Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws return home Friday for Bark at the Park night in Kamloops

Published

9 months ago

June 22, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

KAMLOOPS — The struggles continued for the Kamloops NorthPaws as they remain winless on the road this season after getting swept by the Bellingham Bells. The Paws now sit at 3-12 on the season, in the midst of a 10 game losing streak. Kamloops returns home to Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium on Friday night for Bark at the Park night to face the Edmonton Riverhawks. Edmonton sits third in the North Division at 11-7.

Game 1 –

A tough first inning but the Kamloops NorthPaws behind the eight-ball on Tuesday night as they dropped the opener 8-2.

The Bells pushed across five in the opening frame, thanks to a pair of bases-loaded walks to Gabe Henderson and Conner Smith before Anthony Kodama cleared the bases with a triple.

Dominic Guistino would fail to escape the first inning on the mound for Kamloops getting the early hook from Jose Bautista after 0.2 innings, walking 5 and allowing 5ER. Chase Taylor would come in as the first man out of the bullpen and pitch effectively over 4.1 innings, allowing just a single run to score despite Bellingham collecting 8 hits.

Ethan Stout, 2.0 innings, 2ER and catcher Jerry Nix would close out the game for Kamloops.

The Paws two runs came in the eighth inning with Oliver Mabee driving an RBI single to right and then scoring later in the inning on a passed ball.

Josh Flaugher got the win for the Bells pitching 4.0 innings, 2H, 3K, 0ER.

Game 2 –

The middle game of the three game set was a heart-breaker for the Paws looking to snap a 8 game losing streak entering play, as they dropped a 3-2 decision.

Sawyer Jensen would spin a gem on the bump for Kamloops allowing just 2ER over 7.0 innings of 4H ball.

Kamloops would score the first run of the ballgame in the third on an Alec Gomez RBI single. The Bells would respond with two of their own in the bottom half, with Jason Shedlock getting an RBI on a fielder’s choice. The second run would come across on a double steal.

The Paws would level the score at 2-2 in the eighth as Jacob French scored on a passed ball. Again the Bells would retake the lead in the bottom half as Nate Kirkpatrick singled home Noah Albanese for the winning run.

Lucas Smith took the loss for Kamloops after pitching the eighth inning.

Game 3 –

The NorthPaws would again strike first in the third and final game down in Bellingham, but five unanswered from the Bells would complete the sweep with a 5-1 win.

The lone run for Kamloops came in the second inning when Jacob Schlesselman brought home Anthony Manuel with an RBI single.

Bellingham was able to take the lead for good in the third inning, scoring three on Paws starter Kolby Luckinchuk (5IP, 5H, 3ER, 5K).

Nate Kirkpatrick led the way offensively for the Bells going 2-4 2RBI. Will Franklin earned the win giving up 1ER over 4.0 innings.

Upcoming Schedule –

Friday, June 21 vs Edmonton, first pitch 6:35 (Bark at the Park)

Saturday, June 22 vs Edmonton, first pitch 6:35

Sunday, June 23 vs Edmonton, first pitch 2:05

Monday, June 24 – Off-day

Tuesday, June 25 @ Nanaimo, first pitch 6:35

Wednesday, June 26 @ Nanaimo, first pitch 6:35

Thursday, June 27 @ Nanaimo, first pitch 6:35

For media requests –

Jenna Forter

General Manager

Kamloops NorthPaws

250-200-1415

www.northpawsbaseball.ca

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Middle infield combo, power corner infielders added by HarbourCats

Published

1 week ago

March 24, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Above: Infielder Jake Butler from George Mason University should be a key cog in the middle infield for the HarbourCats in 2025.

March 24, 2025

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA — It’s always a bonus to find a double-play combo from the same school, especially one as strong as George Mason University (GMU).

The Victoria HarbourCats are excited to add middle infielders Owen Clyne, who starts at short, and Jake Butler, his usual counterpart at second but also able to play third, from GMU — the school that provided star catcher Connor Dykstra, who signed in July with the Seattle Mariners.

“This group we are announcing today, we will be counting on them to lead key parts of our team this summer,” said HarbourCats GM Christian Stewart.

“Butler and Clyne are impressing everyone this spring, and JC Allen from UC San Diego is off to a strong start as well. Our offense just got even stronger with these four signings, and you know (head coach) Todd Haney will get the most out of them.”

