“I think it could be a good opportunity to see some high-level competition in the West Coast League and also get exposed to scouts,” Maier said. “I’ve also heard it’s just a ton of fun, I’m excited.”
The Vancouverite is an all-around athlete. He was invited to the Kamloops Blazers rookie camp in 2016, but he declined to pursue baseball instead. On the diamond, he is as effective at the plate as on the mound.
Photo Credit: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds
In his first season with the Thunderbirds during the shortened 2020 campaign, Maier put up a 2.84 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 19 innings of work on the mound. He also posted a .290 average with eight RBI and five doubles in 62 at-bats as the designated hitter.
“Adam is just a really good ball player. Not only is he one of our best pitchers, but he’s also one of our best hitters,” said Sammie Starr, Maier’s assistant coach with both the NorthPaws and Thunderbirds. “As soon as he stepped on campus, he was one of our better players and impact players.”
Maier was a standout high school player.
He won the BC Premier Baseball League MVP in 2019, leading his North Shore Twins to the provincial championship with a 7-2 record, two saves, five complete games, three shoutouts and a perfect game to accompany his 0.24 ERA and 88 strikeouts. At the plate, he added a .321 average and 29 RBI. In the playoffs, he posted another complete game shutout, pitched a 1.08 ERA with a .588 average going 10-for-17 at the plate.
Lastly what we had known all year was made official! @AdamMaier88 wins the league MVP and top pitcher honors with a season for the record books. IP 58.1 ERA 0.24 88K 10BB oh and he also hits AVG .321 29RBI he tops it off with a season saving home run!! pic.twitter.com/CbThCjaYe5
“He’s had success everywhere he’s been, Starr said. “He’s a really confident player, never gets too high, never gets too low. It was a no brainer talking to him and trying to get him on the NorthPaws squad for the summer.”
Maier also got the opportunity to play for the Canadian Junior National Team making stops in Australia and the Dominican Republic before competing at the U-18 Baseball World Cup in South Korea.
Canada finished with a 4-4 record, and Maier finished with a 4.22 ERA and seven strikeouts in 10.2 innings on the mound against the Netherlands, South Korea and was the starting pitcher for Canada’s win against Chinese Taipei.
“That was a really cool experience. We went and toured all the different MLB facilities that the Dominican Summer League teams play at,” Maier recalled. “It was an awesome feeling for sure.”
Photo Credit: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds
Kamloops NorthPaws inaugural season tickets are on sale. Click here to reserve your seat to see Adam Maier and all the incoming talent at Norbrock Stadium next season.
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.
Easter, Fleury, Buchan and Waters excited to be back in Nanaimo
Building a team is also about building a culture, with character people who have leadership skills — and that culture is important.
The Nanaimo NightOwls are pleased to announce the return of four key players from the 2023 team, the second season of WCL baseball at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and it’s a group of four that especially has veteran pitching coach Gorm Heimueller smiling.
.
Two quality arms, a big bat and a second-team All-WCL catcher will be back in the navy and yellow — Michael Easter behind the dish, part of the catching crew that will receive pitches again from Nathan Buchan and Jake Fleury, along with a strong hitter in Wylie Waters. They join local infielder Aaron Marsh, last year’s co-player-of-the-year, as the first group confirmed for 2024.
Nathan Buchan, LHP, University of Redlands, from Mercer Island, WA
Jake Fleury, RHP, Skagit Valley College, from Burlington, WA
Wylie Waters, IF, South Mountain CC, from West Vancouver, BC
Michael Easter, C, Azuza Pacific, from Arcadia, CA
The WCL schedule was announced earlier this month — the regular season home opener for Head Coach Greg Frady and the NightOwls is Tuesday, June 4 against the Cowlitz Black Bears.
.
Easter, who has moved from East LA CC to D-1 Azuza Pacific, was part of a strong catching core in 2023, walking more times than he struck out (26BB, 18K) and hitting .315 (16th in the WCL in average) with 21 runs driven in. His nine doubles tied for third on the team.
.
Buchan, the opening day starter in 2023, is a warrior and a throwback, often going deep in games and going 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA over nine starts — a pitcher’s pitcher who struck out 32 batters in 37.1 innings.
