Summer Collegiate

Defending League Champs take two from NorthPaws

Published

2 years ago

June 27, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Author: Larry Read

CORVALLIS, WASHINGTON-It was ‘home sweet home’ for the defending West Coast League champion Corvallis Knights.

The Knights took two of three from the visiting Kamloops North Paws. After dropping the opener of a three-game set Saturday (June 24), 6-3 to the NorthPaws, the Knights beat the visitors on back-to-back nights. Sunday (June 25), Corvallis took Kamloops 6-2 and then on a night where they remembered their late General Manager, the Knights beat the Paws 13-11 on Monday (June 26) .

Knights General Manager Jennifer Beaumont passed Sunday night after a long battle with lung cancer.

The two wins up Corvallis’ record to 11-7, second in the South Division. Kamloops falls to 5-16 for the campaign. That is tied for last in the North Division.

The NorthPaws continue their longest road swing of the season moving into Portland to play the Pickles in three straight games beginning tomorrow (June27). The Knights have a home and home series with the Springfield Drifters which kicks off tomorrow in Corvallis.

A reminder that all West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

SERIES RECAP:

Saturday, June 24, 2023: NorthPaws 6 Knights 3

The Paws snap a six-game losing streak winning the series opener. Kamloops scored three in the seventh inning and two in the fourth accumulating nine hits with no errors. Corvallis had three runs on eight hits and committed four errors. This was Kamloops’ third win in four tries against the defending league champions.

The NorthPaws pitching staff got some solid outings from Christian Spitz (Overland Park, Kansas) and Nathan Grey (Queen Creek, Arizona). Spitz started and went five innings. He delivered a five hitter to even his record at 1-1. He had two strikeouts and three walks. Grey came on in relief for his first save. He went four innings of three hit ball with four strikeouts.

Nathan Marshall (Albany, Oregon) was tagged with the loss as he fell to 2-2. He surrendered three runs on two hits with two strikeouts.

Offensively, centerfielder Jude Hall (Chilliwack, BC) was 3-5 with a run scored and a run batted in. Designated hitter Joey Baran (Austin, Texas) was 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, QC) was 1-2 with a run scored and an RBI.

Second baseman Tyler Quinn (Mililani, Hawaii) was 2-5 with a run batted in. Shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Waipahnu, Hawaii) was 2-3 with a run scored.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598117

Sunday, June 25, 2023: Knights 6 NorthPaws 3

Over 11 hundred fans on hand went home happy as Corvallis evened up the series and raised their record to 10-7 on the year. The Eagles rallied from a 1-0 deficit after an inning and a half to score three and take a 3-1 lead. They also added three runs in the sixth inning. The Knights had 12 hits and one error compared to eight hits for the Paws.

Right fielder Sam Stern (Erice, Colorado) hit two run homer and went 2-5 for Corvallis. He also scored a run.

Centerfielder JC Ing (Foster City, Oregon) was 1-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored. Levi Jones (Portland, Oregon) was 2-43 with two runs batted in. Catcher Tyler Howard (Vancouver, Washington) was 2-2 with two runs scored while Yukomoto was 2-3 with two runs scored.

Leading the offense for Kamloops were Neville and Tyler Glowacki (San Diego, California). Both were 2-4. Neville added a run batted in. Left fielder Felix Chener-Rondeau (Blainville, Quebec), centerfielder Hall and third baseman Drew Giannini (Tracy, California) were all 1-4. Chener-Rondeau had a run batted in. Giannini scored a run.

New Zealander Maclain Roberts was the loser and is now 0-4 on the year. In this one, the NorthPaw pitcher went five innings giving up seven hits, three runs while striking out three and walking three.

