Summer Collegiate

July perfect so far for NorthPaws

Published

2 years ago

July 3, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

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 – 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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