.
Potent hitter Waters, who played some infield, some outfield and DH in 2023 for Coach Greg Frady, is at South Mountain CC in Arizona, and had a strong summer in the WCL in which he hit .317 (14th in the WCL) with two home runs, 21 RBIs and 10 doubles, second on the NightOwls, in 42 games. He struck out just 22 times, matching his total of 22 combined base on balls (17) and hit by pitch (5).
VICTORIA, B.C. — The season may feel far away, just over six months to be exact, but plans are well underway for filling Head Coach Todd Haney’s 2024 Victoria HarbourCats roster.
Included are returning pitchers, and local products via the Victoria Eagles program, Sam Jordan and Ryder Green, along with the next Magdic (mag-DEECH) power-hitting prospect.
Kyle Magdic, IF, Lincoln, ON, 6-3/230, Marshalltown CC
Brooks Brewster, RHP, Carthage, TX, 6-2/205, Paris JC (Texas)
Wyatt Anderson, RHP, Cochrane, AB, 6-3/205, Hill JC (Texas)
Kade Douglas, RHP, Trinidad, CO, 6-2/185, CSU Pueblo
Sam Jordan, RHP, Victoria, BC, 6-3/190, Trinidad State (CO)
Magdic is the younger brother of 2023 fan favourite Ryan Magdic, a big corner infielder with huge power potential. Anderson is a power pitcher who will benefit from working with HarbourCats pitching coach Scott Anderson (no relation) and the staff.
Brewster is yet another Texas recruit by Haney, with a fastball in the low 90s, a college freshman who had great success at the top high school level in a very competitive state.
Douglas, a lanky right-hander with swing-miss stuff, pitched in the Northwoods League and WCBL, advancing from Allen CC to CSU-Pueblo. Green, who has been around the team for many years including being a batboy many moons ago, is in the midst of his freshman NAIA season in Arizona and returns for a second season working with Anderson.
Jordan returns for a second season, this time after spending a year at Trinidad State in Colorado (previously at Thompson Rivers in Kamloops). He made six appearances including two starts for the HarbourCats in 2023, going 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA and walking only four hitters.
As always, single game tickets will be available through our one and only ticketing partner Select Your Tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
SINGLE GAME TICKET PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Fans who want to get a jump on their single game ticket purchases may do so by dropping into the HarbourCats office on Wednesday or Thursday November 29th and 30th between Noon and 7PM as the HarbourCats are holding their annual Christmas Open House at the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
Other Christmas Open House specials include season ticket renewals or new purchases at 2023 pricing (a savings of $20-25 per seat) plus 20% off all in store merchandise! Food and beverage will also be provided.
YOU ARE INVITED! Please mark your calendars and join us, as we usher in the 2023-2024 Holiday season with our annual HarbourCats Christmas Open House, this year expanded over a two day period!
November 29th and 30th, 2023 12 Noon to 7:00 pm both days at the HarbourCats office 101-1814 Vancouver Street (just around the corner from the park!)
We will have our usual assortment of treats and holiday beverages on hand, plus plenty of great deals on tickets and merchandise for the baseball fan on your Christmas list. Come on in and take advantage of the following offers:
15% off ALL in store merchandise including new 2023 North Division Champion shirts, game worn jerseys, new kids apparel and plenty more!
2024 Single Game Ticket Pre-Buy Be the first to get your single-game tickets for 2024 before they go on sale on-line and to the general public on Friday December 1st!
2024 Voucher Exchanges If you have ticket vouchers, be first to exchange them for your preferred seats before single game tickets go on sale to the general public!
Early Bird Season Ticket Pricing! Even though our Early Bird deadline on Season Tickets has passed, come in either day to renew your 2023 seats or set up new season tickets and we will give you those at our 2023 pricing!
Get a 2024 Schedule Pick up a copy of our 2024 Schedule, one that includes 32 home games, 4 fireworks nights and all the excitement of another West Coast League season! Home Opener, Friday, June 7, 2024 6:35 pm against the Wenatchee AppleSox
We will look forward to seeing you on the 29th and 30th!
Stay tuned to all of our social media for updates and more details as they become available.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login