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Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws swept at home by Lefties

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Author: Larry Read

KAMLOOPS, BC—The Kamloops NorthPaws returned home to Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium this weekend and had a tough time of it.  They were swept in three straight West Coast League games by the Port Angeles Lefties.

On Sunday (June18) , the Lefties sent Fathers at the field home disappointed as they  beat the Paws 14-5.  This followed 2-1 and 11-1 victories on Friday and Saturday (June 16-17).

The Lefties are now 5-10 on the season while Kamloops drops to 4-11.  Port Angeles was led by Roberto Nunez who went 9 for 15 on the weekend.  He is hitting .446 which is third best in the WCL.

Kamloops has a 5-5 record in their last 10 starts.  Port Angeles is 3-7.

The Lefties and NorthPaws will meet again in Port Angeles on July 18th. It is a three-game series as well. 

Next up for the NorthPaws will be the Wenatchee AppleSox.  They will roll into the Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium to conclude this  six game homestand.  Game one is Tuesday, June 20th. A reminder that all West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

SERIES RECAP:

Friday June 16, 2023-Port Angeles Lefties 2 Kamloops NorthPaws 1

The game marked the West Coast League debuts for four NorthPaw players: Alexi Gravel (pitcher, Repentigny, Que), Joey Baran (DH, Austin, TX), Tyler Glowacki (outfielder) and Rei Kimura (outfielder). 

Gravel pitched two thirds of an inning garnering a walk and a strikeout, Baran was 0-3, Glowacki was 2-3 with a run scored. Kimura was 1-3.

Kamloops let 1-0 after the third inning but the Lefties scored once in the fifth and sixth to seal the victory.  Hayden Walker (Albuquerque, NM) suffered his first loss in three starts. He went 5 2/3 giving up three hits, walking two and striking out one.  Joey Peralta (La Mirada, CA) picked up his first win of the year for Port Angeles. He tossed six innings of four hit ball with eight strikeouts.  CJ Lewis (Bloomington, IL) earned his first save of the year.  He struck out two in an inning of work.

Offensively, B.Y. Choi (South Korea) was 1-4 with and RBI for the Lefties.  Roberto Nunez (Salinas, CA) was 1-4.  Owen Alsup (Rosewell, NM) was 1-5.      Port Angeles moved to 3-10 on the year, ending a five-game losing skid.  The Paws record dipped to 4-9 as their two game winning streak was halted.

Link to Scoresheet:  http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598678

Saturday, June 17, 2023-Port Angeles Lefties 11 Kamloops NorthPaws 1

The Lefties held a 6-0 lead on the NorthPaws until the bottom of the sixth inning when  Nolan Austin  (Kamloops, BC)  got to first on an error by Port Angeles third baseman.  Austin advances and later scores from third.    Catcher Joey Adge (Parker, CO) and Glowacki were both 2-4 at the plate.

The big inning for Port Angeles was the eighth when they scored five runs on two hits.

Wyatt Henry (Parker, CO) started the game on the mound for Kamloops and went three and a third innings, giving up five runs, seven hits, and struck out one.  His record fell to 0-2 on the year.   He was one of six pitchers utilized by the NorthPaws in this game.

Jack O’Brien (San Diego, CA) was the winning pitcher as the Lefties won their second in a row.  He went six and a third inning, surrendering four hits, one run, striking out four and walked one.     Offensively, Alsup was 2-4 with two runs scored and 3 RBI.   Nunez was 3-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Sam Adams (Hurst, TX) was 2-3 with two runs scored and 2 RBI.   MJ Kim (South Korea) was 3-5 with two runs scored and 1 RBI.

The game marked the West Coast League debut for right-handed pitcher Anthony Manuel (Anticoch, CA) for Kamloops. He pitched an inning giving up two hits, one run and striking out one.  Manuel came on in the eighth inning.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598679

Sunday, June 18, 2023 Port Angeles Lefties 14 Kamloops NorthPaws 5

Kamloops led 1-0 until the top of the third inning when the Lefties scored eight runs on nine hits including three on a double by Chris Schuchart (Poulsbo, WA). 

The NorthPaws rallied for three runs on their own in the bottom of the fourth when third baseman Drew Giannini (Tracy, CA) and Manuel were issued back-to-back walks and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Glowacki.  Later, catcher Jared Sucro (Kamloops, BC) singled and scored on a wild pitch.

