Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws back to .500 after taking two of three from the Bellingham Bells

Published

2 years ago

June 10, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Photo by: Allen Douglas

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws are back to .500 after taking two of three from the visiting Bellingham Bells.

Game 1 –

The Kamloops NorthPaws took full advantage of the free pass on Tuesday, en-route to a 3-2 series opening win over the Bellingham Bells.

Kamloops got the offense going early, with third baseman Jaden Bitter lining the first pitch of the 1st inning down the third base line for a double. Two batters later, Matthew Olivares would trade places with Bitter with a double of his own to open the scoring.

Derek Murphy got the start on the bump for Kamloops, working three innings of one-hit ball, allowing 1 run. He was replaced by Joey Rico, who would earn the win in relief thanks to 3 innings of 2 hits and 0 runs. Cade Johnson would pitch two innings to earn a hold, and Lucas Smith shut the door in the ninth to earn the save.

The Bells got their first run in unusual fashion, driving one across in the third inning without the benefit of a base hit. Trent Mallonee would score after reaching first on a dropped third strike, followed by a walk, and a fielder’s choice.

Kamloops would take the lead for good in the sixth when Matt Molina walked a trio of batters allowing two to score courtesy of wild pitch and an RBI groundout from Jacob Schlesselman.

Bellingham would make things interesting by closing to within 1 in the 8th. With runners on first and second and one-out, a ball would eat up Anthony Manuel at first allowing the run to score from second. However Kamloops would escape the inning on the same play after getting the back runner caught in a rundown between home and third. Paws catcher Jerry Nix would run him back to third where a gaff from the Bells allowed Nix to tag out both runners.

Game 2 –

The NorthPaws used a stellar start from a TRU WolfPack pitcher, timely offense from the cleanup spot, and a triple play on defense to win the second game of the series 7-1.

Kolby Luckinchuk got his second start of the season and pitched 6 strong innings giving up 1 earned run on 7 hits as he worked himself out of danger in the 2nd, 4th, and 6th innings.

The Bells would strike first in the contest with Jason Shedlock lining an RBI single bringing home Nate Kirkpatrick in the second.

The Paws would get on the scoreboard in the 3rd, with Jacob Schlesselman getting the party started with a one-out single. That would be followed by singles from Ethan VanDelinder and Jaden Bitter to load the bases. Shortstop Madden Ocko would be plunked to bring in the tying run and then Joey Rico, the winning pitcher from Tuesday, ripped a bases clearing double into right field for 3RBI and a lead the Paws would never give up.

Chaos was the theme of the seventh inning. The Bells would load the bases with nobody out thanks to two walks and a hit batter. That brought Chase Taylor into the ballgame in relief of Joey Stover. Facing Jacob Mejia, Taylor got a shallow fly-out to left, as the ball came home to keep the runner stationed at third, Jorge Olivera was caught between first and second. Olivera would be tagged out between the bases by Manuel who fired home to catch Robbins attempting to score for a triple play. The play was scored F9-2-3-2.

The Paws would add on a trio of insurance runs in the eight to make it 7-1. Casper Rammeloo would record the final three outs and secure a series victory for Kamloops.

Game 3 –

The Bellingham Bells would finally strike back during the final game of the series, taking the school spirit day game 11-1.

Ryan Beitel was in cruise control on the mound for the Bells, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning, when Jacob Schlesselman singled to break up the bid for history. Schlesselman was singled home by Nolan Austin for Kamloops’ lone run of the ballgame.

Josh Berenbaum got the start for the ‘Paws and ran into some bad luck giving up 5 runs, only 2 earned through 4.2 innings of work.

Nate Kirkpatrick led the offense for the Bells going 3-5 at the dish, with 4 RBI.

Pitching and defense lead the way for Kamloops

The Kamloops NorthPaws found their fitting in their first cross-border battle of the season against the Bellingham Bells.

Playing a starring role in the series win was newcomer Joey Rico, who earned the win in game 1 before going 2-4 at the dish with 4 RBI in game 2. Rico stepped into the lineup for Kamloops on Tuesday after just arriving to the team.

“I just went out there and tried to do what I normally do, try to command my stuff and just let it work, not try to do too much,” said Rico. “(Being fresh to the team) makes it easier, you’re not so caught up in a gameplan or some idea of what your suppose to do, you just go out there and play. Two-way (player) in college for sure, just trying to do both because i enjoy doing both and want to keep doing it as long as I can. It was pretty awesome to show up for the team and the fans.”