Merit Jones (Idaho Falls, Idaho) went five innings for the win. He is 1-1 on the year for the Knights after striking out three, giving up a hit and a run. Both teams utilized four pitchers in the contest.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598118

Monday, June 26, 2023: Knights 13 North Paws 10

The North Paws gave up eight runs in the bottom of the first. Two of them coming off a home run courtesy of Tyler Quinn and a single home run from Anson Aroz (Auburn, California). Kamloops cut the deficit to a pair of runs when they scored six of their own in the top half of the second. After Corvallis went up 10-6, Kamloops added singles in the fourth, fifth and sixth to make the score 11—9 for the home team. Corvallis added two more in the eighth inning. Kamloops valiantly tried to battle back and added a pair on a two-run shot by Tommy Green (Courtenay, BC) in the top of the ninth.

Quinn led the way for the Knights going 2-3 with five runs batted in and a run scored. Aroz was 1-4 with three runs batted in and a run scored.

Villeneuve was 2-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored for Kamloops. Green went 1-3 at the dish with two R.B.I. and three runs scored. Hall was 1-5 with two runs batted in.

Sam Stuhr (Portland, Oregon) was the winning pitcher for his first victory of the year for Corvallis. He was the fourth of five pitchers for the Knights and went three innings. He pitched a one hitter while striking out five and walking one. Matthew Romero (Alberqueque, New Mexico) lasted only a third of an inning to be tagged with the loss. He gave up eight runs on seven hits and walked two. His record dips to 1-2.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598119

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

The Portland Pickles are the next opponents for the NorthPaws. The teams will do battle tomorrow (June 27) through to Thursday (June 29). Portland is 5-5 in their last ten outings and have won their last two games. They are sitting in a tie for second place in the WCL South Division with a 9-6 record. They are 2.5 games behind the division leaders, the Ridgefield Raptors

PLAYERS TO WATCH: PORTLAND VS KAMLOOPS:

The Pickles have two players among the top 10 in batting average in the West Coast League. Nicky Markantanator (Portland, Oregon) sits seventh with an average of .375. Armando Brisino (Fontana, California) is ninth in batting average at .365.

Nathan Shin (Pleasanton, California) is ninth in the league with an earned run average of 1.69 in four starts (1-1 record). Murphy Gienger (Castle Rock, Colorado) is 21 st with an E.R.A. of 2.81 and a record of 2-0.

Hayden Walker (Albuquerque, New Mexico) of Kamloops is fifth in the league in strikeouts (21). He is 23rd in earned run average (3.22) with a record of 4-1. Five members of the NorthPaws: Joey Adge (Parker, Colorado), Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) , David Jeon (Coppel,Texas) , Noah Loew (Chelan, WA) and Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, Quebec) are among the league leaders in fielding. Each have a percentage of 1.000. None have committed an error. Adge has nine put outs in 13 games. Villeneuve has 28 put outs in 26 games. Jeon has 10 put outs in nine innings.

EARLY JUNE AGAINST EACH OTHER:

Earlier this month, the two teams played in Kamloops with the Pickles sweeping. The last two games were 6-4 decisions for Portland. Infielder Jack Metcho (Fairfield, CA) was six for 12 in the series with five runs batted in, two stolen bases and six runs scored for the Pickles. Xiage Lancaster (Hilo, HA) was three for 11 with four RBI and two runs scored. Catcher Joey Adge (Parker, CO) was four for six in his two games played in the series with a run scored and a run batted in for Kamloops.

HOME SWEET HOME:

Next home game for the NorthPaws will be Canada Day ( Saturday, July 1) against the Kelowna Falcons. Opening pitch Canada Day is 6:35 PM. There will be Canada Day celebrations at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium on Saturday. The Falcons and Paws play Sunday (July 2nd). It is “Family Day” . Sunday’s tilt has a 2:05 PM start time.

If you can’t make the games, they are all webcast on https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/ . Some NorthPaws home games will also be shown on Shaw TV in Kamloops (Cable 10 or 105 with Blue Curve).

TAILGATE PARTY:

The Molson’s Tailgate Party is hoppin’ before every NorthPaws home game. It runs Tuesday through Saturday 5-630 PM. The Party runs Sundays noon-1 PM. Hotdogs and a Pilsner are sold for $ 12.00 plus tax.

