KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws are returning to Dearborn Ford Field at NorBrock Stadium on Tuesday as the West Coast season begins to wrap up ahead of the playoffs.
The Paws are back in Kamloops after a tough road trip which saw the squad drop five of six on the road, concluding with a three game sweep at the hands of the Victoria HarbourCats in the provincial capital. Kamloops sits last in the North Division at 6-13 in the second half, 5.5 games back of the leading Bellingham Bells who arrive in the Tournament Capital on Tuesday for a three game set.
The Bellingham Bells are continuing a Canadian road trip, which saw them win two of three versus the Nanaimo NightOwls on the Island.
GAME 1
A late inning surge from the Victoria HarbourCats propelled the Islander to victory in the opening game of the set 11-6.
Shane Brinham was thrust into action for his first career WCL appearance, pitching a superb five innings of no-hit baseball, walking six but also striking out 5, taking a no-decision.
The NorthPaws would jump out to an early 5-0 lead thanks to two runs in the 2nd and three more in the 3rd, before the HarbourCats racked up 11 runs from the 6th inning onwards.
Shortstop Anthony Setticasi led the way for Kamloops with a 2-4 3RBI evening at the plate. Dylan Dekker, and Madden Ocko both added an RBI in the loss. The game unravelled in the seventh for Kamloops with Victoria pushing across seven runs and taking a lead they would never surrender.
The Cats’ Michael Crossland, and Michelle Artzberger both collected 3RBI in the win for Victoria. Willem Heilker collected the win, pitching two innings of relief allowing 1 unearned run and striking out three.
Chase Taylor was tagged with the loss.
GAME 2
Victoria’s offensive weapons continued to dominate Kamloops’ pitching staff in the second game, defeating the Paws 15-3.
Cade Johnson started for Kamloops and took the loss, after pitching 2.1IP, 9H, 8ER, 2K. Joey Rico was a bright spot for Kamloops in the loss going 2-4 at the plate with 2RBI, both of his hits went for doubles. Jacob Schlesselman had the other RBI.
Michelle Artzberger failed to cool off between games, collecting four more RBI in game two, for seven in the series. In total the Victoria batters collected 18 hits and 8 walks in the victory.
Taylor Franklin earned the win, pitching one inning of clean baseball.
GAME 3
Victoria completed the sweep during a matinee on Sunday 7-3.
Sawyer Jensen got the starting nod for Kamloops and pitched well, allowing just 4ER over 6.0IP with 3K but ended up taking the loss. Cade Webber, and Oliver Mabee also pitched in the contest for the NorthPaws with Mabee allowing the other three runs to Victoria.
Flynn Ridley was the winning pitcher of record, throwing three innings of no-hit ball in relief of starter Trey Langan.
TJ Wachter hit his second homer of the season, a solo-shot in the fourth inning. Catcher Jerry Nix also collected an RBI in the loss on a 1-3 night.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE Monday, July 29 – Off-Day Tuesday, July 30 vs Bellingham, 6:35 first pitch Wednesday, July 31 vs Bellingham, 6:35 first pitch Thursday, August 1, vs Bellingham, 6:35 first pitch 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
All 2026 ticket types, including single-game, 6, 12 and 32 game flex -packs, season memberships and All-Star Game ticket packages are now available!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2025
Victoria, BC – The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce that just in time for Christmas, single-game tickets for all 31 2026 regular season games and the 2026 WCL All-Star Game are now available for purchase.
Fans can see our schedule and purchase tickets on-line with our ticketing partner SHOWPASS at http://harbourcats.com/tickets, or stop by in person to the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street. Fans can also call the office at 778-265-0327 to order.
Also announced today is the availability of 2026 ALL-STAR GAME ticket packages that include a Home Run Derby event on July 14th and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game on July 15th. Ticket packages that include both events are available now at https://www.showpass.com/wcl-all-star-home-run-derby-and-all-star-game-package/.
Individual All-Star Game and Home Run Derby event tickets will go on sale at a later date.
Note, if you are a season ticket holder, your seats are reserved for the Home Run derby and All-Star game, but as this is a separate purchase, you do need to contact the office to claim and pay for your seats.
FLEX-PACKS
Also on sale for 2026 are our regular 12-game and 32-game flex packs, as well as a new STOCKING STUFFER 6-Pack that will be offered until Christmas. The 6-Pack starts at $99 for General Admission seating and all 6-Packs will include a souvenir baseball that will fit nicely in the toe of the stocking of your favourite HarbourCats fan.
12 and 32-game flex packs can be bought on-line at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or in person at the HarbourCats office. The 6-Pack offering is only available in person at the HarbourCats office.
NOTE: If you already have ticket vouchers for the 2026 season, you may now begin to redeem them for single-games as desired. You can do so on-line assuming you are all set up in SHOWPASS to do so, or pop into the office and we can handle this for you!
