Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws Add Jepson To Coaching Staff

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

KAMLOOPS, BC—The Kamloops NorthPaws have added some local talent to their coaching staff for the 2024 West Coast League season.

The NorthPaws have agreed to terms with Riley Jepson of Kamloops. Jepson is a graduate of the Kamloops Minor Baseball and Kamloops Riverdogs programs. He will be the team’s hitting and infield coach.

“I am super excited to be back in a place where I got to play growing up and to be with a bunch of guys who want to advance their baseball careers,” Jepson says. I hope to help them on their journeys. I, obviously had a lot of great coaches. I am hoping I can do the same for them.”

A first baseman, third baseman and outfielder, Jepson most recently played with Great Falls Montana in the Pioneer League in 2023. He hit .374 with 120 hits and 49 runs batted in in 82 games.

Jepson had a ‘cup of coffee’ in the professional ranks. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox in 2022 and played with the Winston-Salem Dash, the Sox’s High-A affiliate. While there, the 6’4” Jepson had 42 at bats, notching five hits, scoring a run, achieving one stolen base and had five runs batted in.

“I am hoping my extensive background will help the players focus on the summer,” he states. “The summer is a grind for a lot of kids. They finish a 50-game college season and are instantly into another 50 game schedule. To help guide them after playing two 90 game seasons myself, I am hoping to teach them that it is a process. Not every day is going to be perfect. They need to learn how to grow from each day.”

The 26-year-old left the KMBA for a two-year stint with the University of Fraser Valley Cascades in the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Conference. He had a stellar career where he still holds the league’s record for best batting average in a single season (.489). He is still fourth in the CCBC history books in walks with 27 (2018, 2019).

At Fraser Valley, he was also named a CCBC all-star and was the leagues top hitter for two years in a row (2018, 2019). He also helped lead them to their first league championship in 2019.

Following that, he went to the University of Texas at Tyler (NCAA Div II) for two seasons (2020-21). While there, he was a 2nd team “All Lone Star” selection and co-Male Athlete of the Year.

Jepson isn’t a stranger to coaching. He spent three years as an assistant coach at UFV. He is now the Cascades head coach.

Jepson joins Pitching Coach TC Fairfield as members of Bautista’s staff. He hopes the fact that he is close in age to the players on the Kamloops roster will be a benefit.

“Having Riley joining us is great,” says NorthPaws head coach Jose Bautista about Jepson. “ It means a lot to bring two new coaches that bring more energy and positivity to the team. I think we are going to have the best season.”

“I actually got in touch with Jose through my old coach at Great Falls (Tommy Thompson),” Jepson stated. “Tommy knows Jose and told him I was interested in helping with the North Paws. Fortunately, this worked out.”

Jepson was a multi-sport athlete growing up. He played hockey with the Thompson Blazers in 2012-13 before playing two seasons with the KIJHL Sicamous Eagles. He played 52 games with the Eagles in 2012-13 where he scored 14 goals and added 17 assists. He also played one game in the BC Hockey League with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. His last year of Junior hockey was 2013-14 where he had 12 goals and 15 assists in 52 games with the Eagles.

The NorthPaws open their 2024 West Coast League season May 31st at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium. Their opponents will be the Victoria HarbourCats.

Tickets and full schedule information are available from the Kamloops NorthPaws website.

For More Information: Jenna Forter – General Manager – jforter@northpawsbaseball.ca

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – ALL-STAR GAME PACKAGES ARE DAYS AWAY — BE READY!

Published

4 days ago

October 31, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

THIS IS A SPECIAL note for all HarbourCats season ticket holders to get their seats set up next week to be in line for the 2026 All-Star Game festival packages, July 14-15, 2025 – full details soon to be released.

Individual Season Ticket Members who have fully renewed or have initiated a payment plan for their 2026 seats, will have first dibs on securing their seats for the All-Star festivities via a special pre-sale window.

We will also offer this pre-sale window to anyone who has purchased a Season Ticket Equivalent Flex Pack (32-Game Flex Pack).

If you are a 2025 HOST FAMILY, please let us know as soon as possible if you intend to return as a host for 2026 and we will save your seats AND you will also be eligible for the pre-sale window for the All-Star activities.

If your season seats are part of a CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP deal, again please let us know as soon as possible that you will be renewing that sponsorship for 2026 (contact your sales rep) and we will save your seats AND you will also be eligible for the pre-sale window for the All-Star activities.

Once the pre-sale window has passed, any unclaimed Season Ticket seats (for All-Star festivities only) will be released and we will open up sales to the general public.

**IF YOU ARE a traditional 10/12-pack holder, now is the time to trade up for Season Tickets or a 32-Pack Season Ticket Voucher Equivalent to get All-Star Game privileges!

Contact GM Christian Stewart at the HarbourCats office (778-265-0327 or chris@harbourcats.com) to make arrangements!

The excitement around baseball and the 2026 season has hit new heights!

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. BE SURE TO 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. These will be going on sale SOON!

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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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Haney, HarbourCats bring back former player to lead pitching staff

Published

6 days ago

October 28, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

October 28, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — A very familiar name and face is returning to Victoria to lead the pitching staff of the HarbourCats.

Zachary Swanson — who has served as batboy, pitcher and play-by-play voice of the team — has been hired as Pitching Coach for the 2026 season by Todd Haney, the Head Coach who is entering his sixth season as the Victoria skipper.

Swanson is in his first year as the pitching coach at Hawaii Pacific University (D2) in Honolulu, under Head Coach Dane Fujinaka, a former HarbourCats catcher who coached in the Toronto Blue Jays system.

“After coaching Zach a couple of seasons, I am thrilled for the opportunity to coach with him now,” said Haney, who started Swanson on the mound against the Corvallis Knights in Game 1 of the WCL championship series in 2019.

