This is the perfect time for evaluation and planning — 27 regular season games down for the Nanaimo NightOwls, and a 14-13 record marked by streaks and periods of stellar play.
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Including a weekend sweep of the Port Angeles Lefties — near flawless baseball by the NightOwls on the Canada Day weekend.
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The NightOwls will see non-league action this week at friendly Serauxmen Stadium — the Redmond Dudes on Monday, then a much-anticipated two game set against the best of Nanaimo local baseball players, Tuesday and Wednesday — and that gives the coaching staff an ideal opportunity to set up the second half chase for a playoff spot. The final 27 games open with a three game set in Walla Walla (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) before home games next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with the Wenatchee AppleSox.
The second year WCL team, with glorious weather nearly every home game and more in the forecast, opened with a sweep of the Walla Walla Sweets, then posted nearly half of the losses to date in being swept at Kelowna and at home in three close games against perennial power Bellingham.
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Posting a 4-2 records in home-and-home series with Edmonton and Port Angeles, and splitting six games with Yakima Valley, the NightOwls find themselves trailing Bellingham, Wenatchee and Victoria, but in a deadlock with Kelowna for the presumed final playoff berth.
The excitement comes from averaging nearly six runs per game, led by dynamic shortstop and leadoff man Elijah Ickes, who is heading to the University of Hawaii this fall. RBI production has come from Ethan Rivera, Wylie Waters, Brandon Hupe and Aaron Marsh, with notable contributions from Riley Paulino, Reid Little and Mikey Easter. Rivera is tied for second in the league in home runs with four while Waters is third in average at .379.
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On the mound, Bear Pinedo (three saves) has been the best reliever in the WCL with 18 strikeouts in 10 innings and just one hit allowed. Starters Payton Robertson, Seth Gurr, Cooper Littledike, Luca Hines, Nathan Buchan and Conner Gleissner are backed by a deep bullpen, giving Pitching Coach Gorm Heimueller plenty of options to manage over the final 27 games and into the playoffs.
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