Game two was started by TRU WolfPack product Kobly Luckinchuk who threw six innings, giving up one run.

“I was a lot off-speed, I was spinning the ball really well, come back with a fastball occasionally and it plays a lot better. But just filling up the zone, trusting the team behind you,” said Luckinchuk. “These two teams Victoria and Bellingham are not an easy ride so to come out 500 after playing these two teams, it’s really exciting, we are really happy about it.”

“Coming together quickly (as a team), just real relaxed, chill guys, it has been awesome to be around a good group of young guys,” added Rico.

As the team comes together in the clubhouse, Head Coach Jose Bautista is still working through getting a few more bodies to Kamloops ahead of the first road trip of the season next week to Cowlitz.

“We win the series that is the most important thing to do,” said Bautista. “Couple more players coming in pretty soon. We just started, looking to get more wins and get closer games. I’m pretty happy with what I’m seeing.”

Upcoming Schedule –

Friday, June 7 – Off-day

Saturday, June 8 vs Coquitlam, 6:35 first pitch (non-league)

Sunday, June 9 vs Coquitlam. 2:35 first pitch (non-league)

Monday, June 10 – Off-day

Tuesday, June 11 @ Cowlitz 6:35 first pitch

Wednesday, June 12 @ Cowlitz 6:35 first pitch

Thursday, June 13 @ Cowlitz 6:35 first pitch

For media request:

Jenna Forter
General Manager
Kamloops NorthPaws

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Battle to the End for 2-1 Victory

Published

16 hours ago

July 3, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Victoria, B.C. – A war of attrition ended in a win for the good guys on Thursday night, with the Cats clawing their way to the finish line to take a series win over the NightOwls.

The Cats weathered the lengthy rain delay and came to the plate ready tonight, striking first on a two-out single from Rohne Klein (San Jose State). Designated hitter Logan Shepherd (Mercer) got the wave around third and Victoria quickly took a 1-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

UCSD’s Quincey Brown added to a string of dominant starting pitchers for the Cats in this series. Brown’s nine strikeouts in his second start of the season are the second-most in a single game for Victoria this year, tied with Austin Lindsey in the previous game and just short of Jeremiah Arnett’s team-leading ten K’s on Tuesday.

In addition to a whole lot of swings and misses, Brown kept the NightOwls off the bases with just two hits across his five innings of work. Davis Lee (Calgary) came in on the heels of Brown’s start, opening up the sixth inning on the mound with a one-run lead. Lee got himself into some trouble, loading the bases with two consecutive walks and letting the game-tying run sneak by on a pitch straight to the backstop.

Will Zielinski held strong in his Cats debut, scoring important outs in the late innings. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Lee returned in the seventh for a much cleaner frame, striking out two for a scoreless inning. Will Zielinski made an impressive Cats debut in the top of the eighth. The local Victoria product secured a quick two strikeouts and a groundout to keep the score tied and bring the HarbourCats lineup back up to the dish.

Victoria rallied to finally break the tie in the bottom of the eighth, courtesy of a Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) special. The outfielder walked, stole a base, and came in to score on a throwing error from the Nanaimo shortstop to take a 2-1 lead for the Cats.

Zielinski was back for the top of the ninth, shutting it down and securing a close win for the Cats to take the series and tie up the Island Cup!

WCL STANDINGS

The HarbourCats will now hit the road to Kelowna for a three-game weekend series against the Falcons.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

GET YOUR ALL-STAR TICKETS BEFORE THEY ARE GONE! Tickets for the 2026 WCL All-Star Home Run Derby (featuring former Blue Jay Kevin Pillar) and the West Coast League All Star Game on July 14-15 are selling fast. Get yours today! Each event is now on sale separately, or grab the package deal for both and save a few bucks at http://harbourcats.com/tickets! Or call the office at 778-265-0327 to order by phone.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Bats Heat Up in 11-2 Win Over Nanaimo

Published

2 days ago

July 1, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Nanaimo, B.C. – The HarbourCats evened the series with a titanic 11-2 win over their island rivals on Wednesday night.

It was a blink-and-you’ll-mis-it start for the Cats, who scored their first run just four minutes after the first pitch. David Krahn (UBC) and Matt Westley (George Mason) found themselves on base with a single each, and a double off the wall from Logan Shepherd (Mercer) drove Krahn in from second. Westley came in to score an an extremely well-placed bunt from Jacob Silva (UTSA), and a Rohne Klein (San Jose State) single swiftly made it 3-0 Cats after the first half-inning!

