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Ninth inning heroics secure series win for the NorthPaws

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The Kamloops NorthPaws defeated the Wenatchee AppleSox 1-0 on Tuesday night, taking the first two games of the series. It was a pitchers’ battle all night as both teams combined for just eight hits, with the lone run of the ballgame coming from catcher Brendan Burke. Center fielder Connor Clark scored the winning run on a single from the catcher, giving the NorthPaws their 16th win of the season.

“It was cool to see him (Burke) come through in that moment, he’s been a guy who’s hit some balls hard recently but hasn’t seen them fall for hits, so definitely nice for him to get one,” said Head Coach Riley Jepson.

New left-handed pitcher Nolan Livsey from the Metropolitan State University of Denver was on the mound, making his first start as a NorthPaw. Livsey impressed in his debut, throwing four scoreless innings, not allowing a hit. Livsey struck out four and walked two AppleSox.

Livsey came to Kamloops primarily because of his connection with Pitching Coach Jack Slominski. The two were teammates during the spring of 2024 at MSU Denver. Slominski remarked on his character on the mound, having a pitch count nearing the 70s before getting pulled.

“He’s been my teammate before, and he’s just a fighter; he competes at all times. He’s a mature kid, so even when he loses it a bit up there, he knows how to get himself right,” said Slominski.

After a fantastic debut from the lefty, Kamloops turned to righty Keith Manby out of the bullpen. Manby delivered another quality outing, going four scoreless innings, giving up four hits and striking out four batters as well.

Manby ran into some trouble in the eighth with the AppleSox loading the bases with one out on a single, an error in the infield and an intentional walk. Manby got out of the jam with a big strikeout on a full count pitch and a fly out to center field as Wenatchee left the bases loaded.
“When he gets in jams like that, as a team we’re not worried because he’s done that all year for us,” said Slominski.

The AppleSox weren’t the only team to leave the bases loaded. In the fourth, Kamloops took advantage of a pair of errors from Wenatchee, loading the bases. Clark was at the plate but hit a line drive right at the AppleSox shortstop.

In the top of the ninth, right-hander Matt MacDonald was on the mound and, with one out, saw a walk, followed by a hit by pitch, which put runners on first and second. Wenatchee was threatening yet again, but MacDonald stayed strong and got a fly out and a ground out, giving the NorthPaws a chance to walk it off.

With one out, Connor Clark worked a seven-pitch at bat and earned himself a walk. After a strikeout, it was Burke’s turn at the plate. In the third pitch of the at-bat, Clark advanced to second on a wild pitch, putting him in scoring position. Burke shot a ball through the left side, and Clark was heading to the plate. The throw was on line and going to beat Clark by several steps when the Wenatchee catcher bobbled it, allowing Clark to score, making Burke the hero.

The fans left happy on a fantastic Canada Day in Kamloops. The two teams will conclude the series on Wednesday, as the NorthPaws seek their first sweep on their home field. The team will then take some well-deserved time off, with their next game not scheduled until Saturday, when they will face Webber Academy in an exhibition game.

 

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – West Coast League meetings to be held in Victoria

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October 6, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The capital city of British Columbia will become the centre of the West Coast League (WCL) for two days in October.

The 2025 WCL Fall Meetings, featuring a gathering of team owners/directors, will be held in Victoria, October 20-21. This marks the first time the meetings, often staged near a major U.S. airport (Seattle or Portland) for travel and logistics reasons, have been held in Canada since the formation of the collegiate elite baseball league that evolved from a gathering in Kelowna in 2003, with the Kelowna Falcons as one of the founding members — and the lone Canadian entry until the HarbourCats were founded.

Five of the league’s 17 teams now are located in Canada — in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops and Edmonton. Kamloops, Nanaimo and Edmonton all started play in 2022.

The HarbourCats, who joined the WCL for the 2013 season and have watched as eight former players have advanced to the MLB level, will also welcome the league to Victoria in July of 2026 and 2027 when the organization plays host to the WCL All-Star Game festival for consecutive seasons, showcasing Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The all-star game was held in Bellingham the last two summers.

“The inner harbour in fall will be a fantastic setting for these meetings, just as it will be for events around the WCL All-Star Game next July,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that operates both the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls.

Topics expected to be discussed are the finalization of the league’s 2026 schedule, WCL marketing initiatives, and ways to improve best practices around player, coach and umpire development — the keystone goal of the WCL.

