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Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws take it on the chin from AppleSox

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Author: Larry Read

KAMLOOPS, BC—The Wenatchee AppleSox sliced through the Kamloops NorthPaws as the two teams locked horns in a WestCoast League three game series at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium.

The AppleSox moved to 14-4 on the season as they swept the NorthPaws who drop to 4-14.

The series started a day late (Wednesday, June 21) after the opening game was rained out on Tuesday (June 20).

Wenatchee won the opening game 3-0 before taking both ends of a doubleheader on Thursday (June 22) .  The scores were 9-6 in the first game and 9-5 in the second.

The NorthPaws will now hit the road for their longest road trip of the West Coast League season. The seven-game trip will begin in Corvallis against the Knights on June 24th and wind up at Elks Stadium in Kelowna, BC on Friday, June 30th.

The AppleSox are off until Tuesday, June 27 th when they entertain the Port Angeles Lefties.

Wenatchee and Kamloops have a rematch series set for Washington State.  The games go July 7-9th.

A reminder that all West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

SERIES RECAP:

Wednesday, June 21, 2023: AppleSox 3  NorthPaws 0

708 Fans were on hand for the first ever “Military Appreciation Night.”  Wenatchee scored all their runs in the sixth inning.  Two came off the bat of designated hitter Easton Amundson.  The resident of Nampa, Idaho hit a two-run homer.  He was 1-4 on the night with a run scored as well as the two runs batted in.  Teammate Mason Strong (Santa Clara, UH) was 2-4 with a run batted in .

Kamloops was led by right fielder Tyler Glowacki (San Diego, CA).  He was 2-4.

The combo of Quincy Vasser (Brewster, WA) and Cam Hoiland (Renton, WA) combined on a two hitter.   Vasser evened his record at 1-1 on the year going six innings. He struck out five and walked two.  Hoiland pitched the final three for his first save.   He gave up a hit, walked three and struck out one. Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) was tagged with his second loss of the season.  He was the first of three NorthPaws pitchers.   Chadwick went five and a third, surrendering three runs, four hits, walking two and fanning five batters.

The game marked the season debut of Kamloops first baseman Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, QC).  He was 0-4 with two strikeouts.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598682

Thursday, June 22, 2023-Game 1: AppleSox 9 NorthPaws 6

The AppleSox came out strong scoring four runs in the top of the first inning and added deuces in the second and third.

Kamloops cut the deficit to 4-2 after the first inning and were down 6-3 after two innings. The NorthPaws cut the deficit to fours runs with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth and added one more in the bottom of the seventh.

Third baseman Marcus Harrison (Chandler, AZ) went 3-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored.  Catcher Josh Williams (Clovis, CA) was 2-3 with three runs scored. Amundson and designated hitter Austin Ohland (Maple Valley, WA) were both 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

For Kamloops, they were led by centerfielder Jude Hall (Chilliwack, BC) who was 2-4 with two runs scored. Drew Giannani (Tracy, CA) was 2-3 with two RBI.  Glowacki scored two runs and was 1-3.

The Paws debuted Bennett Freiter behind the plate.  He was 0-3 in the game offensively.

Sammamish, Washington resident Bryce Johnson was the winning pitcher for Wenatchee.  He threw four innings of three hit ball, surrendering three runs, striking out three and walking two for his first victory of the West Coast League campaign. 

NorthPaws starter Griffin Almond (Thornbury, ON) pitched two innings.  He gave up seven runs on six hits, walking three and striking out two as he took the loss to see his season record drop to 2-1.

Kamloops stranded seven runners to Wenatchee’s six.

Link to Scoresheet:  http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=601742

Thursday, June 22, 2023-Game 2

The NorthPaws battled back after being down 9-3 at one point in this contest.  Wenatchee drew first blood with three runs in the third.  With it 4-2 AppleSox, they added two in the fifth and three more in the top of the seventh inning.

Toby Haarer (Scottsdale, AZ) started on the hill for Wenatchee and went four innings for the victory. He had a four hitter with five strikeouts and a walk as he moved to 2-1 on the year.   Hayden Walker (Albuquerque, NM) was one of five NorthPaws pitchers.  Walker started and went four and two thirds with four strikeouts, eight hits, gave up six runs and walked four.  His record drops to 1-2.

