NANAIMO, B.C. – What a night from Serauxmen Stadium on Friday night, that saw a little bit of everything. Lead changes, a Grand Slam, Great pitching, some heat between the two teams, a manager getting ejected, and most importantly, a walk-off 10-9 win for the Nanaimo NightOwls against the Edmonton RiverHawks. If you like baseball, this was a game you would have wanted to be at.
Both starting pitchers did very well on the night, only allowing a combined three runs until the 7th inning when things got interesting. With Edmonton up 2-1, the NightOwls exploded for a big four-run inning in the bottom of the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Not to be outdone, the RiverHawks came back with four of their own in the top of the eighth inning thanks to a Grand Slam. The two teams were not done, not even close.
Nanaimo wasn’t going to go away easily, though, and after a couple of walks, some wild pitches, and a single, the NightOwls would take a 9-6 lead going into the ninth inning, needing just three outs to close the game. If you’ve sensed the theme of the game, we’re not over yet. Edmonton walked the bases for a run before a two-RBI single would tie things up. Seraxuemen Stadium stayed hopeful as the team would walk it off thanks to a sacrifice fly and a close play at the plate for the 10-9 Win.
Despite the score, the pitching was very good at the beginning of the game, seeing both starting pitchers go through at least five innings. NightOwls starter from Cal State Los Angeles, Lino Zepeda went 5 strong innings, giving up two runs on three hits, walking two, and striking out four. He settled down after the first inning and had a couple of great innings, where he struck out the side and had a 3-up-three-down inning in 5 pitches. He didn’t make the decision.
Also pitching very well for the Nanaimo NightOwls was reliever Jeadeyn Edwards. He pitched two scoreless innings, giving up no runs or hits and striking out one batter. The home side finished with 10 runs on 13 hits and no errors. The Edmonton RiverHawks had nine runs on nine hits and one error. The defense for the Nanaimo NightOwls was on display as Spencer Sullivan climbed the wall and took away a sure home run in the sixth inning. Check out the highlight here!
— Nanaimo NightOwls WCL (@wclNightOwls) June 28, 2025
Coach Cody Andreychuk went to the bench and it worked as 9 of the 11 players finished the night with hits. Eli Watson came in off the bench as designated hitter and went two for four with three RBI, two hits and two runs scored. Along with his great play in the field Spencer Sullivan, from West Linn Oregon, went one for three with two RBI, one hit, one run, and one walk. He definitely made an impact on the game for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
Tyler Arnold had an RBI and two hits on the evening while Caden Petrey also added a pair of hits for the NightOwls. Shortstop Andrew Nykuluk took advantage of any mistake the Edmonton Riverhawks made and scored three runs going two for four with two singles and a walk. He also scored the walk off sacrifice fly off the bat of Raoul Fabian Jr. Raoul want one for one for four with a walk but scored two runs and drove in two more RBI. None more important than the one in the ninth inning and was met with a Gatorade shower up the first base line.
The series continues for the Nanaimo NightOwls and Edmonton RiverHawks which could get a little testy as this already looks like a bit of a rivalry. Game two goes Saturday June 28th at 6:35 pm, while we go Nanaimo Bars Family Fun Sunday at 1:00 pm on the 29th. Then it’s an exhibition game on Monday June 30th against the Nanaimo Selects. Canada day July 1st, we have our big extravaganza against Island Rival Victoria HarbourCats.
We have have fireworks after the game and a lot of other fun promotions and activities happening at the ballpark. Spend the day at the beach and come and watch some great baseball at 6:35 pm at Seraxuemen Stadium! Tonight we had our very talented Owen capture the walk-off celebration from above while making his ride wait. We really have the best in the business. 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.
The Cats mustered just five runs over the three game series. (Photo by JPM Photography)
Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats offence came up short in this afternoon’s ballgame, as Victoria was defeated 6-3 to finish off the weekend.
The Falcons took an early lead this afternoon on a sacrifice fly to centre, but it was smooth sailing otherwise for starting pitcher Jeremiah Arnett (Rice). The righty gave up four hits over four innings, the only run being that sac fly, with a trio of strikeouts and no free passes.