“I’m incredibly excited to visit Victoria for our fall meetings,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “The city’s rich baseball history and beautiful scenery will provide the perfect backdrop for our teams to discuss the future of the League in one of my favorite WCL markets.”

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Lock in your season tickets today to get first right of refusal on your seats for the 2026 WCL All-Star game that will be played here in Victoria.

Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.

 

 

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All-Stars Hayes and Zenk returning to Owls in 2026

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NANAIMO, B.C. — They put on a show for fans at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and they got better as the summer went on.

Talan Zenk (Everett CC) and Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific), two West Coast League all-stars in 2025, are returning to the Nanaimo NightOwls next summer — the priority first signings by Head Coach Cody Andreychuk and GM Tina Cornett.

“These two players really enjoyed performing in front of WCL fans, and especially our great fans in Nanaimo,” said Andreychuk, the local product who will enter his second season as the NightOwls’ head coach. “They developed, and they got a chance to be leaders. We are proud of how they represented us at the all-star game and we are very happy they are eager to be in Nanaimo again. These are great young men who represent their schools and families so well.”

Zenk, who was the ultimate utility player by serving in both the infield and outfield, was a spark plug at the top of the order — he hit .289 with 10 stolen bases, four home runs, seven doubles and two triples. The 19-year-old from Brier, WA, had a .853 OPS.

Hayes is without a question the best power hitter the NightOwls have ever had in blue and gold, following up a 19-bomb spring at college by hitting 10 home runs (team record) in 49 WCL games, batting .250 with 44 hits, 30 walks and 39 runs driven in, all while playing nearly every game at first base. The 20-year-old from Anacortes, WA is entering his sophomore season at Azusa Pacific. He was the NightOwls player of the year in 2025.

SEASON TICKETS — The best seats can be secured now! Email tina@nanaimonightowls.com to lock in your 2026 NightOwls season tickets, with versatile fan-friendly flex options to see the best baseball on Vancouver Island. The NightOwls enter their fifth season in the WCL and have had a player selected in the MLB draft each of the last three seasons.

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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Fall Indoor Youth Training Sessions Now Available!

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Sessions begin September 30th (softball) and October 4th (baseball). Register NOW!

The Victoria HarbourCats and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are now taking individual bookings for our Fall 2025 indoor training sessions for both baseball and softball.

The “Offseason Academy“, presented by The EFTC, is designed to keep athletes sharp, confident, and improving long after the final game of summer. Built for youth players who want to stay ahead of the competition, our Academy focuses not only on technical skill development but also on the physical conditioning that keeps athletes strong and game-ready.

With a lineup of specialized camps in areas such as hitting, analytics, and fastball skills, athletes can train with experienced coaches, benefit from professional-level technology like HitTrax, and build the habits that matter most during the offseason.

All sessions take place in the same professional training facility used by the HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide, giving players access to a proven environment for growth and performance.

2025 Fall Sessions Include:

Baseball, Advance Hitting Analytics, $159, Saturdays, 1:15-3:15, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-17
The Advanced HitTrax Analytics Hitting Camp is built for serious baseball athletes aged 12–17 who want to take a deeper dive into the analytics behind their swing. Led by Dexter Stoiber from the Victoria Golden Tide collegiate roster, this camp goes beyond basic mechanics to show players how to interpret advanced hitting data, identify areas for improvement, and make the small tweaks that translate into real results on the field. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, Foundations and Futures, $299, Saturdays, 9:00am- 1:00pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 8-11
Foundations & Futures” is a high-energy baseball camp for players aged 8–11. This camp delivers professional-grade instruction in a dynamic, fun environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and carry your skills into next season. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, High Performance Prep, $225, Saturdays, 3:30-6:30pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-15.
High Performance Prep” is designed for players aged 12–15 who are ready to refine their skills and maintain peak form after summer. This camp delivers advanced instruction in a focused, competitive environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and prepare for the season ahead. REGISTER HERE

Fastball / Softball, Offseason Advantage, $199, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5-7pm, September 30 thru October 29. Ages 12-17
The Softball / Fastball Skills Camp is built for athletes aged 12–17 who want to strengthen every part of their game during the offseason. With trusted instruction from Maddie Kumala, one of the most respected coaches and players in the fastball community, this camp provides parents with the peace of mind that their athlete is learning in a structured, professional, and supportive environment. REGISTER HERE

There are limited spaces in each camp so don’t delay. Register NOW!

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