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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

Victoria HarbourCats – West Coast League meetings to be held in Victoria

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October 6, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The capital city of British Columbia will become the centre of the West Coast League (WCL) for two days in October.

The 2025 WCL Fall Meetings, featuring a gathering of team owners/directors, will be held in Victoria, October 20-21. This marks the first time the meetings, often staged near a major U.S. airport (Seattle or Portland) for travel and logistics reasons, have been held in Canada since the formation of the collegiate elite baseball league that evolved from a gathering in Kelowna in 2003, with the Kelowna Falcons as one of the founding members — and the lone Canadian entry until the HarbourCats were founded.

Five of the league’s 17 teams now are located in Canada — in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops and Edmonton. Kamloops, Nanaimo and Edmonton all started play in 2022.

The HarbourCats, who joined the WCL for the 2013 season and have watched as eight former players have advanced to the MLB level, will also welcome the league to Victoria in July of 2026 and 2027 when the organization plays host to the WCL All-Star Game festival for consecutive seasons, showcasing Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The all-star game was held in Bellingham the last two summers.

“The inner harbour in fall will be a fantastic setting for these meetings, just as it will be for events around the WCL All-Star Game next July,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that operates both the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls.

Topics expected to be discussed are the finalization of the league’s 2026 schedule, WCL marketing initiatives, and ways to improve best practices around player, coach and umpire development — the keystone goal of the WCL.

“I’m incredibly excited to visit Victoria for our fall meetings,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “The city’s rich baseball history and beautiful scenery will provide the perfect backdrop for our teams to discuss the future of the League in one of my favorite WCL markets.”

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Lock in your season tickets today to get first right of refusal on your seats for the 2026 WCL All-Star game that will be played here in Victoria.

Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.

 

 

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Summer Collegiate

All-Stars Hayes and Zenk returning to Owls in 2026

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NANAIMO, B.C. — They put on a show for fans at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and they got better as the summer went on.

Talan Zenk (Everett CC) and Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific), two West Coast League all-stars in 2025, are returning to the Nanaimo NightOwls next summer — the priority first signings by Head Coach Cody Andreychuk and GM Tina Cornett.

“These two players really enjoyed performing in front of WCL fans, and especially our great fans in Nanaimo,” said Andreychuk, the local product who will enter his second season as the NightOwls’ head coach. “They developed, and they got a chance to be leaders. We are proud of how they represented us at the all-star game and we are very happy they are eager to be in Nanaimo again. These are great young men who represent their schools and families so well.”

Zenk, who was the ultimate utility player by serving in both the infield and outfield, was a spark plug at the top of the order — he hit .289 with 10 stolen bases, four home runs, seven doubles and two triples. The 19-year-old from Brier, WA, had a .853 OPS.

Hayes is without a question the best power hitter the NightOwls have ever had in blue and gold, following up a 19-bomb spring at college by hitting 10 home runs (team record) in 49 WCL games, batting .250 with 44 hits, 30 walks and 39 runs driven in, all while playing nearly every game at first base. The 20-year-old from Anacortes, WA is entering his sophomore season at Azusa Pacific. He was the NightOwls player of the year in 2025.

SEASON TICKETS — The best seats can be secured now! Email tina@nanaimonightowls.com to lock in your 2026 NightOwls season tickets, with versatile fan-friendly flex options to see the best baseball on Vancouver Island. The NightOwls enter their fifth season in the WCL and have had a player selected in the MLB draft each of the last three seasons.

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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Fall Indoor Youth Training Sessions Now Available!

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Sessions begin September 30th (softball) and October 4th (baseball). Register NOW!

The Victoria HarbourCats and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are now taking individual bookings for our Fall 2025 indoor training sessions for both baseball and softball.

The “Offseason Academy“, presented by The EFTC, is designed to keep athletes sharp, confident, and improving long after the final game of summer. Built for youth players who want to stay ahead of the competition, our Academy focuses not only on technical skill development but also on the physical conditioning that keeps athletes strong and game-ready.

With a lineup of specialized camps in areas such as hitting, analytics, and fastball skills, athletes can train with experienced coaches, benefit from professional-level technology like HitTrax, and build the habits that matter most during the offseason.

All sessions take place in the same professional training facility used by the HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide, giving players access to a proven environment for growth and performance.

2025 Fall Sessions Include:

Baseball, Advance Hitting Analytics, $159, Saturdays, 1:15-3:15, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-17
The Advanced HitTrax Analytics Hitting Camp is built for serious baseball athletes aged 12–17 who want to take a deeper dive into the analytics behind their swing. Led by Dexter Stoiber from the Victoria Golden Tide collegiate roster, this camp goes beyond basic mechanics to show players how to interpret advanced hitting data, identify areas for improvement, and make the small tweaks that translate into real results on the field. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, Foundations and Futures, $299, Saturdays, 9:00am- 1:00pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 8-11
Foundations & Futures” is a high-energy baseball camp for players aged 8–11. This camp delivers professional-grade instruction in a dynamic, fun environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and carry your skills into next season. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, High Performance Prep, $225, Saturdays, 3:30-6:30pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-15.
High Performance Prep” is designed for players aged 12–15 who are ready to refine their skills and maintain peak form after summer. This camp delivers advanced instruction in a focused, competitive environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and prepare for the season ahead. REGISTER HERE

Fastball / Softball, Offseason Advantage, $199, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5-7pm, September 30 thru October 29. Ages 12-17
The Softball / Fastball Skills Camp is built for athletes aged 12–17 who want to strengthen every part of their game during the offseason. With trusted instruction from Maddie Kumala, one of the most respected coaches and players in the fastball community, this camp provides parents with the peace of mind that their athlete is learning in a structured, professional, and supportive environment. REGISTER HERE

There are limited spaces in each camp so don’t delay. Register NOW!

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