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Summer Collegiate

Kamloops takes two of three from Bellingham

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Photo Credits – Allen Douglas Photography

KAMLOOPS — Thompson Rivers University WolfPack pitcher Kolby Lukinchuk is officially the all-time leader in innings pitched for the Kamloops NorthPaws, and the righty showcased his skills on Thursday night, pitching 8.1IP in a come from behind victory for Kamloops as they took the series off the Bellingham Bells. 

“I know hitting is a hard game and I know that if I just throw strikes the guys behind me will make the plays and bail me out,” said Lukinchuk. “I had to do some begging in between innings (to get the 9th), he let me start it but we had to play a matchup and I fully understand that, And I totally respect (Jose Bautista) for it.”

“I always believe in (Kolby Lukinchuk), the first two years I was just teaching him how to pitch, he picked it up really well,” said Manager Jose Bautista. “He can pitch backwards, throw strikes and get people out.”

Lukinchuk, with ice on his throwing elbow, joked he’s willing to pitch every game of the last six. He’ll likely get one more start on the road next week in Yakima. 

A newcomer helped lead the offense in the rubber match of the series and ensure Lukinchuk got the win, as Keegan Drinkle went 3-5 2-2B, 2RBI.

“It means everything, I wasn’t doing anything they asked me to come out and get some reps. Glad to help the team out,” said Drinkle. “We battle, battle hard, compete to the end.”

As the WCL season wraps up next week a number of Paws have left the team and returned to their college rosters including Tuesday’s star TJ Wachter and a number of pitchers. 

“I don’t have any (players left). You see today we had to pitch Matt (MacDonald) in the 9th inning to work through it,” added Bautista. “Going to be tough, because right now we don’t have too much (in terms of pitchers available).”

The NorthPaws have two home games remaining in 2024, both this weekend on Friday and Sunday against the Interior rival Kelowna Falcons. 

“Very excited. See how it goes, see the rivalry, never really be part of a rivalry before,” said Drinkle.  

GAME 1

TJ Wachter put on a show in his final game with the NorthPaws in 2024. The Kamloops first-baseman led the offense in a dominant 13-4 victory in game one versus the Bells going 4-5 with 6 RBI at the dish and finishing a triple shy of the cycle. 

Wachter got the game rolling in the first with a 2-out RBI double that brought home Anthony Manuel and the Paws would never look back. 

The big inning for the Paws would be the 5th, with Kamloops sending 12 men to the plate as they would score 8 runs, highlighted by a Wachter 3-run homer to left. 

Lucas Smith got the start for Kamloops pitching 4.0IP 3H 0ER and earning a no-decision. The win went to newcomer Owen Fernandes 2.0IP, 2H, 0ER. 

Wachter would get a chance at the cycle in the seventh, hitting a 2 RBI double to the gap but would be tagged out after putting on the brakes around second. 

Kamloops locals Matt MacDonald and Nolan Austin both toed the rubber in the contest with Austin pitching a clean ninth. 

GAME 2

The Bells would return serve in the middle game of the set, shutting out the NorthPaws 7-0. 

Layton Haywood got the start for Bellingham and pitched six dominant innings of 2 hit, no run baseball before being lifted despite throwing under 60 pitches. Jack Svinth and Nic Peterson would complete the shutout on the mound. 

Cade Webber took the loss for Kamloops, giving up all seven runs over 5.0IP.

Nate Kirkpatrick was the offensive hero in the contest going 3-5 at the plate, including a 3-run homer in the first to get the Bells rolling. 

GAME 3

The rubber match of the three game set was a perfect example of a game of two halves, with the contest split directly in between the top and bottom of the 5th. 

It was the Bells starting out hot, and in the second straight game would smoke a homer to left in the 1st inning as Roman Martin would club a 2-run shot off Kamloops starter Kolby Lukinchuk. Bellingham would add on three more runs in the fifth, including another 2-run homer from Jacob Meija making the score 5-0. 

