Summer Collegiate

Oregon State Duo Joins NorthPaws with Eyes on College World Series

Published

4 years ago

February 28, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

The Kamloops NorthPaws is looking to an NCAA program with a rich history of success to continue building the inaugural roster.

Oregon State University’s sophomore outfielder Wade Meckler and freshman utility player Brady Kasper have signed with the NorthPaws for 2021.

“We’re fortunate to have guys from a program like Oregon State. We want to create a winning culture in Kamloops and it starts with bringing in players who know how to win,” said head coach Cole Armstrong.

The team’s history of success was a key factor in both players’ commitments to Oregon State.

“When I committed, they were just coming off I think the highest win total in Pac-12 history. They went 27-3 in the Pac-12 and the year I committed here they won a national championship, so it was one of the best overall programs in the country,” Meckler said. “That’s the goal, to get to Omaha and win the whole thing.”

“When I was younger, I would watch them on tv with my dad because they were in the College World Series or Super Regionals almost every year. I just remember watching them all the time and thinking I want to go there,” Kasper said.

Wade Meckler | Photo Credit: OSU Athletics

Meckler, from Yorba Linda, Calif., was slated to play in the West Coast League with Corvallis in 2020 before the season was cancelled and is excited about another opportunity to play in the league.

“I wanted to stay on the West Coast. My coaches believe that the West Coast League is one of the best leagues competition wise in the country, so they wanted me to stay out here,” Meckler said. “I think the West Coast League is surpassing a lot of these other leagues that are historically known as the best leagues. I really think this is the biggest up and coming league in the country.”

For his 2021 collegiate season, Meckler said he wants to reach 80 hits and have good plate discipline, earning walks for at least 10 per cent of his at bats.

“I feel like if I do both of those things, I’m putting myself in a good position to be one of the best leadoff hitters in the country,” he said.

“If I had to use one phrase to use the way I play, its ‘high-octane.’ It’s full-go, it’s high-intensity, it might cause some scraps with the other team but at the end of the day I’m an extremely competitive person and it shows in the way I play, everything is 100 per cent.”

“He’s a veteran presence who will provide experience and leadership to go with a top of the order bat,” Armstrong said of the outfielder.

Kasper, from Mission Viejo, Calif., will get his first taste of summer collegiate baseball in Kamloops after the pandemic impacted his senior high school season.

Brady Kasper | Photo Credit: OSU Athletics

“Kamloops, I saw pictures of it and it just looks awesome. I saw the golf courses and the rivers for fishing, the town looks awesome, the field looks awesome and I didn’t need to look anywhere else. That looks like somewhere I want to be for the summer,” Kasper said.

Kasper is slated as a player who can slide into multiple positions and provide some versatility to the NorthPaws lineup.

“He’s a loud, left-handed bat who could provide a presence in the middle of our batting order,” Armstrong said of the freshman.

Before they can turn their focus on Kamloops, Meckler and Kasper are set on proving the pundits wrong. Oregon State was ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in preseason polls.

“I think we’re going to be a threat this year. We’ve been ranked a little lower in the polls than we think we should’ve been and I think we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong this year,” Meckler said.

“I feel like we just need to take it game by game and prove everyone wrong. I don’t think rankings matter very much to us, it is just a little bit more fuel to the fire just because they did rank us so low,” Kasper echoed. “It pissed some guys off, so we’re going to come out strong and we’re going to come out ready to win.”

Oregon State is off to a strong start to the 2021 season with a 4-1 record through the first week of the season. Meckler and Kasper are locked in a four-game series this weekend against their future NorthPaws teammates, including week one NCAA hits leader Ryland Zaborowski, with Grand Canyon University.

The Kamloops NorthPaws are an expansion West Coast League franchise bringing the highest calibre baseball Canada’s Tournament Capital has ever seen. The West Coast League, founded in 2005, has 15 teams across Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta featuring some of the top collegiate players during a 54-game summer season. Find the NorthPaws online at www.northpawsbaseball.ca, @northpawsbaseball on Instagram and Facebook, or @northpawsbb on Twitter.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Tonight: Parent Information Session on U.S. College Baseball Pathways

Published

16 hours ago

July 22, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Monday, July 21, 2025 – 7:00 PM at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to host an important evening for parents of young ballplayers looking to better understand the journey to playing college baseball in the United States.

Tonight’s session will begin at 7:00 PM, hosted in the Wilson’s Lounge at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, with a live Zoom option available for those unable to attend in person. This interactive discussion is open to all parents interested in helping their child navigate the next steps in their baseball development.

