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NorthPaws have “Bell” rung in Bellingham

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Author: Larry Read

BELLINGHAM, WA—The Kamloops NorthPaws might not have earned any points but they did earn some respect as they dropped a three game set to one of the top teams in the West Coast League: the Bellingham Bells. 

Capping off the series on Thursday (July 6), the NorthPaws held a 5-0 lead before falling 7-5 to the Bells.

Kamloops falls to 7-23 on the year while Bellingham moves to 20-7.

Other scores in the series had the Bells winning 5-1 on Tuesday (July 4) and 2-0 on Wednesday (July 5).

Bellingham was led in the series by Canadian Yohann Desseureault.  The resident of Trois Rivieres, Quebec went four for eleven with four runs scored and four runs batted in.

The win Thursday moved Bellingham atop of the WCL North Division. They are a game ahead of the second place Wenatchee AppleSox.  The AppleSox, who are the next opponents for the NorthPaws starting tomorrow (Friday, July 7) fell 3-2 to Port Angeles on Thursday.  The AppleSox have lost their last two starts.

The Paws and Wenatchee will be playing the next three games against each other at s Paul Thomas Senior Field . The Bells are also on the road on Friday as they meet the Raptors in Ridgefield.

All West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

SERIES RECAP:

Tuesday, July 4, 2023: Bellingham 5 Kamloops 1

3,299 people spent Independence Day at Joe Martin Field where they saw their home team win their 18th game of the season. Bellingham took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second and added three more in the bottom of the third and one in the sixth—all off NorthPaws stater Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC).  Chadwick was playing his last game with the Paws before returning to Illinois State University.   He went five and two thirds’ innings striking out three and walking two.  Chadwick was 0-4 this summer in five starts.

Daniel Paret (Miami Lakes, FLA) went to 2-0 on the year pitching four innings of two hit ball with nine strike outs.

Offensively, Ty Saunders (Anacortes, WA) was two for three with three runs batted in. Dessureault  went two for four with two runs scored and a run batted in.  Colton Bower (Poulsbo, WA) was one for three with a run scored.

Kamloops saw Gabe Mestas (Durango, CA) go two for four with a run scored. Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ) went one for four with a run batted in. Drew Giannini (Tracy CA) was one for four with a run scored.

Link to Scoresheet:  http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=596802

Wednesday July 5, 2023:Bellingham 2 Kamloops 0

The NorthPaws stuck with the Bells until the fifth inning when Nate Kirkpatrick (Surrey, BC)  led off the inning hitting a single off reliever Liam Reynolds (Trumansburg, NY).  Kirkpatrick was the first batter Reynolds faced after replacing starter Griffin Almond (Thornbury, ON). 

Kirkpatrick later scored on a single by Anthony Kodama (Mill Creek, WA).  Kirkpatrick was 1 for three with a run scored in the game.  Kodama was one for two with a run batted in and a run scored.  He was brought home by the next batter-Dessureault.  He was one for three with a run batted in.

Reynolds was tagged with the loss and is 0-1 in eight appearances this season.  He pitched three innings giving up the two runs and striking out two.

For Kamloops: Joey Baran (Austin, TX) was two for four. Nevillle was one for three while Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, QC) was one for two.    

Trevor Moore (Golden, CO), the second of four Bellingham pitchers got the win. He is 1-0 on the year as he pitched three innings giving up one hit, striking out three and walking four 

Kamloops outhit Bellingham 6 -5 but left 10 runners on base.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=596803

Thursday, July 6, 2023: Bellingham 7  Kamloops 5

The NorthPaws jumped out to a 5-0 lead scoring all their runs in the top of the third inning. That would account for all their offense as the Bells scored seven consecutive runs.  They cut the deficit to 5-2 after four innings and added three in the bottom of the sixth along with single runs in the seventh and eighth.

Bellingham outhit Kamloops 9-4 and committed four errors to the NorthPaws one.

Two Canadian players did the most offensive damage for Bellingham. St Albert, Alberta’s Max Hartman was two for four with a triple and a home run. He had two runs batted in. Dessaurault of Trois Rivieres, Quebec was one for four with a run scored and an RBI.  His one hit was a triple.

Coleman Schmidt (Reno, NV) was two for four. He scored twice and had a run batted in.

Kamloops was led offensively by Mestas .  He was one for three with two runs batted in and a stolen base. Phoenix Sonmay was one for three with a run scored while Neville was one for four with a run scored.

Treven Hope notched the win for the Bells. The Blaine, Washington resident went three innings giving up two walks and a hit. It as his first win in three starts.  Gianluca Shinn (Menlo Park, CA) earned his first save striking out a single batter in one inning of work. He has made five appearances on the mound this year.

