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
May 30, 2026
Portland, OR – It was billed as “Wrestling Night” in Portland Saturday night and while the wrestlers in the ring on the third base concourse of Walker Stadium did their best to ensure chaos reigned there all night, the HarbourCats did the same on the field, pummelling the Pickles by a score of 15-6.
Victoria atoned for their three-hit performance in the opener on Friday by body slamming the Pickles for 19 hits in total, 14 of which came in the first four innings, allowing them to build a 13-0 lead over that same time span.
The Pickles got up off the mat briefly in the bottom of the fourth, scoring all their six runs in that frame, but never threatened again after that, shut-out the rest of the way.
The HarbourCats offence was led by leadoff hitter David Krahn, who had four hits, including a double, four RBI and four runs scored. Right behind him was Dryden Fuoco with three hits, including a double and the first HarbourCats home run of the season. Max Bernal, Jax Heid, Lukas Le Gras, Matthew Westley, Rhone Klein and Kade Davis also contributed two hits each to the winning effort.
Victoria starter Erik Rico was flat out brilliant in his HarbourCats debut, going three shut-out innings, and allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out six, including the first three Portland batters of the game. Relievers Bryson Toner, Hunter Daniels, Easton Reimers and Anson Stuckly were also solid, combing for 5.1 innings of scoreless relief with eight strikeouts.
The HarbourCats and Pickles will complete the rubber match of the series on Sunday night wth a 6:05 PM start. Victoria then travels home for their opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, June 2 at 6:35. Tickets for that are selling fast and are available at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
The Cats fought hard but fell short in the first game of 2026
Portland, OR – The HarbourCats began the 2026 season tonight, falling 8-2 in the first game of the year to the Portland Pickles.
The Cats struck first in the season opener, as Kade Davis (UTSA) scored from third in the first inning on a Dryden Fuoco (Hill College) groundout. Portland returned fire in the bottom of the first, cashing in a run on a base knock to right field and tying the ballgame at 1-1.
HarbourCats starter Daniel Tovar (Northern Kentucky) saw his night come to an end following an action-packed second inning where he fielded all three outs. The Los Angeles product went two innings, giving up a pair of hits, one earned run, one walk, and a strikeout. Caden Shoul (Wenatchee Valley) kicked off the bottom of the third inning on the mound for the Cats, and the Pickles would break through with three more runs to claim a 4-1 lead.
A fruitful eighth inning broke the game open for Portland
Victoria got back on the board in the top of the fifth with Frankie Rutigliano (Portland) taking first on a dropped third strike and later scoring from third on a groundout from Jai Berezowski (Victoria Collegiate Cats).
Pierce Stone (Regis) worked the fourth and fifth innings for the Cats, refusing to surrender any runs on a pair of hits and a walk. Flynn Warren (Hawaii Pacific) took over for the sixth and seventh, and kept the lid on the Pickles through two hitless innings.
Portland added on in the eighth, as Cats reliever Marcus Janovsky (UBC) gave up four runs on three walks and a hit.
Victoria managed to load the bases in the ninth, but the runners were left on and Portland came away with the 8-2 win.
The HarbourCats will be in Portland all weekend, with 6:30 pm games on May 30 and 31, before returning home on June 2 for the Home Opener.
Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
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