Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws Pickled in Portland – Kamloops NorthPaws

Published

3 years ago

June 30, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Author: Larry Read

PORTLAND, ORE—The Portland Pickles successfully swept their 2023 West Coast League season series with the Kamloops NorthPaws. Playing three games at Walker Stadium, the host Pickles took the NorthPaws in straight contests. They won the season series 6-0.

The scores in this set were 4-2, 15-2 and 5-2.

Portland moves to 12-6 on the year and sit a game and a half out of first place in the WCL South Division while the NorthPaws remain in the basement of the WCL North Division at 5-19.

Kamloops winds up their longest road trip of the season tomorrow (June 30) when they play the Falcons at Elks Stadium in Kelowna. The Pickles open up a three-game set in Yakima Valley against the Pippins.

A reminder that all West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

SERIES RECAP:

Tuesday, June 27,2023: Pickles 4 NorthPaws 2

The NorthPaws scored both their runs in the fourth inning while Portland had singles in the first, fourth, fifth and seventh.

Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) started on the hill for Kamloops and went five innings. He suffered his third loss of the season. Chadwick gave up six hits, three runs, walked two and struck out two.

Max Fraser (Camas, WA) was the second of five Portland pitchers and earned his first win. He went two and a thirds giving up two runs, a hit, three walks and struck out five. Morris Austin (Keller, TX) came on in the ninth and struck out two for his third save of the year.

Offensively, Kamloops had three players going 1-4: Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ), Jude Hall (Chilliwack, BC) and Tommy Green (Courtenay, BC). Green and Neville had RBI. For Neville, he has 13 on the year. Hall’s performance at the dish raised his batting average to .269.

Armando Briserio (Fontana, CA) drove in two runs despite going 0-2. Jack Metcho (Fairfield, CA) was 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. His average moved to .328.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598543

Wednesday, June 28, 2023: Pickles 15 NorthPaws 2

One bad inning sunk the NorthPaws again. Kamloops scored both their runs in the sixth inning. At the time, they trailed in the game 4-0. The Pickles exploded for 10 runs in a sixth inning where they had four hits. Blake Hiraki (Mililani, HI) leading the way with a home run.

Xaige Lancaster (Hilo, HI) hit a three-run shot in the third inning and went 2-4 with five runs batted in. He also scored two runs to lead the Pickles attack. Metcho was 2-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. While Hiracki was 1-3, with three RBI and two runs scored.

Nathan Grey (Queen Park, AZ) and Hall were each 1-4 with a run scored. Neville and Green were both0-4 with a run batted in.

Jacob Bresnahan (Sumner, WA) went two and two thirds’ innings for his first win of the year for Portland. He gave up two hits, two runs, walked two and struck out two. Griffin Almond (Thornby, ON) saw his record fall to 2-2 as he went five innings. He surrendered four runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598544

Thursday, June 29, 2023-Pickles 5 NorthPaws 2

For the second straight night, their performance in a single inning cost Kamloops. This time it was the eighth inning. Kamloops led 2-1 until that point when the Pickles scored four runs which sent over 28 hundred fans home happy.

Three of those four runs came off the bat of right fielder Jessie Pierce (Las Vegas, NV). He blasted a home run to raise his batting average to .333 on the year. Pierce led Portland offensively going 2-3 with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Evan Cloyd (Bakersville, CA) was 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

For Kamloops, Hall, Grey and Green were all 2-4. Green scored a run as well. Landon Clark (Indianapolis, IN) was the big man at the plate for the NorthPaws going 1-4 with a run batted in. Neville was 1-4 with a run batted in and a run scored.

Max Jones (Whittier, CA) was the winning pitcher. He collected his first win of the year reliving starter Nathan Shinn (Pleasanton, CA). Shinn went five innings on a four hitter, with two strikeouts and a walk. Jones gave up two hits in a single inning of work.

Austin notched his second save of the season and fourth of the year as he worked an inning and struck out two.

