Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws take one of three in Nanaimo

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, BC—The Kamloops NorthPaws ended a three game weekend series on Vancouver Island on the right note. Sunday (July 30), the Paws shutout the hometown Nanaimo Night Owls 3-0.

This followed a 1-0 set back on Friday (July 28) and a 6-5 loss Saturday (July 29) at Seauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo.

Kamloops moves to 11-35 on the season overall and 4-15 in the second half. Nanaimo is 24-24 overall and 10-11. The Night Owls are 5-5 in their last 10 starts while the NorthPaws are 3-7.

After a day off, the NorthPaws return home where they will kick off a three-game set of games against the Kelowna Falcons. Game one will be played at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium. Opening pitch is 6:35 PM on Tuesday, August 1st.

The Night Owls will head down Vancouver Island to play the HarbourCats in Victoria starting August 1st.

These teams will play against each other to close out the 2023 West Coast League regular season in Kamloops (August 4-6).

All West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

SERIES RECAP:

Friday, July 28, 2023: NightOwls 1 NorthPaws 0

The only run of the game was scored in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wylie Waters (West Vancouver, BC) led off with a single delivered by losing pitcher Christian Spitz (Overland Park, KS). Waters scored on a sacrifice by Tim Holyk (Nanaimo, BC). Holyk was 1-3 with a run batted in.

Spitz went five innings giving up a run, a hit and struck out three. He falls to 1-4 on the year.

Liam Buschey (Abbotsford, BC) and Michael Easter (Arcadia, CA) were both 2-3 for Nanaimo. Brian Veniard (Jacksonville, FL) started and was the winning pitcher for the Night Owls. He went to 1-1 for the summer going five and a third giving up four hits, striking out five and walking one. Andrew Pinedo (Palm Springs, CA) earned the save, his sixth in 14 appearances by pitching an inning giving up a walk and getting a strikeout.

Offensively for the Paws: Matt Ward (Mississauga, ON), Robin Villeneuve (Gatineau, QC) and Joey Baran (Austin, TX) were all 1-3.

The game marked the debuts of Adam Filmon (Winnipeg, MB) and Noah Del Rodario as pitchers. Filmon, who is the NorthPaws assistant general manager and former TRU WolfPack player: pitched one inning. Del Rodario was the fourth of four Kamloops pitchers and went an inning as well walking one and striking out one.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598522

Saturday, July 29, 2023: Night Owls 6 North Paws 5

Playing before a huge crowd (1663), The NightOwls scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to erase a 3-2 Kamloops lead. The win moved Nanaimo over the .500 mark for the season.

Brandon Nicholl (Coombs, BC) had a big night at the plate for Nanaimo. He after singling to lead off the first inning and scoring the games first run, Nicholl led off the fifth with a solo homer to make it 2-1 Night Owls. And later he hit an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth and scored the eventual game winning run. Nicholl went 4-5 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.

Teammate Ethan Rivera (Chino Hills, CA) was 2-5 with two runs batted in and a run scored while Brandon Hupe (Delta, BC) was 2-4 with two runs batted in.

For Kamloops, Nathan Gray (Queen Creek, AZ) was 3-4 with two runs batted in. Baran and Drew Giannini (Tracy, CA) were both 1-4 with a run batted in. Giannini also scored a run.

Anthony Manuel (Antioch, CA), the third of four Kamloops pitchers recorded his second loss of the year (0-2). He went an inning giving up two runs and three hits. Cooper Littledyke (Mapleton, UT) evened his record at 3-3. The third of four pitchers worked two and two thirds’ innings, giving up a run, four hits, striking out five and walking one. Pinedo came out of the Night Owls bull pen to pitch the final inning for the win. He gave up one hit, one run, walked one and struck out two.

The game marked the debut for NorthPaws lefty Lincoln Moller. He came on in relief in the sixth inning and pitched two innings, striking out one, giving up one hit and walking one.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598523

Sunday, July 30, 2023: NorthPaws 3 Night Owls 0

The NorthPaws had three players sidelined with injuries for this one: Villeneuve, Baran and Nolan Austin (Kamloops, BC).

Noah Loew (Chelan, WA) made his first start of the season for Kamloops and earned the victory. He pitched five innings of three hit ball. Loew moved to 1-1 on the year as he struck out three and walked three in his 10 th appearance on the mound this year. David Jeon (Coppell, TX) got the save as he came in for the ninth inning and struck out two. Jeon now has two saves on the year in 16 appearances.

