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Summer Collegiate

First NightOwls players signed for 2022

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“This is a quality group for us to build around, with more announcements to come,” said Jim Swanson, GM of the NightOwls, who were slated to start in the summer of 2021, pre-pandemic restrictions. “The networks of our coaches and staff led us to these players, including our first Canadian player signing for 2022 in Josh Marchese. Coach Frady and the staff will be excited to run these guys out and help them develop into future pro players, which we all hope.”

 

The group is highlighted by 6-8 lefty Johnny Beck from Western Illinois, and power righty Bransen Kuehl of Utah, both high-velocity arms. Kuehl is an athletic pitcher, a freshman at Utah from Rapid City, South Dakota, who has been gunned as high as 95, while Beck, a junior from Rochelle, Illinois, boasts a no hitter in high school in which he fanned 15 batters, part of a season where he struck out 100 in 58 innings. Beck is coming off an injury early in fall — a knee issue suffered playing basketball because, when you’re 6-8, you likely play a little bit of hoops on the side.

 

Josh Marchese brings West Coast League experience, as he hit four home runs and drove in 27 in 43 games for the Cowlitz Black Bears in 2019. From Burnaby, Marchese is 6-2/230 and his lefty power swing should fit quite nicely at Serauxmen Stadium with its signature short porch in right field. He was a dominant player in the BCPBL for high school players before signing with the D1 Niagara Purple Eagles, including a .374 average in his final season with the Langley Blaze. Marchese started 34 games as a freshman.

 

Garrett Ostrander of Cal Baptist is a sophomore known for getting on base and giving pitchers and catchers grief with his speed and aggressive style. From Rancho Bernardo, California, in the northern hills of San Diego, and 5-10/175, he led all of California high school baseball in walks one season and has extra-base pop in his bat. CBU coach Gary Adcock uses Ostrander at multiple positions, which will be helpful for Frady throughout the summer.

 

Landon Frei, teammates with Kuehl at Utah, is from Santa Clara, UT, and a pure hitter who can play middle infield or third base. Frei is a freshman who also pitched and caught in high school, showing his arm strength and athleticism.

 

The NightOwls, who now have merchandise and season memberships available through nanaimonightowls.com, will be announcing more players as the recruiting process plays out. “Getting paperwork, having passports in place, and ensuring vaccinations are done is part of this, since this is a 16-team international league and border crossings are part of the equation,” said Swanson.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Berezowski goes deep twice as Cats win big

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Jai Berezowski had three hits and three RBIs, including a pair of home runs (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

July 17, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats came out on top in non-league action Thursday night, defeating the Victoria Mavericks 12-2.

Victoria native Jack Finn (Illinois State) started for the HarbourCats and got off to a great start with a three-up-three-down first inning. He surrendered a solo home run to Dylan Price in the top of the third inning, and then gave up a second run on a Josh Walker RBI single later in the frame. The lefty’s evening was done after three innings, giving up a pair of runs on four hits while striking out two.

The Cats answered back in the bottom half through a Jai Berezowski (Golden Tide) solo home run and a Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) two-out RBI single to tie the game up 2-2.

BOX SCORE

Clayton Broeder (Angelo State) made his Cats debut out of the bullpen and threw two scoreless innings, striking out four and collecting the win.

Jack Finn made his first appearance since June 12 (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

The HarbourCats blew the game wide open with a five-run fourth inning. Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) and Isaiah Afework (TAMU-CC) both hit solo home runs. Berezowski crushed his second home run of the game over the scoreboard in left field. A Jake Butler (George Mason) sacrifice fly capped off the huge inning, giving the Cats a 7-2 lead.

WCL STANDINGS

Butler drove in his second run of the game with an RBI single in the sixth inning that extended his team’s lead to 9-2. Peter Tassler (MSU Denver) recorded his first hit as a HarbourCat, an RBI single to make it 10-2 in the seventh inning. The hosts tacked on two more runs in the eighth to push the lead to 12-2.

Jacob Thompson (Minot State), Dillon Dibrell (Central Oklahoma), and Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) all pitched in relief for the Cats, combining for four scoreless innings.

WATCH GAMES HERE

The HarbourCats are back in West Coast League action tomorrow at 6:35 PM in Bellingham as they open a three-game set against the Bells. The Cats lead the North Division second-half standings with a 10-2 record, while the Bells sit three games back of the lead with a 7-5 record.

Kamana Nahaku had two hits in his second game back with the HarbourCats (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Due to popular demand, we are expanding our $12 Tuesday seats. ALL remaining Premium Reserved seats (normally $22 a seat), on July 22 vs Dub Sea and July 29 vs Kamloops, are now just $12. PLUS, WE NOW HAVE $12 THURSDAYS! All remaining Premium Reserved seats for our Thursday games on July 17, July 24 and July 31 are now just $12. Come watch the best baseball in town for the best price anywhere!