For “Everything NorthPaws-Go to the website : https://www.northpawsbaseball.ca/ “
Kamloops North Paws tickets: ticketing@northpawsbaseball.ca
West Coast League: westcoastleague.com.

Contact for Media for Player Interviews;
Adam Filmon
Assistant Coach afilmon@northpawsbaseball.ca
cell phone (204) 955-3547

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Chase makes eight! Meidroth recalled by Chicago

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 11, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — In 10 seasons of play, it’s now eight Major League Baseball players produced — not too shabby.

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce that the Chicago White Sox have recalled infielder Chase Meidroth, and he will make his MLB debut at second base tonight against the team that drafted him, the Boston Red Sox.

Meidroth was placed with the HarbourCats in 2019 by Head Coach Rich Hill, then at the University of San Diego (now at Hawaii), and starred for the Cats at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP under HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney, himself a former MLB player.

Meidroth joins Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia/Boston/San Diego), Andrew Vaughn (Chicago White Sox), Alex DeGoti (Houston), Nathan Lukes (Toronto), Cade Smith (Cleveland), Davis Wendzel (Texas) and Jack Neely (Chicago Cubs) as MLB players who have come through the Victoria program.

That Pivetta was the first HarbourCat in the majors was pure poetry — he threw the first pitch in HarbourCats history in 2013, and is a Victoria product and former PBL Victoria Eagles pitcher.

With Vaughn and Meidroth together, this will be the first time two HarbourCats have been on the same team at the MLB level — and they may even bat next to each other in the lineup over the coming days.

With the HarbourCats, Meidroth was a star defensively at shortstop, and was near impossible to keep off the bases — he hit a whopping .424, a .494 on-base percentage, with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 13 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft after his junior season at USD.

Meidroth is just 23, with a whole career ahead of him. He’s considered an excellent contact hitter with MLB power potential, and had a big year at AAA in the Boston system last year before being a key part of a major trade between the two Sox teams. He’s hit 38 home runs across all levels, batting .304 with 54 stolen bases.

“Chase was tremendous for us — so strong at short, and an impact bat in helping that 2019 team reach the WCL final,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “We are so proud of him — and all our players who go pro, and of course the eight now who have made it to the MLB level.”

Vaughn is the top bat with the White Sox after being the third-overall MLB draft pick in 2019, fast-tracked to the MLB level. Smith, Wendzel (now at AAA in the Reds organization) and Neely made their MLB debuts in 2024, and Lukes, the 2014 HarbourCats player of the year, is fast becoming a regular in the outfield with the Blue Jays. DeGoti saw time with the Astros during the covid season and is now at AAA in the Rangers organization.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “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.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Finn returns, two Tide guys sign, and three Horned Frogs

Published

1 week ago

April 10, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 10, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — There may not be a better team nickname in all of sports than that of TCU — The Horned Frogs. And three of those Horned Frogs will be with the Victoria HarbourCats this summer.

Catcher Jacob Silva and pitchers Andrew Carter and Thomas Bridges have been added to head coach Todd Haney’s roster for this summer, which the HarbourCats will start on the road in Kelowna on May 30 — less than two months away. TCU provided right-hander Carson Cormier, a WCL all-star and Pitcher of the Year, to the HarbourCats in 2024.

The home opener is June 6 with the Port Angeles Lefties at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

“It’s always good to add top young talent from a great program like TCU, which sees the value in the competition we get to face in the West Coast League on a daily basis,” said Haney, the 2023 WCL coach of the year, now in his fifth season as head coach of the HarbourCats.

Also added today are local pitcher Jack Finn, in his third season with the HarbourCats, and Victoria Golden Tide outfielder Dominic Biello, who is having a breakout season with the CCBC program in Victoria. Righty Jalen Sami, who was a valuable asset of
out the bullpen before starting a playoff game for Victoria in 2024, also returns.

“Having Jack Finn return with the strides he’s made at the D1 level, will be great for the staff as well,” said Haney. “He really enjoys working with our pitching coach, Scott Anderson.”

