Summer Collegiate
NightOwls Pitch A Clinic In Exhibition Game Against The Dudes
NANAIMO, B.C. — It was an impressive win by the NightOwls on Tuesday night at Serauxmen Stadium against the Redmond Dudes. It was a pitching masterclass, and the NightOwls exploded for 12 runs on 12 hits with zero errors. Nanaimo was only a double and a walk away from a perfect game. The pitching staff faced just 29 batters to get the required 27 outs.
The team has exploded on offence in the past two games, scoring a combined 23 runs. It’s the perfect time for the team to find its groove before they resume regular season play on Friday against the Edmonton RiverHawks. Tuesday night, it was a six-run 3rd inning, and they just continued to score. Brock Wirthgen had a big night at the plate with two RBI, but it was everyone getting in on the scoring.
https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=629558
Newcomer Zach Horwith, from Castlerock, Colorado, made the start for the Nanaimo NightOwls and pitched two perfect innings and striking out two. He arrived from the airport last week when the team was down in Victoria. Jakin Rohne got the win for the NightOwls, pitching two innings and giving up the only hit on the night for the dudes.
Not to be outdone, the rest of the pitching staff didn’t allow a hit for the remainder of the game. Vinny Bruno is looking sharp in his return from injury. He faced a minimum of six batters and struck out three of them in his two innings of work. Brady Morse, Carter Chard-Hill, and Cody Carmichael all threw scoreless innings to close things out for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
I mentioned him earlier, but Brock Wirthgen, with his parents in town, went two for four on the night with two doubles and two RBI and set the tone for the NightOwls. I spoke with Brock after the game, and he had this to say about the team, “I think this team is something special, the bond that we have has been nothing but family-like. I believe we are a good team, a post-season team if you will.”
He would continue, ” We just hit a rough patch which all great teams do. But, I will say that I don’t think we’ve played out best ball yet this summer and when we start playing it, it will be a fun team to watch.”
Outfielder Alessandro Volpe also went two for four with two RBI’s. Brady Morse along with his one shutout inning, also went two for three with two RBI. Jaisen Abner, Hunter Stencil, Easton Mould, and Carter Cathers all chipped in with RBI’s for the Nanaimo NightOwls against the Redmond Dudes.
That’s one of two exhibition games out of the way with the Redmond Dudes, a huge win for the NightOwls and we get right back at it Wednesday June 25th at 6:35 pm. It is Valentines Day in June so bring your sweetheart for a hot dog and some amazing baseball. I might even give you a flower as you walk in, I’ll give it to you to give it to them!
The regular season gets back in action with a weekend series starting this Friday against the Edmonton RiverHawks. Friday and Saturday June, 27th and 28th are 6:35 pm first pitches while we go Nanaimo Bars Family Fun Sunday at 1:00 pm on the 29th. Make sure to follow us on all social media platforms and tag us in your photos and videos from the game using the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark! See you at the ball park!
Respected island businessman John Wilson has been named President of the company that oversees the successful collegiate baseball teams based in Victoria and Nanaimo.
Wilson, the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and whose family owns and operates the Wilson’s Group of Companies, has been part of the core ownership group of the Victoria HarbourCats since 2015, and the Nanaimo NightOwls since inception in 2020 (started play in 2022). The NightOwls, a rival to the HarbourCats on the field, play at historic Serauxmen Stadium.
Wilson takes the position from Ken Swanson, who remains on the board after a solid 10-year run as team president. The group also operates the Victoria Collegiate (CCBC) baseball program and the busy indoor facility on Cook St., the Edwards Family Training Centre.
“Ken has led the corporate structure well, and he’s deserving of a break,” said Wilson. “We have a strong and committed group of owners and staff and a refresh is good for us all, keeping these teams playing great baseball and positively impacting these amazing communities in a stable, creative manner. Ken literally leaves big shoes to fill.”
The HarbourCats, which started play in 2013, will host the WCL All-Star Game in 2026 and 2027, showcasing the island’s immense love of baseball and the team that helped produce eight current MLB players including Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays), Nick Pivetta (Padres), Cade Smith (Guardians), Andrew Vaughn (Brewers) and Chase Meidroth (White Sox). The 2026 all-star festival will take place July 14-15 using Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park and sites around the South Island, with exciting details to come.