Kamloops opened the scoring in the second inning when Nathan Grey walked and scored on a single by Manuel. The other two runs were scored in the fourth inning. Ward led off the inning with a single and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Casey Wayne. Wayne was 2-4 on the day.

Later in the fourth: Giannini doubled and later scored on a fielder’s choice. He was 1-4 with a run scored.

Cooper Neville was 3-4 at the plate. Ward, Giannini and Manuel were 1-4.

For Nanaimo: Payton Robertson (Lynden, WA) started and was the losing pitcher. His record fell to 4-3. He went five innings, giving up eight hits, three runs, struck out six and walked one. Offensively, The Night Owls were led by Easter who was 2-3.

The game saw the debut of Elijah Olaybal with the NorthPaws. He played left field and was 1-4 at the plate.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598524

HEAD COACH KEITH FRANCIS:

On weekend:

“We pitched well at times and got some timely hitting. To lose by one run the first two nights was hard. There were times we didn’t execute well. Today (Sunday), having three regulars out, other players came up and raised the level of their games. Our bats responded when they were needed and that resulted in us scoring some runs.”

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

The NorthPaws will host the Kelowna Falcons on Tuesday, August 1st. It has been deemed “Stingray Day” at Dearborn Ford field at Norbrock Stadium. Radio NL, Classic Rock K975 and New Country 103.1. Opening pitch is 6:35 PM. This will be the fourth meeting of the year between these two geographical rivals. Kamloops is unbeaten at home against the Falcons. They beat them 5-4 in 11 innings on Canada Day and followed it up with a 6-0 shutout on July 2nd.

Kelowna beat Kamloops 14-4 in their series season opener on June 30 th at Elks Stadium. This is the second last homestand of the regular season for Kamloops.

The Falcons are coming off an 11-0 shutout of the HarbourCats in Victoria. They have a .500 record (5-5) in their last 10 starts and are 12-9 in the second half of the season.

If you can’t make the home 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).

NEW FAN PROMOTION:

The NorthPaws are looking for their newest fans. The team is running a promotion right now which sees you capture a $15 ticket for any home game for the remainder of the season. There are only 100 of these tickets available. Visit tickets.northpawsbaseball.ca and click “Find tickets” on the game you would like to attend. Enter “NEWESTFAN’ into the promo code box and the tickets are unlocked!.

TAILGATE PARTY:

The Molson’s Tailgate Party runs 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.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Shupe returns to HarbourCats

Published

9 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For Immediate Release

June 16, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — A prime-time collegiate player and fan favourite is returning to the Victoria HarbourCats, and will be in uniform on Tuesday.

Infielder Hudson Shupe of Gonzaga, a junior who can play short, second or third, will be making his third season appearance with the HarbourCats. A 21-year-old from Richland, WA, was with the HarbourCats in 2022 (.270 AVG, 13 stolen bases) and 2023 (.353 AVG, 10 stolen bases) before spending last summer with Orleans of the Cape Cod League (.310 AVG over 38 games). He has played in 83 total games for the Cats between the regular season and playoffs.

Shupe, always a team leader and an energy guy who brings fans to their feet, is a career .320 hitter over three seasons of Division 1 baseball, with Seattle U and Gonzaga. He is a highly regarded prospect for the upcoming MLB draft, and will be using the next month to be ready for pro baseball, if selected and signed.

“Hudson loves Victoria, and loves the HarbourCats, and this will cement his place as one of the best players in our team’s history — we could not be more excited,” said GM Christian Stewart. “Fans will want to get out to our home games to see this future pro, who has a legitimate shot at becoming an MLB player and joining the eight other former HarbourCats who have progressed all the way to the top level of the game, something we are very proud of.”

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.

Source

Summer Collegiate

The Bats Come Alive For The NightOwls As They Take The Series With An 8-2 Win

Published

21 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

KELOWNA, B.C. — The bats came alive for the Nanaimo NightOwls in the tune of eight runs on nine hits with two home runs. The complete opposite of last night, where Nanaimo just couldn’t get things going at the plate. Tonight they had 4 extra base hits, and that combined with some great pitching led to the series win.

Starting pitcher Aiden Boice, from Holladay, Utah, had a great night on the mound, pitching five innings, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four. Catcher Brock Wirthgen and Caden Petrey both went yard in the game for the NightOwls. Andrew Ivy continues to impress, going two for four with a walk and a stolen base. If feels like every game I have to mention him swiping a bag.

