BUY TICKETS HERE
10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “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.
For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
WCL All-Star Festival returning to Victoria for two seasons, HarbourCats last hosted game in 2013
For immediate release
July 17, 2025
VICTORIA, B.C. – The best of the very best in the West Coast League will return to Victoria – not once, but twice.
In a media event on the field today, the Victoria HarbourCats are excited to announce, along with the West Coast League and the Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission, an arm of Destination Greater Victoria, that the WEST COAST LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME will be played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park the next two seasons – 2026 and 2027.
The expected dates will be July 15, 2026, and July 14, 2027 – in both cases, the day after the Major League Baseball all-star game. The West Coast League is a proud partner of Major League Baseball.
Destination Greater Victoria, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Wilson’s Group of Companies, Better Print, and New Era Cap Company are the first partners to officially join forces for this event – with opportunities for corporate and community partners at all levels.
“Our outstanding ballpark, which plays to professional standards, and the engagement of this market in terms of support of WCL baseball made this happen – two years in a row, the best of the league will be in the best city in the world,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the Victoria HarbourCats (and Nanaimo NightOwls).
“The excellent broadcast quality provided by Chris Jaycox Productions, and the tremendous work done by City staff on all facets of Wilson’s Group Stadium, put this over the top and made our bid to host in consecutive years successful with WCL board members.
“We could not be more excited to do the work to make these the best all-star games in league history.”
The event has already received support in the form of a sport hosting grant from the Province of British Columbia.
“Hosting the West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 will further elevate Victoria’s global profile as a premier sport tourism destination,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “These All-Star Games will bring significant economic benefits to our local tourism sector, boosting business revenues and creating ripple effects that will be felt throughout the region.”
Bellingham played host the last two seasons, including yesterday’s game. When Victoria hosted in 2013, the game set a league attendance record with more than 4,000 in attendance – 2026 and 2027 project to see more than 5,000 in-person spectators at each event. Edmonton, the WCL attendance leaders, and Victoria are league facilities capable of holding more than 3,500 spectators.
“Hosting back-to-back West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 is exciting for fans and once again demonstrates how Victoria is being recognized as a go-to destination for sports tourism and major sporting events,” said City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. “These games will be unforgettable, and our dedicated partners and passionate community are showing the world what Victoria can do.”
Swanson will be part of a steering committee that includes former BC Games chair Kelly Mann, former Oak Bay fire chief Dave Cockle, HarbourCats Creative Director Chris Beveridge, HarbourCats General Manager Christian Stewart, Marketing Director John Pollard, and VP Operations and Business Adrian Somers.
These events will be considerable contributors to the local economy, promoting the great and growing sports legacy of Victoria.
Further details will be rolled out, but tentative plans are slated to include:
**A next-level home run derby the day before the game
**Youth camps that will cover the entire city and be focal points of festivities
**MLB scouts will attend a combine that will happen before the game
**A signature luncheon on the day of the game, with an exciting keynote speaker to be announced
**A pre-game concert is in the works
**Plus a hot stove social event also in the planning stages.
“Ticket packages for the entire event will go fast, and we anticipate offering those to our partners, season ticket holders and host families first during a two-week window in September, with the general public able to snap up what is left after that – it will be affordable, and it will bring great value,” said Swanson.
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