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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

Hayes goes deep again, Owls win final home game

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NANAIMO, B.C. — Jacob Hayes, and Owen Wessel, but the punctuation on it.

The Nanaimo NightOwls ended the home portion of their fourth season in the West Coast League with a convincing 6-1 triumph over the visiting Kamloops NorthPaws in an entertaining game played Sunday afternoon at Serauxmen Stadium.

Hayes, with a team-record 10th home run, and Wessel, with his first of the season, went deep for Nanaimo, while Dawson Schultz and Vinny Bruno kept the Kamloops bats silent.

Wessel hit a two-run shot in the second, and Hayes had a solo shot in the third. Both were to left field.

The NightOwls (22-29, 10-14 in second half) close out the season with three road games in Bellingham, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Season tickets will start renewal shortly after another exciting season of WCL baseball in Nanaimo, with local product and head coach Cody Andreychuk returning in 2026, and the expectation that veteran pitching coach Gorman Heimueller, one of the best in all of baseball, will be with Nanaimo next season for what will be his 50th year in the game — leading to a season-long celebration.

Dawson Schultz started and was masterful, going six innings with four hits allowed while striking out five. Vinny Bruno, the Italian right-hander, closed it with a save and three innings with two strikeouts.

Hayes, named team MVP before the game, was 2-3 with two RBIs, a walk, and a run scored. Andrew Ivy, Easton Mould and Spencer Sullivan also had two hits each. Andew Nykoluk had two runs and Wessel had two RBIs.

Sullivan was given the team’s Development Award, right-hander Aidan Boice was given the top pitcher award, Ryder Florence earned the citizenship award, and concession stalwart Jo-Ann Hammond was named the volunteer of the year.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats roll to 8-2 win

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The HarbourCats have won eight of their last ten games (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

August 5, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats celebrated Jersey off our Backs night with a convincing 8-2 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks Tuesday night.

After Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) led off the second inning with a double, Jake Butler (George Mason) drove him home with a sacrifice fly to give the Cats an early 1-0 lead.

The Hawks answered back with a sacrifice fly of their own in the top of the third inning to level it up 1-1.

BOX SCORE

Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) doubled in the bottom of the third and came home on the next play after an error allowed him to score. The Cats caused havoc on the basepaths all game stealing five bags, and Jack Johnson (Tulane) was at the centre of that, stealing second and third to set up a situation with men on the corners. Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) stole second and drew the throw which allowed Johnson to break for home and he scored, making it 3-1.

Tyler Patrick tied his season-high with five strikeouts (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Shiryu Sato added a second Edmonton run in the fifth inning driving in Anthony Kodama with a two-out RBI single, cutting the Cats lead to 3-2.

Tyler Patrick struck out five batters over 4-2/3 innings of work starting his sixth game of the campaign.

Tristan Buehring (Whitman College) hit an RBI single for the second straight game to push the Cats lead to 4-2.

WCL STANDINGS

The HarbourCats piled on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to extend their advantage to 8-2. First it was Beltowski with an RBI single that was then followed by a pair of sacrifice flies from Johnson and Lopez. Butler continued to swing a hot bat, driving in his second run of the ballgame on a single to cap off the big inning. The second baseman has 13 RBIs in his last eight games.

Jacob Thompson was first out of the bullpen for Todd Haney’s team and he did exactly what was asked of him, pitching 2-1/3 shutout innings while striking out three. Garrett Villa (Angelo State) closed out the game recording the final six outs giving up no runs and striking out a pair.

Tristan Buehring has three hits in his first two games as a HarbourCat (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

WATCH GAMES HERE

This 8-2 win means playoff seeding will go down to the final game tomorrow night. It is simple, the winner of tomorrow’s game between Victoria and Edmonton will win the second half and earn home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs, to be played this weekend August 8-10.

BUY TICKETS HERE

VOUCHER REMINDER: Tomorrow is the final game you can redeem your vouchers. They are not eligible to be used for playoff games. You can do so at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any questions or need help exchanging your vouchers, call the HarbourCats office at (778) 265 0327.

Tomorrow is Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Passion Sports. Get tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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Gutsy NightOwls edge Bells in extra innings

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BELLINGHAM, WA — With nothing but pride on the line, the Nanaimo NightOwls are showing they are full of character.

A sacrifice fly by outfielder Spencer Sullivan in the 10th inning at Joe Martin Field on Monday gave the NightOwls, who will miss the playoffs in their fourth season in the West Coast League, a 3-2 victory over the playoff-bound Bellingham Bells — who won the North Division’s first half pennant to lock up their post-season berth.

Andrew Ivy led off the game with a home run, his first of the season, crushing a 2-1 pitch out of one of the WCL’s hardest parks to clear the fence.

Dalton Hanson was strong in a short starting assignment, the Scottsdale CC product going three scoreless innings, giving up two walks and three hits. Venezuelan lefty Richtter Castillo was effective in three innings, allowing two hits and three walks, with one earned run and two strikeouts.

Jayden Gabrillo (Hawaii Pacific) struck out four batters over two innings, giving up two hits and one run. Moosa Nonomiya, fresh off helping Team Pakistan earn international standings points in a series played in Chicago against Palestine, got the win with two innings of scoreless work.

Leadoff man Ivy was 3-4 with the home run, a double, a walk and an RBI and scored two of the team’s runs, while the guy behind him, Ryder Florence, was 2-4 to raise his batting average to .210 — he’s batting .421 over his last seven games. Easton Mould was 2-4 with an RBI.

The NightOwls have two games left in the WCL season, playing in Bellingham on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, before the players head off to their respective collegiate programs. The NightOwls are 23-29 overall, and 11-14 in the second half — the team will finish fifth or sixth overall in the eight-team North Division.

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