Port Angeles added four runs in the sixth inning as Nunez blasted a grand slam over the left field wall. Nunez was 5-6 on the day with five runs batted in and two runs scored.   Zachary Kim (Northbrook, IL) was 3-4, with two runs scored and two runs batted in.  Schuchart was 1-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Alsup went 1-6 with two runs batted in and a run scored.

Brock Mayer (Torrance, CA) started for the Lefties. He went two and a third innings giving up six hits, two runs and struck out two. He was replaced by Nelson Smith (Miami, Florida) who went two innings giving up three runs, two hits, three walks and one strikeout. He moves to 1-2 on the year.     Maclain Roberts (Auckland,NZ) went two and two thirds’ innings surrendering 10 hits, eight runs, striking out two and walking one.   He is 0-3 on the year.

The NorthPaws utilized nine pitchers during the contest including Zack Beatty.  The Maple Park Illinois resident played in Kamloops last year and spent this past school year at Kansas Wesleyan (NAIA).

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598680

HEAD COACH KEITH FRANCIS:

“We didn’t pitch particularly well. Our starters let us down. They are much better than they showed. Coming out of the bullpen, we weren’t throwing strikes. We just didn’t get it done.   We weren’t hitting today (Sunday), we got double digit hits but up until then, we hadn’t been hitting the ball. I don’t have an answer for it.  Its contagious—once it gets going it gets contagious. I hope it gets going.”

On utilizing 8 pitchers on Sunday (14-5 loss):  

“It was a case of not burning everybody out. I wanted them to pitch one inning a piece. Like a little ‘light pen”.  I wanted to get them some work so they are all ready for next week.”

NORTHPAWS CATCHER/UTILITY JARED SUCRO (KAMLOOPS, BC):

“I think the bats are starting to heat up here. Pitchers are battling on the mound. It is just a matter of coming together. We hit well in one game but don’t pitch well. The next game it is the reverse.  Once we bring it together we should be fine.”

On catching:

“It was rough at the start. I hadn’t caught in a little bit.  Like my position (utility) says, I try to help the team out anyway I can.  Joey (Adge) has done a tremendous job back there. I just want to give him a bit of a break.  I am just battling to find the rhythm I had when I caught in high school.”

Dealing with so many different pitchers:

“It is just finding the right chemistry with them. You catch them in the bullpen and get to know them off the field generally.  That helps when they are coming onto the field. No matter who it is, you see a new  guy every inning—you are going to be ready for them.  It is just getting to know them.  That is the key to success.”

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

This homestand comes to a close with a three-game series with the AppleSox of Wenatchee, Washington.  Game one is Tuesday June 20th at the Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium.  Opening pitch each night is 6:35 PM.  Tuesday night is “Homer’s” Birthday with some special celebrations.  Wednesday night (June 21st) is Military Appreciation night.

Last year, the AppleSox won swept Kamloops on their home diamond, Paul Thomas Senior Stadium (July 19-21, 2022). The scores were 16-4,7-2, and 6-5.   The teams played here (Kamloops) where Wenatchee won the first two nights 14-10 and 12-10 before the NorthPaws won the last game 11-6.  Those games were played July 29-31, 2022.

The Lefties will hit the ferry and move into Nanaimo for a three-game set against the Night Owls. Game one is Tuesday( June 20th).

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

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Summer Collegiate

Offers they couldn’t refuse: How a pair of Scottsdale natives ended up in interior B.C.

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Ahead of the 2025 season, Head Coach Reilly Jepson has brought in a set of best friends from Arizona to round out his coaching staff. Trey Newman will serve as the assistant coach, and Jack Slominski will be the team’s pitching coach.

It won’t be the first time these two friends are on the same coaching staff. Last summer, the two friends coached in the Arizona summer league, and it offered them a chance to build a special dynamic beyond playing the game they love.

Newman’s name may sound familiar to fans, and that’s because he was the first player signed in franchise history. Trey spent the 2022 season as a NorthPaw, where he hit .218 in 16 games.

“It’s cool to see how far this place has come with the money being put into the team and the players were getting as well as the support from the community,” said Newman.

