Summer Collegiate
NorthPaws Secure New Pitching Coach
KAMLOOPS, BC—The Kamloops NorthPaws have gone to California to secure their new pitching coach. The WestCoast League team is pleased to announce that T.C. Fairfield has agreed to lead their pitchers in the 2024 season.
“I am super excited to be part of a budding franchise in a league I remember participating in way back when I went to Pacific University in 2012-13,” he says. Fairfield played for Portland that season.
“I’ve wanted to be a coach in this league since I started doing summer ball back in 2017 and Kamloops is an awesome spot to do it in.”
Fairfield likes what he sees in the Kamloops franchise. “The ownership and front office group have a very strong vision for building a successful team within an awesome sports community. When interviewing for this position, I was really craving a commitment to a growth mindset in the organization from the top down. The NorthPaws willingness to completely invest in the players and team experience, as well as improving the stadium experience really stood out to me and made me want to jump aboard.”
Fairfield and new head coach Jose Bautista have already had a few conversations about how they want the pitching staff to work.
“I am super excited to work with Jose. His style meshes so nicely with mine. It is going to be so much fun having two guys on the same wave length. He is kind of a pro style guy as well. We have to let the guys learn from mistakes and being there to help them. We will respect the game and handle our business the right way. We are going to have a club that is really talented and something Kamloops can be proud of as representative.”
What about the aspect of a large pitching staff? Fairfield says bring it on. “There will be more than 20 pitchers. Right now, we have 16 pitchers who we have offered contracts. We are expecting 10 or so more within the next month. When I was at San Jose State, as a pitching coach—we had 24 pitchers. 20 would be light. I am ready for it. Getting to know the different personalities and stories—it is so exciting.”
“My pitching philosophy is different from most people,’ he explains. “ I believe every single guy is an individual and is different. I can’t go into this thinking that every pitcher will operate the same way. It is more of a personal connection. Getting to know them, their styles and what it takes to get the most out of them. I think that getting the most out of each guy through their skill set and strength makes me a better coach as well.”
Fairfield says he is more of a mental coach than a mechanical one.
“The summer season is a short one, but the newest NorthPaws coach thinks he can pass on some helpful tips for the pitchers game. “ You get guys who have this small window of opportunity to improve their skills. It is my job to send them back to their coaches in University with a better idea of managing their day to day routine and their arsenal. The short season gives the players a sense of urgency to improve and maximize their skills. I can’t make you superman in two months but I can help you learn more about yourself and better schedule a routine and a maintenance plan or work on a grip.”
Fairfield has seven years of head coaching experience in summer baseball including with the South Bay Storm in San Jose and the Dubsea Fishsticks in Seattle last season. He is currently the pitching coach at Gavilan College in Gilroy, California.
“I love baseball,” he states. “You can’t take me away from being on the field. I love sharing experiences and helping others in their journey loving this game.”
Fairfield adds, “The chance to work with top level talent and help them develop as ballplayers and professionals is always fun. The higher level of competition involved the more fun it gets.”
Fairfield hasn’t been to Canada. He is looking forward to working and living in Kamloops and enjoying the natural surroundings including the North and South Thompson Rivers.
Academically, Fairfield is a graduate of Pacific University in Oregon (2014) and has a Masters degree in Kinesiology (2016) from Fresno Pacific University in California.
Article written by Larry Read
All inquiries to General Manager Jenna Forter – jforter@northpawsbaseball.ca
Respected island businessman John Wilson has been named President of the company that oversees the successful collegiate baseball teams based in Victoria and Nanaimo.
Wilson, the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and whose family owns and operates the Wilson’s Group of Companies, has been part of the core ownership group of the Victoria HarbourCats since 2015, and the Nanaimo NightOwls since inception in 2020 (started play in 2022). The NightOwls, a rival to the HarbourCats on the field, play at historic Serauxmen Stadium.
Wilson takes the position from Ken Swanson, who remains on the board after a solid 10-year run as team president. The group also operates the Victoria Collegiate (CCBC) baseball program and the busy indoor facility on Cook St., the Edwards Family Training Centre.
“Ken has led the corporate structure well, and he’s deserving of a break,” said Wilson. “We have a strong and committed group of owners and staff and a refresh is good for us all, keeping these teams playing great baseball and positively impacting these amazing communities in a stable, creative manner. Ken literally leaves big shoes to fill.”