The AppleSox were led offensively by designated hitter Franke Carney (San Diego, CA) and centerfielder Josh Williams (Clovis, CA).  Both were 2-5.  Carney had two runs scored while Williams had two runs batted in and a run scored.  Nick Putnam (Danville, CA) was 1-2 with two runs scored. Second baseman Sebastian David  (Medina, Wash) was 3-4 with a run scored.

For Kamloops, Jude Hall (Chilliwack, BC) was 2-3 with a run scored. Giannini was 2-3 while Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ) was two for two with a run scored.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598683

NORTHPAWS INFIELDER COOPER NEVILLE (GLENDALE, AZ):

“The only thing missing is putting it all together. We have really good pitching one day and then really good hitting another day.  Once we all start moving together, we should see better results. Obviously it is a bit disheartening losing six games in a row.”

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

After a day off, the North Paws will hit the road for series against Corvallis, Portland and one game with the Kelowna Falcons at Elks Stadium.  Next home game for Coach Keith Francis’ crew will be Canada Day ( Saturday, July 1) against those same Falcons. The same two teams will do battle on Sunday, July 2nd as well. Opening pitch Canada Day is 6:35 PM.  Sunday’s tilt has a 2:05 PM start time.

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.

Contact for Media for Player Interviews; 

Adam Filmon

Assistant Coach  afilmon@northpawsbaseball.ca     cell phone (204) 955-3547

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Summer Collegiate

Arrived as a Golden Bear, leaves as a Fighting Camel: How Elijah Clayton navigated the transfer portal amid a busy season

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In April of 2024, the NCAA changed a long-standing rule regarding transfer portal eligibility. Previously, athletes had to sit out a season if they transferred, resulting in very few transfers and players often staying in one spot for longer. The new rules allow instant eligibility for athletes, meaning players no longer have to sit out a season after transferring to a new school.

It’s all part of a new era in the NCAA, along with NIL deals that allow athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness. In college athletics today, it’s very common for underclassmen to transfer out of their program to find a spot where they can get more playing time sooner.

For NorthPaws utility man Elijah Clayton, he found himself coming to Kamloops with the portal being a possibility. Clayton just finished his freshman season at CAL, which saw him make just three starts with two hits in 12 at-bats. The purpose of Clayton coming to Kamloops was to gain additional playing time and develop ahead of the fall.

Collegiate summer baseball is the ideal setting for underclassmen development, with leagues across North America offering a condensed, pro-style schedule that allows players to log additional playing time. For Clayton, the goal shifted when decisions were made at CAL, and it became in his best interest to find a new home and enter the portal.

“I definitely thought it could be a possibility, but I wasn’t 100% set on anything,” said Clayton.

When the goal shifted from developing to showcasing skills for schools in the portal, being an everyday player for the NorthPaws helped his case. Clayton has made 25 starts for the team this season and has played at five different positions in the field. Clayton has been a mainstay at the top of the batting order, hitting .287. Clayton is also the West Coast League stolen base leader and is in a tie for first with three triples this season.

“It’s definitely nice to be in the lineup almost every day because I’m able to show coaches that I can play anywhere in the infield as well as the outfield and showcase my skills night after night,” said Clayton.

The West Coast league schedule certainly isn’t an easy one, and being an everyday player can be tough. When you add the element of now needing to find a new school to play at, it can get overwhelming, but Clayton credits the NorthPaws staff with helping him through the process.

“It was hectic at times trying to find a place to play for next year while also trying to focus on coming out every day and performing, but I had some good teammates and coaches helping me out with everything,” said Clayton.

Ultimately, Clayton chose to transfer to Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The Fighting Cammels play in the Coastal Athletic Association. Clayton couldn’t be happier and is eager to get started.

“I just felt like I’m a perfect fit for them, I’m going to work hard and get developed, and that’s a place I think can make me better,” said Clayton.

Heading into the second half of the season, Clayton’s goal has changed once again: he will prepare to impress the coaches during the fall and try to earn an everyday spot on the roster.

Clayton and so many others have similar stories, and it’s yet another example of how beneficial Collegiate League Baseball can be for young players in the new era of NCAA sports.

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Summer Collegiate

New Country, same mentality: How four UT Tyler teammates are trying to bring a winning culture back to the NorthPaws

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When the NorthPaws made Riley Jepson their new head coach at the end of last summer, he got full autonomy in constructing this season’s roster. Jepson played at the University of Texas at Tyler from 2020 to 2021 and still has excellent connections with their coaching staff since becoming a coach.

