Summer Collegiate

Falcons Sweep NorthPaws, take season series

Published

2 years ago

August 4, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Author: Larry Read

KELOWNA, BC—The Kelowna Falcons brought out the offence as they took advantage of a depleted Kamloops NorthPaws pitching staff in a pair of West Coast League games at Elks Stadium.

The Falcons racked up 30 hits over two games and scored 21 times as they swept the NorthPaws. The scores were 10-0 on Tuesday night (Aug 2) and 11-5 on Wednesday (Aug 3). As a result, Kelowna won the regular season series against Kamloops. They won four of six games.

Kelowna is now 29-22 on the season while Kamloops falls to 11-38.

The Paws will close out the 2023 West Coast League regular season in Kamloops (August 4-6). Their opponents will be the Nanaimo Night Owls.

The Falcons will do battle with the Wenatchee AppleSox at Elks Stadium in their final regular season series. That begins tomorrow (August 4).

All West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

SERIES RECAP:

Wednesday, August 2, 2023:Falcons 10 NorthPaws 0

The Falcons took the lead in the season series with this victory as they won their third in five starts. The big offensive innings for Kelowna were the sixth and eighth when they scored three runs a piece. They had 10 runs on 13 hits. Kamloops managed only five hits in the ball game.

Jonas Silk (Fairfax, CA) was the Falcons biggest offensive weapon going 4-5 with two RBI and one run scored. Griffin Palfrey (West Vancouver, BC) and Garet Crenshaw (Fullerton, CA) were both 2-4 with a run scored and two RBI while Sam Flores (Lufkin, TX) was 1-5 with two RBI.

The Paws offensive was led by Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, QC). He was 2-4 while Drew Giannini (Tracy. CA) was 1-4.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598574

Thursday, August 3, 2023:Falcons 11 NorthPaws 1

Things looked positive for Kamloops early on as Villeneuve blasted a solo homer in the top of the first inning. It was his second round tripper of the 2023 campaign.

After the Falcons tied it up with a run of their own in the second, The Paws scored three times in the third inning: Ray Jesse (Oak Lawn, IL) singled to lead of the inning and scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1. Giannini hit into a fielder’s choice allowing Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ) , who had previously singled to give Kamloops a two-run lead (3-1).

The big inning for Kelowna was the sixth where they scored four times. They added three more in the eighth when Jared Sucro (Kamloops, BC), who hadn’t pitched all season was forced into action as head coach Keith Francis tried to save what’s left of his pitching staff for another day. Sucro had caught, played infield and outfield this season went one inning on the mound giving up three runs on three hits, walking two and striking out one. He was the fourth pitcher of the night for Kamloops following starter Kolby Lukinchuk (Prince George, BC)—who is normally a reliever, Adam Filmon (Winnipeg, MB)—the NorthPaws assistant general manager, and Lucas Maricle (Trail, BC)—who is usually a catcher for the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference Thompson Rivers University WolfPack. Filmon was the losing pitcher of record, playing in only his second game of the year. He gave up four runs on three hits.

Villeneuve was 1-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Jesse was 1-4 with a run scored. Giannini was 1-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Raphael Smeenk (Amsterdam, NL) was 4-5 with three RBI and a run scored to lead the Falcons offence. Cameron Mercurio (Modesto, CA) was 4-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Flores was 2-4 with two runs batted in.

Cory Lawson of Okanagan College of the CCBC was the starting pitcher for Kelowna going seven innings. He gave up six hits, four runs, walked three and struck out two. Teagan Ribbink, who is also from Okanagan College came on in relief and went four innings striking out five giving up one hit and walking three. He moved to 2-1 on the season appearing in his seventh game.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598575

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

The Paws will conclude the regular season at Dearborn Ford field at Norbrock Stadium against Nanaimo starting tomorrow (Aug 4). Saturday’s (August 5) contest against the Night Owls will be Fan Appreciation night followed the final game of the regular campaign on Sunday (August 6) which has been deemed “Family Day”.

If you can’t make the home games, they are all webcast on https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/ . Some 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 runs 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.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Four returnees signed by HarbourCats, including all-star Shepherd

Published

7 days ago

October 15, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

2025 All-Star and home-run leader Logan Shepherd (28) will return to the HarbourCats for the 2026 season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

October 15, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — It’s the norm for players to want to run it back for another summer, and four such returning players have started the foundation for the 2026 Victoria HarbourCats — headlined by a slugging DH/first baseman.

Logan Shepherd, a powerful right-handed hitter from Olympia, WA, will be back with the HarbourCats next summer. A product of Tacoma Community College and now at Mercer, he tied the franchise record for home runs in a season with eight last year, batting .345 and driving in 41 runs while being named to the West Coast League all-star game.

“Logan put up some serious numbers for us and wants to get even more out of the Victoria experience,” said WCL veteran head coach Todd Haney, who will be in his sixth season leading the HarbourCats when May rolls around. “He was a leader, and these players announced today will help us continue with the culture we have established with this program.”

