KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws traveled to Nanaimo and finally bumped the prolonged slump putting to bed a 14 game losing streak in the middle contest of the three game set. Despite the much needed win, their first on the road this season, the ‘Paws dropped the series to the NightOwls 2-1.
Kamloops returns to Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium for a three game weekend set versus the Walla Walla Sweets. Saturday (6:35 first pitch) will be a pre-Canada Day celebration as the squad will be in Kelowna on July 1. The Sunday contest is Save on Foods Family Day at the Park (2:05 first pitch).
GAME 1
Jaden Bitter got the start for Kamloops in game one on the Island, as the NorthPaws would fall 8-1 to the Nanaimo NightOwls, stretching their losing streak to 14 games.
Bitter, 4.2 IP, 4ER, 1BB, 3K, was out-dueled by Adison Mattix who pitched an exceptional game, 6IP, 0R, 3H, 11K.
The NightOwls struck first in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back with Riley Paulino, Wylie Waters, Aaron Marsh, Mitchell Middlemiss, and Drew Rutter all picking up a pair of base-hits in the win.
Kamloops finally broke the shutout bid in the 9th when Tyler Glowacki singled home Matthew Olivares for the Paws lone run of the contest.
GAME 2
The streak was finally busted in game two of the three game set as the Paws would defeat the NightOwls 8-5 on Wednesday night.
TRU WolfPack pitcher Kolby Lukinchuk recorded the win, 5.0IP, 6H, 3ER, 4K. The three runs given up by Lukinchuk came on one swing of the bat as Nevin Noonan hit a 3RBI homer in the sixth inning.
Kamloops scored the first six runs of the ballgame, beginning with three in the first inning, courtesy of Tyler Glowacki, RBI sac-fly, TJ Watcher RBI single, and Joey Rico RBI single. Caden Pearlman was lifted after 0.1 of an inning, taking the loss for Nanaimo.
The Paws added two more in the second as Jacob French hit his first homer of the season, bringing home Anthony Setticasi. Jacob Schlesselman scored on a passed ball in the sixth to make it 6-0 Kamloops.
The NightOwls would cut the lead to three in the 8th, with runs scoring on a single and a balk.
Manato Tateno earned the save pitching 1.1 innings of no-hit ball.
GAME 3
A two run homer welcomed Chase Taylor to the mound in the rubber-match of the series as the NightOwls jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to Wylie Waters.
Taylor would settle down from there pitching 5.0IP, 3ER, 3BB, 1K. The third run against Taylor came in the fourth when a throw from catcher Jerry Nix wasn’t handled at second base, allowing Deshon Thomas to score from third.
The Paws would load the bases in the 2nd, and have a pair of runners on in the third but Aidan Russell managed to escape the jams in both innings to maintain the Nanaimo lead.
A pair of Kamloops locals would follow Taylor on the bump, with Manny Recchi and Nolan Austin combining for 3 innings of scoreless ball.
Kamloops would tie things up in the ninth, as Jacob Schlesselman would double home Joey Rico and Jerry Nix to make it 3-2 NightOwls. With Schlesselman on second base representing the tying run and nobody out in the inning, Jaden Bitter would be asked to bunt but was unable to get it down and struck out. Up next Madden Ocko would walk, putting the potential go-ahead run on base in the ninth. Michael Weber would bring home Schlesselman with a single to left, but Ocko would be gunned at the plate, sending the game to the bottom of the 9th all square at 3-3.
The comeback effort would be for not, as the NightOwls would walk it off in the bottom half on an Aaron Marsh RBI single.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE Friday, June 28 vs Walla Walla, first pitch 6:35 Saturday, June 29 vs Walla Walla, first pitch 6:35 (Pre-Canada Day Celebration) Sunday, June 30 vs Walla Walla, first pitch 2:05 (Save on Foods Family Day) Monday, July 1 @ Kelowna, first pitch 6:35 Tuesday, July 2 vs Kelowna, first pitch 6:35 Wednesday, July 3 @ Kelowna, first pitch 6:35 Thursday, July 4 – Off-day
FOR MEDIA REQUESTS Jenna Forter General Manager Kamloops NorthPaws 250-200-1415 www.northpawsbaseball.ca
The HarbourCats will return to Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria (above) on Tuesday for their Home Opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks.
By Christian J. Stewart
May 31, 2026
Portland, OR – The Victoria HarbourCats looked to have things under control, until they didn’t.
