Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws Add Trio of NCAA Division I Players

Published

4 years ago

February 25, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

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.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats to salute local legend Cliff Lequesne on July 17

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

May 13, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — His voice, is everywhere in Victoria, in terms of sports, the signature of his presence at games and events for more than 40 years.

The Victoria HarbourCats will salute local broadcasting legend Cliff Lequesne on July 17 — as he continues to go strong as the morning news and sports icon at The Q, while handling in-house “voice of God” duties for the Royals, Grizzlies and Shamrocks.

His legendary run started at CFAX in 1972, learning from the unforgettable Ken Dobson, and he moved to The Q in 1987. He’s handled sports duties with the Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, the historic fastball teams that once ruled RAP, and even the Victoria Cougars — no, not the ones that won the Stanley Cup in 1925 (how old was Cliff then?), but the WHL version including the legendary 1981 run to the Memorial Cup.

“Cliff really IS sports in Victoria in so many ways, a worthy inductee into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame this past fall,” said Jim Swanson, who oversees the HarbourCats and is also a member of the Hall of Fame board.

“He’s one of the most likeable guys in Victoria, and remembers details, maybe only Cleve Dheensaw of the Times Colonist is in his category for sports media in the city. A gentleman and we are proud to honour him.”

Cliff — and his famous Cliff’s Call — and battery mate Ed Bain can be heard mornings on The Q.

Lequesne will be on the mic for the Emery Electric Fastpitch Challenge on Saturday, May 31, helping recall events of the past and introduce some of the fastball legends of yesteryear before a doubleheader (4pm, 6pm) between the host Sooke Loggers and the Lacey A’s, the first return of fastball to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in decades. The games are possible because of Emery Electric and the support of the HarbourCats Foundation.

Tickets for the Emery Electric Fastpitch Challenge and the Cliff Lequesne Salute on July 17 are available at harbourcats.com/tickets.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com. Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided. More details HERE

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cat’s add local pitcher and “Big Papi” as a catcher

Published

1 week ago

May 12, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Victoria native and former Victoria Eagle Oliver Mabee, above, pitching for Nebrasks-Omaha, joins the HarbourCats pitching staff for 2025 (Photo courtesy Nebraska-Omaha Athletics).

May 12, 2025

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Oliver Mabee always wanted to be a Victoria HarbourCat, and the former Victoria Eagles pitcher will get his chance.

Mabee, a local product, is completing his junior collegiate year so this is his last shot at playing at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico catcher Enrico Carrion doesn’t want to be called Kiki or Enrico — the hard swinging right-handed bat wants to be known as “Big Papi” by HarbourCats fans.

The two players are part of five players announced today by Head Coach Todd Haney:

RHP Hudson Lance, Coastal Carolina, 5-10/180, R/R, Trinity, NC
RHP Robert Sanford, Paris JC, 6-1/195, R/R, Carrollton, TX
LHP Dillon Dibrell, Central Oklahoma, 6-0/190, L/L, Piedmont, OK
RHP Oliver Mabee, Nebraska-Omaha, 6-6/215, R/R, Victoria
C Enrico ‘Big Papi’ Carrion, University of Hawaii, 5-11/195, R/R, Puerto Rico

“We are always thrilled to add proven arms to our pitching staff” said Coach Haney. “We expect significant contributions from each of the pitchers announced today and Big Papi is a young, high energy catcher from Puerto Rico that we are excited to work with this summer.”

Mabee is an Oak Bay grad who was a two-way collegiate baseball player at Trinidad State, now focusing on his mound work at Nebraska-Omaha. He has a 6.66 ERA in 15 appearances with UNO, striking out 26 batters in 25.2 innings. He played for Kamloops in the WCL last summer as an outfielder and hit .231 with five RBIs in 18 games for the NorthPaws.

Carrion will be a freshman at the University of Hawaii in fall, with a powerful bat and already developed strong defensive skills.

Lance, who did a lot of winning as a pitcher and with his high school program, has made five appearances as a freshman at a top college in Coastal Carolina.

Sanford is 2-2 with a save in 15 appearances at Paris (TX) Junior College in a very strong conference.

Dibrell, who played for Port Angeles in the WCL in 2022, has five strikeouts in three innings so far with Central Oklahoma, making the full transition from infielder to pitcher.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Lake returns to the ocean, one of six pitchers signed by HarbourCats

Published

2 weeks ago

May 6, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Returning HarbourCat Shea Lake highlights six pitchers signed by the ‘Cats in preparation for the 2025 season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

For immediate release

May 6, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a second season in Victoria for right-hander Shea Lake — he liked it so much in 2024, he had to say yes to a return engagement.

The former Hawaii Pacific University pitcher, now at West Texas A&M where he was a redshirt this spring, returns to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP for the 2025 season to work with pitching coach Scott Anderson.

“I am thrilled Shea, along with 10 returning pitchers will lead our pitching staff this summer,” said Anderson, in his third season under Head Coach Todd Haney. “The pitchers announced today are a great mix of proven college pitchers. They are excited to continue developing with our tremendous staff of pitching coaches and fired up to bring a championship to Victoria,” added Head Coach Todd Haney.

Lake had a 4.40 ERA last summer in five appearances, allowing just 10 hits in 16.1 innings pitched.

Announced to the roster today by Haney:

RHP John Ondus, Niagara, 6-2/215, R/R, Gowanda, NY
RHP Ethan McNish-Heider, Niagara, 6-4/215, R/R, El Cajon, CA
RHP Logan Salomon, Nevada-Reno, 6-5/230, R/R, Chandler, AZ
RHP Tyler Patrick, Fresno State, 6-1/215, R/R, Fresno, CA
RHP Shea Lake, West Texas A&M, 6-3/190, R/R, Temecula, CA
LHP/OF Tristin Thomas, West Texas A&M, 5-8/140, L/L, Carlsbad, NM

Lake is at West Texas A&M with Tristin Thomas, a redshirt freshman who is hitting .429 this season with one home run, while also throwing 12 innings off the mound.

In Ondrus and McNish-Heider, the HarbourCats get a pair of big right-handers who project as power pitchers at the college level — both are roughly a strikeout per inning, and are expected to provide proven experience in the bullpen.

Salomon is a large specimen at 6-5/230, and has had an impressive season — 31 innings pitched, and one five-inning relief outing in which he fanned nine batters, and another relief stint with seven strikeouts. He is 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA and one save.

Patrick, a high school star catcher and pitcher, is finishing his freshman season and is focusing on mound work. He’s thrown 25.1 innings with just eight walks, and has a 3.55 ERA.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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