Newman started his Collegiate career at Utah Valley State. After a sophomore season in which he hit .230 in 23 games, the catcher decided to return to his home state. Still, he didn’t play Division I baseball. Instead, Newman transferred to Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Arizona, to play Junior College Baseball. He would play 54 of the team’s 55 games en route to an NCJAA World Series crown.

From there, Trey would receive the call from Arizona State and head back to the valley where he was born. As a Sun Devil, he would appear in 26 games of two seasons, with 18 of those being starts. After the 2024 season, Newman decided Coaching was his calling, but based on his upbringing, many weren’t surprised.

Trey’s Grandfather, Jeff, was a nine-year MLB veteran with the Oakland A’s and Boston Red Sox. After his career ended in 1984, he quickly returned to Oakland as the bullpen coach. In 1986, when Manager Jackie Moore was fired, Jeff Newman was named interim manager, where he guided the A’s to a 2-8 record.

He remained with the organization at the minor league level until 1991. From 1992 to 1999, he was the third base coach for the Cleveland Indians and eventually landed in Seattle, where he retired from Coaching in 2005.

Trey Uncle Ryan Newman also has plenty of coaching experience, having served as a manager in various independent professional leagues. Today, he serves as the infield coordinator for the Chicago White Sox.

“Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the coach’s office, and I started to think from a young age that this is what I wanted to do,” Said Newman

Today, Newman serves as the Offensive Strategy and Analytics Director at the University of California, Berkeley. Growing up around Coaching planted the seed, but Newman says being behind the plate opened his eyes to Coaching.

“You look at the game in a different way when you are behind the plate. You start to think about the other eight guys as well as yourself and what the other team is trying to do, so it definitely got me into more of a coaching mindset as my career went on”, Said Newman.

Joining Trey this summer is long-time friend Jack Slominski. Despite going to rival high schools in Scottsdale, the two have been close friends since they were 14. Slominski is excited for the opportunity and said it was one he couldn’t pass up.

“He’s one of my best friends in the world, so to have someone like that here, it was a no-brainer to come up,” said Slominski.

Like Trey, Jack’s career took a couple of turns. After graduating from high school, he got recruited to attend Grand Canyon University, located across town in Phoenix. In two seasons there, he made only nine appearances, so he also decided to pursue the Junior College route, moving back across town to Scottsdale Community College.

Like Newman, the 2022 season was a huge bounceback for Slominski, during which he made 13 appearances, 11 of which were starts. He carried a 4-3 record with a 3.75 ERA over 57 and two-thirds innings pitched. The following season, he moved out of state to attend the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

In his final two seasons of eligibility, Slominski appeared in 30 games, making 27 starts. His record was 15-7, and he logged 149 innings, striking out 133 hitters over that time. After finishing his career, he accepted an assistant coaching job at his alma mater, Scottsdale Community College. After just one season of Coaching, Slominski has been promoted to the team’s pitching coach and is excited to build his skills.

“This will be a time where I can start brainstorming my own ideas and philosophies around pitching; I feel like having more responsibility this year will be a great opportunity for me to grow as a coach,” said Slominski.

Being a pitching coach in Summer Baseball can be difficult at times, managing players’ innings limits and the health of pitchers going back to school in the fall. This mentality can sometimes take the competitive spirit out of the game, but Slominski’s message to his staff was simple.

“We’re going to have fun and give you guys innings, but I want to win,” said Slominski.

Slominski believes that a skill that can be developed is learning how to win, something often not talked about by Summer Baseball coaches.

“Winning is fun, and knowing how to win is a great skill to take back to school with you,” said Slominski.

Away from the ballpark, the two friends have been known to take their competitive spirit to the golf course. With both being from a premier golf destination, they’re excited to spend a summer surrounded by great courses. However, Newman is also eager to learn a thing or two from his friend.

“Jack is really good, so hopefully, he gives me some swing lessons this summer,” said Newman.

When asked about this, Slominski took the humble road.

“I think my schedule allows me to play more, so maybe that’s why I’m a little better.”

With these two long-time best friends, their competitiveness has served them well in their short coaching careers and will be welcomed additions this summer as the NorthPaws embark on another season.

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NorthPaws to feature five players from Kamloops on 2025 Roster

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This season, a franchise-high five players from Kamloops will be suiting up for the NorthPaws this summer, led by head coach and Kamloops Riverdogs alumni Reily Jepson. Four of the five local products are returning from last year’s roster.