Noah Loew (Chelan, WA) suffered his first loss in six appearances. On in relief, he went an inning and a third giving up a run, a hit and a walk.   Hayden Walker (Albuquerque, NM)  got the start for Kamloops and went five and two thirds innings, giving up five runs  on seven hits with a walk and two strike outs.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=596804

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

As mentioned, the Paws are in Wenatchee against the Apple Sox for three games beginning tomorrow.

Their next home series will be Tuesday July 11th when the Edmonton RiverHawks come to town. Opening pitch that night along with Wednesday and Thursday July 12-13 will be 6:35 PM.  Kamloops then has a four day break.

PLAYERS TO WATCH ON THE RIVERHAWKS:

KJ Ward – RHP – Park University Gilbert

Jonny McGill – OF – University of British Columbia

Jack Wheatley – MIF – Liberty University

Kelly Corl – MIF – Niagara University.

If you can’t make the home games, they are all webcast on  https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/ .   Some home games will also be shown on Shaw TV in Kamloops (Cable 10 or 105 with Blue Curve).

TAILGATE PARTY:

The Molson’s Tailgate Party is hoppin’ before every NorthPaws home game.   It runs Tuesday through Saturday 5-630 PM.  The Party runs Sundays noon-1 PM.  Hotdogs and a Pilsner are sold for $ 12.00 plus tax.

Featured Image Credit: Makayla Sparks

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Showpass to be Title Partner of 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game Festival

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VICTORIA, B.C. — Showpass, one of North America’s fastest-growing event technology companies has stepped up to the plate as the Title Partner of the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game Festival.

In what is a perfect alignment due to the high-demand nature of event tickets, Showpass is reflecting the premier level of collaboration needed to elevate the WCL All-Star Game and Home Run Derby to an unforgettable experience for fans, players, coaches, and all others who are so deeply ingrained with the WCL. The Home Run Derby will feature recent MLB star Kevin Pillar as one of the full participants.

The Showpass logo will now be involved in all digital usage of the event logo, topping the graphic.

Showpass is the official ticketing company for three West Coast League teams, the Bend Elks, and the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls — helping those teams achieve outstanding customer outcomes that are fan-friendly with online, in-office and ticket booth interfacing options.

“The WCL is building something special around summer baseball, and the All-Star Game is a showcase of what strong organizations and great communities can create together,” said Lucas McCarthy, Founder and CEO of Showpass. “The HarbourCats have put real vision behind this event, turning it into more than just a game day experience. At Showpass, we’re proud to support organizations that are pushing their events forward, investing in their fans, and creating moments that bring communities together. We’re excited to help elevate the 2026 WCL All-Star Game Festival in Victoria.”

The Showpass logo will be prominent on the field, and the fingerprints of their ticketing and live event technology platform will be a key aspect of the outstanding experience around this two-day event in Victoria, one of the top destination cities in the world. Fan engagement activations and video content across many platforms, produced by Showpass, will be prominent in bringing this partnership to life.

“Showpass has stepped up since our very first meeting, and fully understands what our Island teams are looking to accomplish — more than that, they understand the fan ticketing experience is essential to growing strong attendance and revenue numbers, and they do it with gusto and skill,” said Adrian Somers, Vice-President of Operations and Business for the HarbourCats and NightOwls. “Showpass will be front and centre during these events, and we are proud to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with them in all that we do, but especially this Showpass WCL All-Star Game.”

The 2026 Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game Festival takes place July 14-15 in Victoria, at sites across the city but primarly at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The feature events include the Home Run Derby on Tuesday, July 14 (6:35pm) and All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 15 (7pm), with activities at the stadium up to two hours prior to the start — live bands, food trucks, and special pre-game entertainment fans will not want to miss.

The best of the West Coast League will be on display. The league has produced top Major League Baseball draft picks such as No. 1 overall selections Travis Bazzana and Adley Rutschman, along with current MLB stars such as Tarik Skubal, Nathan Lukes, Nick Pivetta, Shane Bieber and Andrew Vaughn.

For more information on tickets, go to http://harbourcats.com/tickets

ABOUT SHOWPASS

Showpass is the operating system for independent live events, connecting every stage of the event lifecycle into one platform. From ticketing and marketing to operations, analytics, and financing, Showpass gives organizers one system to run, grow, and own their events. More than 175 million tickets have been issued through Showpass, powering music, sports, festivals, venues, cultural events, and everyday things to do across North America. Built with a mission to reignite the joy of live experiences, Showpass equips organizers with the tools and support needed to elevate the fan experience. Independently owned, Showpass is one of North America’s fastest-growing event technology companies, recognized by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 and named to The Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Top Growing Companies list for three consecutive years.

