Summer Collegiate
KAMLOOPS — Walla Walla was the tonic that the Kamloops NorthPaws needed as they took two of three from the South Division foes.
Photo Credits – Allen Douglas Photography
Rico chants fill Dearborn Ford Field after big weekend set
A big crowd at the Park on Saturday night began chanting Joey Rico’s name as he walked up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, looking to walk off the Sweets.
“You dream of that situation, to win the game, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth. Take it in the moment, take what they give you, try to stay calm as much as possible and don’t let the moment get too big,” said Rico. “It was awesome to see all the fans out and play for them.”
Less than 24 hours after the walk-off single, Rico stepped up in the 7th inning and hit a ball 106 mph off the barrel for a 396 foot homer. After the homer Rico toed the rubber pitching a clean 9th for the save.
“I knew it, 3-1 count ready for a fastball and got it, so just put a good swing on it,” said Rico. “Just doing what I can to help the team win.”
The back to back wins represent the first winning streak and first series win for Kamloops since the second series of the season.
“It was big because we have struggled and we are coming back and fighting. This series was big to show us who we are and keep playing,” added Rico.
For a team that has been scuffling it was a crucial weekend set.
“The important thing is keeping positive, keeping the guys relaxed. We know we are going to lose and we are going to win so keep ourselves on the right track and play the right way,” said Manager Jose Bautista. “Continue to do the best we can and I think we are going to turn it around.”
GAME 1
The Kamloops NorthPaws opened up a three game set versus the Walla Walla Sweets at home on Friday night (June 28), getting shutout by the visitors 12-0.
The Sweets, who arrived at the ballpark just three hours before first pitch, got the bats going early, pushing across four runs in the opening frame and never looking back.
Cade Webber got the start for Kamloops pitching 3.0 IP, giving up 7ER, 7H, 3K. Logan Meyer led the offense for Walla Walla for a 2-4 night with 4RBI, the big swing of the bat coming in the first inning with a bases clearing triple to right centre.
The Paws would only muster 6 hits in the shutout, with Zach Hangas throwing a complete game for the Sweets, 9.0IP, 6H, 0ER, 2K.
GAME 2
Joey Rico played hero on Saturday night in Kamloops, as the NorthPaws right fielder hit a walkoff single in the 9th to secure a 3-2 win over the Sweets.
Keith Manby made his ‘Paws debut on the mound and pitched well in a ballpark he’s quite familiar with as he plays for the TRU WolfPack. Manby went 5.0IP, 2ER, 4BB, 3K and earned a no-decision in the Kamloops win.
The ‘Paws struck first, in the third innings as Michael Weber brought home Chris Catalano on a sac-fly to make it 1-0.
A pair of wild-pitches from Manby would set up a pair of runs from Walla Walla in the 5th as they held a 2-1 lead until the 7th.
Potentially the turning point of the game was when Casper Rammeloo allowed a leadoff triple in the sixth but would strand the runner and escape the jam. Rammeloo collected the win pitching 4.0IP, 1H, 0ER baseball, striking out two and not walking a soul.
Weber would collect his second RBI of the game to tie things at 2-2 in the seventh as he dumped a single just over the head of the second baseman scoring Anthony Setticasi.
Anthony Settacasi walked to open the bottom of the ninth, which was followed by a double to right by Jacob French. With the winning run 90 feet away, Walla Walla intentionally walked Catalano to set up a force out at any base and pitch to Rico.
Rico would take a 1-1 pitch into left-centre to walk off the Sweets, and earn a split of the first two games of the weekend set.
GAME 3
Both Walla Walla and Kamloops traded runs of five unanswered during the Sunday finale to the series before Joey Rico would play hero for a second straight contest as Kamloops won 7-5.
The Paws struck first on Sunday, scoring a pair in the second inning thanks to a Jerry Nix RBI single and a sac-fly from Anthony Setticasi.
Then it was time for Walla Walla to return serve with five straight runs as they would put up a pair in the fourth and three in the fifth to take the lead 5-2.
From there Lucas Smith (4.0IP, 3ER) who relieved starter Cade Johnson (4.0IP, 2ER) would lock things down and not allow another run in the ballgame.