Manny Rechhi will be back for a third summer in his hometown following a successful spring with the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack. He had a team-low 2.45 ERA and struck out 22 batters in 18.1 innings. Rechhi also secured three of the four Wolfpack saves. As a NorthPaw, he has logged 36.2 innings, including 16 last summer, where he gave up eight earned runs and struck out ten batters. Rechhi also appeared in 18 games as an outfielder.

An original NorthPaw, Nolan Austin, is back for year four. Friday’s game in Port Angeles will be the 75th game of his career as a NorthPaw. Austin started his college career at Northeast Oklahoma A&M and was a career .267 hitter in 69 games. During that time, he had 52 hits and 38 RBIs before transferring back home to play for the TRU Wolfpack. In his lone season at TRU, he hit .333 in 23 games, including a team-best 22 RBIs.

Dylan Dekker returns after playing 16 games last summer for the Northpaws, where he hit .219. As a freshman at Trinidad State, he started in 49 games and .303 with 33 RBIs and will look to put together a strong summer campaign.

Fellow freshman Matthew MacDonald is back for his second summer as a Paw. Last year, he hit .259 in 28 games with 10 RBIs. This spring, at Pima Community College, MacDonald played 39 games and held a .329 batting average, including 18 RBIs for the Aztecs.

Finally, Austin Coyle returns to the Paws after Spending last summer in the Jayhawk Collegiate league in Kansas. Coyle began his summer ball career in Kelowna during the 2022 season, appearing in three games. In 2023, He split time between the NorthPaws and Hutchison Monarchs in the Jawhawk league. Last summer, Coyle once again suited up for the Monarchs and played 23 games. Coyle has played 106 games for Cloud County Community College, boasting a career batting average of .316 and 76 RBIs for the Thunderbirds.

For Head Coach Reily Jepson, it has always been important to give fans some hometown names they recognize.

“I think when there are kids on the team from your community, it makes it easier as a fan to come out and support the team,” said Jepson.

In addition to the five Kamloops locals, the NorthPaws will feature 22 Canadians on their roster, the most of any West Coast League team. For fans, there are plenty of reasons to come to Norbrock Stadium and cheer on both the kids from Kamloops and the rest of Western Canada as the NorthPaws look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Before the ‘Cats land at home, Wilson’s Group Stadium will be busy!

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May 30, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s among the top rivalries in local sports — the Victoria Mariners, against the Victoria Eagles.

The two strong B.C. Premier Baseball League teams, stalwarts in the top high school aged loop in Western Canada, will face off on Tuesday, June 3, a 6:35pm start at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

That game and more are taking over the park until the WCL Victoria HarbourCats are done a season-opening six-game road trip that has them in Kelowna (Friday-Saturday-Sunday evenings) and Edmonton (Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday). The HarbourCats host the Port Angeles Lefties on Friday, June 6, 6:35pm, to open the home schedule, the first of a three-game series that includes FIREWORKS for the Saturday, June 7 game. (Tickets — harbourcats.com/tickets — for all events)

The Mariners-Eagles clash isn’t the only thing happening prior to the HarbourCats landing for real.

The Eagles will also play a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at noon, against the perennial powerhouse Langley Blaze, two seven-inning games at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

Prior to that, fastball returns to Royal Athletic for the first time in literal decades, when the sport ruled Victoria in summer.

The Sooke Loggers will take on the Lacey A’s in the EMERY ELECTRIC FASTPITCH SHOWCASE, some alterations to the baseball diamond and a secondary fence added to allow for this world-class-level fastball doubleheader which has already proven popular with ticket-buyers. Food trucks and all the entertainment that makes the HarbourCats such an enjoyable experience will be part of the atmosphere, including a pre-game walk down history lane with Cliff Lequesne and some of the greats of the past — scheduled to appear are legends such as Reg Underwood, Mike Piechnik, Rob Guenter, Korrey Hareau, and Kevin Bobroske, with hopes others will attend as well.

Upcoming schedule of events at WILSON’S GROUP STADIUM AT RAP

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 4pm
Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase
Sooke Loggers vs. Lacey A’s, doubleheader

SUNDAY, JUNE 1, Noon
BCPBL Doubleheader
Victoria Eagles vs. Langley Blaze

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 6:35pm
BC PBL Regular Season
Victoria Mariners vs. Victoria Eagles

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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

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