Summer Collegiate
NorthPaws Add Trio of NCAA Division I Players
The Kamloops NorthPaws have deepened their inaugural roster with the addition of three players at the beginning of their NCAA Division I seasons.
Catcher Marshal Luiz, shortstop Zane Skansi and outfielder Hunter Swapp have been signed for the 2021 West Coast League season.
Marshal Luiz
Photo Credit: JSU Athletics
Luiz is a Canadian sophomore catcher at Jackson State University who will bring another left-handed bat to the NorthPaws lineup.
He played in 46 games as a freshman with a .252 batting average and 18 RBIs. He played in nine games in 2020 before the season came to an early close.
“I don’t strike out a lot so I’m a really tough out. My freshman year I only struck out like 12 or 15 times in 40 to 50 games. That’s something I’m proud of that I’m not an easy guy to get out,” Luiz said. “I’ll do anything it takes to get on base. I’ll lay down a bunt every now and then and I definitely want to help the team win. So, if we need a sac bunt or a hit and run, I’m your guy.”
Luiz, who grew up in Surrey, jumped at the opportunity to play summer ball close to home and learn from head coach Cole Armstrong, who played 10 professional seasons behind home plate.
“It’s pretty cool to have a West Coast League team not too far from home and be able to play competitive baseball in such a highly touted summer collegiate league. Being a BC guy, it’s going to be really cool to experience that and be a part of it.”
Jackson State were swept in their three-game series against Mercer University to open the 2021 season. They were ranked to finish second in the Southwest Athletic Conference East Division in preseason rankings.
Zane Skansi
Photo Credit: Utah Utes
Skansi is a freshman middle infielder at the University of Utah.
He is from Gig Harbor, Wash. and was a multi-sport athlete in high school playing baseball and football before choosing the diamond over the gridiron for his collegiate career.
“I’m a power hitter. I like to hit doubles and home runs. I can go gap to gap. I take pride in my defense as well,” Skansi said. “I love making the great plays but making the routine plays consistently is something I pride myself in too.”
Skansi picked up his first collegiate at-bat on Sunday when he pinch hit in a loss to Cal State Fullerton during the season-opening series.
Utah was picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference preseason coaches’ poll.
Hunter Swapp
Photo Credit: BYU Athletics
Swapp is a sophomore at Brigham Young University (BYU).
He is entering his first full collegiate season as he was limited to seven at-bats in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Swapp, from Heber City, Utah, will bring speed to the NorthPaws outfield. His fastest posted time is a 6.30 60-yard dash, the same as Los Angeles Angels superstar Mike Trout. By comparison, the Major League average is 6.90.
“I’m a competitor. I pride myself in having competitive at bats. I can run, so I like to implement that in my game,” Swapp said. “I feel like I can get to anything in the outfield and leg out some extra bases and extra base hits. I can hit for a little bit of power. I think I have some variety in my game.”
BYU will wrap up a four-game, season-opening series against Texas State University on Tuesday. They were picked to finish fourth in the West Coast Conference preseason coaches’ poll.
NorthPaws fans can follow the progress of all the Kamloops-bound players, as all three of the signees continue their 2021 season with multiple games this week.
The Kamloops NorthPaws are an expansion West Coast League franchise bringing the highest calibre baseball Canada’s Tournament Capital has ever seen. The West Coast League, founded in 2005, has 15 teams across Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta featuring some of the top collegiate players during a 54-game summer season. Find the NorthPaws online at www.northpawsbaseball.ca, @northpawsbaseball on Instagram and Facebook, or @northpawsbb on Twitter.
NANAIMO, B.C. — It’s NightOwl time as the home stand gets off to a great start. A 3-1 win on Wednesday night in game two of the series against the Kelowna Falcons makes it back-to-back wins for Nanaimo. The pitching for the NightOwls was superb, combining for just one run and six hits.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
The Kelowna Falcons jumped out to a one-run lead in the second inning. That was all they got as starting pitcher Richtter Castillo shut the door and set the tone for the rest of the NightOwls pitchers. Nanaimo was able to scrape in a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. That was all they needed to move their record closer to .500% at 15-17. Nanaimo finished the night with three runs on nine hits, and both teams had zero errors, making for a well-fielded game.
https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=621651
Of course it was All-Star Talan Zenk with a multi hit game. He went two for four with two doubles and a run scored. Third basemen Tyler Arnold also had a two hit night and scored a run for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
I mentioned it was a good night for the Nanaimo NightOwls pitchers, starting pitcher Richtter Castillo had a great game, going four strong innings. The left-handed senior from Maracay, Venezuela, finished the game giving up just one run on three hits while striking out three and only walking one. It paved the way for the rest of the pitching staff as newcomer Blake Hager came into the game in the fifth inning and threw two shutout innings with one hit and two strikeouts, he got the win for the NightOwls.
https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/
The great pitching continued as Jakin Rohne and Dalton Hanson came on and closed out the final three innings. They gave up just two combined hits and struck out three. Dalton Hanson got the save for the Nanaimo NightOwls. I spoke with head coach Cody Andreychuk after the game about the pitching staff.