BOX SCORE

Krahn touched the plate once again in the second inning, reaching base on an error and being cashed in by a Logan Shepherd base hit. Westley followed suit, pushing the score to 5-0.

Jeremiah Arnett (Rice) powered through six innings in his fifth start of the season, allowing three hits, no runs, and striking out nine. (Photo by JPM Photography)

The onslaught continued in the middle innings, highlighted by a two-run homer from infielder Brady Hewitt (Fresno State) in the fifth. A Tristan Buehring (Whitman) single brought home another before the end of the frame. Victoria followed up with another two tallies in the sixth, a result of some wild pitches and a knock from Bryan Bradshaw (UCSD). 10-0 Cats after six.

That strong start carried over to the other side of the baseball as well, with Jeremiah Arnett putting on a pitching clinic. The Rice University starter let up three hits in a scoreless six innings, striking out nine NightOwls. Daniel Tovar (Northern Kentucky) took over in relief for the seventh and eighth, keeping things clean and keeping Nanaimo off the board.

Matt Westley was on fire at the dish in Nanaimo, badgering NightOwls pitching for a four-hit game. (Photo by JPM Photography)

David Krahn stayed hot in the top of the ninth, crushing an RBI double to extend the lead to 11. Hunter Daniels (Phoenix) was sent in from the bullpen with a safe cushion to work with, giving up the first runs of the game for the NightOwls but ultimately closing out an 11-2 victory.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats finish off the series in Victoria at 6:35 pm Thursday night before hitting the road for a weekend series in Kelowna.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Bested by NightOwls in Fourth Game of Remax Island Cup

Published

2 days ago

July 1, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats’ late comeback bid was unsuccessful this fireworks night, dropping the first game of the Nanaimo series 10-7

Usual relief pitcher Austin Lindsey (Hill College) settled into his newfound starting role nicely tonight. The Lufkin, Texas righty was straight up impenetrable in his first four innings, pocketing eight strikeouts over that span. A rare walk from Lindsey came back to bite him in the fifth, driven in by the second hit of the game for Nanaimo to put the NightOwls on top.

BOX SCORE

Rohne Klein (San Jose State) retorted with a blistering line drive straight to the right field wall, cruising into second with a double and tagging up to third base on an ensuing flyout. Despite Klein’s effort, the bats sputtered and the first baseman was stranded on third to end the inning, still down by one to the visiting side.

Nanaimo made another edit to the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, battling with two strikes and two outs to turn a ball the other way and double their lead to two. Lindsey got into a bit of hot water following that second run, loading the bases and relinquishing the mound to Houston Tomlinson (Arkansas State).

It was a packed house on Tuesday night for the postgame fireworks show! See if you can spot Harvey the HarbourCat in the crowd . . . (Photo by JPM Photography)

The sticky situation only got stickier, with an error by the Cats shortstop allowing two more runs to slip by on Tomlinson’s watch. The NightOwls added a three-run homer as the exclamation point on the inning, taking a 7-0 lead before the Cats got out of it.

The NightOwls loaded them up once again in the seventh, but the inning was saved by third baseman Matt Westley (George Mason). Westley made a diving stop in the hot corner, stepped on third base, and fired a bullet to first base to keep the score from getting further out of hand.

Victoria finally found their way on the board in frame number seven. Rohne Klein’s screamer off the glove of the Nanaimo first baseman moved catcher Jacob Silva (UTSA) over to third base, and Silva came in to score on a wild pitch for the first Cats run of the game. A sacrifice fly from Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) brought home Klein and yet another wild pitch made room for Bryan Bradshaw (UCSD) to score, whittling the deficit down to four with two innings to go.

Tomlinson’s struggles to find the strike zone in the eighth inning gave way to Jake Rafferty (Tacoma) from the bullpen. Rafferty let three more runs fly by before eventually retiring to the dugout.

The Cats put some serious pressure on the NightOwls in the bottom of the eighth, running the bases loaded and scoring four runs on a couple of walks, a sac fly, and an RBI single right back up the middle by Tristan Buehring (Whitman). The comeback effort came up short, however, as the bats returned to dormancy in the bottom of the ninth.

WCL STANDINGS

The series goes to Nanaimo on Wednesday night for a Canada Day showdown with the NightOwls, before the third game of the Remax Island Cup takes place in Victoria at 6:35 pm on Thursday.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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