“Zach brings energy, experience and expertise to the HarbourCats coaching staff. Our pitchers will love working with him.”

Swanson, the son of Managing Partner Jim Swanson, is a Lambrick Park grad who spent time with both the Eagles and Mariners BCPBL programs. He spent two college years with the San Diego Christian (NAIA) Hawks, then moved to the Park-Gilbert (NAIA) Buccaneers in Arizona, under Head Coach Kelly Stinnett, a long-time MLB catcher, to complete his college playing career.

Swanson will work with Bullpen Coach Darius Opdam Bak, who filled the same role last summer under now-retired Scott Anderson, who held the pitching coach job for three seasons. Opdam Bak is a former HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide (CCBC) pitcher who is now Pitching Coach of the Golden Tide.

Swanson, who will be 26 by next season, earned his MBA and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Park-Gilbert business program. He served as pitching coach at Skyline High School (6A) in Mesa, AZ before accepting the HPU offer. He is married to Madeline, and they reside in Kailua, HI.

“This is an extremely special opportunity for me, to return home and coach in front of this amazing city is such a privilege,” said Swanson. “I’m excited to coach some great young men and bring a West Coast League championship home to Victoria.

“It is a tremendous honour to have the chance to coach alongside Coach Haney, someone I consider a mentor. His intensity and passion for player development combined with his true joy for the game are traits that I admire as a coach.”

Swanson was 7-3 in his collegiate career, including playoffs and non league, including five starts.

Opdam Bak was a HarbourCat for two seasons and spent four seasons with the Golden Tide, as a dependable starter. He made eight starts last spring for the Tide, going 3-1 — he made 17 CCBC starts overall.

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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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – 2026 HarbourCats schedule features many highlights

Published

1 week ago

October 24, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park will be abuzz with fans packing the seats for at least 31 home games in 2026, as well as the West Coast League All-Star Game.

October 23, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — Who is the next Nathan Lukes, to don the V-Cat logo and start a path to the World Series?

That will come into focus starting in May of 2026 when the Victoria HarbourCats — the first collegiate summer league team of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lukes, a playoff star this fall — begin an eventful West Coast League campaign with a road series in Portland.

It won’t just be the games with the HarbourCats to look forward to, it will also be about the 2026 WCL All-Star Game being played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park as part of a planned Festival of Baseball, July 14-15. The HarbourCats are hosting the event in both 2026 and 2027.

“No question, this is the most anticipated season yet for us — the All-Star Game, after a very strong schedule leading up to that, and playoffs to follow,” said Christian Stewart, the GM of the HarbourCats. “The variety of visiting teams, the rivalries with teams like Nanaimo, Wenatchee and Bellingham, facing the other tough Canadian teams — it’s a great mix for our fans and our corporate partners.”

The HarbourCats open on the road on Friday, May 29, against the Pickles, then are back on the island for the home opener on Tuesday, June 2, against the Edmonton Riverhawks.

Tentative plans for fireworks dates are Saturday, June 6 (vs. Kelowna Falcons, now managed by former Blue Jay Gregg Zaun), Tuesday, June 30 (vs. the Nanaimo NightOwls), and a special event on Monday, August 3 featuring local talent and a fireworks show to follow.

Further plans to announce popular features such as the Woofability Bark in the Park, the Mayfair Optometric School Spirit game (and maybe a second game!), something we are calling “Early Father’s Day,” and Harvey’s Birthday will be announced soon. Game times remain the popular 6:35pm, except for Sundays (1pm) and the School Spirit games (11am).

“Getting two teams from Oregon at our park this year will be fun — we have the first visit from the Springfield Drifters (June 12-13-14) and a rare appearance by the Bend Elks (July 7-8-9),” said Stewart, who is taking season ticket bookings and doling out 12-packs of tickets already.

“We plan to have the All-Star Game package on sale in short order, too — we love that we have so much time to plan out the WCL schedule and make it work for promotions and logistics. We are known for our creative ideas — this schedule will make things a lot of fun next summer.”

HOME GAMES 2026
June 2-3-4 (T-W-Th), vs. Edmonton Riverhawks
June 5-6-7 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Kelowna Falcons
June 12-13-14 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Springfield Drifters
June 16-17-18 (T-W-Th), vs. Redmond Dudes (non-league)
June 24 (Wed), vs. Nanaimo NightOwls
June 26-27-28 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Bellingham Bells
June 30 (Tues), July 2 (Thurs), vs. Nanaimo NightOwls
July 7-8-9 (T-W-Th), vs. Bend Elks
ALL-STAR GAME FESTIVITIES — Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15
July 17-18-19 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Wenatchee AppleSox
July 24-25-26 (F-Sa-Su), vs. Kamloops NorthPaws
July 28-29-30 (T-W-Th), vs. Port Angeles Lefties
August 3 (Mon), vs. SIBL All-Stars (non-league)

ROAD GAMES 2026
The HarbourCats visit the following teams — Portland Pickles (May 29-30-31), Edmonton Riverhawks (June 9-10-11), Port Angeles Lefties (June 19-20-21), Nanaimo NightOwls (June 23, 25, July 1, and July 21-22-23), Kelowna Falcons (July 3-4-5), Kamloops NorthPaws (July 10-11-12), Bellingham Bells (July 31, August 1-2), Wenatchee AppleSox (Aug 3-4-5).

NOTE: SINGLE-GAME TICKETS, ALL-STAR GAME TICKETS and FLEX-PACK VOUCHER RENEWALS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. We are finalizing a few logistics and dates and building the 2026 ticketing system and anticipate all those to go on sale in the next few weeks.

Season tickets and 12-game flex packs are NOW on sale on line at harbourcats.com/tickets or by stopping into the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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