Summer Collegiate
NorthPaws take on the HarborCats in 2024 WCL Opening Series
Photo Credit: Allen Douglas
KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws battled the elements and the Victoria HarbourCats, dropping the opening series of the West Coast League season 2 games to 1.
GAME 1 –
The season began with a low-scoring affair at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium, with the ‘Paws claiming a 2-1 opening night victory.
TRU WolfPack pitcher Kolby Luckinchuk would be credited with the win after pitching four innings of one-run ball, striking out six HarbourCats batters along the way.
The big swing of the game came from Kamloops’ own Manny Recchi who battled back from a 0-2 count to work it full 3-2 before hammering a pitch over the right field wall for a two-run homer. The big fly brought home fellow local product Nolan Austin for the only two NorthPaw runs of the ballgame.
“Down 0-2, I worked it back up to walk, took some good pitches and then got the same fastball I saw first pitch and just happened to get it that time,” said Recchi. “During the TRU season I hit a couple like that and some of them died at the wall so you never know and that’s why I was hustling out of the box. But, I’m glad it went out.”
Michael Weber earned the save, pitching a scoreless 9th.
GAME 2 –
The HarbourCats came to play in the middle game of the three game set, thumping the Paws in a 11-2 final.
Victoria would explode for six runs in the second and never look back, with NyZaiah Thompson keeping a two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole to put an exclamation mark on the big inning.
Victoria would add three more in the sixth inning before Kamloops finally responded courtesy of RBI’s from Chris Catalano, and Jacob Schlesselman.
Along with Thompson, Tyrus Hall and Jake Haggard also had two RBI for Victoria in the big win.
Josh Berenbaum took the loss, giving up 9-run, 3 earned, over 5.1 innings.
GAME 3 –
The rubber match of the three game set was all up for the taking entering the 9th inning on Sunday 5-5.
In the final inning the HarbourCats offense would find their swing, stringing together a number of key hits to push across five runs and take a 10-5 victory.
Kyle Magdic was the man of the game for Victoria with 3 RBI and 2 stolen bases. Camden Sos added 2 RBI and 1 stolen base as well.
Dominic Giustino got the start for Kamloops and pitched well, going 4 innings, with 2 hits, 2 ER.
All five runs for the ‘Paws came in the fifth inning, when Kamloops sent nine men to the plate. Anthony Manuel, Matthew Olivares and Jerry Nix drove in the runs.
Cade Webber was credited with the loss after giving up four of the five runs in the ninth to Victoria.
Reinforcements on their way
Speaking after the series Head Coach Jose Bautista noted that several players are expected to arrive in Kamloops ahead of, and during the next series versus Bellingham.
“What we got right now is not all our regular players. We are still waiting for more to come,” said Bautista. “We only got 10 pitchers, who can pitch one inning here, one inning there. As soon as we get everybody coming in we are going to be fine. Coming on the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth, a couple guys are going to be here. There are going to be a couple changes.”
Included in the new players on their way are a couple extra outfielders.
Looking ahead to the Bellingham series, Bautista feels length out of his starters will be key as he continues to learn his roster and put his players in the best position to succeed.
“Get the starters going deep and have the reliever coming up and doing their job,” said Bautista. “Picking up the right guys at the right time to put them up there and right now we don’t have that much roster to put up.”
Upcoming Schedule –
Monday, June 3 – Off-day
Tuesday, June 4 vs Bellingham – 6:35 (Country Night)
Wednesday, June 5 vs Bellingham – 6:35
Thursday, June 6 vs Bellingham – 11:30 (School Spirit Day)
Friday, June 7 – Off-day
Saturday, June 8 vs Coquitlam (Non-League) – 6:35
Sunday, June 9 vs Coquitlam (Non-League) – 2:35
2024 Ticketing Information –
Adult – $22.00
Senior (55+) – $20.00
Youth (6-16) – $14.00
New Ticket Packages:
TGI Friday Pack – reserved seat to all Friday regular season home games and a NorthPaws branded New Era 940SS Hat – $149.99
Weekday Warrior Pack – reserved seat to all Wednesday and Thursday home games – $139.99
Family Pack – $99 – four tickets, four non-alcoholic drinks, four hot dogs
Birthday Bundle- $299
x10 Tickets!
x10 Hotdogs OR Burgers!
x10 Pops!
Also Includes:
– Visit and photo with Homer!
– Signed picture!
– PA announcement during the game!
For media request:
Jenna Forter
General Manager
Kamloops NorthPaws
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Former HarbourCat Austin Russell, a WCL all-star, hired to coach Collegiate Cats program
July 5, 2026
VICTORIA, B.C. — Former HarbourCat and WCL All-Star Austin Russell has been handed the reins of Victoria’s year-round collegiate baseball program.
