Summer Collegiate

Local players and returning talent set for 2025 NightOwls duty

Published

5 months ago

November 27, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Five names, all familiar to local baseball fans.

Head Coach Cody Andreychuk, a local product entering his first year at the helm of the Nanaimo NightOwls, is pleased to announce the signing of five players for the 2025 duty. Three are returnees from the 2024 squad, two are Mid-Island Pirates graduates.

All five players are at the junior college level, with previous announcements featuring mostly NCAA D1 scholarship athletes.

Nonomiya, from Japan but whose mom is Pakistani, recently was the starting pitcher and hit a home run for Pakistan to win the final of the Arabic region tournament. In the summer of 2024, he made seven appearances as a pitcher — three of those as the starter.

Florence, as a graduating high school player, saw action in 25 games last summer and drove in seven runs, playing strong defence. Known for his big arm from the left side of the infield, and an instinctual baserunner, he was an offensive catalyst in high school and has carried that to Scottsdale.

Carmichael, a Swiss Army Knife for the NightOwls in 2024, is being used primarily as a right-handed reliever at ELAC this season, but can still play nearly every position and run the bases, providing a hard-throwing bullpen option for pitching coach Gorm Heimueller, and giving Andreychuk the ability to make moves in the last half of the game. Carmichael has the nickname ‘Cowboy’ because he has competed in junior NFR events — and is a real glue guy with teammates. Carmichael made five pitching appearances in 2024, and batted .195 with a couple of doubles and three stolen bases in limited action.

Cathers spent time with the Canadian national junior team and the power hitting outfielder has made a good first impression at Cloud County.

Laukkanen, whose brother Josh was on the inaugural NightOwls team in 2022, was with the NightOwls for a few days in 2024 prior to setting foot on a college campus. Lucas left the team to stay at a lower level with less competition for playing time. Lucas has plans on being starting shortstop this spring at Cloud County.

Both Cathers and Laukkanen played in the Futures Showcase put on by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Season tickets and 10pks are available now by emailing GM Tina Cornett, tina@nanaimonightowls.com, and tickets and merchandise make great Christmas gifts — nanaimonightowls.com to find the Team Shop.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Woof, Woof… Woofability presents Bark In The Park Day

Published

4 days ago

May 1, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

HarbourCats welcome dogs on Sunday, July 13 at Wilson’s Group Stadium

For immediate release

May 1, 2025

VICTORIA — The ‘Cats are going to the dogs again this summer, thanks to Woofability.

On Sunday, July 13, the gates will open at noon for a 1pm Victoria HarbourCats game and all the pooches are welcome.

The game is presented by Woofability, a tremendous local business that specializes in service dog training, also offering enrichment, boarding and training services, and even online training for pets and their humans.

“This is exciting for us, to work with Woofability and showcase what they do,” said avid animal lover and HarbourCats Director of Online Services Chris Beveridge. “This is my favourite day of the season, getting to plan all the events with Woofability for Bark in the Park.”

Treats, water dishes, a place for dogs to run a bit — all will be provided on Woofability’s “Bark in the Park“ day.

And, Woofability Service Dog Training will put on a pre-game demonstration, on the field, for fans to see. More special surprises will be planned.

“We are very excited to partner with the HarbourCats for this unique day in the HarbourCats calendar, and to be able to tell people about Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and also about our society, Pawsibilities Service Dogs Society, which advocates, educates and supports members of the public who need a service dog but don’t have the resources to have one,” said CEO Tim Land, who co-owns the businesses along with his wife April Sauve, the Head Trainer, highly skilled in training service dogs, dog tricks and K9 body conditioning. “This is an ideal event for our great staff to be able to show the community how much we love what we do.”

Tickets for the game are available now through our one and only ticketing partner SHOWPASS and will be available right up to gametime on that Sunday.

For more information on Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and Pawsibilities Service Dog Society, follow the links Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and Pawsabilities Service Dog Society.