Kamloops would tie things back up in the sixth with Jerry Nix, Anthony Manuel, and Nolan Austin all collecting RBI singles to make it 5-5.
The first batter of the bottom of the seventh was Joey Rico who hammered a 3-1 pitch 296 feet to right field to give the Paws a lead they would never surrender. Michael Weber would score an insurance run on a Walla Walla error to make it 7-5.
After crushing the go-ahead homer, Rico would be called upon to pitch the ninth, striking out two for his first save of the season.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Monday, July 1 @ Kelowna, first pitch 6:35
Tuesday, July 2 vs Kelowna, first pitch 6:35 (next home game)
Wednesday, July 3 @ Kelowna, first pitch 6:35
Thursday, July 4 – Off-day
Friday, July 5 @ Edmonton, first pitch 7:05
Saturday, July 6 @ Edmonton, first pitch 7:05
Sunday, July 7 @ Edmonton, first pitch 1:05
FOR MEDIA REQUESTS
Jenna Forter
General Manager
Kamloops NorthPaws
250-200-1415
www.northpawsbaseball.ca
By Norm LeBus
Victoria, BC – He works fast and he likes a crowd. That makes third-year pitcher Shea Lake a hit with his teammates – and even former coaches.
In the relative pressure cooker of Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park, there’s an electricity on good summer nights that’s not coming from the overhead lights.
“It’s kind of like that white line fever,” former pitching coach Scott Anderson tells me from Portland. Scott spent three seasons mentoring the ‘Cats mound prospects. “Some of those guys when they come out across the foul lines and they get 3,000 people in the stands it’s a little bit different story.”
But at 6-3, Shea Lake stands tall on the mound.
“First off, when we’re in Victoria it’s a much better crowd than anywhere else,” he says.
“I just think the way that RAP kind of fits – all those people packed in close together, the energy just fills the room, especially playing night games, firework nights, all the stuff like that.”
Lake is one of the rare three-year players with Victoria. And like many of the ‘Cats, he’s had a nomadic path to BC’s capital.
In his case, ‘Cats fans can thank the U.S. Department of State.
After his freshman year at Hawaii Pacific the coaching staff placed Lake with the Swift Current 57s of the Westen Canadian Baseball League. But Lake’s passport did not arrive in time to play summer baseball. Instead, he’s in town for a trifecta: ’24, 25 and now 2026.
And the 2025 campaign was a busy one: Lake appeared in nine games and pitched 34 innings, compiling a 2-2 record and 3.20 ERA. And both fans and teammates appreciated his efficient pace on the hill. Lake works quickly.
“It’s one of the more underlying things in baseball that people don’t really see,” Lake says. “When your D is out there for a while, it kind of wears them out throughout the game. Getting them off the field and staying on their hitting side, it’s always good for the offense and the fans kind of like it — especially when you have an offense like us.”
And how would he describe himself on the hill?
“I’ve never been a big velocity guy,” he says. “It’s kind of just playing with the hitter and keeping them off balance, control the count and generating ground balls. The longer I’m out there the more it becomes like work, so keeping the pitch count low and trying to get the guys off the field as fast as I can.”
“He’s a pitcher that can pitch,” Anderson says. “Shea’s a solid guy that works with a good tempo and he changes speeds really well. He’ll be a good leader to the team. He’s a smart kid.
Lake is a mechanical engineering student at West Texas A &M near Amarillo. When it comes to his baseball future he thinks like an engineer – sound, fundamental concepts built on proven principles. About 10% of NCAA baseball players are drafted, but a much, much smaller percentage make it all the way to Major League Baseball.
“Of course there’s that chance,” he says. “If a big jump happens, that’s great; I think I have the ability, the capabilities to do it, you never know.
“I just keep my head down and work hard and we’ll see what happens. I wouldn’t say nothing’s really changed: I think just being the best version of myself every day and working as hard as I can is all I can really do.
“As long as I do that, I’m happy with myself.”
It’s a winning attitude.
Before he even crosses those white lines.
The HarbourCats season begins May 29th on the road versus the Portland Pickles, before returning to Victoria for the Home Opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 pm.
Season tickets, single-game tickets, 12 and 32-game flex packs and 2026 All-Star Game ticket packages are now on sale at harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 1814 Vancouver Street.
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