KAMLOOPS — The Wenatchee AppleSox travelled to Kamloops and left with a North Division leading 12-3 record after a weekend sweep. The set also pushed the Kamloops NorthPaws losing streak to seven games.
Game 1 –
It was an old fashioned pitching duel to begin the three game set between the AppleSox and NorthPaws on Friday night, with the visitors pulling out a thrilling 2-1 win.
Wenatchee starter Evan Canfield went toe-to-toe with ‘Paws righty Josh Berenbaum all night, with both pitchers striking out eight batters along the way. Berenbaum went six strong giving up 2-runs, only 1-earned on just 3-hits, taking a tough-luck loss. He was outdone by Canfield who went 8.0 innings, giving up 5 hits, and 1-unearned run.
The AppleSox would strike first in the sixth inning, scoring the opening run of the ballgame without the benefit of a base hit thanks to a pair of Kamloops errors and a sacrifice bunt.
The NorthPaws would respond in the bottom half thanks to a Hayato Ikeda RBI single. The winning run would score in the seventh on a 2-out RBI single from Hunter Friedberg.
With the tying run standing on second base in the ninth with two outs, Jerry Nix would single up the middle but Dylan Dekker would be gunned at the plate by Max Hartman to end the ballgame and secure the Wenatchee win.
Tristian LaMaison earned his first save of the season thanks to the 8-2 putout.
Game 2 –
The offense in the series arrived in spades for the AppleSox in game two, as they would bully their way to a 13-2 victory.
Wenatchee would strike early with a first inning run, before exploding for six in the 4th inning and never looking back. Cannon Peery would lead the offense with a 3-5, 4 RBI night. Aidan Dougherty and Max Hartman both provide 2 RBI as well in the dominant win.
The two runs of the ballgame for Kamloops came in the 6th inning when Jacob Schlesselman brought home Jacob French and Tyler Glowacki with a single.
Derek Murphy would take the loss giving up 6ER over 3 innings. Casper Rammeloo allowed 4ER over 2 innings of relief.
Quincy Vassar earned the win for the AppleSox pitching 6 strong giving up 2ER on 6 hits. Braiden Boyd would earn the rare 3-inning save, walking just one and not allowing a base hit.
Game 3 –
The AppleSox would outdo their offensive performance in a North Division leading statement victory on Father’s Day. A pair of big innings would be the difference in a 15-5 win to complete the sweep for the visitors.
Kamloops held a pair of leads in the contest before Wenatchee took control, including thanks to a 2-run homer from catcher Jerry Nix that made the score 3-2 at the time.
It was a 2-out rally that led to the demise of Kamloops on Sunday. Wenatchee scored five 2-out runs in the 5th inning, including a grand-slam from Connor Peery who finished the contest 3-6 4RBI.
Kamloops leadoff hitter Madden Ocko went 3-5, as the ‘Paws reached the 10 hit plateau for the first time this year.
Cade Johnson was credited with the loss, 4.2 IP, 6ER, 6H, 2K.
Caleb Costa earned the win for Wenatchee who have won 5 straight. The loss pushed the Kamloops losing streak to seven games.
Reset for Bellingham
The ‘Paws will look to get back on track following an off-day Monday as they begin a mid-week set in Bellingham against the Bells. Kamloops has already beaten the 7-6 Bells twice.
“Hopefully the tables turn here and we start to get some W’s,” said Dylan Dekker. “Just stick to the gameplan, not trying to change to much, not get to-high, to-low.”
Dekker from Hinton, Alberta, now calls Kamloops home and is happy to be spending time in the Tournament capital for the summer.
“Nice to see everybody, see the parents, stay at home” added Dekker.
Along with Dekker, Kamloops’ Matt MacDonald also returned to the squad ahead of the Wenatchee series.
“Loving playing at home, playing in front of the fans. Hopefully I can turn it around, hopefully I can show out and do something cool this year,” said MacDonald. “All these guys, I grew up with them, I love playing with them. It’s sweet, it’s great for the team chemistry. Super enjoyable, I like being home for sure.”
Joining the team in the midst of the slide, MacDonald is looking to reset for Bellingham on Tuesday.
“We have to wipe the slate, definitely a couple of ugly games here but we will figure it out. We just have to get the energy up and forget about it,” said MacDonald.
Head Coach Jose Bautista, who spent 10 seasons in the majors has been a part of a few losing streaks over his long baseball career. His message to the boys after the contest was to keep moving forward.
“Just let the kids go up there and play. No superstitions, no nothing, just go up there and play,” said Bautista. “Hoping to add some more guys, and add a couple pitchers.”
Upcoming Schedule –
Monday, June 17 – Off-Day
Tuesday, June 18 @ Bellingham, first pitch 6:35
Wednesday, June 19 @ Bellingham, first pitch 6:35
Thursday, June 20 @ Bellingham, first pitch 6:35
Friday, June 21 vs Edmonton, first pitch 6:35 (Bark at the Park)
Please join us as we usher in the Holiday Season with our annual Christmas Open House!