David Jeon (Coppel, TX) saw his record fall to 0-2. He worked an inning and two thirds of relief and gave up two hits (including Pierce’s homer). He relieved starter Hayden Walker (Albuquerque, NM). He worked six innings of two hit ball, fanning seven and walking three.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598545

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

The Paws have a three game series with their closest geographical rival, the Kelowna Falcons. The teams will play tomorrow (June 30) at Elks Stadium in Kelowna.

The two teams will then head north. In 2022, Kamloops won five of six meetings between themselves and Kelowna. The Falcons lone victory came June 18th in Kelowna, where they beat the NorthPaws 8-2. Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) was the losing pitcher. On that night, Chadwick pitched three innings, giving up five hits, surrendering four runs (two earned) with a strikeout and six walks.

Kamloops won twice in the Okanagan and swept the Falcons at Dearborn Ford Field . The sweep occurred August 2-4th and included an 18-7 win on the opening night. Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, ON) was two for five in that game with six runs batted in

Next home game for the NorthPaws will be Canada Day ( Saturday, July 1) against the Kelowna Falcons The same two teams will do battle on Sunday, July 2nd as well. Opening pitch Canada Day is 6:35 PM. Sunday’s tilt has a 2:05 PM start time. There will be Canada Day celebrations at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium on Saturday. These include a Bouncy Castle, Canadian Food specials, a Molson Tailgate Party and the Dearborn Ford Maverick Contest.

Sunday’s game will be “Family Day” at the park. Family Day is a presentation of Save On Foods.

If you can’t make the games, they are all webcast on https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/ . Some NorthPaws 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.

For “Everything NorthPaws-Go to the website : https://www.northpawsbaseball.ca/ “

Kamloops North Paws tickets: ticketing@northpawsbaseball.ca

West Coast League: westcoastleague.com.

Contact for Media for Player Interviews;

Adam Filmon

Assistant Coach afilmon@northpawsbaseball.ca cell phone (204) 955-3547

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Former HarbourCat Austin Russell, a WCL all-star, hired to coach Collegiate Cats program

Published

1 day ago

July 6, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

July 5, 2026

VICTORIA, B.C. — Former HarbourCat and WCL All-Star Austin Russell has been handed the reins of Victoria’s year-round collegiate baseball program.

The local product has been hired to lead the Victoria Collegiate Cats of the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), effective August 1. The team formerly called the Golden Tide will enter its sixth season this fall, based primarily out of Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to help build a Victoria Collegiate Cats program that the players, alumni and community can be proud of,” said Russell, who played with his brother Ty on the 2013 HarbourCats team. “My time playing college baseball had a tremendous impact on my growth as a person, both on and off the field, and my priority is to provide these young men with that same opportunity — an experience they can look back on with pride and one that helps prepare them for success as they move forward in life.”

Russell, 34, was a member of the inaugural HarbourCats team and the outfielder was selected to play in the WCL all-star game in 2013. He also played summer collegiate baseball in Moose Jaw, and played collegiately at Colby Community College, Southern Polytechnic State, and MacPherson College.

Russell won conference awards as a player at Colby and MacPherson, and still plays in the Mavericks League locally. He represented Victoria in the 2018 Baseball Canada Men’s Nationals on home soil, earning a silver medal.

Russell (left), along with Nick Pivetta (centre) and Connor Russell (no relation)(right) were three of the first HarbourCats players to be signed for the 2013 season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart).

He coached for many years in the Victoria Mariners youth system, and is excited to return to the college level. Pitching Coach Darius Opdam Bak and Assistant Coach Colton O’Brien will return and round out the coaching staff.

Russell will also join Opdam Bak and other WCL HarbourCats coaches in taking an active role with community development initiatives and youth camps.

“This is an exciting announcement for us and we could not be happier to put Austin into the leadership role with the Collegiate Cats as Head Coach,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that owns the Collegiate Cats, the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls (West Coast League), and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) indoor facility.