BUY TICKETS HERE

10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “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.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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Victoria HarbourCats – BASEBALL STARS TO VICTORIA

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WCL All-Star Festival returning to Victoria for two seasons, HarbourCats last hosted game in 2013

For immediate release 

July 17, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. – The best of the very best in the West Coast League will return to Victoria – not once, but twice.

In a media event on the field today, the Victoria HarbourCats are excited to announce, along with the West Coast League and the Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission, an arm of Destination Greater Victoria, that the WEST COAST LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME will be played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park the next two seasons – 2026 and 2027.

The expected dates will be July 15, 2026, and July 14, 2027 – in both cases, the day after the Major League Baseball all-star game. The West Coast League is a proud partner of Major League Baseball.

Destination Greater Victoria, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Wilson’s Group of Companies, Better Print, and New Era Cap Company are the first partners to officially join forces for this event – with opportunities for corporate and community partners at all levels.

“Our outstanding ballpark, which plays to professional standards, and the engagement of this market in terms of support of WCL baseball made this happen – two years in a row, the best of the league will be in the best city in the world,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the Victoria HarbourCats (and Nanaimo NightOwls).

“The excellent broadcast quality provided by Chris Jaycox Productions, and the tremendous work done by City staff on all facets of Wilson’s Group Stadium, put this over the top and made our bid to host in consecutive years successful with WCL board members.

“We could not be more excited to do the work to make these the best all-star games in league history.”

The event has already received support in the form of a sport hosting grant from the Province of British Columbia.

“Hosting the West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 will further elevate Victoria’s global profile as a premier sport tourism destination,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “These All-Star Games will bring significant economic benefits to our local tourism sector, boosting business revenues and creating ripple effects that will be felt throughout the region.”

Bellingham played host the last two seasons, including yesterday’s game. When Victoria hosted in 2013, the game set a league attendance record with more than 4,000 in attendance – 2026 and 2027 project to see more than 5,000 in-person spectators at each event. Edmonton, the WCL attendance leaders, and Victoria are league facilities capable of holding more than 3,500 spectators.

“Hosting back-to-back West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 is exciting for fans and once again demonstrates how Victoria is being recognized as a go-to destination for sports tourism and major sporting events,” said City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. “These games will be unforgettable, and our dedicated partners and passionate community are showing the world what Victoria can do.”

Swanson will be part of a steering committee that includes former BC Games chair Kelly Mann, former Oak Bay fire chief Dave Cockle, HarbourCats Creative Director Chris Beveridge, HarbourCats General Manager Christian Stewart, Marketing Director John Pollard, and VP Operations and Business Adrian Somers.

These events will be considerable contributors to the local economy, promoting the great and growing sports legacy of Victoria.

Further details will be rolled out, but tentative plans are slated to include:

**A next-level home run derby the day before the game

**Youth camps that will cover the entire city and be focal points of festivities

**MLB scouts will attend a combine that will happen before the game

**A signature luncheon on the day of the game, with an exciting keynote speaker to be announced

**A pre-game concert is in the works

**Plus a hot stove social event also in the planning stages.

“Ticket packages for the entire event will go fast, and we anticipate offering those to our partners, season ticket holders and host families first during a two-week window in September, with the general public able to snap up what is left after that – it will be affordable, and it will bring great value,” said Swanson.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Biello’s big night leads Cats to win

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July 15, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats took on the South Island Baseball League All-Stars in non-league action and won 11-1 Tuesday night.

Hudson Lance (Coastal Carolina) started the game for the Cats and pitched a perfect two innings, striking out six.

Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) drove in the first run of the game with an RBI triple to deep centre field in the first inning. The senior made his first appearance for the HarbourCats this season after playing in 12 games last season, where he hit four home runs.

BOX SCORE

Victoria tacked on two more runs in the opening frame through a Dominic Biello (Golden Tide) RBI double and a Jai Berezowski (Golden Tide) sacrifice fly. In the second inning, Biello hit a two-run home run over the left field wall for his first home run of the season, making it 6-0.

The All-Stars’ only run came in the fourth inning when RJ Forbes came home on a groundout.

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Biello’s second RBI double of the evening came in the sixth inning, which made it 7-1. The Victoria native had five RBIs and reached base five times.

Solomon Anderson had two hits on the night, including an RBI double in the eighth inning.

Dustin Davidson (Brookhaven), Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist), and Jake Finkelstein (Georgia Gwinnett) all pitched two innings apiece. Palmer struck out six, and Finkelstein recorded four strikeouts. Jalen Sami (Golden Tide) closed it out with a scoreless ninth inning to wrap up the 11-1 win.

WATCH GAMES HERE

The Cats are back in action Thursday, July 17 at 6:35 PM against the Victoria Mavericks. Get tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets. For the remainder of the season, Thursday games are now $12 Thursdays! All premium reserved and general admission seats are just $12.

Watch Tommy Bridges, Logan Shepherd, Jack Johnson, JC Allen, and Tanner Beltowski tomorrow night on MLB.com in the West Coast League All-Star game down in Bellingham.

10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “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.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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