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NorthPaws Add Jepson To Coaching Staff

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1 year ago

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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 – KidSport celebrating notable anniversary with HarbourCats in 2025

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4 days ago

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March 18, 2025

By

March 18, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Count ’em, 25 years of helping youth enjoy sports.

KidSport Greater Victoria is teaming up with the Victoria HarbourCats to celebrate an amazing 25 years of assisting kids in the pursuit of both participation and excellence in local sports, with planned events this summer at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

And, not the least of which is the June 19 KidSport Greater Victoria School Spirit Game, a Thursday matchup starting at 11am featuring the HarbourCats and island rival Nanaimo NightOwls, with many schools all but emptying to take in the action and helping celebrate this tremendous achievement for KidSport Greater Victoria.

“We can’t think of a better community organization to have involved with this, the KidSport School Spirit game,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats.

“This will be a season-long theme of celebration, of reminding our fans of the great work they do and have done for so long in Victoria. Each and every game, people will have an opportunity to show their support for KidSport Greater Victoria, including a few special events outside this School Spirit Game.”

This will be the second Thursday game in a row in the HarbourCats home schedule in 2025 which will be dedicated to kids — on June 12, the Mayfair Optometric School Spirit Game will take place, also an 11am start featuring the HarbourCats and NightOwls. KidSport Greater Victoria and Mayfair Optometric Clinic are aligned with community values and supporting youth, making this an ideal match to welcome a combined total of more than 5,000 school kids to the park.

“We are so grateful for the past and ongoing support the HarbourCats have offered KidSport, and very excited about the various ways our organizations will work together this year,” said Jill Shaw, Executive Director of KidSport Greater Victoria. “Demand for our support is at an all-time high. We are seeing more families than ever coming to us in need of help so their children can access organized sport. The HarbourCats June 19th School Spirit Game is a great opportunity both to raise awareness about the work we do, and to offer local kids great access to another fun and rewarding local sport experience – we are very happy to be involved!”

KidSport Greater Victoria will also be front and centre on Harvey’s Birthday Game on July 11 at Wilson’s Group Stadium, and will be involved in other special games that are still to be announced.

Supporting KidSport will be a constant theme of the HarbourCats in this 2025 West Coast League season. The HarbourCats encourage all who can to contribute to this great cause, which you can action by clicking this link (https://www.kidsportvictoria25.ca/).

KidSport Greater Victoria has seen tremendous growth over the last 25 years, with demand for their support increasing very steeply starting in 2023 in particular. KidSport Greater Victoria exists to help ensure all kids have opportunity to play; annually they cover the registration fees for well over 1400 local kids living in financial need, enabling them to take part in seasons of sport of their choice – including baseball! As the largest KidSport chapter in the province, we know that on just about every sports team in the region, there are children playing who are able to take part thanks to KidSport and the supporters and donors who make their work possible.

To order tickets as a school group for the June 19 KidSport Greater Victoria School Spirit Game, or the June 12 Mayfair Optometric Clinic School Spirit Game, contact GM Christian Stewart, chris@harbourcats.com — some seats are left, but not many!

For fans looking for tickets for these exciting games, and any other HarbourCats game in 2025, visit the HarbourCats ticketing site HERE.

 

 

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Summer Collegiate

Star Vegas catcher, Hawaii Pacific players added to summer roster

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1 week ago

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March 12, 2025

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Unveiled today for Coach Andreychuk’s roster in 2025:

C Anthony Marnell IV, S/R, College of Southern Nevada (and Oregon State), 6-2/200, Las Vegas

RHP Zach Horwith, R/R, 6-1/200, Bellarmine University, Castle Rock, CO

RHP Brennan Kettle, R/R, 6-0/155, Hawaii Pacific, Houston, TX

SS Andrew Nykoluk, R/R, 5-10/165, Hawaii Pacific, Simi Valley, CA

RHP Jayden Gabrillo, L/R, Hawaii Pacific, 5-8/165, Ewa Beach, HI

OF Owen Wessel, R/R, 5-8/165, Hawaii Pacific, Huntington Beach, CA

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Peninsula Co-op partners to bring community events to HarbourCats games

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2 weeks ago

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March 6, 2025

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For Immediate Release

March 6, 2025 

VICTORIA, B.C. –– There are few groups more community-minded on Vancouver Island than Peninsula Co-op — their involvement with the Victoria HarbourCats and specific events confirms that yet again.

Thanks to Peninsula Co-op, athletes from Special Olympics and Challenger Baseball will take to the field at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park this summer, in what has become a pair of annual events that warm the hearts of fans and bring big smiles to the faces of all the competitors.

“This is something we have worked together with Peninsula Co-op on for more than a decade and these are special nights that have heart-warming moments you can’t manufacture,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats.

“I think the Special Olympics athletes look forward more to this game with our HarbourCats guys than they do to provincials or major tournaments they attend. And with Challenger Baseball, this game shows all the fans how fun it is to be on the field, getting around the bases or swinging at that pitch down the middle.”

“Peninsula Co-op is excited to continue our long-standing partnership with the HarbourCats and to bring these community-inclusive and engaging events to life,” said Lindsay Gaudette, Director of Member and Community Engagement with Peninsula Co-op.

“The dedication, joy, and spirit of these athletes remind us of the power of community, teamwork, and inclusion. We look forward to another summer of unforgettable moments on the field.”

The big dates:

*Challenger Baseball, Tuesday, July 15, 5:30pm (before the 6:35pm HarbourCats game)

*Special Olympics, Wednesday, July 23, 5:30pm (before the 6:35pm HarbourCats game)

Peninsula Co-op members also get $2.00 discounts for HarbourCats tickets (at the office in advance, or at box-office on game days), and Peninsula Co-op also makes it possible for kids to come free for an entire series, the July 25-26-27 three-game set with the Wenatchee AppleSox in Victoria to play the HarbourCats.

For more information, see the HarbourCats website at harbourcats.com — tickets, promotions, partners, merchandise, and more.

 

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