Summer Collegiate

NightOwls Set Off Pre-Canada Day Fireworks in Win Over Victoria

Published

1 year ago

July 1, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

VICTORIA, B.C. — The ka-boom before the ka-boom — and even more ka-boom set for Monday, July 1.

On the night before Canada Day, and shortly before the host Victoria HarbourCats set off their famous June 30 fireworks show, it was the Nanaimo NightOwls who lit the fuse in a convincing 13-4 win at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in Victoria.

Building an early 7-0 lead, and punctuating with a four-run inning in the eighth, the NightOwls earned their third win in seven games between the island rivals — and setting up an interesting Monday, July 1, at Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo, when the Re/Max Generation Island Cup will be determined in the closest race in three years.

The NightOwls can win their first Island Cup with a sweep of the doubleheader on Monday, with first game slated for a 4pm start, with an approximately 7pm start for the second outing (one ticket gets entry to both games). The second game is a make up because of Saturday’s rain out.

In front of more than 4,000, Nanaimo pounded out 13 hits, including Nevan Noonan going 2-6 with four runs driven in. Mike Easter was 2-4 with two runs driven in, Deshon Thomas was 2-5 with two RBIs, Wiley Waters was 1-4 with two RBIs, and Riley Paulino was 1-4 with two runs, two walks, and two runs driven in. Noonan hit a two-run home run in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Nanaimo scored two in the first, three in the second, and two more in the third to race into the lead. Waters had a triple to score two in the first, Noonan scored two with a single in the second, and Thomas also drove in a pair with a single in the third.

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Victoria scored three in the fourth to give a hint of a comeback, but the HarbourCats were held to seven hits and made two costly errors. Michelle Artzberger hit a solo shot to right in the bottom of the ninth to complete the Victoria scoring.

Nanaimo starter Josh Torres had a strong start, going four-plus innings, giving up six hits, and three runs (two earned), striking out five and allowing one walk. Li Sih-te was strong in two scoreless innings, leading to two spotless innings from Paul Montgomery. Grant Jakobson finished the game off in the ninth inning.

The NightOwls will send Adison Mattix and Aidan Boice to the mound in the starting assignments on Monday, which will see Nanaimo unveil new Canada Day red jerseys sponsored by the Serauxmen Service Club. The first game will start at 4pm, the second game tentatively slated for 7pm — both seven-inning games.

After the second game, the NightOwls are set to have their first-ever in-season fireworks show, which would start at darkness after the completion of the game, sponsored by Kw’umut Lelum Foundation and Maxxam Insurance — tickets available at the gate, at nanaimonightowls.com, or with general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Parksville and Ladysmith. The fireworks are the only Canada Day fireworks being done in the mid-island region.

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Summer Collegiate

Jacob Hayes becomes HR King in win over Kamloops

Published

9 hours ago

August 2, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — First baseman and WCL all-star Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific) hit his team-record ninth home run Friday to lead the Nanaimo NightOwls to a solid 6-2 victory over the visiting Kamloops NorthPaws in front of a raucous crowd at Serauxmen Stadium.

Hayes blasted a two-run shot to left in the fifth inning giving the NightOwls crucial runs, and moving him past former NightOwls all-star Wylie Waters for the team’s top spot in the key power category.

Nanaimo starter Brennan Kettle needed just 63 pitches to get through five innings, surrendering just four hits and one unearned run. Blake Hager went 2.2 innings with two hits and no runs, and Carter Chard-Hill ended it with 1.1 innings of solid relief.

Hayes and Owen Wessel were both 2-4 and Ryder Florence continued his impressive second half with three runs scored.

The NightOwls are playing their final regular season home games this long weekend, with Kamloops at Serauxmen for games Saturday (6:35pm) and Sunday (1pm). Tickets are available online, at the gate, or General Admission vouchers through Save On Foods.

The NightOwls complete their fourth WCL regular season with a road series in Bellingham, August 4-5-6.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats bats go cold in loss to Lefties

Published

23 hours ago

August 2, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 1, 2025

For immediate release

PORT ANGELES, WA – The Port Angeles Lefties snapped the Victoria HarbourCats’ four-game winning streak with a 5-1 win Friday night.

Shea Lake (West Texas A&M) started for the Cats and has been dominant in recent weeks, but struggled tonight. A double, a single, and a walk loaded the bases for Ty Thomas, who drove home the first run of the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the first.

The Lefties added two more runs in the second, including a Garrett Patterson RBI double to make it 3-0 early.

BOX SCORE

Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) extended his hit streak to 10 games with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning, his fourth of the campaign.

Taylor Kirk’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth restored the home team’s three-run advantage, making it 4-1.

Lake’s evening was done after four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out a pair.

WCL STANDINGS

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Jeremy Giesegh drove home a run on a single, extending the lead to 5-1.

That fourth inning Nahaku home run was the only hit of the game for the HarbourCats, as Lefties’ starter Takuma Sato threw a complete game one-hitter, striking out 12 batters and only walking one.

Dillon Dibrell (Rogers State) and Jacob Thompson (Minot State) both pitched two innings of relief for Victoria, striking out three batters each.

The Cats will be hoping for a better performance tomorrow night as the two teams are back in action at 6:35 PM. You can watch the game HERE.

The Victoria HarbourCats only have three remaining home dates this season, including a doubleheader followed by FIREWORKS on Monday, August 4, with game one starting at 4:05 PM. Tuesday is Jersey off our Backs night, and Wednesday is Fan Appreciation night! Buy tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any remaining vouchers, don’t forget to redeem them. You can do so at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any questions or need help exchanging your vouchers, call the HarbourCats office at (778) 265 0327.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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Summer Collegiate

Clutch Owls edged in extras in Edmonton

Published

2 days ago

August 1, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

EDMONTON, Alta. — The comeback kids came up a bit short.

Two runs by the Edmonton Riverhawks in the bottom of the 10th inning broke the hearts of the Nanaimo NightOwls on Thursday night at Remax Field, with a stellar crowd of 6,132 looking on for an eventual 8-7 win for the home club.

The NightOwls scored two runs in the ninth to take a lead and had the Riverhawks down to their last strike in the bottom of that inning.

The Owls then went ahead 7-6 in the top of the 10th, and nearly held on — Edmonton found a clutch two-out hit to right field to provide the winning run.

The NightOwls, who outhit the Riverhawks 10-9, scored four times in the fifth inning, the key hit being a two-run double from outfielder Owen Wessel (Hawaii Pacific). Wessel was one of four NightOwls to record two hits — Ryder Florence, Raoul Fabian Jr. and Trevor Goldenetz being the others.

Vinny Bruno and Jaedeyn Edwards put up impressive relief appearances, Bruno throwing 1.2 innings with just one hit and no runs, and Edwards going three innings after Bruno exited, with one hit, two strikeouts, and no runs. Jayden Gabrillo threw well in his 1.2 innings recorded, striking out two.

The NightOwls fly back from Edmonton on Friday morning.

There are just three more regular season home games for the NightOwls in 2025, a weekend series against Kamloops that starts Friday (August 1-2-3), with the Friday and Saturday games at 6:35pm and the Sunday capper at 1pm. The NightOwls complete their fourth WCL regular season with a road series in Bellingham, August 4-5-6.

Those home games are the only chance to use remaining vouchers purchased at Save On Foods, or as part of 10packs.

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