The Portland Pickles used a nine-run fourth inning to overcome a 3-0 deficit and then cruise to a 18-5 win over the HarbourCats in West Coast League action Sunday night at Walker Stadium in Portland.
The win gave the Pickles the series win, having won game one of the series on Friday.
Victoria appeared to have the game under control, building an early 3-0 lead, thanks in part to a first inning RBI single from Jax Heid, a second inning home run from Marcus Nolan and three innings of shut-out pitching from starter Schuyler Fairchild.
However in the bottom of the fourth inning, Victoria sent reliever Tate Collins to the mound and four walks and a hit batter later, the Pickles cut the deficit to 3-2. Collins was replaced by Houston Tomlinson, but he could not stem the bleeding, and after three more singles, a double, and a HarbourCats error, the Pickles emerged from the inning with a 9-3 lead.
The HarbourCats would never fully recover after that and when the Pickles scored five more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and four more in the bottom of the eighth, their fate was sealed.
On the bright side, David Krahn had another strong day at the plate, going three for five with two runs scored, while Marcus Nolen finished three for three with a home run and pair of RBI.
The HarbourCats now return to the friendly confines of Wilson’s Group Stadium, where they will welcome the Edmonton Riverhawks for the Home Opener on Tuesday evening at 6:35pm. That is followed by our Help Fill a Dream Night on Wednesday at 6:35pm and the our first of two School Spirit Games on Thursday June 4th at 11:00 am.
RIDGEFIELD, WA — The Nanaimo NightOwls were licking some wounds as they rolled north on I-5 on Sunday evening, partially due to a 15-3 series-ending loss to the host Ridgefield Raptors.
Ridgefield took the series two games to one, as both clubs opened the West Coast League season. Nanaimo won the opener 7-6 then dropped the second game 4-3 despite having multiple base runners in the last two innings.
It wasn’t just the score on Sunday afternoon, the NightOwls used three catchers because starter Jack Bergstrom took a foul tip and left the game as a precaution, then second backstop Malachi Noet was hit flush in the face by a pitch while batting — an ambulance was called, but he was able to be on his own power and in good spirits by the end of the game. Third catcher Damian Cataldo, from Victoria of the CCBC, made his WCL debut in relief.
Adison Mattix started the game on the mound and was charged with five runs but only one was earned. Blake Hager, Kaleb Tenn, Josh Rego, Tyler Clementz and Cole Carmichael also pitched.
The NightOwls now set their sights on all the excitement of the home opener, which is on Tuesday against the Kelowna Falcons at historic Serauxmen Stadium (6:35pm first pitch). The brand new video scoreboard will make its debut and bring a whole new level of game presentation to the West Coast League.
Tickets for the home opener are going fast — nanaimonightowls.com/tickets for the official Showpass ticketing site, do not be fooled by googling and ending up at a third-party offshore ticketing website.
Portland, OR – It was billed as “Wrestling Night” in Portland Saturday night and while the wrestlers in the ring on the third base concourse of Walker Stadium did their best to ensure chaos reigned there all night, the HarbourCats did the same on the field, pummelling the Pickles by a score of 15-6.
Victoria atoned for their three-hit performance in the opener on Friday by body slamming the Pickles for 19 hits in total, 14 of which came in the first four innings, allowing them to build a 13-0 lead over that same time span.
The Pickles got up off the mat briefly in the bottom of the fourth, scoring all their six runs in that frame, but never threatened again after that, shut-out the rest of the way.
The HarbourCats offence was led by leadoff hitter David Krahn, who had four hits, including a double, four RBI and four runs scored. Right behind him was Dryden Fuoco with three hits, including a double and the first HarbourCats home run of the season. Max Bernal, Jax Heid, Lukas Le Gras, Matthew Westley, Rhone Klein and Kade Davis also contributed two hits each to the winning effort.
Victoria starter Erik Rico was flat out brilliant in his HarbourCats debut, going three shut-out innings, and allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out six, including the first three Portland batters of the game. Relievers Bryson Toner, Hunter Daniels, Easton Reimers and Anson Stuckly were also solid, combing for 5.1 innings of scoreless relief with eight strikeouts.
The HarbourCats and Pickles will complete the rubber match of the series on Sunday night wth a 6:05 PM start. Victoria then travels home for their opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, June 2 at 6:35. Tickets for that are selling fast and are available at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
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