The session will be chaired by HarbourCats Managing Partner Jim Swanson, and will feature a panel of experienced parents from programs such as the Victoria Eagles and Mariners. These panelists will share firsthand insight on what families can expect—from recruiting timelines to the realities of college baseball life.

Key topics will include:

Understanding the U.S. College Baseball System:
An overview of the different levels—NCAA, NAIA, Junior College (JuCo)—as well as Canadian alternatives like UBC and the Golden Tide.
Recruitment and Exposure:
How players get noticed, including tips on recruiting windows, highlight videos, email outreach, tournaments, and showcase events.
Financing College Baseball:
A look at athletic scholarships, academic awards, NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) opportunities, and other financial options.
What Life Is Really Like in a U.S. Baseball Program:
Honest discussion on the expectations, time commitments, and lifestyle student-athletes experience once they’re enrolled.

There will also be an open Q&A period, giving attendees a chance to ask specific questions and get practical advice directly from those who’ve been through it.

Event Details:

Wilson’s Lounge, Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Monday, July 21 – 7:00 PM
Zoom Link: Click here to join the session

Whether your child is just starting high school ball or already drawing interest from scouts, this is a valuable opportunity to learn how to support their goals and plan ahead.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Summer Collegiate

Late rally falls just short for NightOwls

Published

3 days ago

July 20, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

WENATCHEE, WA — The Nanaimo NightOwls had their chances to put up a big number on the host AppleSox — plenty of them.

The hosts in Wenatchee took a 7-4 lead with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth and held on for an 8-6 victory on Saturday night in central Washington. Both teams are in the mix for one of four North Division playoff positions.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=620371

The NightOwls scored four runs with two outs in the fourth inning, and held a 4-2 lead. Seven different Nanaimo batters had hits, and both teams committed three errors. Ryder Florence, Andrew Nykoluk and Easton Mould had RBIs.

Lino Zepeda, Cole Carmichael, Kiki Villegas, Dalton Hanson and Asher DeLeo handled the pitching duties for the NightOwls.

The NightOwls stay in Wenatchee for the weekend series, playing Sunday evening, returning home on an early ferry Monday morning. On Tuesday, the Corvallis Knights make their first ever appearance at Serauxmen Stadium with a three-game series that continues Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday is the Christmas in July celebration at Serauxmen.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Bells walk-off ‘Cats in tense playoff-like pitching duel

Published

3 days ago

July 20, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2025

Bellingham, WA – The Bellingham Bells pushed a run across in the bottom of the ninth inning to eke out a 2-1 win over the Victoria HarbourCats in West Coast League action Saturday night at Joe Martin field in Bellingham.

FULL BOX SCORE

The game was a tense pitching duel throughout, with ‘Cats starter Tommy Bridges and Bells starter Cameron Young keeping things tight through four innings.

Young in particular retired 12 batters in a row after allowing a first-inning single to Jack Johnson. The Bells gave him a lead in the fourth, getting a run off Bridges on a sacrifice fly to hold a 1-0 lead.

Victoria then had a chance to answer in the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but Bells reliever Will Franklin came in and put out the fire to keep the Bells in the lead.

Victoria finally clawed their way on to the scoreboard in the top of the eighth thanks to an RBI-single from Johnson, his second hit of the game, scoring Connor Ross who earlier walked.

In the ninth, Victoria had another stellar chance to take the lead, loading the bases with nobody out, but a big double-play and strikeout ended the threat and sent the game to the bottom of the inning at 1-1.

In the bottom of the frame, Andrew Lamb lead off with an infield single and then advanced to second on a questionable balk call against HarbourCats reliever Garret Villa. Villa then retired the next two batters, but then a throwing error by shortstop Tanner Beltowski allowed the winning run to scamper home and give the Bells the 2-1 win.

The Bells win spoiled solid pitching performances from Bridges, as well as relievers Ryne Palmer and Garrett Brooks, who combined, allowed just two Bells hits in their eight innings of work.

The HarbourCats will now need to quickly regroup as the rubber match in the series goes Sunday afternoon in a 1:30 pm start. Logan Rumberg is the scheduled starter for Victoria.

WATCH HERE

They then return to Wilson’s Group Stadium on Tuesday for the first of a two-game set with the Dub Sea Fish Sticks, and then a return engagement with the Victoria Mavericks on Thursday. The Wenatchee AppleSox then come into town for a three game set starting Friday.

Tickets for all those games are selling fast and are available in advance at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or at the harbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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