Wilson and Swanson lead a nine-member ownership group that includes Rich Harder, Helen Edwards, Mike Macdonell, Sean Finn, Vic Vendetti, John Schnaderbeck and Jim Swanson.
“No one knows the community like John, so we are all looking forward to what will be a flawless transition that will bring some new life to the organization,” said Ken Swanson.
The management structure remains the same — former GM Jim Swanson in the Managing Partner role, overseeing day-to-day operations, assisted by Adrian Somers (Business Operations and Marketing). In Victoria, Christian Stewart (General Manager) and John Pollard (Marketing Director) remain in place, while Tina Cornett continues her strong leadership in Nanaimo as General Manager, with Kent Malpass overseeing the concession.
The teams maintain wholly separate coaching staffs and recruiting processes — veteran Todd Haney, a five-year MLB player, as the sixth-year Head Coach in Victoria, and local product Cody Andreychuk, a collegiate program head coach at University of Pikeville, enters his second season in Nanaimo, assisted by pitching coach Gorman Heimueller, who has three World Series rings from his 50 years in the game.
Tickets are selling fast…get yours today. www.NanaimoNightOwls.com/ticketinfo
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
For immediate release
January 20, 2026
VICTORIA, BC — A former HarbourCats outfielder, a member of the record-breaking WCL team in 2016, knew he wanted to send players he now coaches to a great summer baseball factory.
Jarron Silva, then an outfielder from UCLA, really enjoyed his time in Victoria, on a team that won a record 40 games, including 19 in a row at one point.
Now as an assistant coach at San Jose State, he connected with veteran HarbourCats coach Todd Haney to secure development spots for two pitchers and two position players.
“Jarron was a spark plug for that 2016 team, and he remembers the fan support and atmosphere at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP — Victoria is a baseball city,” said Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “We are excited to see the pitchers signed, and to see the power in Rohne Klein and Ethan Nunez — they have the potential to represent Victoria when we host the WCL All-Star Game on July 15.”
Four Spartans and a versatile fielder from George Mason, Matthew Westley, have been signed by Coach Haney:
- RHP Landon Marchetti, San Jose State, 5-11/190, Brentwood, CA
- RHP Spencer Kratt, San Jose State, 6-0/210, Woodland Hills, CA
- IF Rohne Klein, San Jose State, 6-4/230, L/R, Renton, WA
- OF Ethan Nunez, San Jose State, 6-4/190, R/R, Chino Hills, CA
- IF/OF Matthew Westley, George Mason, 6-1/210, R/R, Manassas, VA
Marchetti, previously at UC San Diego, has nearly 30 games of college experience, including five starts, and used a lower lefty arm slot to register high strikeout numbers in high school. Kratt is a power righty who runs it up to 92, a transfer from LA Valley College.
Landon Marchetti delivers a pitch while playing for the UC San Diego in 2025.
Klein, a transfer to SJSU from Utah, is a developing power bat who also is noted for a strong arm — can play third, outfield or first. He’s an athlete, playing both quarterback and linebacker on his high school team.
Nunez is a transfer from Colorado Mesa, where he was the RMAC freshman of the year — and he will miss the spring as a redshirt to get an injury fully rehabbed, but will be good to go for summer. At Colorado Mesa, he hit .356 with 14 bombs.
The lone non-SJSU addition announced by Coach Haney is utility guy Westley, formerly of Virginia Tech and now at George Mason. He has two summers of experience in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League.
The Victoria HarbourCats will begin their 2026 West Coast League season in late May of 2026, with the home opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Plenty of excitement is on board for 2026 including:
- Three fireworks nights (June 6, 30 and August 3)
- Two 11:00 AM School Spirit Games (June 4 and 18)
- Five Family Fun Sunday Matinees (June 7, 14, 28 July 19 and 26)
- $12 Tuesdays and Thursdays (June 16, July 2, 7, 9, 28 and 30)
Season ticket memberships, single-game tickets, 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) and 2026 WCL All-Star Game ticket packages are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
All ticket types and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-5pm.
John Wilson Named As New Team President
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
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Summer Collegiate7 days agoVictoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
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Summer Collegiate20 mins ago
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
-
Summer Collegiate20 mins ago
John Wilson Named As New Team President
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