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Summer Collegiate

July perfect so far for NorthPaws

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Author: Larry Read

KAMLOOPS BC—Fans of the Kamloops NorthPaws experienced something they hadn’t in nearly a month.  That was a victory by their team at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium.

Canada Day was truly a happy day for those people as the NorthPaws notched their sixth win of the West Coast League season beating the Kelowna Falcons 5-4 in 11 innings. 

And it was followed up with a second victory over Kelowna on Sunday (July 2).  The score in that game was 6-0 as the NorthPaws upped their record to 7-20. The Falcons fell to 14-13.

Following the two-game sweep at home over the Falcons, Kamloops has a day off to travel. They begin a six-game road trip to Washington State. They meet up with the Bellingham Bells starting July 4th.  They then visit the Wenatchee Apple Sox for a three-game set starting July 7th.

Bellingham and Wenatchee are the top two teams in the WCL North Division. Bellingham fell out of first place after an 8-2 loss in Victoria on Sunday (July 2).  Wenatchee hammered the RiverHawks 12-4 Sunday in Edmonton.   The AppleSox are 18-6 after the weekend while Bellingham fell to 17-7.

The Falcons return home to Elks Stadium in Kelowna to play three times against the defending West Coast League champions: the Corvallis Knights. Game one is July 3rd.

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

SERIES RECAP:

Saturday, July 1, 2023 in Kamloops: NorthPaws 5 Falcons 4 (11 innings)

The Paws had three opportunities to ‘knock off’ the Falcons in this one.  The teams were tied at 4 after seven innings.  Jude Hall (Chiliwack, BC) brought in the winning run in the bottom of the 11 th when he was walked by reliever Thrasher Steed (Orange Beach, AL) with the bases loaded.  That brought home Drew Giannini (Tracy, CA) from third base.    Steed was the losing pitcher in relief.  Hes now 2-2 after pitching one inning giving up a run, four walks and had a strikeout.

David Jeon (Coppell, TX) was the winner in relief.  He too pitched one inning, walking two and striking out one.  His record is 1-2.

Offensively, Kamloops was led by Tyler Glowacki (San Diego, CA).  Glowacki was 2-5 with two runs scored.  Robin Villeneuve was 0-2 but had three runs batted in and had two walks.  Catcher Matthew Ward was 1-4 with a run scored.  Ward was playing his first game with Kamloops after being picked up off waivers from the Nanaimo Night Owls.

Kelowna’s top batsman were Cameron Mercucio (Modesto, CA) who was 2-3 with a run batted in and a run scored. Trevor Wilson (Fresno, CA) was 2-4 and score da run.  Jonas Salk (Fairfax, CA) was 2-5 with a run batted in.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598684

Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Kamloops: NorthPaws 6  Falcons 0

The NorthPaws broke open a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the third.  They added two more in the fourth and singles in both the fifth and seventh innings.

New Zealander MacLain Roberts got the start on the hill for Kamloops. The left earned his first win of the season to move to 1-4.  It was his seventh start of the campaign.  Roberts pitched five innings of four hit ball with six walks and six strikeouts. He was the first of three pitchers for the NorthPaws.

Jaxon Byrd (Sacramento, CA) went three and a third innings and was tagged with the loss. It was his first decision of the year after starting two previous games.  He gave up five hits, three runs, struck out four and walked one.

Kamloops was led offensively by Anthony Manuel (Antioch, CA) was 2-4 with a run batted in.  Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, QC) was 1-2 with two runs scored.  Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ) was 2-4 with a run scored and ended the game as he one timed a ‘hot shot’ to shortstop.   Phoenix Sommay was 1-2 with a run batted in and two runs scored.

Kelowna catcher Konnor Palmeira (Kahului, HI) was 2-3 while Griffen Palfrey (West Vancouver, BC) was 1-4.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598685

HEAD COACH KEITH FRANCIS:

“The weekend was good for us. We played at their place on Friday and we played terrible. I am going to chalk it up to a long eight days on the road.   We came home and had a nice big crowd the last two nights and played very well.”

NORTHPAWS OUTFIELDER TYLER GLOWACKI (SAN DIEGO, CA):

“These wins have been great.  The guys have been working really hard but the balls haven’t fallen our way. It is starting to pay off. It is a great group of guys.  We have to trust in the process. At the end of the day, how you regroup and regather.  It is all about how you respond.”

