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.
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2024 HarbourCats Coaching Staff – Front Row (L to R) Scott Anderson (Pitching Coach), Todd Haney (Head Coach), Trovin Valdez (Hitting Coach), Steve Sinclair (Bench Coach); Back Row (L to R): Ethan Fox (Bullpen Coach), Troy Birtwistle (First Base Coach).
For immediate release
April 16, 2024
VICTORIA, B.C. — An already strong coaching staff under WCL Coach of the Year Todd Haney just got stronger with the addition of Trovin Valdez, a former pro who made it to AAA in the Montreal Expos system.
Valdez, 50, was the personal hitting coach of Manny Ramirez during much of his record-setting MLB career and now works extensively with his sons Manny Jr. and Lucas, who have joined the HarbourCats for the 2024 WCL season. Valdez, who was once traded for lefthander David Wells, also works with a number of MLB players from his base in Florida, moving around the continent — and now will spend the summer exclusively in Victoria working with all HarbourCats hitters.
Haney, who has been with the HarbourCats since 2018 and Head Coach since 2019, is proud to unveil the entire staff for 2024:
- Todd Haney, Head Coach (5th year, 4th as Head Coach)
- Trovin Valdez, Hitting/Outfield Coach (First year)
- Scott Anderson, Pitching Coach (Second year)
- Troy Birtwistle, First Base Coach (Sixth year)
- Steve Sinclair, Bench Coach (Second year)
- Ethan Fox, Bullpen Coach (Third year, former HarbourCats player)
Under Haney, the HarbourCats led the WCL in hits, runs and stolen bases in 2023 and set a WCL record with an astounding 25-2 home record at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP, adding two more home wins in as many dates in the playoffs. The HarbourCats reached the WCL’s final game for the third time in five seasons.
Jaxon Williams (pictured right), part of the 2023 staff, is unable to return due to career reasons and the HarbourCats thank him and wish him all the best, he will always be a part of the HarbourCats family.
“This is a tremendous staff under incredible leadership from Todd — our players will be well served in their development,” said Christian Stewart, GM of the HarbourCats. “We couldn’t be happier with the makeup of this group, and we’re excited to see Trovin go to work. Our team set multiple team and league records on the offensive side of the game last year and that exciting style of play will be on display for our fans again.”
Valdez stole more than 250 bases as a pro, spanning nine seasons, and he joins former pro players Haney (five years MLB with Expos, Cubs and Mets), Anderson (also Expos system), Sinclair (MLB lefty with Blue Jays and Mariners), and Birtwistle (Australia). Fox played college ball and is the Head Coach of the Golden Tide CCBC team.
The HarbourCats open on the road May 31 in Kamloops, the start of back-to-back series in Kamloops and Kelowna, before returning for the June 7 home opener against Wenatchee. The HarbourCats will be on the road this summer in Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee, Ridgefield, Port Angeles, Bellingham, and six games in Nanaimo against the Island-rival NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Teams visiting Victoria this year are Wenatchee, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Kelowna, Edmonton (two series), Kamloops and Corvallis, along with non-league games against the Redmond Dudes, Dub Sea Fishsticks, the SIBL All-Stars, and Victoria Mavericks All-Stars.
The regular season runs until August 7, with WCL playoffs running from August 10 to August 16.
Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online through our one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.
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