After 13.2 innings of shutout ball, the NorthPaws would rally with two outs in the fifth to show some life, newcomer Keegan Drinkle had the biggest hit of the inning a 2-RBI double. Jerry Nix would add an RBI on an infield single to make the contest 5-3 Bells. 

Kamloops would claw one closer in the 7th thanks to a passed ball that allowed Kamloops’ Manny Recchi to score. In the 8th, Anthony Manuel would double home Jacob Schlesselman all the way from first to tie the contest at 5-5. Then with two outs in the inning, Madden Ocko legged out an infield single to bring across Manuel to give Kamloops a 6-5 lead.

After giving up 5ER in 5IP, Lukinchuk would find his groove, pitching 8.1IP before giving way to Matt MacDonald who recorded the final two outs for the save and a series win for Kamloops. 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, August 2, vs Kelowna, 6:35 first pitch (Fan appreciation night)
Saturday, August 3 @ Kelowna, 6:35 first pitch
Sunday, August 4 vs Kelowna, 2:05 first pitch (FINAL HOME GAME OF THE SEASON)
Monday, August 5 – Off-Day
Tuesday, August 6 vs Yakima Valley, 6:35 first pitch
Wednesday, August 7 vs Yakima Valley, 6:35 first pitch
Thursday, August 8  vs Yakima Valley, 7:05 first pitch (FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON)

FOR MEDIA REQUESTS
Jenna Forter
General Manager
Kamloops NorthPaws
p. 250-200-1415
www.northpawsbaseball.ca

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – West Coast League meetings to be held in Victoria

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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

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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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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Fall Indoor Youth Training Sessions Now Available!

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Sessions begin September 30th (softball) and October 4th (baseball). Register NOW!

The Victoria HarbourCats and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are now taking individual bookings for our Fall 2025 indoor training sessions for both baseball and softball.

The “Offseason Academy“, presented by The EFTC, is designed to keep athletes sharp, confident, and improving long after the final game of summer. Built for youth players who want to stay ahead of the competition, our Academy focuses not only on technical skill development but also on the physical conditioning that keeps athletes strong and game-ready.

With a lineup of specialized camps in areas such as hitting, analytics, and fastball skills, athletes can train with experienced coaches, benefit from professional-level technology like HitTrax, and build the habits that matter most during the offseason.

All sessions take place in the same professional training facility used by the HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide, giving players access to a proven environment for growth and performance.

2025 Fall Sessions Include:

Baseball, Advance Hitting Analytics, $159, Saturdays, 1:15-3:15, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-17
The Advanced HitTrax Analytics Hitting Camp is built for serious baseball athletes aged 12–17 who want to take a deeper dive into the analytics behind their swing. Led by Dexter Stoiber from the Victoria Golden Tide collegiate roster, this camp goes beyond basic mechanics to show players how to interpret advanced hitting data, identify areas for improvement, and make the small tweaks that translate into real results on the field. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, Foundations and Futures, $299, Saturdays, 9:00am- 1:00pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 8-11
Foundations & Futures” is a high-energy baseball camp for players aged 8–11. This camp delivers professional-grade instruction in a dynamic, fun environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and carry your skills into next season. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, High Performance Prep, $225, Saturdays, 3:30-6:30pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-15.
High Performance Prep” is designed for players aged 12–15 who are ready to refine their skills and maintain peak form after summer. This camp delivers advanced instruction in a focused, competitive environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and prepare for the season ahead. REGISTER HERE

Fastball / Softball, Offseason Advantage, $199, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5-7pm, September 30 thru October 29. Ages 12-17
The Softball / Fastball Skills Camp is built for athletes aged 12–17 who want to strengthen every part of their game during the offseason. With trusted instruction from Maddie Kumala, one of the most respected coaches and players in the fastball community, this camp provides parents with the peace of mind that their athlete is learning in a structured, professional, and supportive environment. REGISTER HERE

There are limited spaces in each camp so don’t delay. Register NOW!

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