Summer Collegiate
Loera Returns To NorthPaws In Different Role
KAMLOOPS, BC—Fernie Loera enjoyed his first summer in Kamloops so much, he has decided to return for a second season.
Loera and the Kamloops NorthPaws have announced that the 23-year-old have reached an agreement where he will become the West Coast League teams infield coordinator.
“The position this year is more defined,” Lorea says. “Last year I was just helping with everyone. This time it will be more specified and organized.”
Loera says his philosophy as an infield coordinator is clear. “ We need to attack the ball as much as possible to create a better hop for the infielders. It’s a very fast approach. I think making the routine plays should be the main priority. The less errors you make the quicker the innings will be.”
Loera played junior college baseball at Pima Community College in Tucson Arizona (where he is currently employed as an outfield/strength and conditioning coach) from 2019-2022. He committed to Texas Southern University but wound up playing professionally with the Great Falls Voyagers in Montana.
He followed that up with a student coaching position at New Mexico State University (2022-23) before coming to spend this past summer with the NorthPaws.
“Instruction of the players in summer baseball is tough because the season is so short (2-3 months). I feel trying to break some of these players of bad habits will be a challenge, but it is one I am looking forward to.”
He adds, “ my goal for this year is to engage with the players about the little things in the game that are very important. And of course, to win.”
Loera is looking forward to reuniting with new NorthPaws head coach Jose Bautista. “Working with Jose was a blast last year. He has an ‘old school’ view to playing the game. It is a style that I love too.”
When asked which Major League team he thought had the best infield, he begrudgingly said. “The Houston Astros. They have Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena who are all elite defenders. Nothing from them is ever too flashy or fancy. They just go out and make plays! They also go get the ball on plays that aren’t routine and communicate with each other constantly.”
Loerea and the NorthPaws will help open the 20th edition of the West Coast League regular season on Friday May 31st.
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Middle infield combo, power corner infielders added by HarbourCats
Above: Infielder Jake Butler from George Mason University should be a key cog in the middle infield for the HarbourCats in 2025.
March 24, 2025
For Immediate Release
VICTORIA — It’s always a bonus to find a double-play combo from the same school, especially one as strong as George Mason University (GMU).
The Victoria HarbourCats are excited to add middle infielders Owen Clyne, who starts at short, and Jake Butler, his usual counterpart at second but also able to play third, from GMU — the school that provided star catcher Connor Dykstra, who signed in July with the Seattle Mariners.
“This group we are announcing today, we will be counting on them to lead key parts of our team this summer,” said HarbourCats GM Christian Stewart.
“Butler and Clyne are impressing everyone this spring, and JC Allen from UC San Diego is off to a strong start as well. Our offense just got even stronger with these four signings, and you know (head coach) Todd Haney will get the most out of them.”
Announced as signed today, by Coach Haney:
IF Owen Clyne, George Mason, L/R, 6-2/185, Wichita, KS
IF Jake Butler, George Mason, R/R, 5-11/185. Towson, MD
IF JC Allen, UC San Diego, R/R, 6-4/210, Irvine, CA
IF/OF Curtis McKay, Niagara, R/R, 6-3/205, Dorchester, ON
Clyne, batting .363, has 28 RBIs in 24 games so far this season, with three home runs, nine extra-base hits and more walks than strikeouts. Butler has 35 runs driven in and is batting .326 with a .457 on-base clip in 20 games.
UC SanDiego’s JC Allen is another player who should see plenty of playing time in the HarbourCats infield in 2025.
Allen is off to a huge start at the D1 level, after two years at Saddleback College, with six home runs and 24 RBIs in his first 22 games for UC SAN Diego. He hit 13 bombs in his second season at Saddleback. He can play either corner infield spot, or get his bat active in the DH role.
McKay, from Ontario, can play corner infield or outfield, is batting .303 with four home runs and an RBI per game (22 total) over 18 starts at Niagara.
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.
ATTENTION 2024 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS – FINAL NOTICE! If you have not already done so, please renew your seats for 2025 so that they can be locked into the new ticketing system. Season Tickets will be sent to all members electronically this season on April 1, 2025, perhaps sooner. Any seats not renewed by MONDAY, March 31 will be released and placed back into the system. Contact Christian at the office at 778-265-0327 to renew.
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – KidSport celebrating notable anniversary with HarbourCats in 2025
Victoria HarbourCats – Middle infield combo, power corner infielders added by HarbourCats
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