Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws Swept by HarbourCats in Season-Opening Series

Published

3 years ago

June 5, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Article written by Larry Read.

VICTORIA, BC—The road wasn’t a very hospitable place for the Kamloops NorthPaws as they opened up their second season in the West Coast Baseball League. Playing at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria, the NorthPaws were swept in three straight games by the hometown HarbourCats

The scores were 13-3 in the season opener Friday (June 2), 6-4 on Saturday (June 3) and 4-3 on Sunday (June 4).

Of the three games, Kamloops had its best chance of winning in the finale. They led the game 2-0 after scoring twice in the first inning. Up 3-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning, The NorthPaws surrendered two runs. The ninth saw Victoria load the bases on their first three batters. Kevin Shay (San Carlos, CA) drove the ball to left field scoring the tying and winning runs.

The NorthPaws will head home to host Portland on Tuesday (June 6) while Victoria stays at home to open a set against the Walla Walla Sweets beginning Monday (June 5).

SERIES RECAP:

Friday, June 2, 2023-HarbourCats 13 NorthPaws 3

The NorthPaws led 1-0 after two innings but gave up three in the fourth, six in the sixth and four in the eighth. Kamloops added their other two runs in the fifth inning as they had six hits and committed one error. Victoria scored 13 runs on 10 hits.

Felix Chenier-Rondeau (Blainville, QC) led Kamloops offensively. Rondeau had two runs batted in and two stolen bases as he went one for three. Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) the third of five NorthPaws pitchers was tagged with the loss. He gave up four runs and two walks. Griffin Almond started on the mound for Kamloops and went three and two thirds innings.

Bradden Kesey (Manchans, Texas) led Victoria at the plate. The Grayson Country College player was one for four with three runs batted in. Ryan Magdic (Beamsville, ONT) was two for three at the dish with two runs batted in. Russell Young (Surrey, BC), who attends UBC hit a solo homer for Victoria. Dawson Huford (Victoria, BC) was the winning pitcher. He threw six innings of three hit ball, striking out four and walking one. Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598651

Saturday June 3, 2023-HarbourCats 6 NorthPaws 4

For the second straight night, the NorthPaws got the early lead scoring the games first run in the third inning. But Victoria notched deuces in the fourth, seventh and eighth as they had five hits and committed two errors.

Kamloops added a single run in the fourth and two more in the eighth notching three hits and committing two errors.

Infielder Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ) was one for four with two runs batted in for the NorthPaws. David Jeon (Coppell, TX) was tagged with the loss coming into the game in the eighth. He surrendered two runs, struck out one and walked two. He was the third pitcher for Kamloops who started lefty Hayden Walker. He pitched five innings, striking out three, walking one and walking one.

Offensively, Victoria was led by Ryan Magdic. The Florida Southern College player was one for three with two runs batted in. Jake Finkelstein (Richmond, BC) was the winning pitcher. He went an inning and a third and was the fourth HarbourCats pitcher. Starter Cam Calley (The Woodlands, TX) tossed the first five innings. The Baylor University lefthander had nine strikeouts, three walks, gave up two runs and one hit.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598652

Sunday, June 4, 2023 HarbourCats 4 NorthPaws 3

Kamloops scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Nathan Gray (Queen Creek, AZ) doubled to bring in leadoff hitter Tommy Green (Courtenay, BC) . Later, Nolan Austin (Kamloops, BC) singled and scored on a single from Jude Hall (Chilliwack, BC). Hall was two for three on the day.

The NorthPaws led 3-0 until that eighth inning when reliever Joey Carrenza (Duncanville, TX) gave up three straight walks to load the bases. The HarbourCats got on the scoreboard on a hit pitch and a ground ball.

In the bottom of the ninth, two ‘hot shots’ to third baseman Austin resulted in two Victoria players getting to first and second. Tyrus Hall (Victora, BC) beat out a bunt to load the bases setting up Kevin Shea’s dramatics. Hall was two for three on the day. Shea was two for four with two runs batted in.

Shortstop Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ) was two for three and made two outstanding defensive plays for Kamloops.

Reliever Kolby Lukinchuk (Prince George, BC) suffered the loss. He was the fifth pitcher of the day and went an inning giving up the tying and winning runs. Tucker Christenson(Norwalk, IA) was the winner in relief. He pitched two thirds of an inning surrendering one strikeout.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598653

HEAD COACH KEITH FRANCIS:

On weekend vs Victoria: “I didn’t think we were too nervous. We have a lot of players who are new to the program. I thought the younger guys played well this weekend. On the first night we had one bad inning which did us in. Saturday saw us make some errors which cost us. Today (Sunday), our first two pitchers performed well. We just couldn’t pitch out of jams when we gave them (Victoria) chances to win. I am not taking anything away from them, they are a good team. We failed to execute but we will get better. I won’t lie to you—it’s a bitter pill to swallow (the results) but I have been there before. We will turn this around pretty quick.