“Complete pitching staff [W] tonight, Richtter set the tonne and the rest of our arms did exactly what we needed them to do.” He would continue, ” Super proud of the pitching staff this entire series so far by filling the zone and attacking hitters. Great bounce back effort from our pitching staff after the Edmonton series.”
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Shortstop Andrew Nykoluk also got in the action with an RBI and two singles, out of Hawaii Pacific University, Andrew went two for three on the evening. Local product Easton Mould added an insurance run in with an RBI thanks to a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh and that’s all the NightOwls needed.
http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets
One more game against in the series on Thursday July, 10th, at 6:35 pm against the Kelowna Falcons. Then it’s a series against the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 11th, 12th and 13th. The Friday and Saturday games go at 6:35 pm while Sunday is our Family Fun Day with first pitch going at 1:05 pm. Remember kids, and adults who feel like kids can run the bases after the game!
We have a very special treat tomorrow for anyone who can’t make it out to the ballpark on our live stream. We are going around the world so make sure to tune in to NightOwls.tv or the West Coast League link above. This is going to be a special night for us so we hope you can make it out but if not you will be treated at home! Make sure to follow us on social media to see what we are up to tomorrow and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark so we can interact with your posts on social media! Go Owls Go!!
NANAIMO, B.C. — The Nanaimo NightOwls were very happy to be home at Serauxmen Stadium on Tuesday Night. Nanaimo improved its record to 14-17 on the season after a 9-4 win over the visiting Kelowna Falcons. Despite a slow start and the Falcons jumping out to a three-nothing lead, Nanaimo put two runs on the board in both the fourth and fifth innings before exploding for another four runs in the seventh.
Nanaimo would add one more run in the eighth, and some great pitching from the NightOwls would allow them to close out the game in front of a rowdy crowd of 529. The NightOwls finished off the day with nine runs on eight hits with one error. The Visiting Falcons had four runs on seven hits with three errors.
https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=621650
Starting pitcher Asher DeLeo struggled a bit with his control but was able to weather the storm and get out of the second inning. Asher finished the day with two strikeouts and had a no-decision. Nanaimo stranded 12 runners on base, and DeLeo was key in that, as things could have gotten out of control. It was fitting that Cole “Cowboy” Carmichael came out in relief on Country Night at the ballpark. He pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless ball, giving up just 2 hits.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs. Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Vinny “The Chef” Bruno was the winning pitcher on the evening for the NightOwls, going 1.2 innings and striking out four of the eight batters he faced, only giving up one hit and two walks. I spoke with him after the game about the game: “The whole staff really pitched well and the guys came up with the hits when it counted.” Short, sweet, and right to the point from a Senior from the University of Bridgeport.
Brennan Kettle and Carter Chad-Hill came in and closed out the final 3 innings for the Nightowls. Kettle went two innings and gave up no runs and no hits while striking out three and walking only one. Chad-Hill finished things off with one inning and a strikeout to end the game to the cheers of the Nanaimo fans.
https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/
It was All-Star selection day for the West Coast League and the NightOwls had two players who will be making the trip to Bellingham. IF/OF Talan Zenk was named to the team and went one for three on the day with a single, RBI, run, walk and a stolen base (His 6th of the season). Not to be outdone his All-Star Counter part Jacob Hayes had a blast of a day.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs. Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Jacob went two for three with a massive two run home-run, a single, a walk and two runs scored. Another reason why he is an All-Star was shown off tonight as he was able to pick some throws at first base. Catcher Brock Wirthgen went three for five with two singles and an RBI. He did spill jam everywhere but since he had a great game I’ll let him off the hook this time because he threw out a runner trying to steal second base.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Centerfielder Andrew Ivy went one for three with a single and was hit by a pitch. He was also a monster on the base path as he swiped a bag and scored two runs for the Nanaimo NightOwls on Tuesday night. Tyler Arnold also reached base twice on the day with a double, scoring a run and getting hit by a pitch.
http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets
We go again on Wednesday and Thursday, July 9th and 10th, at 6:35 pm against the Kelowna Falcons. Then it’s a series against the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 11th, 12th and 13th. The Friday and Saturday games go at 6:35 pm while Sunday is our Family Fun Day with first pitch going at 1:05 pm. Remember kids, and adults who feel like kids can run the bases after the game!
Make sure to follow us on social media for the latest NightOwls news and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark so we can share your posts! We have some awesome promotions coming up so stay tuned for those
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