The Nanaimo NightOwls jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to some smart base running from Eli Watson. He stole second and was able to score on an error trying to steal third. After the Falcons tied it up with a run in the second, the NightOwls went off with a huge sixth inning, putting a four-spot on the board. After a walk to Andrew Ivy, and an Easton Mould single. Eli Watson would cash one after a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third.

Then walked up Brock Wirthgen, who cracked one out of the park to give the NightOwls the 5-1 lead. The 7th innings saw Easton Mould and Eli Watson driving in back-to-back RBI singles. Not to be outdone, Caden Petrey also got into the party with a home run in the top of the 8th inning to make it 8-1. The Falcons would claw one run back in the 9th, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Besides starting pitcher Aiden Boice, Dawson Shultz and Dalton Hanson also had great games on the mound. They combined for four innings of 2 hit ball, giving up just 1 run and preserving the win for Boice.

The Starting pitching gave the Nanaimo NightOwls a chance to find their bats. I asked head coach Cody Andreychuk about the performance of Aiden Boice after the game, “Ya, he competed and did a wonderful job for us tonight. Commanded all his pitches for strikes. Got behind some of the hitters but would always get back and get the hitters out. [The] best way to say it is he competed well tonight in a getaway game to win the series on the road.”

Some big innings for the NightOwls and some great pitching saw them take the series against the Kelowna Falcons two games to one on Sunday night. Nanaimo finished the night with eight runs on nine hits and an error. Kelowna had two runs on eight hits and three errors in the loss. The NightOwls move back above .500% with the win at 8-7.

The Nanaimo NightOwls head back to the Island but not home as they will take on the Victoria HarbourCats for a three-game series, June 17th, 18th, and 19th. The team returns home on June 20th for a weekend series against the Port Angeles Lefties. That goes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 20th, 21st, and 22nd at Serauxmen Stadium.

The team is on a 10-game homestand starting on the 20th of June. We have some great promotional days coming up, including Indigenous Peoples Day and Halloween in June. Make sure to get your tickets and follow the team on our website and social media when they are on the road for the latest information and updates!

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Bells take series with 8-2 rout

Published

21 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Jack Johnson has reached base in every game he’s played this season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

June 15, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – More than 2000 fans were packed into Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park on this Father’s Day matinee, where the Bellingham Bells won the rubber match, defeating the Victoria HarbourCats 8-2.

For the seventh game in a row, the Cats scored in the first inning. Today, it was through a Cayden Munster (Fresno State) sacrifice fly, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Julian Orozco (Cal Baptist) started his second game of the season after an impressive outing last week against Port Angeles, where he threw four shutout innings. This afternoon, he looked just as good through two innings but ran into trouble in the third. A softly hit Brock Sell single tied the game at one before Nico Azpilcueta crushed a double to the gap, scoring two more, giving the visitors a 3-1 lead.

Orozco’s day finished after three innings, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out six.

Julian Orozco leads the HarbourCats with 15 strikeouts this season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

WCL STANDINGS

Andrew Carter (TCU) was first out of the bullpen for Victoria but could not find the strike zone and the Bells took advantage. Two bases loaded walks surrendered by Carter increased Bellingham’s advantage to 5-1. Carter struck out two in his inning of work and both runs against him were unearned due to an error to start the frame.

Curtis McKay (Niagara) put another run on the board for the Cats with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, cutting the lead to 5-2. Victoria was threatening in the inning by loading the bases, but Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.

BUY TICKETS HERE

After another bases-loaded walk scored a run for the Bells in the seventh, Andrew Lamb hit his third home run of the series with a solo shot in the eighth, increasing his team’s lead to 7-2.

Alex Fernandes drove in an eighth Bells run in the ninth with a single to right field.

Logan Shepherd increased his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the first inning (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Cade Rusch (IUS) pitched 2-1/3 innings, giving up one run on one hit, walking two and striking out one batter. Dillon Dibrell (Central Oklahoma) gave up one run on one hit over 1-2/3 innings of work. Austin Lindsey (Hill College) finished the game, pitching the ninth inning, giving up a run on a pair of hits.

WATCH GAMES HERE

The Cats have a day off on Monday, then open a series against the Nanaimo NightOwls on Tuesday, June 17th at 6:35 PM. Game one is $12 Tuesday, where all premium reserved and general admission tickets are on sale for $12. Wednesday, June 18th at 6:35 PM is Winning Wednesday, where all Red Arrow Products are discounted. Thursday, June 19th is the second School Spirit Game of the season with a special start time of 11:00 AM. Don’t miss all the action as the two island rivals face off once again. Buy tickets 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.

Source