On play of Nathan Gray and Cooper Neville: “Both these guys are just out of high school or have had just one year of college. Cooper especially hit the ball well. They are very fun to watch and will only get better.”

NorthPaws moving forward: “We have a catcher/outfielder and a pitcher who arrived in town (Kamloops) on the weekend. Both will be in the line up soon (one was sick and the others equipment didn’t arrive yet) and we have others making their way here after being knocked out of the College World Series. They will add a lot of depth to our roster.”

WE MEET AGAIN:

The NorthPaws and HarbourCats will meet one more time this season. The two teams will play in Kamloops in a three game series which begins July 28th.

NEXT UP:

The NorthPaws return home to Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium to entertain the Portland Pickles. The three game set is Tuesday through Thursday (June 6-8th). Opening pitch all three nights is 6:35 PM. Wednesday, June 7th will see the Western Hockey League Kamloops Blazers honored. Members of the team will be on hand and will be signing autographs.

Kamloops will be at home for six games. The visit June 9-11.

If you can’t make the games, they are all webcast on https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/ . Some will also be shown on Shaw TV in Kamloops (Cable 10 or 105 with Blue Curve). 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 – HarbourCats Win Island Cup with Thorough 16-6 Victory

Published

7 hours ago

July 23, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

An explosive first inning paved the way for Victoria to cruise to a win. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Nanaimo, B.C. – The HarbourCats showed up in a big way with a chance to lock down a series win on Wednesday night, thrashing the Nanaimo NightOwls 16-6.

With the victory on Tuesday, the HarbourCats were looking to hit the ground running in game two, and boy, did they ever. After Bryan Bradshaw (UCSD) kicked off the game with a single to centre field, the Cats simply kept the line moving around and around the bases, scoring seven runs by the time the inning came to an end.

BOX SCORE

A hit by pitch and a walk followed the Bradshaw single, loading the bases with nobody out for Rohne Klein (San Jose State), who legged out an infield hit to score Bradshaw from third. A sacrifice fly by Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) brought home Jacob Silva (UTSA), and Logan Shepherd (Mercer) scored from third soon after on a pitch in the dirt that got by the catcher. Michael Rodda (Palomar) got the next kick at the can and laced another single through the infield to bring in Klein. The NightOwls starter wasn’t doing himself any favours either, as a pickoff attempt that sailed over the head of the third baseman let another HarbourCat cross the plate, and a grounder back to the mound that was bafflingly thrown to third brought home run number seven. Nanaimo finally buckled down and secured the last two outs, but not before Victoria took a commanding lead with eight and a half innings still yet to come.

Though not quite at the intensity of the first inning, Victoria continued to put up runs throughout the middle innings. Riley Kwak (Bossier Parish) had an RBI single in the third to drive in the eighth run of the game, and Logan Shepherd blasted a three-run bomb in the fifth, his fourth of the summer to make it an 11-0 lead.

Shepherd’s fifth-inning homer strengthened the lead. (Photo by JPM Photography)

While the offence was doing their thing, Cats pitcher Spencer Kratt (San Jose State) put together a solid outing of his own. Kratt allowed no runs on two hits across his four innings, striking out five NightOwls before giving way to Tate Collins (Arkansas State) in the fifth. The NightOwls rallied to score their first two runs of the ballgame off of Collins in the sixth inning, although with a nine-run deficit staring them down, they had just reached the base camp of a long climb.

Victoria continued to add on after Nanaimo’s resurgence, pushing the score to 13-2 on an error and a groundout before the NightOwls responded by knocking in another run on back-to-back doubles.

A fielder’s choice, an error, and a sacrifice fly led to three more runs in the top of the eighth to increase the HarbourCats’ buffer in the late stages, just in case of emergency. Hunter Daniels (Phoenix) appeared to pitch the bottom of the ninth, giving up three runs but ultimately closing out a 16-6 thrashing to win the 2026 Island Cup.

WCL STANDINGS

With the series win secured, the Cats will go for the sweep on Thursday night before returning to Victoria.

