Summer Collegiate

KAMLOOPS — Walla Walla was the tonic that the Kamloops NorthPaws needed as they took two of three from the South Division foes.

Published

9 months ago

July 23, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

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

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Chase makes eight! Meidroth recalled by Chicago

Published

2 weeks ago

April 11, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 11, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — In 10 seasons of play, it’s now eight Major League Baseball players produced — not too shabby.

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce that the Chicago White Sox have recalled infielder Chase Meidroth, and he will make his MLB debut at second base tonight against the team that drafted him, the Boston Red Sox.

Meidroth was placed with the HarbourCats in 2019 by Head Coach Rich Hill, then at the University of San Diego (now at Hawaii), and starred for the Cats at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP under HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney, himself a former MLB player.

Meidroth joins Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia/Boston/San Diego), Andrew Vaughn (Chicago White Sox), Alex DeGoti (Houston), Nathan Lukes (Toronto), Cade Smith (Cleveland), Davis Wendzel (Texas) and Jack Neely (Chicago Cubs) as MLB players who have come through the Victoria program.

That Pivetta was the first HarbourCat in the majors was pure poetry — he threw the first pitch in HarbourCats history in 2013, and is a Victoria product and former PBL Victoria Eagles pitcher.

With Vaughn and Meidroth together, this will be the first time two HarbourCats have been on the same team at the MLB level — and they may even bat next to each other in the lineup over the coming days.

With the HarbourCats, Meidroth was a star defensively at shortstop, and was near impossible to keep off the bases — he hit a whopping .424, a .494 on-base percentage, with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 13 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft after his junior season at USD.

Meidroth is just 23, with a whole career ahead of him. He’s considered an excellent contact hitter with MLB power potential, and had a big year at AAA in the Boston system last year before being a key part of a major trade between the two Sox teams. He’s hit 38 home runs across all levels, batting .304 with 54 stolen bases.

“Chase was tremendous for us — so strong at short, and an impact bat in helping that 2019 team reach the WCL final,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “We are so proud of him — and all our players who go pro, and of course the eight now who have made it to the MLB level.”

Vaughn is the top bat with the White Sox after being the third-overall MLB draft pick in 2019, fast-tracked to the MLB level. Smith, Wendzel (now at AAA in the Reds organization) and Neely made their MLB debuts in 2024, and Lukes, the 2014 HarbourCats player of the year, is fast becoming a regular in the outfield with the Blue Jays. DeGoti saw time with the Astros during the covid season and is now at AAA in the Rangers organization.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. 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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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Finn returns, two Tide guys sign, and three Horned Frogs

Published

2 weeks ago

April 10, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 10, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — There may not be a better team nickname in all of sports than that of TCU — The Horned Frogs. And three of those Horned Frogs will be with the Victoria HarbourCats this summer.

Catcher Jacob Silva and pitchers Andrew Carter and Thomas Bridges have been added to head coach Todd Haney’s roster for this summer, which the HarbourCats will start on the road in Kelowna on May 30 — less than two months away. TCU provided right-hander Carson Cormier, a WCL all-star and Pitcher of the Year, to the HarbourCats in 2024.

The home opener is June 6 with the Port Angeles Lefties at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

“It’s always good to add top young talent from a great program like TCU, which sees the value in the competition we get to face in the West Coast League on a daily basis,” said Haney, the 2023 WCL coach of the year, now in his fifth season as head coach of the HarbourCats.

Also added today are local pitcher Jack Finn, in his third season with the HarbourCats, and Victoria Golden Tide outfielder Dominic Biello, who is having a breakout season with the CCBC program in Victoria. Righty Jalen Sami, who was a valuable asset of
out the bullpen before starting a playoff game for Victoria in 2024, also returns.

“Having Jack Finn return with the strides he’s made at the D1 level, will be great for the staff as well,” said Haney. “He really enjoys working with our pitching coach, Scott Anderson.”