The local product has been hired to lead the Victoria Collegiate Cats of the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), effective August 1. The team formerly called the Golden Tide will enter its sixth season this fall, based primarily out of Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to help build a Victoria Collegiate Cats program that the players, alumni and community can be proud of,” said Russell, who played with his brother Ty on the 2013 HarbourCats team. “My time playing college baseball had a tremendous impact on my growth as a person, both on and off the field, and my priority is to provide these young men with that same opportunity — an experience they can look back on with pride and one that helps prepare them for success as they move forward in life.”
Russell, 34, was a member of the inaugural HarbourCats team and the outfielder was selected to play in the WCL all-star game in 2013. He also played summer collegiate baseball in Moose Jaw, and played collegiately at Colby Community College, Southern Polytechnic State, and MacPherson College.
Russell won conference awards as a player at Colby and MacPherson, and still plays in the Mavericks League locally. He represented Victoria in the 2018 Baseball Canada Men’s Nationals on home soil, earning a silver medal.
Russell (left), along with Nick Pivetta (centre) and Connor Russell (no relation)(right) were three of the first HarbourCats players to be signed for the 2013 season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart).
He coached for many years in the Victoria Mariners youth system, and is excited to return to the college level. Pitching Coach Darius Opdam Bak and Assistant Coach Colton O’Brien will return and round out the coaching staff.
Russell will also join Opdam Bak and other WCL HarbourCats coaches in taking an active role with community development initiatives and youth camps.
“This is an exciting announcement for us and we could not be happier to put Austin into the leadership role with the Collegiate Cats as Head Coach,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that owns the Collegiate Cats, the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls (West Coast League), and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) indoor facility.
“Austin is well-known and respected in the baseball world, especially locally, and we know he will put tremendous effort and skill into the role as we continue to grow the Collegiate Cats. He’s excited to get started.”
Kelowna, B.C. – The HarbourCats took on the Kelowna Falcons for the third game a row this afternoon, losing the final matchup by a score of 9-2.
The Falcons were the first side to find purchase on the offensive side in a long third inning. Cats starter Daniel Tovar (Northern Kentucky) allowed a couple of baserunners on a walk and an error, and was swapped out for right-hander Houston Tomlinson (Arkansas State). Kelowna strung together a few singles together on Tomlinson over the course of the inning, taking a 3-0 lead.
The home team followed that up with an uppercut in their next trip to the plate, smashing a three-run homer off of Tomlinson in the fourth to blow the game wide open.
Tate Collins (Arkansas State) took over for the fifth and pitched a clean inning, but was accosted for another scoring trio in the home half of the sixth. A single, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly gave the Falcons a daunting 9-0 lead.
The Cats at last found life in the seventh frame, kicked off by a solo bomb off the bat of Fresno State outfielder Marcus Nolen. Matthew Westley (George Mason) followed that homer up with a fine job of manufacturing a run. The Virginia product drew himself a walk, stole two bases, and advanced all the way home on a wild pitch to continue cutting a chunk out of that mountainous lead.
Carson Ackermann (Tacoma) took to the pitcher’s mound in the seventh and only allowed two baserunners across his two innings of work, but in the end the lead proved insurmountable and the Falcons secured a 9-2 win on home turf.
The HarbourCats will now travel back to Victoria and look to rebound on Tuesday night in the first matchup of a three-game mid-week series versus the Bend Elks.
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.
GET YOUR ALL-STAR TICKETS BEFORE THEY ARE GONE! Tickets for the 2026 WCL All-Star Home Run Derby (featuring former Blue Jay Kevin Pillar) and the West Coast League All Star Game on July 14-15 are selling fast. Get yours today! Each event is now on sale separately, or grab the package deal for both and save a few bucks at http://harbourcats.com/tickets! Or call the office at 778-265-0327 to order by phone.
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Two major events announced with Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game
Victoria HarbourCats – Former HarbourCat Austin Russell, a WCL all-star, hired to coach Collegiate Cats program
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Drop Third Game of Kelowna Series
Victoria HarbourCats – Two major events announced with Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game
-
Summer Collegiate1 week agoVictoria HarbourCats – Bells Overpower HarbourCats to Avoid Sweep
-
Summer Collegiate2 weeks ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Nail Down 5-3 Win in Nanaimo
-
Summer Collegiate2 weeks ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Nanaimo Hands Cats 8-3 Loss to Tie Series
-
Summer Collegiate6 days ago
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats to Honour Local Legendary Scout Walt Burrows on July 2
-
Summer Collegiate1 week ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Clinch Bellingham Series with 6-2 Win
-
Summer Collegiate5 days ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Bats Heat Up in 11-2 Win Over Nanaimo
-
Summer Collegiate2 weeks ago
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Silenced by NightOwls in 2-1 Loss
-
Summer Collegiate1 week ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Pummel Bells in 17-6 Victory
You must be logged in to post a comment Login