When building the roster, one of his first calls was to UT Tyler. He was able to sign infielders Drew Schmidt and Tanner Hornback, outfielder Connor Clark, and right-handed pitcher Julio Garcia. Schmidt, Clark, and Garcia were all teammates last summer with the Victoria Generals in the Texas Collegiate League.

With the Generals, they won the TCL and continued their success this past spring as UT Tyler took a huge step, going 49-13 and advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series for the first time in program history. It’s been a very successful year of baseball for those players, and they bring a unique perspective to the team, having played in very meaningful games both in the TCL and at UT Tyler.

“Last summer, we had this expectation to win in Victoria, and we did so. For us, going into the fall, we learned how to win games,” said Clark.

Collegiate Summer baseball and the NCAA have some significant differences, but Schmidt notes that winning in both settings shares some commonalities.

“I think it’s all about camaraderie, especially in the summer, you need to be a close-knit group to win games, and we certainly did that last summer as well as in the spring,” said Schmidt.

Clark and Schmidt each played 20+ games with the Generals last summer, and Garcia logged 12.2 Innings. Clark played 43 games in the spring, and Garcia made 17 appearances out of the bullpen. Schmidt, however, took the most significant strides playing 62 games and hitting a staggering .410 in the spring.

The three of them are once again on the same squad, but joining them this time around is fellow middle infielder Tanner Hornback, who, like Schmidt, played 62 games and hit .410. Coming to a new country can be difficult, but the transition has been easier.

“Tanner and I played up the middle all year at Tyler, so that’s just tremendous to have a guy you’re so close with be on the same team as you in the summer,” said Schmidt.

For all of them, the West Coast league and the country of Canada are all new, but the familiarity with each other makes it easier.

“Having buddies from home and familiar faces with me in a different country is always cool, it’s good to have them around,” said Garcia.

Injecting winners into your lineup can always be a boost to teams, especially for the NorthPaws, who have already won more games than in 2024 and are looking at making their second-ever playoff appearance.

“I feel like we walk around with the mentality of we’re not going to let people come here and push us around, we’re here to win,” said Schmidt.

The UT Tyler teammates have been instrumental in the team’s success, with Clark and Schmidt combining for 15 RBIs, Garcia cementing himself as the team’s closer, and Hornback hitting .340. Every night, one of these players has an impact on the game, and it’s all part of an effort to get the NorthPaws back to the postseason.

The team is already turning heads this season, and the “Tyler Boys,” as they’re known, are looking to continue leading the charge and building a winning culture with Jepson and the rest of the NorthPaws.

 

 

 

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The NightOwls Break The Losing Streak With a 3-1 Win Over The RiverHawks

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EDMONTON, A.B. — The NightOwls break the losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Edmonton RiverHawks. A big second inning and some amazing pitching were all Nanaimo needed to break their losing streak. Nanaimo looks to take the series in game three on Sunday.

The NightOwls only needed five hits to score their three runs, thanks to a double from Jacob Hayes, Brock Wirthgen, and Owen Wessel. They moved the runners around at a pivotal point in the game in the second inning, and the team turned things over to their pitching staff. Edmonton had one run on eight hits with an error in the loss.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=622689

Starting pitcher for the NightOwls tonight was Zach Horwith, and he had a great night on the mound. He went three innings, giving up just one hit while walking and striking out two batters.

NightOwls vs RiverHawks (Photo Credit: James Maclennan)

Dawson Schultz was the pitcher of record on the night, going two innings, giving up no runs and no hits while striking out two RiverHawks. Jaedeyn Edwards went two innings, allowing one run on two hits.

https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

I mentioned the NightOwls only had five hits on the night, and two of them were thanks to Catcher Brock Wirthgen. The newly Hawai’i Pacific University commit, went two for four with a double, a single, and a run.

Jacob Hayes continues to wield a hot bat and had a double and walk for the NightOwls. Owen Wessel went one for three but had the big double in the second inning for two RBI, he also scored a run. Spencer Sullivan had the only other hit for the NightOwls.

http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets

It’s an early start on Sunday morning as the NightOwls and Riverhawks get back at it at 11:30 am PST. Make sure to stream the game with the link above.

The NightOwls will have a well deserved day off after 10 straight days of games. Them Nanaimo returns home with a three game series against the Kelowna Falcons in a mid week matchup. That starts Tuesday July 8th at 6:35pm and continues Wednesday and Thursday at the same time. Make sure to follow us on social media for the latest NightOwls news and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark!

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