“Austin is well-known and respected in the baseball world, especially locally, and we know he will put tremendous effort and skill into the role as we continue to grow the Collegiate Cats. He’s excited to get started.”

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Drop Third Game of Kelowna Series

Published

2 days ago

July 5, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Kelowna, B.C. – The HarbourCats took on the Kelowna Falcons for the third game a row this afternoon, losing the final matchup by a score of 9-2.

The Falcons were the first side to find purchase on the offensive side in a long third inning. Cats starter Daniel Tovar (Northern Kentucky) allowed a couple of baserunners on a walk and an error, and was swapped out for right-hander Houston Tomlinson (Arkansas State). Kelowna strung together a few singles together on Tomlinson over the course of the inning, taking a 3-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

The home team followed that up with an uppercut in their next trip to the plate, smashing a three-run homer off of Tomlinson in the fourth to blow the game wide open.

Tate Collins (Arkansas State) took over for the fifth and pitched a clean inning, but was accosted for another scoring trio in the home half of the sixth. A single, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly gave the Falcons a daunting 9-0 lead.

The Cats at last found life in the seventh frame, kicked off by a solo bomb off the bat of Fresno State outfielder Marcus Nolen. Matthew Westley (George Mason) followed that homer up with a fine job of manufacturing a run. The Virginia product drew himself a walk, stole two bases, and advanced all the way home on a wild pitch to continue cutting a chunk out of that mountainous lead.

Carson Ackermann (Tacoma) took to the pitcher’s mound in the seventh and only allowed two baserunners across his two innings of work, but in the end the lead proved insurmountable and the Falcons secured a 9-2 win on home turf.

WCL STANDINGS

The HarbourCats will now travel back to Victoria and look to rebound on Tuesday night in the first matchup of a three-game mid-week series versus the Bend Elks.

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.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Two major events announced with Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game

Published

3 days ago

July 5, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Legendary scout Marti Wolever to speak at luncheon

July 4, 2026

VICTORIA, B.C. — Having the West Coast League all-star festival in Victoria brings tremendous extra opportunities — like hearing from some of the best in the game.

The organizers of the Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game, presented by Canadian Club, are proud to announce two signature pieces of the two-day festival, and they are sponsored by valued partners of the Victoria HarbourCats Baseball Club — The Wilson’s Group of Companies, and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

“Sponsors like Wilson’s and The Chamber make events like this possible — and with the big names and details, will get people fired up to attend,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the Victoria HarbourCats.

Both events are also held at the Studio 919 thanks to partnership with the Strathcona Hotel (919 Douglas Street).

HOT STOVE PANEL, presented by The Wilson’s Group of Companies
Tuesday, July 14 — 9pm-11:30pm
Studio 919, Strathcona Hotel
Admission — $10
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

A soiree on baseball following the WCL All-Star Home Run Derby, fans are urged to keep the evening going with a social, relaxed, panel-style discussion of baseball and tons of stories — headlined by Kevin Pillar and legendary baseball scout Marti Wolever, and including HarbourCats head coach Todd Haney, himself a five-year MLB player, the dean of pitching coaches, Gorm Heimueller, who is celebrating his 50th year in the game, and legendary local baseball scout Walt Burrows.

Food and refreshments will be available for attendees to purchase.

OFFICIAL ALL-STAR LUNCHEON, presented by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Wednesday, July 15, 11:30am-1pm
Studio 919, Strathcona Hotel
Tickets — $25 (Limited quantities available to the public).
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

All of the all-stars and coaches will be there to hear a welcome from John Wilson, a member of the HarbourCats ownership group and also the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, from WCL commissioner Rob Neyer, and then keynote speaker Marti Wolever, who has been enshrined in the MLB Scouts Hall of Fame, and now is senior amateur scouting advisor for the Miami Marlins.

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