For media inquiries, contact:

Adrian Somers, Victoria HarbourCats
adrian@harbourcats.com

Katelyn Marchyshyn
Katelyn.marchyshyn@showpass.com

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Victoria HarbourCats – Riverhawks Rivalry Renewed in HarbourCats Opening Homestand

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The HarbourCats fell just short to the Riverhawks at the end of the 2025 season in a tightly-contested series

VICTORIA, B.C. – They say familiarity breeds contempt. With the HarbourCats home opener looming one week from today, the old proverb certainly applies to the first homestand of the 2026 season. After seven consecutive contests between Victoria and Edmonton to end the 2025 season, the Riverhawks will perch in Victoria for a three-game series beginning June 2.

For the returning HarbourCats, last year’s playoff series against Edmonton will be fresh in their minds. Victoria forced game three after dropping the opener, but were defeated 8-7 after a valiant comeback effort. Todd Haney’s crew will be in search of sweet revenge in the opening homestand of the year.

Among the returnees is Austin Lindsey, a right-handed pitcher entering his second season as a HarbourCat. The Lufkin, Texas product went 8-3 over 13 starts for Hill College this season, striking out 48 batters and maintaining an ERA just under five. Lindsey earned a crucial save in game two of the playoffs last year, striking out two in the ninth inning to force game three. Marcus Janovsky returns for the Cats as well, who struck out five over three innings in game one of the Victoria-Edmonton series last year.

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) held on for a critical save in the playoffs last season

Tuesday, June 2 is the home opener, always one of the most exciting days of baseball season! Fresh off an away series in Portland, the Cats will return to Victoria for their first performance in front of a home crowd in the 2026 season.

Following the home opener, Wednesday, June 3’s game is Help Fill a Dream Night, in partnership with the Help Fill a Dream Foundation in support of families with children affected by serious health challenges. The series wraps up on June 4, with our first School Spirit Game, where local students can enjoy some HarbourCats baseball and bring the youthful energy to Royal Athletic Park!

The homestand continues into the weekend with a trio of skirmishes with the Kelowna Falcons, including some fun theme nights! June 5 is Forces Friday, where military members and first responders can take advantage of special ticket discounts. June 6 is the first fireworks night of the season, with gates opening at 5 pm, followed by a Sunday matinee on June 7 where kids can run the bases after the game.

Homestand Schedule:

  • June 2 6:35 pm – Home Opener
  • June 3 6:35 pm – Help Fill a Dream Night
  • June 4 11:05 am – School Spirit Game (sold out, select tickets may become available)
  • June 5 6:35 pm – Forces Friday
  • June 6 6:35 pm – Fireworks Night
  • June 7 1:05 pm – Sunday Matinee

 

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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2026 NightOwls Coaching Staff

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NightOwls coaching staff grows in 2026

Heimueller celebrating 50 years in baseball

Cody Andreychuk, the Head Coach of his hometown Nanaimo NightOwls, already had tremendous experience with collegiate and summer baseball.

Going into his second season steering the NightOwls, he feels even more prepared and supported with the challenge of the West Coast League ahead.

Andreychuk will have veteran Pitching Coach Gorm Heimueller with him again.

The 70-year-old is entering his 50th year in the game dating back to his college years at Cal Poly when he was a teammate of Ozzie Smith. Heimueller, who has three World Series rings from his stellar pro ball coaching career, is the only pitching coach the fifth-year organization has ever known.

Returning as the Athletic Therapist Extraordinaire is one of the best in the business, Dr. Kyle Salloum — a chiropractor and AT from Prime Performance and Therapy, which also serves as the official training centre of the NightOwls.

Added to the NightOwls staff this year is assistant coach Cam Revolt, a former college player now an assistant with Andreychuk at the University of Pikeville in Kentucky. The infielder hit nine home runs and drove in 111 while playing four seasons and batting .312 for the Bears.

The NightOwls have added Jordan McLeod as Bullpen Coach — a product of Nelson, B.C. and currently a teacher in Nanaimo and a graduate of Vancouver Island University, who is the Pitching Coach for the VIU Mariners. He is a former Douglas College and VIU pitcher.

Bench coach and mental skills coach Dr. Jordan Herbison, an instructor at VIU and a former UBC pitcher, is back to support the staff.

Andreychuk, 33, played in the West Coast League in 2013 for the Kelowna Falcons and served as an assistant coach in the famed Cape Cod League, the top summer collegiate league. In his first season leading the NightOwls, the former VIU player and Nanaimo product led the NightOwls to within a whisker of the playoffs, finishing at 23-31.  Pikeville finished the spring season with a 29-19 record, reaching the playoffs, on the heels of winning 27 games in 2025 and 30 games in 2024.

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