Announced today:

LHP Jack Finn, Illinois State, 6-2/185, L/L, Victoria
OF Dominic Biello, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-0/200, R/R, Victoria
RHP Jalen Sami, Victoria Golden Tide, 5-10/170, R/R, Burnaby
RHP Andrew Carter, TCU, 6-2/192, R/R, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
RHP Tommy Bridges, TCU, 5-11/190, R/R, Los Angeles
C Jacob Silva, TCU, 5-10/203, S/R, San Antonio, TX

Finn, a product of the Victoria Eagles, had an impressive showing for the HarbourCats late in the 2023 season, before heading to Normal, Illinois and Illinois State. The sophomore is used as a lefty out of the pen by head coach Steve Holm, but started seven games among his nine appearances in summer of 2024 in Victoria, going 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA — 16 strikeouts and 23 hits allowed in 25 innings.

Biello, who attends UVic, is tied for the Tide team lead in home runs with two this spring, batting .318, with a team-high nine runs batted in, along with three doubles. An Eagles product, Biello is a leader for the Tide, usually batting second in the order — also a strong defender in the outfield.

Sami, from Burnaby, took the winter off to rest, rehab and strengthen his pitching arm but will be ready by late May. He made nine appearances for the HarbourCats in 2024, giving up just 10 hits in 16.1 innings, walking only two hitters.

Silva hit .375 in his high school career before joining his older brother Anthony at TCU. Jacob was a stellar student-athlete at Clark HS, recognized for his academics and named a unanimous all-district player. He won the Texas 6A Student Athlete Award in 2024.

Carter had three no-hitters in high school and was first-team all-conference in his last two years of prep baseball. He is a freshman at TCU, as is Bridges, who had a record 0.59 ERA in high school, earning an invite to the Perfect Game national showcase.

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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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Little League Classic coming to RAP, ahead of nationals at Layritz

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a first for the best baseball park in Victoria, and a way to celebrate a major event coming to Layritz Park in late July.

With Layritz due to host the Canadian Little League Championship starting on July 29 — the winner advances to Williamsport, PA, and represents team Canada for the Little League World Series — the Victoria HarbourCats, and the HarbourCats Foundation, are hosting the LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

On Sunday, July 20, all six Little League organizations in the Victoria area will be represented as a preview of the Canadian Little League Championship, which will start at Layritz on July 29 — an event supported by the HarbourCats Foundation through the Victoria Foundation.

“This is something we have never tried, and we can’t wait to see the faces of these young athletes when they are on that field, with their pictures up on the video scoreboard,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “We think this is something that could grow in future years to see Wilson’s Group Stadium used for an entire youth baseball showcase weekend — the same as we are using the Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase on May 31, featuring the Sooke Loggers and Lacey A’s, to bring attention to that area of diamond sports.

“We could not be more excited to see what Layritz is doing in hosting the Canadian Little League Championship. There is no more pure level of sport than events like that, the pure joy of the young stars, and all who support them.”

Little League Classic schedule of events:

Sunday, July 20 2025 Little League Classic
Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP

11am, Hampton vs. Central Saanich
1pm, National vs. Lakehill
3pm, Layritz vs. Beacon Hill

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the HarbourCats Foundation to bring the Little League Classic to Royal Athletic Park,” said Brittney Crump, Chair of the Canadian Little League Championships Planning Committee. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent of our little league athletes in Victoria and build excitement for the Canadian Little League Championship at Layritz. We are grateful for the support we have received to date from the local community – but we have not reached our fundraising goal yet. Community support is vital to the success of these events, and we’re proud to stand together with the HarbourCats Foundation in making this experience possible for these young athletes.”

Tickets are available on-line for the Little League Classic, and are by donation for adults, with a minimum donation of $5 required. Kids 12 and under are free! These great events need financial support to be able to pull them off, and the HarbourCats and HarbourCats Foundation are proud to be part of that effort.

Anyone wishing to learn more or to support the national tournament can visit the tournament website at https://layritz.ca/tournaments/2025-canadian-championship/ or e-mail Brittany Crump at media@layritz.ca.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and three “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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

Source