NORTHPAWS INFIELDER COOPER NEVILLE (GLENDALE, AZ):

“It was how the game is supposed to be played (referring to the home sweep over Kelowna). We did what we could. There is more room to grow for sure. But we are finally coming together as a team. We have the capability and the talent to compete with any team in this league.”

NORTHPAWS PITCHER TYRELLE CHADWICK (KAMLOOPS, BC):

“It feels like we are back on the right track after starting slow this year. We have everyone moving in the same direction.  With the Kamloops-Kelowna rivalry, its great to take a couple off of them.”

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

As mentioned, the Paws are living out of a suitcase the next six games beginning Tuesday July 4th in Bellingham.  Then it is onto Wenatchee against the Apple Sox for three games.

Their next home series will be Tuesday July 11th when the Edmonton RiverHawks come to town. Opening pitch that night along with Wednesday and Thursday July 11-12th will be 6:35 PM.

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 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.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Clinch Series Win Against Lefties

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Jacob Silva was all over the bases in this one, earning three walks and stealing three bases. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats and Lefties faced off for the second of three games this week, with Victoria nailing down a 3-2 win to clinch the series.

Spencer Kratt (San Jose State) got off to a good start in this one with a strikeout to begin the game. Unfortunately, that was all the action the right-hander would get, as a comebacker hit him up high which necessitated his removal from the game. Davis Lee (Calgary) was activated to step in for his fallen comrade and picked up where he left off, striking out two Lefties to finish the first inning.

BOX SCORE

The HarbourCats got it in gear in the bottom of the second beginning with a leadoff walk earned by Jacob Silva (UTSA). Michael Rodda (Palomar) singled with two outs and took an extra base to move up to second before Cameron Chee-Aloy (Illinois) blooped a ball into right field. Both infielders came around to score and the Cats took a 2-0 lead.

Davis Lee’s excursion came to an end after nearly four full frames of shutout baseball. Lee suffocated the Lefties with six strikeouts in 3.2 innings before bowing out for Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) in the top of the fifth. Thomas hit the ground running and picked up two K’s in a quick three-up three-down inning.

Victoria picked up their pitching staff by extending the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a run manufactured by Cameron Chee-Aloy. The speedy centre fielder walked, stole second, stole third base, and came all the way home when the throw went way over the head of the third baseman. Heads-up baserunning from Chee-Aloy, and a 3-0- lead for the home team.

Tristin Thomas struck out five batters in just two innings. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Port Angeles responded in the sixth with a pair of singles to begin the inning, and later drove in their first run on a laser out to left field. Nonetheless, Thomas was able to shrug it off and finish the inning off with three strikeouts. The New Mexico native came back for the seventh, but two walks in a row to start the inning spelled the end of his night. Nathan Mueller (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) took his place with no outs and a couple of runners on and deftly found his way out of the jam with a strikeout and two groundouts.

Mueller mounted another daring escape in the eighth. A plunked batter and a double put runners on second and third with no outs, but Mueller locked in and secured three consecutive strikeouts to put up another scoreless inning. The Lefties had another comeback attempt in the ninth, but Victoria buckled down and clinched the series with a 3-2 victory.

WCL STANDINGS

There are only two home games remaining in the 2026 regular season including the finale of our mid-week set against the Port Angeles Lefties on Thursday night! Then on August 3rd, we end the season with a bang! Our final fireworks show and Fan Appreciation Night! Don’t miss your chance to catch a game in 2026! Get your tickets now at http://Harbourcats.com/tickets.

ATTENTION VOUCHER HOLDERS: Just a reminder that all ticket vouchers must be exchanged for one of our remaining regular season games! They are not eligible for playoffs, nor can they be carried over to 2027.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Hold On in 6-5 Nail-Biter

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Jeremiah Arnett was integral to getting the win in this tight Tuesday night ballgame. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The Cats hosted the Port Angeles Lefties for the first of the three game set and held on by the skin of their teeth to take a 6-5 win.

Victoria took an early advantage in this one, scoring in the second inning. After Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) worked a walk out of a long at-bat to leadoff the frame, the catcher immediately stole second base and came home on a single by Aidan Rice (Portland) that bounced through the middle of the infield. Rice simply would not be contained, as he stole second and third back-to-back before coming in to score from third on a groundout.

BOX SCORE

Meanwhile, it was another episode of the Jeremiah Arnett show on the defensive side. The Rice University starter and WCL All-Star was unflappable in the first four innings, shutting down the Lefties lineup to keep the top half of the line score clean.

