Summer Collegiate
NorthPaws Hire ‘From Within’ for New Head Coach
Photo by Allen Douglas
KAMLOOPS, BC—The Kamloops North Paws have a new head coach for the 2024 West Coast League season. And they filled the vacancy from within their own organization.
The Paws have promoted pitching coach Jose Bautista to the role of head coach.
Bautista, a former major league pitcher has been the team’s pitching coach for the club’s first two seasons.
“I look at this position as being one of a teacher,” he says. “I want to teach the players a little more about the game. It is one to be enjoyed. I am hoping they will improve their strengths like relaxing when they hit.”
The 59 year old Bautista spent almost 10 years in the majors (1988-97). He played with four teams beginning with the Baltimore Orioles. He also played with the Chicago Cubs, San Fransisco Giants, Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
“I have been coaching for so many years, “he says. “I want our hitters to do just that—hit. No mini bunts. And we have to have fun with it. It is a game after all. I have been in baseball for 45 years. I am going to draw on that experience in order for the NorthPaws and the players to be successful.
He had a career record of 32-42 with 328 strikeouts and an earned run average of 4.62.
Aside from his stint as the NorthPaws pitching coach, Bautista also held that position with the Burlington Bees (2021, 2022), Idaho Falls Chukars (2004, 2005, 2006) and the Class “A” Kanapolis Intimidators (2011). He was also the manager of the Advance “A” Great Falls Voyageurs in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Photo by Allen Douglas
Bautista has begun contacting members of the NorthPaws from this past season along with recruiting other players. “I am definitely talking to the players from Kamloops who were on the team last year. I want to give them more of an opportunity to play and improve. “
He plans to scout colleges and universities on the East Coast to recruit players. He will also have people scouting Arizona and California for prospects. He is hoping to have at least 20 pitchers on the roster along with three catchers. Bautista would like to have a strong contingent of players who have ties to Canada.
Says General Manager Jenna Forter: “The organization is excited for this promotion – Jose has proven his commitment to our players, our team and to the coaching staff. He shares the values that this team is built on, and his passion for the athletes and their development was our deciding factor in promoting him to Head Coach. We are looking forward to 2024 and welcoming back local Canadian talent, along with new athletes to add to our roster.”
The NorthPaws will round out their coaching staff with more announcements in the near future.
For More Information:
Jenna Forter
NorthPaws General Manager
(250) 250-214-1115
jforter@northpawsbaseball.ca
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats add to 2024 roster, some names familiar to fans
November 28, 2023
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.
ALERT! 2024 SINGLE GAME TICKETS GO ON-SALE, Friday, December 1, 2023 at 9:00AM
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
- Ryder Green, RHP, Victoria, BC, 6-0/185, Park-Gilbert (AZ)
- 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.
Now that the 2024 HarbourCats schedule has been released, HarbourCats staff are very busy behind the scenes getting ready for the upcoming year. Season Tickets are now on sale, as are 10-Game Flex packs and SINGLE GAME TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON-LINE starting THIS Friday December 1st, 2023 at 9:00 AM.
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.
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Annual Christmas Open House Nov. 29th and 30th!
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.
Web: www.harbourcats.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harbourcats
Facebook Fan Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/harbourcats
Twitter: https://twitter.com/harbourcats
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harbourcats
Strong returning core taking shape for NightOwls for 2024
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats add to 2024 roster, some names familiar to fans
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Annual Christmas Open House Nov. 29th and 30th!
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