Announced as signed today, by Coach Haney:

IF Owen Clyne, George Mason, L/R, 6-2/185, Wichita, KS
IF Jake Butler, George Mason, R/R, 5-11/185. Towson, MD
IF JC Allen, UC San Diego, R/R, 6-4/210, Irvine, CA
IF/OF Curtis McKay, Niagara, R/R, 6-3/205, Dorchester, ON

Clyne, batting .363, has 28 RBIs in 24 games so far this season, with three home runs, nine extra-base hits and more walks than strikeouts. Butler has 35 runs driven in and is batting .326 with a .457 on-base clip in 20 games.

UC SanDiego’s JC Allen is another player who should see plenty of playing time in the HarbourCats infield in 2025.

Allen is off to a huge start at the D1 level, after two years at Saddleback College, with six home runs and 24 RBIs in his first 22 games for UC SAN Diego. He hit 13 bombs in his second season at Saddleback. He can play either corner infield spot, or get his bat active in the DH role.

McKay, from Ontario, can play corner infield or outfield, is batting .303 with four home runs and an RBI per game (22 total) over 18 starts at Niagara.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and three “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

ATTENTION 2024 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS – FINAL NOTICE! If you have not already done so, please renew your seats for 2025 so that they can be locked into the new ticketing system. Season Tickets will be sent to all members electronically this season on April 1, 2025, perhaps sooner. Any seats not renewed by MONDAY, March 31 will be released and placed back into the system. Contact Christian at the office at 778-265-0327 to renew.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – KidSport celebrating notable anniversary with HarbourCats in 2025

Published

2 weeks ago

March 18, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

March 18, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Count ’em, 25 years of helping youth enjoy sports.

KidSport Greater Victoria is teaming up with the Victoria HarbourCats to celebrate an amazing 25 years of assisting kids in the pursuit of both participation and excellence in local sports, with planned events this summer at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

And, not the least of which is the June 19 KidSport Greater Victoria School Spirit Game, a Thursday matchup starting at 11am featuring the HarbourCats and island rival Nanaimo NightOwls, with many schools all but emptying to take in the action and helping celebrate this tremendous achievement for KidSport Greater Victoria.

“We can’t think of a better community organization to have involved with this, the KidSport School Spirit game,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats.

“This will be a season-long theme of celebration, of reminding our fans of the great work they do and have done for so long in Victoria. Each and every game, people will have an opportunity to show their support for KidSport Greater Victoria, including a few special events outside this School Spirit Game.”

This will be the second Thursday game in a row in the HarbourCats home schedule in 2025 which will be dedicated to kids — on June 12, the Mayfair Optometric School Spirit Game will take place, also an 11am start featuring the HarbourCats and NightOwls. KidSport Greater Victoria and Mayfair Optometric Clinic are aligned with community values and supporting youth, making this an ideal match to welcome a combined total of more than 5,000 school kids to the park.

“We are so grateful for the past and ongoing support the HarbourCats have offered KidSport, and very excited about the various ways our organizations will work together this year,” said Jill Shaw, Executive Director of KidSport Greater Victoria. “Demand for our support is at an all-time high. We are seeing more families than ever coming to us in need of help so their children can access organized sport. The HarbourCats June 19th School Spirit Game is a great opportunity both to raise awareness about the work we do, and to offer local kids great access to another fun and rewarding local sport experience – we are very happy to be involved!”

KidSport Greater Victoria will also be front and centre on Harvey’s Birthday Game on July 11 at Wilson’s Group Stadium, and will be involved in other special games that are still to be announced.

Supporting KidSport will be a constant theme of the HarbourCats in this 2025 West Coast League season. The HarbourCats encourage all who can to contribute to this great cause, which you can action by clicking this link (https://www.kidsportvictoria25.ca/).

KidSport Greater Victoria has seen tremendous growth over the last 25 years, with demand for their support increasing very steeply starting in 2023 in particular. KidSport Greater Victoria exists to help ensure all kids have opportunity to play; annually they cover the registration fees for well over 1400 local kids living in financial need, enabling them to take part in seasons of sport of their choice – including baseball! As the largest KidSport chapter in the province, we know that on just about every sports team in the region, there are children playing who are able to take part thanks to KidSport and the supporters and donors who make their work possible.

To order tickets as a school group for the June 19 KidSport Greater Victoria School Spirit Game, or the June 12 Mayfair Optometric Clinic School Spirit Game, contact GM Christian Stewart, chris@harbourcats.com — some seats are left, but not many!

For fans looking for tickets for these exciting games, and any other HarbourCats game in 2025, visit the HarbourCats ticketing site HERE.

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