When: Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29 Time: 12 Noon to 7 PM each day Where: HarbourCats office 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
Come by to say hello and enjoy some hot cider and other beverages and snacks and talk about our upcoming 2025 season!
Plenty of merchandise on hand for the HarbourCats fan on your Christmas list – all at 20% off for the month of November! Plus plenty of HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide items available on our special $10.00 clearance rack!
Season tickets and 10-game flex packs will also be available for sale and as a special BLACK FRIDAY bonus, we will throw in a free-gift with the purchase of any 10-pack or season ticket package.
Wirthgen has MLB bloodlines as the nephew of former MLB slugger and manager Phil Nevin, the first overall pick in the 1992 draft who played for six teams and hit 41 home runs for the Padres in 2001 as part of a 1,200-game career. A strong defensive catcher with power potential, Wirthgen played in the Alaska summer league in 2024.
Teper, also from D1 powerhouse Cal Baptist, is an aviation major who plans to fly planes once his days in pro baseball are over. The lefty will be counted on in key situations this summer, and made 11 appearances, including three starts, in the Alaska league in 2024.
Three players will arrive from the University of Pikeville, where they play for new NightOwls coach Cody Andreychuk — including returning lefty Richtter Castillo, a Venezuelan fan favorite who pitches with a lot of emotion and did strong work out of the bullpen for pitching coach Gorm Heimueller in 2024. Castillo was 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Shaye McTavish, a Canadian addition from Lethbridge, has been a starter at UPike and in the Western Canada summer league. Schultz, another power arm from Lethbridge, has summer experience in the WCBL in Swift Current and is developing into a high leverage righty for Andreychuk.
Season tickets and 10packs are available for 2025 and information can be found by emailing GM Tina Cornett — tina@nanaimonightowls.com
The West Coast League’s 2025 regular season schedule has been announced, and the new Head Coach, a product of the Nanaimo system, can start to plan all the details needed to make the playoffs and a run at the WCL championship.
The NightOwls will open at home in 2025, on Friday, May 30, vs. the Bellingham Bells, the start of a three-game series at historic Serauxmen Stadium that continues with games Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
The team again plans a Canada Day fireworks show on the evening of July 1, with the arch rival Victoria HarbourCats as the opposition.
General Manager Tina Cornett and staff are already working on promotional dates that will span the entire season, giving extra reasons for fans to enjoy the sunshine, the down-home concessions and the outstanding baseball played in the WCL.
The NightOwls will play 27 road games, 27 regular season home games, and no fewer than five additional home games against non-league opponents, including the Caged Athletics Selects — a home city series that has been popular since the start of the NightOwls, with games on either side of the WCL all-star game.
Nanaimo’s fabled park will see visits from Bellingham, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, Port Angeles, Wenatchee, and the first-ever visit by the South Division powerhouse Corvallis Knights.
The regionalized WCL schedule NightOwls will make road trips to division rivals Victoria, Bellingham, Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee and Port Angeles.
May 30th: Bellingham Bells – HOME May 31st: Bellingham Bells – HOME June 1st: Bellingham Bells – HOME June 3rd: Port Angeles Lefties – AWAY June 4th: Port Angeles Lefties – AWAY June 5th: Port Angeles Lefties – AWAY June 6th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME June 7th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME June 8th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME June 10th: Victoria HarbourCats – HOME June 11th: Victoria HarbourCats – HOME June 12th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY June 13th: Kelowna Falcons – AWAY June 14th: Kelowna Falcons – AWAY June 15th: Kelowna Falcons – AWAY June 17th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY June 18th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY June 19th: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY June 20th: Port Angeles Lefties – HOME June 21st: Port Angeles Lefties – HOME June 22nd: Port Angeles Lefties – HOME June 27th: Edmonton Riverhawks – HOME June 28th: Edmonton Riverhawks – HOME June 29th: Edmonton Riverhawks – HOME July 1st: Victoria HarbourCats – HOME July 2nd: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY July 3rd: Victoria HarbourCats – AWAY July 4th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY July 5th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY July 6th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY July 8th: Kelowna Falcons – HOME July 9th: Kelowna Falcons – HOME July 10th: Kelowna Falcons – HOME July 11th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME July 12th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME July 13th: Wenatchee AppleSox – HOME July 18th: Wenatchee AppleSox – AWAY July 19th: Wenatchee AppleSox – AWAY July 20th: Wenatchee AppleSox – AWAY July 22nd: Corvallis Knights – HOME July 23rd: Corvallis Knights – HOME July 24th: Corvallis Knights – HOME July 25th: Kamloops NorthPaws – AWAY July 26th: Kamloops NorthPaws – AWAY July 27th: Kamloops NorthPaws – AWAY July 29th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY July 30th: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY July 31st: Edmonton Riverhawks – AWAY Aug 1st: Kamloops NorthPaws – HOME Aug 2nd: Kamloops NorthPaws – HOME Aug 3rd: Kamloops NorthPaws – HOME Aug 4th: Bellingham Bells – AWAY Aug 5th: Bellingham Bells – AWAY Aug 6th: Bellingham Bells – AWAY
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