Summer Collegiate

Kamloops takes two of three from Bellingham

Published

11 months ago

August 3, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

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

Less that 24 hours after a 16 run outburst Northpaws register just two hits in loss to Falcons

Published

13 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The Kamloops NorthPaws dropped the second game of the home-and-home series to the Kelowna Falcons 6-1 at Elks Stadium on Wednesday night. The NorthPaws got on the board first, but Falcons righty Gio De Graauw retired the next 26 Kamloops hitters, throwing a complete game. It’s the second complete game of the West Coast League season, both of which were thrown by Kelowna.

The NorthPaws got off to a quick start in the first as left fielder Elijah Clayton tripled to the gap in left-center. Designated hitter Drew Schmidt was up next and sent an RBI single to left field. Schmidt took his lead at first base but got erased off the base path after getting picked off. No one realized it in the moment, but that was the last time in the game Kamloops would have a runner on base.

Righty JM Harduvel got the start on the mound for Kamloops and had his longest outing of the season, going two and two-thirds, giving up three earned on two hits. Harduvel got into some trouble in the third as the Falcons loaded the bases with just one out. A sacrifice fly tied the game at one as UC Berkley pitcher was pulled from the game.

Righty Jayson Tamayo came on in relief to try and end the inning with two outs. Tamayo was about to throw his second pitch when he was called for a balk, allowing the Falcons to take the lead. A few pitches later, a single would make it 3-1 for Kelowna.

In the bottom of the fourth, a pair of walks and a stolen base put runners on second and third with two outs. Tamayo would then get called for his second balk of the game, making it 4-1. The Falcons added two more in the bottom of the seventh on two hits and two errors in the field by the NorthPaws.

At this point, all the attention was on De Graauw as the Dutchman continued to cruise through innings. After efficient innings in the seventh and eighth, throwing just 21 pitches, Falcons Head Couch Doug Noce decided to keep his starter in the game with a chance to finish the game.

De Graauw needed 15 pitches and recorded two more strikeouts to secure the complete game on 101 pitches. The righty had seven strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter, retiring 26 straight hitters. In Collegiate Summer Baseball, it’s rare for a guy to pitch seven innings, let alone a complete game. For a team to have two complete games through the first twenty contests is downright absurd. Back on June 14th, Joel Hogan threw a complete game in a 2-1 victory over the Nanaimo Night Owls.

The good news for the NorthPaws is that they won’t have much time to dwell on the loss as the two teams finish the series on Thursday night at Norbrock Stadium. The first pitch is set for 6:35.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Nanaimo NightOwls Take Both Games Against The Redmond Dudes

Published

13 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — Nanaimo NightOwls defeated the Redmond Dudes 5-1 on Wednesday night in the second game of their exhibition series. Nanaimo sweeps the mini series, scoring 17 runs and only giving up 1 in the two games.

The Redmond Dudes jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, and it looked like it was going to be a pitchers’ duel. The score stayed 1-0 until the NightOwls were able to tie it up with one run in the sixth inning when Caden Petrey singled in Talan Zenk. Extra innings were on the horizon before a big bottom of the eighth. Nanaimo scored four runs to take the lead and the fans at Serauxmen Stadium all went home happy.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=629559

Starting pitcher Nathan Ames was very good on the day, giving up just one run on five hits in his four innings. Dawson Shultz threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout. With this being an exhibition game, the Nanaimo NightOwls had a pair of local Victoria Golden Tide players join the team. Peter Cunningham pitched two scoreless innings before Nate Major got in and showed off.

He ended up getting the win for the Nanaimo NightOwls, pitching two scoreless innings and not giving up a hit. He walked just one and struck out two, and you could argue he deserved the save after Nanaimo went up in the eighth inning.

At the plate for the Nanaimo NightOwls Talan Zenk had a fantastic night. The second baseman who attends Everett Community College went two for three with a double, a single, two RBI, two runs, and a walk. Drew Giannini also had a multi-hit game for the Nanaimo NightOwls. He went two for three with a double, an RBI, and a run.

As mentioned earlier, Caden Petrey got the first RBI of the game and went one for three with a strikeout. The other NightOwls run came from pinch hitter Tyler Arnold, who replaced Petrey as designated hitter for the 8th-inning rally.

It was a nice series for the Nanaimo NightOwls with two strong wins over the Redmond Dudes. The pitching was strong and the bats came alive. Now a well deserved day off for the players. I also noticed some of the fans going home with roses so we hope you enjoyed Valentines in June. Friday is “Stand Up Against Cancer” Night at the ballpark and this is something that effects so many peoples lives.

The regular season gets back in action with a weekend series starting this Friday against the Edmonton RiverHawks. Friday and Saturday June, 27th and 28th are 6:35 pm first pitches while we go Nanaimo Bars Family Fun Sunday at 1:00 pm on the 29th. Make sure to follow us on all social media platforms and tag us in your photos and videos from the game using the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Clutch homer from Shepherd lifts Cats to win

Published

13 hours ago

June 26, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The HarbourCats are now 11-10 on the season, three games back of the North Division lead (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

June 25, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – Logan Shepherd’s (Mercer U) late-game heroics powered the Victoria HarbourCats to a 6-4 win against the Edmonton Riverhawks.

HarbourCats starter Logan Saloman (Nevada) and Riverhawks starter Jesse Kaphing were both in control early, keeping it scoreless through the first two innings.

Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) led off the third inning with a single, his first of two hits on the night, stole second base, and eventually scored on a JC Allen (UC San Diego) RBI groundout to give the hosts their first lead of the series.

BOX SCORE

Victoria doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Beltowski drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 2-0.

Tanner Beltowski was in the leadoff spot today and reached base four times and stole three bases (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Saloman took a no-hitter into the fifth inning but gave up three hits in the frame, including a Robert Phelps RBI single to cut the Cats’ lead in half. Saloman’s evening ended after five solid innings, giving up one run on three hits, walking two and striking out a pair.

WCL STANDINGS

Edmonton tied it up at two in the sixth inning through a Grant Yzermans single. In the seventh inning, it was the Hawks’ stars who came up clutch. First, Max Stagg hit a two-out RBI single to give the visitors their first lead. Trent Lenihan was up next and smacked a double to the gap, scoring Stagg, and making it 4-2.

Ben Hewitt (Ottawa) pitched two innings, giving up three runs on four hits.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Hudson Shupe (Gonzaga) and Jacob Doyle (Nevada) hit back-to-back singles to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Shepherd pinch-hit and took a hanging curveball high over the left field fence for a three-run home run to flip the script and make it 5-4 Victoria. It was his team-leading fifth long ball of the year and 17th RBI.

Hudson Shupe was back in the lineup Wednesday and went two for four (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

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Later in the inning, Beltowski’s aggressive baserunning once again proved decisive as his steal of third base caused an errant throw, allowing him to score and make it 6-4.

After pitching a scoreless eighth inning, Jacob Thompson (Minot State) was trusted to close out the game in the ninth inning and did just that to give his team a much-needed victory.

WATCH GAMES HERE

The rubber match between the two teams is tomorrow at 6:35 PM. Buy tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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