Summer Collegiate

Falcons Sweep NorthPaws, take season series

Published

3 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 – Haney Adds Big-Time Arms to 2026 Roster Alongside Two More Hitters

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Jeremiah Arnett (Rice University) (above) brings a veteran presence to the HarbourCats pitching staff. (photo courtesy of Rice University Athletics)

VICTORIA, B.C. — Big name schools are all over the latest group of Victoria HarbourCats player signed by Todd Haney.

The recruiting network of the head coach has unearthed power arms from Rice, Arkansas State and UC-San Diego, along with an outfielder from Fresno State and another from Hill College,

“Todd works very hard at putting a winning product on the field for our fans,” said Christian Stewart, GM of the HarbourCats. “We know these guys will compete in our environment, and in a very good league like the West Coast League. These guys also have a shot at being added to the list of eight players to play for us and go on to the MLB level.”

Announced today:

RHP Tate Collins, Arkansas State, 6-3/215, Little Rock, AR
RHP Houston Tomlinson, Arkansas State, 6-0/200, Spring, TX
RHP Jeremiah Arnett, Rice, 6-4/215, Waco, TX
RHP Quincey Brown, UC San Diego, 6-2/175, Seattle, WA
OF/1B Dryden Fuoco, Hill College, L/L, 6-1/205, Vancouver, BC
OF Marcus Nolen, Fresno State, R/R, 6-3/220, Fresno, CA

Collins is a sophomore who was previously at Central Arkansas, and teammate his Tomlinson has started one game for Arkansas State as a redshirt freshman.

Arnett is a junior who will be expected to anchor the staff as a veteran pitcher. He’s 2-2 with a save over ten appearances, including six starts at Rice.

Brown, from Seattle, has made 14 appearances as a freshman and is striking out a batter per inning. He earned his first college win on Feb. 24 in a victory over rival University of San Diego.

Fuoco is from Vancouver and is having a strong junior college season — batting .307 with six home runs, 42 RBIs and four stolen bases in 53 games.

Nolen is a physical specimen who has nine home runs and 12 doubles through 47 games as a freshman, batting .246.

The HarbourCats begin their 2026 season on May 29th with a visit to Portland and then return to Victoria for the Home Opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 pm.

Season tickets, single-game tickets, 12 and 32-game flex packs and 2026 All-Star Game ticket packages are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 1814 Vancouver Street.

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Summer Collegiate

Hager returns, exciting bats added to NightOwls roster

Published

5 days ago

May 13, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

May 12, 2026

NANAIMO, BC — Once players have landed in Nanaimo, they definitely want to come back.

Right-hander Blake Hager has signed to return to historic Serauxmen Stadium— celebrating its 50th year — and pitch for a coach in Gorm Heimueller who is now in his 50th year in the game.

Hager is a NCAA Division 1 starting pitcher and brings immediate experience and stability to the pitching staff.

Hager, Parker King of Campbellsville and Damian Pasillas have been signed as pitchers, along with and exciting group of position players by Head Coach Cody Andreychuk:

RHP Damian Pasillas, Azusa Pacific, 6-1/195, San Diego, CA

RHP Blake Hager, Morehead State, 6-3/205, Pikeville, KY

SS Beau Musser, University of Hawaii, 5-9/150, L/R, Los Gatos, CA

C Blake Helsper, Hawaii Pacific, 5-8/175, L/R, Irvine, CA

RHP Parker King, Campbellsville, 5-11/160, Anaheim, CA

OF Diego Escandon, Columbia Basin, 5-10/170, R/R, Edmonds, WA

Hager previously pitched for the NightOwls in the 2025 season, 2-1 with a 7.71 ERA in six appearances, one of them a start. He’s started five games this spring for Morehead State, going 2-0 with a 6.84 ERA.

Pasillas has 45 innings this spring for Azusa Pacific, with two wins.

Musser is a highly-regarded, lefty-swinging shortstop signed to be a freshman at UH in fall. Described as a Brett Gardner type who plays a strong shortstop. Is being groomed to take the role at UH when former NightOwls star and Texas draft pick Elijah Ickes moves to the pro level.

