The Kamloops NorthPaws dropped the second game of the home-and-home series to the Kelowna Falcons 6-1 at Elks Stadium on Wednesday night. The NorthPaws got on the board first, but Falcons righty Gio De Graauw retired the next 26 Kamloops hitters, throwing a complete game. It’s the second complete game of the West Coast League season, both of which were thrown by Kelowna.

The NorthPaws got off to a quick start in the first as left fielder Elijah Clayton tripled to the gap in left-center. Designated hitter Drew Schmidt was up next and sent an RBI single to left field. Schmidt took his lead at first base but got erased off the base path after getting picked off. No one realized it in the moment, but that was the last time in the game Kamloops would have a runner on base.

Righty JM Harduvel got the start on the mound for Kamloops and had his longest outing of the season, going two and two-thirds, giving up three earned on two hits. Harduvel got into some trouble in the third as the Falcons loaded the bases with just one out. A sacrifice fly tied the game at one as UC Berkley pitcher was pulled from the game.

Righty Jayson Tamayo came on in relief to try and end the inning with two outs. Tamayo was about to throw his second pitch when he was called for a balk, allowing the Falcons to take the lead. A few pitches later, a single would make it 3-1 for Kelowna.

In the bottom of the fourth, a pair of walks and a stolen base put runners on second and third with two outs. Tamayo would then get called for his second balk of the game, making it 4-1. The Falcons added two more in the bottom of the seventh on two hits and two errors in the field by the NorthPaws.

At this point, all the attention was on De Graauw as the Dutchman continued to cruise through innings. After efficient innings in the seventh and eighth, throwing just 21 pitches, Falcons Head Couch Doug Noce decided to keep his starter in the game with a chance to finish the game.

De Graauw needed 15 pitches and recorded two more strikeouts to secure the complete game on 101 pitches. The righty had seven strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter, retiring 26 straight hitters. In Collegiate Summer Baseball, it’s rare for a guy to pitch seven innings, let alone a complete game. For a team to have two complete games through the first twenty contests is downright absurd. Back on June 14th, Joel Hogan threw a complete game in a 2-1 victory over the Nanaimo Night Owls.

The good news for the NorthPaws is that they won’t have much time to dwell on the loss as the two teams finish the series on Thursday night at Norbrock Stadium. The first pitch is set for 6:35.

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The HarbourCats are now 11-10 on the season, three games back of the North Division lead (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

June 25, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – Logan Shepherd’s (Mercer U) late-game heroics powered the Victoria HarbourCats to a 6-4 win against the Edmonton Riverhawks.

HarbourCats starter Logan Saloman (Nevada) and Riverhawks starter Jesse Kaphing were both in control early, keeping it scoreless through the first two innings.

Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) led off the third inning with a single, his first of two hits on the night, stole second base, and eventually scored on a JC Allen (UC San Diego) RBI groundout to give the hosts their first lead of the series.

BOX SCORE

Victoria doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Beltowski drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 2-0.

Tanner Beltowski was in the leadoff spot today and reached base four times and stole three bases (Photo: Christian J. Stewart) 

Saloman took a no-hitter into the fifth inning but gave up three hits in the frame, including a Robert Phelps RBI single to cut the Cats’ lead in half. Saloman’s evening ended after five solid innings, giving up one run on three hits, walking two and striking out a pair.

WCL STANDINGS

Edmonton tied it up at two in the sixth inning through a Grant Yzermans single. In the seventh inning, it was the Hawks’ stars who came up clutch. First, Max Stagg hit a two-out RBI single to give the visitors their first lead. Trent Lenihan was up next and smacked a double to the gap, scoring Stagg, and making it 4-2.

Ben Hewitt (Ottawa) pitched two innings, giving up three runs on four hits.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Hudson Shupe (Gonzaga) and Jacob Doyle (Nevada) hit back-to-back singles to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Shepherd pinch-hit and took a hanging curveball high over the left field fence for a three-run home run to flip the script and make it 5-4 Victoria. It was his team-leading fifth long ball of the year and 17th RBI.

Hudson Shupe was back in the lineup Wednesday and went two for four (Photo: Christian J. Stewart) 

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Later in the inning, Beltowski’s aggressive baserunning once again proved decisive as his steal of third base caused an errant throw, allowing him to score and make it 6-4.

After pitching a scoreless eighth inning, Jacob Thompson (Minot State) was trusted to close out the game in the ninth inning and did just that to give his team a much-needed victory.

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The rubber match between the two teams is tomorrow at 6:35 PM. Buy tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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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The Kamloops NorthPaws defeated the Kelowna Falcons 16-0 on Tuesday night at Norbrock Stadium, winning their 13th game of the season. Righty Mason Chien had another great outing, following his eight-strikeout performance last week in Walla Walla Chien pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just five hits and striking out seven batters. At the plate, the NorthPaws had a season-high in both runs and hits, scoring 16 on 17 hits, including five from second baseman Tanner Hornback.

“It was tough against Victoria; we scrapped it out for a couple of wins, but this is what our offence is capable of,” said Head Coach Riley Jepson.

The NorthPaws got on the board first outfielders Ethan Kodama and Connor Clark reached base. Kodama was on third, and Clark was on first before attempting to steal second. The Falcons catcher tried to catch Clark stealing but was unsuccessful. Kodama meanwhile was anticipating the throw and scored while the focus was on Clark. The right fielder later scored the second run of the game courtesy of a sacrifice grounder from Matt MacDonald.

Designated hitter Joey Rico led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and advanced to third a few pitches later as Hornback singled. Third baseman Elijah Clayton stepped up to the plate and delivered with a double to the gap in left-center field, making it 4-0. The next three Kamloops hitters would reach base, loading the bases for Clark, who made it 5-0 with a sacrifice fly. MacDonald collected another RBI this time with a base hit.

In the bottom of the fifth, an error by the Falcons gave shortstop Drew Schmidt the green light to score from second base as Clayton and Hornback both were on base. By now, it was 7-0, and Chien marched out for his final inning of work, giving up a leadoff single but striking out two of his final three batters to cap off an excellent night.

“Walla Walla was a turning point for me; I felt like I wasn’t trying to be too perfect and was pitching to the big part of the plate and getting ahead of hitters,” said Chien.

Although catcher Matt MacDonald had three RBIs, his work behind the plate won’t go unnoticed as he and Chien have been battery mates for three of Chien’s four starts this season and are starting to build chemistry at the right time.

“He knows what I want to throw in certain counts,” said Chien. “I’ve rarely ever shaken him off; It’s great to build chemistry like that because it builds confidence both ways,”

After Chien exited the game, Kamloops would blow the game wide open with seven runs on six hits. The Falcons found themselves in a deep hole after committing two crucial errors to extend the inning. Hornback had two at-bats during that offensive explosion and hit two of his five singles, notching a pair of RBIs. Hornback came into the contest hitless since last Thursday in Walla Walla.

“You go through phases as a hitter where you don’t get the results you want, then eventuality you’re up there, and you feel like you can’t miss a pitch; he’s a good hitter who’s been trusting his process,” said Jepson.

After a tough weekend at the plate, the offence showed up in a big way while the pitching stayed strong, throwing their second shutout of the season and holding the Falcons to just five hits. The NorthPaws will look to keep it rolling as they travel to Kelowna on Wednesday night before returning to Norbrock Stadium for the series finale on Thursday.

The NorthPaws sit just one game back of first place in the north division. Wednesday’s first pitch is set for 6:35; you can watch the action on West Coast League TV or listen on the NorthPaws Mixlr.

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