There are only seven home games remaining in the 2026 regular season including our final weekend homestand of the year against Kamloops this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then a mid-week set against the Port Angeles Lefties next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday! Then on August 3rd, we end the season with a bang! Our final fireworks show and Fan Appreciation Night! Don’t miss your chance to catch a game in 2026! Get your tickets now at http://Harbourcats.com/tickets.

ATTENTION VOUCHER HOLDERS: Just a reminder that all ticket vouchers must be exchanged for one of our remaining regular season games! They are not eligible for playoffs, nor can they be carried over to 2027.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Smother NightOwls for 5-2 Win

Published

1 day ago

July 21, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Solid offence in the early stages of the game led to an important game one win. (Photo by Christian J. Stewart)

Nanaimo, B.C. – The HarbourCats kicked off the Nanaimo series the right way with a 5-2 win over their hosts, the Nanaimo NightOwls.

BOX SCORE

It didn’t take long for the HarbourCats to put themselves in front, battling with two outs to take the lead in the top of the first. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two away, and a couple of passed balls opened the door for both Logan Shepherd (Mercer) and Rohne Klein (San Jose State) to score. The Cats came back and tacked on another in the second inning with a Bryan Bradshaw (UCSD) sac fly and would then load the bases up again in the third, scoring another run by way of a walk from Cameron Chee-Aloy (Illinois).

While the bats were heating up, starting pitcher Shea Lake (West Texas A&M) held up his end of the bargain and then some. In the four innings he oversaw, Lake notched seven strikeouts and denied Nanaimo any hits at all, putting up a zero in the run column. Houston Tomlinson of Arkansas State covered for Lake in the fifth and continued his legacy, striking out two in a clean inning on the mound.

Dillon Lopez was active on the scoresheet in this one, going 2/4 with a walk. (Photo by Christian J. Stewart)

Jacob Silva (UTSA) began the top of the sixth frame with a display of power, slinging a ball over the right field wall to extend the lead. The NightOwls had no answer in the home half of the inning, as Tomlinson continued to shut them down.

Nanaimo finally found their first hit of the ballgame in the top of the seventh inning, a double socked over the centre fielder Chee-Aloy to leadoff the bottom of the frame. Tomlinson got himself into a bit of a pickle with the bases loaded, which Nanaimo capitalized on to score their first two runs. Shea Lake’s West Texas A&M teammate Tristin Thomas was next out of the bullpen with the bases full. Unfazed by the pressure, Thomas struck out both batters he faced to preserve the lead.

Nathan Mueller (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) was summoned to finish the job in the ninth inning and did just that, locking in after a leadoff single and getting a double play and a strikeout to end the game.

WCL STANDINGS

The HarbourCats and NightOwls will gear up for a rematch on Wednesday night, with Victoria gunning for the series win.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games are now on sale at http:-//harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Defeated by AppleSox in Game Three

Published

3 days ago

July 19, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

The HarbourCats have been kept quiet in two straight games after a powerful offensive showing in game one. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – In a winner-take-all matchup against the Wenatchee AppleSox, Victoria’s bats came up short, falling 3-1 to the visiting AppleSox and losing the series.

The AppleSox claimed the first advantage in game three of this head-to-head series, rocking a rare double off of Erik Rico (Fresno State) and cashing in the run for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

BOX SCORE

It wasn’t until the top of the fifth when Wenatchee would add on, smashing a two-run homer with two outs in the top of the fifth. That bomb ended the outing for Rico, who gave up three runs today on five hits and notched nine strikeouts. Leif Friedrich (Concordia-Nebraska) took his place and finished off the inning

The HarbourCats finally got themselves on the board in the bottom of the eighth, with a costly Wenatchee error allowing Lukas Le Gras (Westmont) to score from second. Michael Rodda (Palomar) got on base due to the error, but ended up being stranded by a popup to end the inning.

Davis Lee hit the ground running to retire the side in the top of the ninth. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Friedrich ended up going a solid 3.1 innings, allowing just two baserunners and striking out three. He was swapped out for Davis Lee (Calgary) prior to the top of the ninth, and Lee worked quickly and carefully to retire the side and get two strikeouts of his own.

The HarbourCats offence struggled tonight, coming up with only one run. Logan Shepherd (Mercer) and Declan Brown (Ottawa University) both walked in the bottom of the ninth to get the tying run on base, but Victoria was unable to capitalize with runners on and eventually dropped the rubber match of the series 3-1.

WCL STANDINGS

After an off-day tomorrow, the Cats will head up island to Nanaimo for a three-game weekday series before returning home for the weekend.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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