Helsper handled the majority of the catching duties for Div2 Hawaii Pacific this season, especially down the stretch — a tough, scrappy hitter and hard worker behind the plate, he struck out just nine times and walked 12 times, hitting .328, in 112 at bats over 39 games. He started 30 games and had 38 hits, five of them doubles, and stole four of five attempted bases.

King was at Orange Coast in junior college before landing at Campbellsville, where he is 3-0 with a 4.28 ERA this season over 14 appearances. He has a save and 26 punch-out’s with just nine walks in 33.2 innings for a very good NAIA school.

Escandon has identical .291 averages the last two seasons, and has an exciting mix of power and speed — seven home runs and 51 stolen bases combined.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Vancouver Island Brewing and Victoria HarbourCats unveil the Islander FanZone

Published

5 days ago

May 13, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

New taproom patio experience brings great local beer and a relaxed summer energy to a brand new gathering space at the ballpark.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, B.C., May 12, 2026 — Vancouver Island Brewing and the Victoria HarbourCats are excited to share new details about the Islander FanZone, a new in-park activation debuting this season at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Building on the recently announced partnership between Vancouver Island Brewing and the HarbourCats, the Islander FanZone will bring a true taproom patio experience to the ballpark; a new experience for fans of the HarbourCats to enjoy the game, and a physical footprint for fans of Vancouver Island Brewing to enjoy their products.

Designed to capture the laid-back spirit of a Vancouver Island summer, the space – located on the first base concourse behind Section 6 reserved seating – will feature high-top seating for up to 40 in different formats (a total capacity of 50), umbrellas, patio games, and artificial turf, creating a welcoming and social atmosphere for fans to gather, relax, and enjoy the game on Islander time.

The hybrid ticketed and VIP space will be ideal for a wide range of social occasions, from casual outings with friends to group gatherings and summer celebrations at the ballpark.

Fans visiting the Islander FanZone will be able to enjoy a lineup of Vancouver Island Brewing favourites, including Islander Lager, Broken Islands Hazy IPA, Breakpoint Pilsner and Seadog Amber Ale, a selection that brings some of the brewery’s most approachable and easy-drinking beers to the ballpark.

“We couldn’t be more excited to build this space and share a genuine craft beer experience at the ballpark with the Islander FanZone,” said Zach Van Der Ende, Director of Sales and Marketing, Vancouver Island Brewing. “Great beer and baseball have always been a perfect match, and we’re excited to help create a space where fans can come together, relax, and share great experiences all summer long.”

“The Islander FanZone is going to be a fantastic addition to the fan experience,” said Christian Stewart, General Manager of the Victoria HarbourCats. “It gives both loyal fans and newcomers an exciting way to take in a HarbourCats baseball game, whether they’re coming with family, meeting up with friends, or hosting a group event.”

The Islander FanZone reflects the shared vision behind the Vancouver Island Brewing and HarbourCats partnership: creating experiences that feel local, memorable, and made for summer. As the season gets underway, the new space will offer fans another reason to arrive early, stay longer, and take in everything that makes a night at the ballpark special.

Visit www.harbourcats.com/groups to find available game days for booking the Islander FanZone, or simply head to the HarbourCats.com/tickets to purchase individual tickets.

About Vancouver Island Brewing
Vancouver Island Brewing has been crafting beer on the Island since 1984, rooted in the community and landscapes that inspire every pour. Vancouver Island Brewing makes award-winning beers, from classic lagers to innovative ales, using quality ingredients and traditional brewing methods inspired by the island it calls home. Learn more at vibrewing.com.

About the Victoria HarbourCats
The Victoria HarbourCats are a member of the West Coast League, a summer collegiate baseball league featuring top NCAA talent from across North America. The HarbourCats play their home games at Wilson Group’s Stadium at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C. Learn more at www.harbourcats.com.

Media Contacts:
Zach Van Der Ende, Director Sales and Marketing Vancouver Island Brewing zach@vibrewingcom | 778-938-8220
Christian Stewart, General Manager Victoria HarbourCats chris@harbourcats.com | 778-265-0327

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