Also signed:

C Dillon Lopez, St. Mary’s, 5-10/200, San Antonio, TX
RHP Austin Lindsey, Hill JC, 6-1/180, Lufkin, TX
RHP Marcus Janovsky, UBC, 6-0/195, Surrey, BC
1B/DH Logan Shepherd, Mercer, 6-2/215, Olympia, WA

Lopez also put up all-star worthy numbers, if he’d been able to join the team earlier in the season — .350 with 18 RBIs in 21 games, hitting three home runs and providing premium defence behind the plate.

Catcher Dillon Lopez (18), here celebrating after a walk-off hit in 2025, will return behind the dish for the 2026 season (Photo: Justin Morash).

Lindsey pitched in 13 games with 27 strikeouts in 24 innings of work, mostly out of the bullpen — a high-leverage, dependable arm for Haney and the coaching staff. Janovsky, playing near his hometown of Surrey at UBC, was 2-1 while giving up 19 hits in 21.1 innings of work, with 19 strikeouts.

Right-hand pitcher Marcus Janovsky (centre), here celebrating after a clutch relief appearance in 2025, will return to the mound for the HarbourCats in 2026 (Photo: Justin Morash)

“We’re proud of the development of these players and can’t wait to welcome them back, with another year of experience under their belt,” said Haney.

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. BE SURE TO LOCK IN YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY to get first right of refusal on your seats for the 2026 WCL All-Star game that will be played here in Victoria. These will be going on sale SOON!

Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – West Coast League meetings to be held in Victoria

Published

2 weeks ago

October 6, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

October 6, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The capital city of British Columbia will become the centre of the West Coast League (WCL) for two days in October.

The 2025 WCL Fall Meetings, featuring a gathering of team owners/directors, will be held in Victoria, October 20-21. This marks the first time the meetings, often staged near a major U.S. airport (Seattle or Portland) for travel and logistics reasons, have been held in Canada since the formation of the collegiate elite baseball league that evolved from a gathering in Kelowna in 2003, with the Kelowna Falcons as one of the founding members — and the lone Canadian entry until the HarbourCats were founded.

Five of the league’s 17 teams now are located in Canada — in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops and Edmonton. Kamloops, Nanaimo and Edmonton all started play in 2022.

The HarbourCats, who joined the WCL for the 2013 season and have watched as eight former players have advanced to the MLB level, will also welcome the league to Victoria in July of 2026 and 2027 when the organization plays host to the WCL All-Star Game festival for consecutive seasons, showcasing Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The all-star game was held in Bellingham the last two summers.

“The inner harbour in fall will be a fantastic setting for these meetings, just as it will be for events around the WCL All-Star Game next July,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that operates both the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls.

Topics expected to be discussed are the finalization of the league’s 2026 schedule, WCL marketing initiatives, and ways to improve best practices around player, coach and umpire development — the keystone goal of the WCL.

“I’m incredibly excited to visit Victoria for our fall meetings,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “The city’s rich baseball history and beautiful scenery will provide the perfect backdrop for our teams to discuss the future of the League in one of my favorite WCL markets.”

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Lock in your season tickets today to get first right of refusal on your seats for the 2026 WCL All-Star game that will be played here in Victoria.

Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.

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Summer Collegiate

All-Stars Hayes and Zenk returning to Owls in 2026

Published

3 weeks ago

October 2, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — They put on a show for fans at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and they got better as the summer went on.

Talan Zenk (Everett CC) and Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific), two West Coast League all-stars in 2025, are returning to the Nanaimo NightOwls next summer — the priority first signings by Head Coach Cody Andreychuk and GM Tina Cornett.

“These two players really enjoyed performing in front of WCL fans, and especially our great fans in Nanaimo,” said Andreychuk, the local product who will enter his second season as the NightOwls’ head coach. “They developed, and they got a chance to be leaders. We are proud of how they represented us at the all-star game and we are very happy they are eager to be in Nanaimo again. These are great young men who represent their schools and families so well.”

Zenk, who was the ultimate utility player by serving in both the infield and outfield, was a spark plug at the top of the order — he hit .289 with 10 stolen bases, four home runs, seven doubles and two triples. The 19-year-old from Brier, WA, had a .853 OPS.

Hayes is without a question the best power hitter the NightOwls have ever had in blue and gold, following up a 19-bomb spring at college by hitting 10 home runs (team record) in 49 WCL games, batting .250 with 44 hits, 30 walks and 39 runs driven in, all while playing nearly every game at first base. The 20-year-old from Anacortes, WA is entering his sophomore season at Azusa Pacific. He was the NightOwls player of the year in 2025.

SEASON TICKETS — The best seats can be secured now! Email tina@nanaimonightowls.com to lock in your 2026 NightOwls season tickets, with versatile fan-friendly flex options to see the best baseball on Vancouver Island. The NightOwls enter their fifth season in the WCL and have had a player selected in the MLB draft each of the last three seasons.

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