Austin Lindsey (Hill College) was tagged in for the top of the fifth and nailed his first inning of work, setting the Falcons down in order. The sixth was a different story, as Lindsey allowed a solo homer to push Kelowna’s lead to 2-0.
San Jose State reliever Landon Marchetti took over on the mound for the seventh, letting a couple of runners on but managing to escape the inning without a run scoring.
Flynn Warren (Hawaii Pacific) emerged from the bullpen in the top of the eighth to a precarious situation: bases loaded, no outs. The New Zealander walked one batter, hit two more, and gave up a sacrifice fly to allow four runs before the end of the frame.
Jeremiah Arnett (Rice) pitched four innings with three strikeouts. (Photo by JPM Photography)
The bottom of the eighth saw the HarbourCats offence finally gain some ground. A double from Kade Davis (UTSA) made room for Koa Won (Hawaii) to score, followed up by a single from Hewitt to bring in another run. Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) drove in one more before the inning came to a close with a score of 6-3 in favour of the Falcons.
The Cats would be unable to add on any more runs in the bottom of the ninth, dropping the final game of the series 6-3.
Victoria will now head on the road for a midweek matchup with the Edmonton Riverhawks, returning home on Friday to take on the Springfield Drifters.
Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 8-1 by the Kelowna Falcons in the second game of the series.
The Falcons drew first blood in this one, launching a three-run dinger to left field in the top of the fourth to snag an early lead. Victoria’s starting pitcher Schuyler Fairchild (Wenatchee Valley) had cruised through the first three frames without much trouble up to that point, but his contributions this evening came to a close after the long ball in the fourth. Fairchild allowed three runs on four hits, striking out one batter and issuing a walk.
Inning number five required the services of Auburn, Washington’s Caden Shoul (Wenatchee Valley). The right-hander pitched 1.2 innings, calling it a night after giving up two runs in the top of the sixth to push Kelowna’s lead to 5-0.
Tyler Bono (North Central Texas) came into the game with the bases loaded and put on a sub-par performance, hitting two batters and walking one to allow three more runs. Marcus Janovsky (UBC) was summoned from the bullpen to finally get out of the inning.
Garen Geoghegan (Whitman) and Pierce Stone (Regis) combined for two scoreless innings in the final stages of the game, but Victoria’s offence continued to sputter.
Centre fielder Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, and was welcomed home by another double hammered by Carter Eberhard (Cal Baptist) to score the Cats’ first and only run of the game.
The Cats close out the series on Sunday, June 7 at 1:05 pm before departing to Alberta for a midweek matchup with the Edmonton Riverhawks.
Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
Missed opportunities with runners in scoring position led to a disappointing outcome for the Cats. (Photo by Victoria Spotlight Photography)
Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 4-1 by the Kelowna Falcons on Friday night in the first game of the series.
Both sides’ bats stayed quiet until the third inning this evening, when the Falcons drove a pair of base hits up the middle, jumping out in front to a 2-0 lead.
Easton Reimers (North Dakota State) entered the game in the top of the fourth to relieve Cats starter Bryson Toner (Hawaii). Toner allowed two runs on five hits through his three innings on the bump this evening, throwing in a walk and a strikeout as well.
Reimers was excellent throughout his first two innings until a leadoff homer in the sixth broke his hitless streak. A second run scored on a passed ball before Reimers was able to get out of the inning and pass the baton to Jack Clark (CSU San Marcos).
The Cats offence woke up in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases and scoring a run on a ball that dropped just fair in left field from Rohne Klein (San Jose State). That was the only run they got on this crucial opportunity, as the Falcons picked up a big strikeout to escape the jam and maintain a 4-1 lead.
Tate Collins (Arkansas State) claimed control of the mound for the Cats in the top of the eighth inning. Despite a leadoff walk, the Little Rock, Arizona native tossed a zero on the board to bring about the bottom of the eighth for the Victoria offence.
The Cats were unable to pull off a comeback after loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth, leaving the runners stranded and losing the ballgame 4-1
Victoria and Kelowna will be back in action Saturday, June 6 at 6:35 pm for game two of the weekend series.
Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
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