While Arnett was doing his thing, the Cats got back to work on offence in the bottom of the fourth. Rohne Klein (San Jose State) earned himself a leadoff walk and swiped second base, coming around to the plate on a single by Dillon Lopez. Cameron Chee-Aloy (Illinois) and Michael Rodda (Palomar) got in on the fun as well with an RBI single each, and the former crossed the plate on a groundout before the end of the frame to push the lead to six.

The defence held strong for eight scoreless innings behind Jeremiah Arnett’s start. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Jeremiah Arnett continued to rumble along through three more frames, finally taking a seat after seven gleaming innings. Arnett allowed five hits on his watch (all singles) and no runs while adding nine more tallies to his impressive strikeout total this summer. The right-hander handed the ball off to Leif Friedrich (Concordia-Nebraska) for the top of the eighth. Friedrich recovered smoothly from a leadoff single to make three quick outs and move on to the bottom of the inning.

Initial responsibility of the ninth was given to Hunter Daniels (Phoenix), but after he walked the bases loaded with nobody out, Houston Tomlinson (Arkansas State) was called from the bullpen to try and finish this one off. Tomlinson would continue to waver, with walks galore bringing Port Angeles all the way back within one. A strikeout finally ended the inning and secured a close 6-5 win for the Cats.

WCL STANDINGS

There are only three home games remaining in the 2026 regular season including a mid-week set against the Port Angeles Lefties this week! Then on August 3rd, we end the season with a bang! Our final fireworks show and Fan Appreciation Night! Don’t miss your chance to catch a game in 2026! Get your tickets now at http://Harbourcats.com/tickets.

ATTENTION VOUCHER HOLDERS: Just a reminder that all ticket vouchers must be exchanged for one of our remaining regular season games! They are not eligible for playoffs, nor can they be carried over to 2027.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Paws Bounce Cats in Game Three

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The HarbourCats were inches away from scoring in the third inning on a close play at the plate. (Photo by Christian J. Stewart)

Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats and Kamloops NorthPaws faced off in the decider of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon, with Kamloops battling their way to a 7-3 win.

It was somewhat of a rocky start in the early going for Shea Lake (West Texas A&M) on this rainy Sunday afternoon, hitting the first batter he faced and allowing a run in the opening inning to give Kamloops an early lead. Lake found his footing for a moment in the third inning with an efficient three-up three-down frame.

BOX SCORE

Victoria came close to evening the score in the bottom of the third with Bryan Bradshaw (UCSD) on second base. Rohne Klein (San Jose State) hit a line-drive single into centre field, but Bradshaw was cut down at the plate to end the inning. The NorthPaws responded by hammering a three-run homer in their next turn on offence, growing their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning.

The top of the fifth required the services of Northern Kentucky reliever Daniel Tovar, who let up a pair of singles but held Kamloops scoreless in his first inning of work. The going got tougher in the sixth, when the NorthPaws led off the inning with a bomb to left field, and add on another solo shot before the end of the frame.

Shea Lake exited the mound after a four inning start, in which he allowed four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. (Photo by Christian J. Stewart)

The HarbourCats’ first run came at long last in the bottom of the sixth by way of a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rohne Klein. The home team was able to keep the line moving in inning number six, netting another run when Jacob Silva (UTSA) scored from third on a wild pitch.

Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) took over from Tovar for the top of the seventh. Thomas worked quickly, putting a zero on the board and getting the Cats back on the offensive. The bottom of the eighth saw another blow dealt by the Victoria offence, as Declan Brown (Ottawa University) laced a single into centre field to drive in a run and chip away at the lead.

The Cats gave it their all but ultimately came up short, coughing up the series to the NorthPaws with a 7-3 loss.

WCL STANDINGS

With the weekend series complete, the HarbourCats will return to action for a three-game set against Port Angeles this week, starting on Tuesday night at 6:35 pm.

There are only four home games remaining in the 2026 regular season including a mid-week set against the Port Angeles Lefties this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! Then on August 3rd, we end the season with a bang! Our final fireworks show and Fan Appreciation Night! Don’t miss your chance to catch a game in 2026! Get your tickets now at http://Harbourcats.com/tickets.

ATTENTION VOUCHER HOLDERS: Just a reminder that all ticket vouchers must be exchanged for one of our remaining regular season games! They are not eligible for playoffs, nor can they be carried over to 2027.

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