Announced today:

LHP Jack Finn, Illinois State, 6-2/185, L/L, Victoria
OF Dominic Biello, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-0/200, R/R, Victoria
RHP Jalen Sami, Victoria Golden Tide, 5-10/170, R/R, Burnaby
RHP Andrew Carter, TCU, 6-2/192, R/R, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
RHP Tommy Bridges, TCU, 5-11/190, R/R, Los Angeles
C Jacob Silva, TCU, 5-10/203, S/R, San Antonio, TX

Finn, a product of the Victoria Eagles, had an impressive showing for the HarbourCats late in the 2023 season, before heading to Normal, Illinois and Illinois State. The sophomore is used as a lefty out of the pen by head coach Steve Holm, but started seven games among his nine appearances in summer of 2024 in Victoria, going 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA — 16 strikeouts and 23 hits allowed in 25 innings.

Biello, who attends UVic, is tied for the Tide team lead in home runs with two this spring, batting .318, with a team-high nine runs batted in, along with three doubles. An Eagles product, Biello is a leader for the Tide, usually batting second in the order — also a strong defender in the outfield.

Sami, from Burnaby, took the winter off to rest, rehab and strengthen his pitching arm but will be ready by late May. He made nine appearances for the HarbourCats in 2024, giving up just 10 hits in 16.1 innings, walking only two hitters.

Silva hit .375 in his high school career before joining his older brother Anthony at TCU. Jacob was a stellar student-athlete at Clark HS, recognized for his academics and named a unanimous all-district player. He won the Texas 6A Student Athlete Award in 2024.

Carter had three no-hitters in high school and was first-team all-conference in his last two years of prep baseball. He is a freshman at TCU, as is Bridges, who had a record 0.59 ERA in high school, earning an invite to the Perfect Game national showcase.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Little League Classic coming to RAP, ahead of nationals at Layritz

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a first for the best baseball park in Victoria, and a way to celebrate a major event coming to Layritz Park in late July.

With Layritz due to host the Canadian Little League Championship starting on July 29 — the winner advances to Williamsport, PA, and represents team Canada for the Little League World Series — the Victoria HarbourCats, and the HarbourCats Foundation, are hosting the LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

On Sunday, July 20, all six Little League organizations in the Victoria area will be represented as a preview of the Canadian Little League Championship, which will start at Layritz on July 29 — an event supported by the HarbourCats Foundation through the Victoria Foundation.

“This is something we have never tried, and we can’t wait to see the faces of these young athletes when they are on that field, with their pictures up on the video scoreboard,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “We think this is something that could grow in future years to see Wilson’s Group Stadium used for an entire youth baseball showcase weekend — the same as we are using the Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase on May 31, featuring the Sooke Loggers and Lacey A’s, to bring attention to that area of diamond sports.

“We could not be more excited to see what Layritz is doing in hosting the Canadian Little League Championship. There is no more pure level of sport than events like that, the pure joy of the young stars, and all who support them.”

Little League Classic schedule of events:

Sunday, July 20 2025 Little League Classic
Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP

11am, Hampton vs. Central Saanich
1pm, National vs. Lakehill
3pm, Layritz vs. Beacon Hill

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the HarbourCats Foundation to bring the Little League Classic to Royal Athletic Park,” said Brittney Crump, Chair of the Canadian Little League Championships Planning Committee. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent of our little league athletes in Victoria and build excitement for the Canadian Little League Championship at Layritz. We are grateful for the support we have received to date from the local community – but we have not reached our fundraising goal yet. Community support is vital to the success of these events, and we’re proud to stand together with the HarbourCats Foundation in making this experience possible for these young athletes.”

Tickets are available on-line for the Little League Classic, and are by donation for adults, with a minimum donation of $5 required. Kids 12 and under are free! These great events need financial support to be able to pull them off, and the HarbourCats and HarbourCats Foundation are proud to be part of that effort.

Anyone wishing to learn more or to support the national tournament can visit the tournament website at https://layritz.ca/tournaments/2025-canadian-championship/ or e-mail Brittany Crump at media@layritz.ca.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and three “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

Source