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.
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.
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.
Easter, Fleury, Buchan and Waters excited to be back in Nanaimo
Building a team is also about building a culture, with character people who have leadership skills — and that culture is important.
The Nanaimo NightOwls are pleased to announce the return of four key players from the 2023 team, the second season of WCL baseball at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and it’s a group of four that especially has veteran pitching coach Gorm Heimueller smiling.
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Two quality arms, a big bat and a second-team All-WCL catcher will be back in the navy and yellow — Michael Easter behind the dish, part of the catching crew that will receive pitches again from Nathan Buchan and Jake Fleury, along with a strong hitter in Wylie Waters. They join local infielder Aaron Marsh, last year’s co-player-of-the-year, as the first group confirmed for 2024.
Nathan Buchan, LHP, University of Redlands, from Mercer Island, WA
Jake Fleury, RHP, Skagit Valley College, from Burlington, WA
Wylie Waters, IF, South Mountain CC, from West Vancouver, BC
Michael Easter, C, Azuza Pacific, from Arcadia, CA
The WCL schedule was announced earlier this month — the regular season home opener for Head Coach Greg Frady and the NightOwls is Tuesday, June 4 against the Cowlitz Black Bears.
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Easter, who has moved from East LA CC to D-1 Azuza Pacific, was part of a strong catching core in 2023, walking more times than he struck out (26BB, 18K) and hitting .315 (16th in the WCL in average) with 21 runs driven in. His nine doubles tied for third on the team.
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Buchan, the opening day starter in 2023, is a warrior and a throwback, often going deep in games and going 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA over nine starts — a pitcher’s pitcher who struck out 32 batters in 37.1 innings.
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Potent hitter Waters, who played some infield, some outfield and DH in 2023 for Coach Greg Frady, is at South Mountain CC in Arizona, and had a strong summer in the WCL in which he hit .317 (14th in the WCL) with two home runs, 21 RBIs and 10 doubles, second on the NightOwls, in 42 games. He struck out just 22 times, matching his total of 22 combined base on balls (17) and hit by pitch (5).
VICTORIA, B.C. — The season may feel far away, just over six months to be exact, but plans are well underway for filling Head Coach Todd Haney’s 2024 Victoria HarbourCats roster.
Included are returning pitchers, and local products via the Victoria Eagles program, Sam Jordan and Ryder Green, along with the next Magdic (mag-DEECH) power-hitting prospect.
Kyle Magdic, IF, Lincoln, ON, 6-3/230, Marshalltown CC
Brooks Brewster, RHP, Carthage, TX, 6-2/205, Paris JC (Texas)
Wyatt Anderson, RHP, Cochrane, AB, 6-3/205, Hill JC (Texas)
Kade Douglas, RHP, Trinidad, CO, 6-2/185, CSU Pueblo
Sam Jordan, RHP, Victoria, BC, 6-3/190, Trinidad State (CO)
Magdic is the younger brother of 2023 fan favourite Ryan Magdic, a big corner infielder with huge power potential. Anderson is a power pitcher who will benefit from working with HarbourCats pitching coach Scott Anderson (no relation) and the staff.
Brewster is yet another Texas recruit by Haney, with a fastball in the low 90s, a college freshman who had great success at the top high school level in a very competitive state.
Douglas, a lanky right-hander with swing-miss stuff, pitched in the Northwoods League and WCBL, advancing from Allen CC to CSU-Pueblo. Green, who has been around the team for many years including being a batboy many moons ago, is in the midst of his freshman NAIA season in Arizona and returns for a second season working with Anderson.
Jordan returns for a second season, this time after spending a year at Trinidad State in Colorado (previously at Thompson Rivers in Kamloops). He made six appearances including two starts for the HarbourCats in 2023, going 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA and walking only four hitters.
As always, single game tickets will be available through our one and only ticketing partner Select Your Tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
SINGLE GAME TICKET PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Fans who want to get a jump on their single game ticket purchases may do so by dropping into the HarbourCats office on Wednesday or Thursday November 29th and 30th between Noon and 7PM as the HarbourCats are holding their annual Christmas Open House at the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
Other Christmas Open House specials include season ticket renewals or new purchases at 2023 pricing (a savings of $20-25 per seat) plus 20% off all in store merchandise! Food and beverage will also be provided.
YOU ARE INVITED! Please mark your calendars and join us, as we usher in the 2023-2024 Holiday season with our annual HarbourCats Christmas Open House, this year expanded over a two day period!
November 29th and 30th, 2023 12 Noon to 7:00 pm both days at the HarbourCats office 101-1814 Vancouver Street (just around the corner from the park!)
We will have our usual assortment of treats and holiday beverages on hand, plus plenty of great deals on tickets and merchandise for the baseball fan on your Christmas list. Come on in and take advantage of the following offers:
15% off ALL in store merchandise including new 2023 North Division Champion shirts, game worn jerseys, new kids apparel and plenty more!
2024 Single Game Ticket Pre-Buy Be the first to get your single-game tickets for 2024 before they go on sale on-line and to the general public on Friday December 1st!
2024 Voucher Exchanges If you have ticket vouchers, be first to exchange them for your preferred seats before single game tickets go on sale to the general public!
Early Bird Season Ticket Pricing! Even though our Early Bird deadline on Season Tickets has passed, come in either day to renew your 2023 seats or set up new season tickets and we will give you those at our 2023 pricing!
Get a 2024 Schedule Pick up a copy of our 2024 Schedule, one that includes 32 home games, 4 fireworks nights and all the excitement of another West Coast League season! Home Opener, Friday, June 7, 2024 6:35 pm against the Wenatchee AppleSox
We will look forward to seeing you on the 29th and 30th!
Stay tuned to all of our social media for updates and more details as they become available.
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