The HarbourCats, which started play in 2013, will host the WCL All-Star Game in 2026 and 2027, showcasing the island’s immense love of baseball and the team that helped produce eight current MLB players including Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays), Nick Pivetta (Padres), Cade Smith (Guardians), Andrew Vaughn (Brewers) and Chase Meidroth (White Sox). The 2026 all-star festival will take place July 14-15 using Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park and sites around the South Island, with exciting details to come.
Wilson and Swanson lead a nine-member ownership group that includes Rich Harder, Helen Edwards, Mike Macdonell, Sean Finn, Vic Vendetti, John Schnaderbeck and Jim Swanson.
“No one knows the community like John, so we are all looking forward to what will be a flawless transition that will bring some new life to the organization,” said Ken Swanson.
The management structure remains the same — former GM Jim Swanson in the Managing Partner role, overseeing day-to-day operations, assisted by Adrian Somers (Business Operations and Marketing). In Victoria, Christian Stewart (General Manager) and John Pollard (Marketing Director) remain in place, while Tina Cornett continues her strong leadership in Nanaimo as General Manager, with Kent Malpass overseeing the concession.
The teams maintain wholly separate coaching staffs and recruiting processes — veteran Todd Haney, a five-year MLB player, as the sixth-year Head Coach in Victoria, and local product Cody Andreychuk, a collegiate program head coach at University of Pikeville, enters his second season in Nanaimo, assisted by pitching coach Gorman Heimueller, who has three World Series rings from his 50 years in the game.
Tickets are selling fast…get yours today. www.NanaimoNightOwls.com/ticketinfo
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
For immediate release
January 20, 2026
VICTORIA, BC — A former HarbourCats outfielder, a member of the record-breaking WCL team in 2016, knew he wanted to send players he now coaches to a great summer baseball factory.
Jarron Silva, then an outfielder from UCLA, really enjoyed his time in Victoria, on a team that won a record 40 games, including 19 in a row at one point.
Now as an assistant coach at San Jose State, he connected with veteran HarbourCats coach Todd Haney to secure development spots for two pitchers and two position players.
“Jarron was a spark plug for that 2016 team, and he remembers the fan support and atmosphere at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP — Victoria is a baseball city,” said Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “We are excited to see the pitchers signed, and to see the power in Rohne Klein and Ethan Nunez — they have the potential to represent Victoria when we host the WCL All-Star Game on July 15.”
Four Spartans and a versatile fielder from George Mason, Matthew Westley, have been signed by Coach Haney:
- RHP Landon Marchetti, San Jose State, 5-11/190, Brentwood, CA
- RHP Spencer Kratt, San Jose State, 6-0/210, Woodland Hills, CA
- IF Rohne Klein, San Jose State, 6-4/230, L/R, Renton, WA
- OF Ethan Nunez, San Jose State, 6-4/190, R/R, Chino Hills, CA
- IF/OF Matthew Westley, George Mason, 6-1/210, R/R, Manassas, VA
Marchetti, previously at UC San Diego, has nearly 30 games of college experience, including five starts, and used a lower lefty arm slot to register high strikeout numbers in high school. Kratt is a power righty who runs it up to 92, a transfer from LA Valley College.
Landon Marchetti delivers a pitch while playing for the UC San Diego in 2025.
Klein, a transfer to SJSU from Utah, is a developing power bat who also is noted for a strong arm — can play third, outfield or first. He’s an athlete, playing both quarterback and linebacker on his high school team.
Nunez is a transfer from Colorado Mesa, where he was the RMAC freshman of the year — and he will miss the spring as a redshirt to get an injury fully rehabbed, but will be good to go for summer. At Colorado Mesa, he hit .356 with 14 bombs.
The lone non-SJSU addition announced by Coach Haney is utility guy Westley, formerly of Virginia Tech and now at George Mason. He has two summers of experience in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League.
The Victoria HarbourCats will begin their 2026 West Coast League season in late May of 2026, with the home opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Plenty of excitement is on board for 2026 including:
- Three fireworks nights (June 6, 30 and August 3)
- Two 11:00 AM School Spirit Games (June 4 and 18)
- Five Family Fun Sunday Matinees (June 7, 14, 28 July 19 and 26)
- $12 Tuesdays and Thursdays (June 16, July 2, 7, 9, 28 and 30)
Season ticket memberships, single-game tickets, 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) and 2026 WCL All-Star Game ticket packages are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
All ticket types and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-5pm.
John Wilson Named As New Team President
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
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Summer Collegiate1 week agoVictoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
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Summer Collegiate2 days ago
John Wilson Named As New Team President
-
Summer Collegiate2 days ago
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
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