We also have a wide range of merchandise available for the baseball fan on your list including new 2026 All-Star game tee-shirts and our Nathan Lukes Blue Jays World Series commemorative tee-shirt. Items can be ordered on-line at The Cat Shop at https://victoria-harbourcats-official.myshopify.com/ or by visiting the HarbourCats office, where a 15% in store discount is in effect until Christmas!
The Victoria HarbourCats will begin their 2026 West Coast League season in late May of 2026, with the home opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Plenty of excitement is on board for 2026 including:
Three fireworks nights (June 6, 30 and August 3)
Two 11:00 AM School Spirit Games (June 4 and 18)
Five Family Fun Sunday Matinees (June 7, 14, 28 July 19 and 26)
$12 Tuesdays and Thursdays (June 16, July 2, 7, 9, 28 and 30)
The Victoria HarbourCats, in association with Richardson Sport Inc. (RSI) and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are excited to announce the launch of Harvey’s Sports Stars!
Harvey’s Sports Stars will give children exclusive access to a professional-quality indoor turf facility and a wide range of fun, skill-building sports programs. Whether they’re swinging a bat, learning new movement skills, or high-fiving mascot Harvey the HarbourCat, Harvey’s Sports Stars will be part of a vibrant sports community that celebrates fun and teamwork, while staying active!
Families can look forward to enjoying year-round opportunities to play, connect, and make lasting memories, through exciting RSI programming inside the HarbourCats’ exciting indoor training space, located at 1821 Cook Street.
YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR KICK-OFF EVENT!
With this exciting new partnership, RSI is inviting all kids and their families to join the exciting SPORTSAPALOOZA day taking place on Sunday, November 30th from 1:30-5:30pm at the Indoor Training Facility. – the EFTC – located at 1821 Cook St.
Our Sportspalooza Day is a chance for children to jump in, meet RSI coaches, see the indoor facility, and get a sneak peak at our upcoming Harvey’s Sports Stars Programming.
During this Demo Day, children will get to:
Explore the activities we offer
Meet the coaches and see the facility
Get a feel for the environment
Discover what makes this program so engaging and confidence-building
Spaces are limited, so we highly encourage you to claim your spot as early as possible.
The Victoria HarbourCats will begin their 2026 West Coast League season in late May of 2026, with the home opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.
The Nanaimo NightOwls will be using the 2026 season to celebrate Gorm Heimueller — the esteemed pitching coach, one of the best to ever do it in baseball! The 70-year-old marks a half-century in the game when he suits up in his fifth summer in the West Coast League with the Nanaimo NightOwls.
“First — thank you, Nanaimo,” said Heimueller. “I’m very grateful to the Nanaimo NightOwls organization for allowing me to come back as pitching coach in 2026. This will be my 50th year since I signed my first pro contract, but I’ve been very fortunate and blessed to be involved in this game that I’ve loved for more than 60 years. I’m looking forward to working with Jim, Tina, Anthony, and Cody in putting together an exciting and competitive team on the field for our amazing Nanaimo fans!”
Coach Gorm will tuck his golf clubs away in May — he recorded his second career ace recently — so he can do what he loves most, and that’s working with young pitchers.
“We are going to celebrate Gorm in 2026 — our players, our coaches, our staff could not have more admiration for him as a coach and as a human being,” said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the NightOwls, in announcing Heimueller and wife Lee Ann will return to Nanaimo in 2026 to work with Head Coach Cody Andreychuk and assistant Anthony Houk.
“Players love the man, they hang on his every word. Coaches send us pitchers specifically to get to work with him. He’s a gentleman, he relates well to everyone, and he tells the best stories. We have an absolute legend of the game in Nanaimo as the only pitching coach the NightOwls have ever known — and he’s a mentor to so many, in so many ways.
“Gorm has more than earned the opportunity to be celebrated for all he’s done for the game. I’m biased because he’s become a good friend, but he should be in the Hall of Fame.”
The NightOwls are unveiling a special “GORM50” logo that will be ever-present during the 2026 season — from players shirts, to merchandise. There is also a book being written on his stories and exploits, co-written by Swanson and fellow NightOwls owner Helen Edwards — both have authored books in their careers.
Heimueller, a Los Angeles native, who has World Series rings from coaching in the Twins and Phillies systems, started his baseball career as a lefty pitcher at Cal Poly — with a guy named Ozzie Smith as his shortstop.
Heimueller spent 10 years as a professional pitcher, throwing strikes around the globe (Venezuela, Australia, Canada, USA), and spent two years as mostly a starting pitcher with the Oakland A’s (1983-84), a team which featured Rickey Henderson in his prime. As legend has it, the manager at his first MLB spring training was Frank Robinson, with Billy Martin the manager at his second camp, and his first MLB strikeout victim was Cal Ripken Jr. He transitioned directly from playing to coaching in the minors and held pitching coordinator positions later in his pro tenure, including the San Diego Padres until 2020.
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