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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.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com. Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided. More details HERE

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats to honour outgoing VicPD Chief Del Manak on July 30

Published

5 days ago

April 30, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — He’s been our police chief for nearly 10 years, and at the end of August he’ll ride off into well-deserved retirement.

Before that, on July 30, the Victoria HarbourCats will give people a chance to say thank you with Salute to Del Manak & VicPDNight, with the Kamloops NorthPaws in town for a game at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

“Chief Manak — who doesn’t simply call him Del? — has become a friend to so many through his leadership, and he deserves a rousing thank you from us all,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats.

“We have had a strong partnership borne of a similar view of how to build this great community and make it better. Del has done a tremendous job.”

Manak was born and raised in Victoria and is in his 35th year of policing. He trained at the FBI National Academy Program and graduated from the Dalhousie University Police Leadership Program, and has a Master of Arts from Simon Fraser University in terrorism, risk and security studies.

He’s been appointed Member of the Order of Merit of police forces and had that advanced to Officer of the Order of Merit in 2024. He has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, the Police Exemplary Service medal, and this year the King Charles III Coronation medal.

“About the only thing we can fault him on — the New York Islanders, really, he cheers for them?” questioned Swanson.

Chief Manak will throw out the first pitch after having an opportunity to speak to fans and thank them for the support that has been so key in his success in leading VicPD.

Members of VicPD officers and staff will be on hand to show appreciation to their retiring boss and share their expertise with the crowd, including GVERT, Integrated Canine Service (ICS) and more.

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 – Yamaguchi leads group of top hitters coming to Victoria

Published

1 week ago

April 26, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 26, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Victoria HarbourCats, under veteran Head Coach Todd Haney, have been known for their exciting speed game, setting WCL stolen base and run records.

This summer, there looks to be more bash to complement that speed.

Haney, in his fifth season leading the HarbourCats, and sixth season with the organization overall, is proud to announce the signing of six more players for the summer of 2025 — five quality hitters and a key pitcher, the latter a Canadian in right-hander Logan Rumberg from George Mason who hails from Okotoks, Alberta.

Third baseman Sean Yamaguchi of Nevada-Reno is the biggest of the big bats added — this spring, the Hawaiian has been named Mountain West player of the week, and twice the Mountain West freshman of the week.

IF Sean Yamaguchi, Nevada-Reno, R/R, 5-9/205, Aiea, Hawaii
C Dillon Lopez, St. Mary’s, R/R, 5-11/200, San Antonio, TX
OF Garrett Brooks, St. Mary’s, L/L, 6-0/200, Spring Branch, TX
OF Bobby Filler, Niagara, R/R, 6-0/187, Philadelphia
OF Jacob Doyle, Nevada-Reno, R/R, 6-7/225, Sparks, NV
RHP Logan Rumberg, George Mason, R/R, 5-11/175, Okotoks, AB

The stocky, powerful Yamaguchi has 10 home runs and 33runs driven in, in his first 34 games played, a key part of the Wolf Pack offence. He’s batting .333.

Teammate Doyle is a rather large outfielder at 6-7, in his sophomore season — and has nine home runs as well, hitting .269 and fast for his size, stealing five bases. He had a 10-game hitting streak which included 10 RBIs and a .378 average.

Rumberg is a junior who has made 50 career appearances including 11 starts for George Mason in his career. He threw to former HarbourCats catcher Connor Dykstra at George Mason the previous two spring’s — Dykstra is now in single-A with the Seattle Mariners, playing for the Modesto Nuts.

Lopez is a catcher at St. Mary’s in Texas, hitting .330 with four home runs and 13 extra-base hits with 15 runs driven in. Teammate Brooks is an outfielder who is smashing the ball this spring, .351 with 10 bombs and 44 RBIs in 46 starts.

Filler is a freshman outfielder from Niagara whose hometown is Philadelphia. He’s a former Perfect Game player from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy before landing at Niagara.

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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