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Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws Slide Hits 13 as Edmonton Completes Weekend Sweep

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Photo Credits – Allen Douglas Photography.

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws are Vancouver Island bound as they look to right the ship after suffering another sweep. The Edmonton Riverhawks earned a trio of wins over Kamloops at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium to push the Kamloops losing streak to 13 straight. 
The Nanaimo NightOwls sit fifth in the North Division standing at 7-10 as they welcome the NorthPaws to town for a three game set beginning on Tuesday. 
 
GAME 1 
It was a bend but don’t break attitude from the Kamloops NorthPaws pitching staff on Friday night as they would allow 15 hits to the Edmonton Riverhawks in the ballgame, but give up only 4 runs in a 4-2 loss. 
 
Josh Berenbaum got the start but was forced to leave with an apparent upper-body injury in the third inning after giving up 2ER, 5H, 4K. Casper Rammeloo was forced into action providing 3.0 IP, 4H, 0R baseball. 
 
The Riverhawks would strike first in the second inning on a Kaden Zarowny RBI single. Kamloops responded in the bottom half as Jacob Schlesselman brought home Chris Catalano on a single. 
 
Edmonton would then take the lead for good in the top of the third inning as a Trent Leniham double scored Jakob Poturnak. 
 
With the game at 4-1 in the ninth, Kamloops local Matt MacDonald hit a solo-shot to right, trimming the lead to 4-2 but that is as close as Kamloops would come, dropping their 11th straight decision. 
 
Tate Dearing was credited with the win for the Riverhawks, 6IP, 4H, 1ER, 1K. Hayden Morrison earned the save. 
 
GAME 2 
 
The losing streak looked primed to come to an end on Saturday evening in Kamloops, but five unanswered runs from the Riverhawks stole the win 6-5 in 10 innings. 
 
Kamloops would score first as the ‘Paws would load the bases with nobody out but bring across just a single run on a Chris Catalano double play to second. After the tying run came across in the top of the third, Kamloops put together a 2-out rally with Jacob French bringing home one and then Jaden Bitter doubling to left field to bring home two more. 
 
Kamloops would add an extra run in the sixth inning on a Matthew Olivares RBI sac-fly to make it 5-1. 
 
The Edmonton comeback would begin in the 8th inning with three runs scoring all with 2-outs to trim the lead to 5-4. 
 
Due to a lack of arms available, Kamloops went to catcher Jerry Nix to pitch the ninth, but a two-out double from Same Kane brought home the tying run. A diving play from Tyler Glowacki in right prevented the go ahead run from scoring on a Russell Young liner one batter later. 
 
The winning run would score on a passed ball in the 10th, before the Paws went 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
 
Dominic Giustino suffered the loss. 
 
GAME 3
 
The final game of the weekend set saw the return of former NorthPaws pitcher Vic Domingo as he got the start for Edmonton and spun a gem on the mound. 
 
Domingo pitched 7IP, 4H, 0ER, 9K and at one point between the 2nd and 7th innings, retired 15 consecutive Kamloops NorthPaws hitters as the Riverhawks swept the ‘Paws with a 7-2 win. 
 
The Riverhawks would tally 14 hits against the Kamloops pitching staff which saw Cade Johnson, Manato Teteno, Chase Taylor and Manny Recchi all toe the rubber. 
 
Six different Edmonton players would be credited with an RBI in the win, with Bryce McFeely leading the charge on a 3-5 day with two doubles. 
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
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
Friday, June 28 vs Walla Walla, first pitch 6:35
Saturday, June 29 vs Walla Walla, first pitch 6:35 (Pre-Canada Day Celebration)
Sunday, June 30 vs Walla Walla, first pitch 2:05 (Save on Foods Family Day)
Monday, July 1 @ Kelowna, first pitch 6:35
Tuesday, July 2 vs Kelowna, first pitch 6:35
Wednesday, July 3 @ Kelowna, 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

John Wilson Named As New Team President

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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

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls

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January 27, 2026

For immediate release

VICTORIA and NANAIMO, BC — Respected island businessman John Wilson has been named President of the company that oversees the successful collegiate baseball teams based in Victoria and Nanaimo, effective immediately.

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 of the second island WCL team 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 MLB products including current MLB players 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.

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 at 6:35pm.

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)
  • The 2026 WCL All-Star Game and Home Run Derby (July 14-15)

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.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer

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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.

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