Summer Collegiate

RiverHawks take two of three against NorthPaws

Published

2 years ago

July 14, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Author: Larry Read

KAMLOOPS, BC—Fans saw a little bit of everything as the Edmonton RiverHawks took the host Kamloops NorthPaws 2-1 in a three-game set at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium. The two teams evened their six game West Coast League regular season series at three a piece.

This time: Edmonton won the opener 5-2 on Tuesday (July 11), The NorthPaws needed extra innings to snap their seven-game losing streak winning 5-4 in 10 innings Wednesday (July 12). Edmonton rallied from a 4-0 deficit to score twice in the fifth and seven times in the sixth inning en route to a 9-5 win on Thursday (July 13).

Edmonton moves to 3-4 in the second half and has an overall record of 10-23. Kamloops falls to 2-8 in the back half with an overall record of 8-28.

The Paws will have five days off before their next series. They don’t play again until Tuesday, July 18th when they visit the Lefties in Port Angeles.

Edmonton is moving down Highway 97 to play the Falcons in Kelowna. That three-game set at Elks Stadium will begin tomorrow (July 14).

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

SERIES RECAP:

Tuesday, July 11, 2023: RiverHawks 5 NorthPaws 2

The NorthPaws saw their winless streak extend to seven as they fell to Edmonton by three. The RiverHawks scored two in the second and third innings and added one in the fourth. Kamloops scored both their runs in the seventh.

The 661 fans on hand saw Kamloops have a chance to close the gap in the bottom of the eighth when they loaded the bases but couldn’t push anything across.

Catcher Nico Libed (Chula Vista, CA) was 1-3 with two runs batted in. Will Gardner (St Albert, AB) was 1-4 with a run scored and an run batted in for the RiverHawks. Halen Knoll (Edmonton, AB) started and was the winning pitcher going seven innings surrendering three hits, two runs, striking out four and walking one. He is 4-3 on the year in his seven starts. Shaun Atamanchuk (Beaumont, AB) pitched the last inning and two thirds for his third save.

Kamloops starter Griffin Almond (Thornbury, ON) went seven and two thirds for the loss (2-3). He gave up four hits, four runs and walked three.

Offensively, Tommy Green (Courtenay, BC) and Cooper Neville (Glendale, AZ) were both 1-3. Green had two runs batted in. Neville scored a run.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598686

Wednesday, July 12, 2023: NorthPaws 5 RiverHawks 4 (10 innings)

The NorthPaws battled back in this one as the snapped a seven-game losing skid and their third victory in five meetings with Edmonton this year.

Kamloops scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to erase a 4-1 deficit. In the 10th, Phoenix Sommay (Temecula, CA) led off with a walk. The NorthPaws loaded the bases before Bennett Freiter (White Rock, BC) hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Sommay with the winning run.

David Jeon (Coppell, TX) pitched the last inning to get the win for Kamloops. He struck out two as he moved to 2-2 on the year. He was the third of three Paws pitchers. Noah Bourqouis (Surrey, BC), the third of three RiverHawks pitchers took the loss. He is 0-2 on the year as he went two and a third innings, giving up a hit, a run, walking four and striking out two.

Joey Baran (Austin, TX) was 2-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in. Sommay was 2-5 with a run scored and an run batted in while Neville scored a run and was 2-3.

For Edmonton, Gardner was 2-3 at the dish with two runs batted in.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598687

Thursday, July 13, 2023: RiverHawks 9 NorthPaws 5

Kamloops opened a 3-0 lead after the first inning and were up 4-0 until Edmonton scored twice in the top half of the fifth. After the NorthPaws make it 5-2, The RiverHawks sent nine men to the plate and spit out three Kamloops pitchers en route to a seven run sixth inning. That inning included two home runs—by Mark Mossanna (Chandler, AZ) and Jakob Poturnak (Vancouver, BC).

Edmonton had 11 hits in the ball game along with six errors. Kamloops had only four hits and left 14 men on base.

Brendan Lopeppky (Calgary, AB), the fourth of five RiverHawk pitchers earned the win. He pitched three innings, giving up three walks, one hit and had three strikeouts. Anthony Manuel (Antioch, CA) was tagged with the loss, responsible for all nine runs through an inning of work.

Offensively: Poturnak was 3-4 with a run scored. Mossanna was 1-5 with two runs batted in and a run scored while Jonny McGill (Richmond, BC) was 1-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored as well for Edmonton.

Neville was 0-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Sommay was 0-4 with two runs batted in. Green and Tyler Glowacki (San Diego, CA) were both 1-5 with runs scored.

Green was playing his last game with Kamloops as he joins NCAA Div I Purdue this fall.

Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598688

HEAD COACH KEITH FRANCIS on Thursday’s loss:

“We had the lead with one hit. They had made several errors and gave us many opportunities to put the game away and we didn’t take advantage of it. We had guys in scoring position again but couldn’t get that hit. We can’t when it counts and it comes back and bites you. Baseball Gods have a way of turning against you if you don’t score when you have to.”

On the seven-run inning: “Did he leave Manuel in too long?” “I did a horrible job. I told the team that too. I thought that was the worst job I have done all year with my pitching staff. It’s on me. I should have done better.”

SHORTSTOP TOMMY GREEN (COURTENAY, BC) on Edmonton Series: “We lost a close one on night one. Night two the walk off crew did it again. We gave it to the fans. Good crowd tonight, we were hanging in there but one tough inning did us in. It was very symbolic of how this season has gone for us. There is still time for the guys to turn it (the season) around.”

OUTFIELDER CASEY WAYNE (PHOENIX, AZ):

“I thought we played hard in this series. Our energy was there in comparison to our previous two series. Playing at home really helped. The fans were amazing. They did a great job of keeping us involved. We did a lot better on the field and in the dugout to keep the energy high. Sometimes it doesn’t roll our way.”

NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:

After their break and a three game set in Port Angeles, the next home game for Kamloops is Friday, July 21st against the Bellingham Bells.The teams met in Washington State July 4-6th.

Opening pitch on Friday, July 21st will be 6:35 PM at Dearborn Ford field at Norbrock Stadium.

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 avvilable. 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 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.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Hawks blow out Cats in game one of doubleheader

Published

4 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 4, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – In the first game of today’s doubleheader, it was the Edmonton Riverhawks who came out on top, beating the Victoria HarbourCats 10-1.

The Hawks loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first, but Cats starter Clayton Broeder (Angelo State) struck out three in a row to escape the jam.

The game remained scoreless into the third when once again the visitors loaded the bases and this time cashed in when Broeder walked Trent Lenihan, giving the Hawks their first run of the game. Ben Hewitt (Ottawa U) replaced Broeder and was one strike away from escaping the jam and keeping the score at 1-0, but instead walked in another run. He then gave up a three-run double to Stevie Waters to give Edmonton a big 5-0 lead.

Broeder struck out six batters over his 2-1/3 innings of work but struggled with control, walking five.

BOX SCORE

Edmonton continued to pile on the runs, putting up four more in the fourth inning. A sac fly and wild pitch brought home a pair before Jason Green crushed a two-run home run over the right field fence to extend the lead to 9-0.

The visitors added one more in the top of the sixth inning when Green drove in his third run of the game with an RBI double, pushing the lead to 10-0.

The HarbourCats finally got on the board when Jake Butler (George Mason) drove home Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s) with an RBI single.

Victoria native Myles Chamberlain started for the Riverhawks and went six innings, giving up one run on six hits while striking out four to record his West Coast League-leading seventh win of the campaign.

Jake Finkelstein (USAO) replaced Hewitt after the big righty gave up six runs over 1-2/3 innings. The Richmond, BC native matched his season-high, throwing three innings and giving up one run on three hits.

Lucas Webber-Kitching pitched the seventh inning for the Hawks to close out the 10-1 win.

WCL STANDINGS

The Riverhawks need one more win to clinch the second-half title. As for the HarbourCats, they will need to win the next three games in this series to earn the second-half crown and first-round home-field advantage in the playoffs that comes with it.

Game two starts shortly with Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist) on the bump for the hosts. General admission tickets are still available at the gate!

Can’t make it today? Tomorrow is Jersey off our Backs night, sponsored by Odlum Brown, where lucky fans will receive the popular baby blues. Wednesday is the final regular-season game of the campaign and is Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Passion Sports. Get tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

VOUCHER REMINDER: If you have any remaining vouchers, don’t forget to redeem them as they are only eligible for the remaining regular-season games. You can do so at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any questions or need help exchanging your vouchers, call the HarbourCats office at (778) 265 0327.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats comeback late to beat Hawks

Published

6 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 4, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats scored four runs in the sixth inning to comeback and beat the Edmonton Riverhawks 7-5 in game two of the doubleheader.

Shiryu Sato took the first pitch of the ball game yard to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. A Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) error later in the inning allowed another run to score and it was 2-0 Edmonton early.

The Cats cut their lead in half immediately in the bottom half when Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) drove in a run with a double to the wall.

BOX SCORE

Tristen Buehring (Whitman College) made his HarbourCats debut tonight and made his presence known, tying the game at 2-2 in the third inning with a two-out RBI single.

Beltowski gave Victoria their first lead of the ballgame in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly, making it 3-2.

Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist) started for the Cats and lasted four innings giving up two runs on two hits, while walking four and striking out four.

Dustin Davidson (Freed Hardeman) replaced Palmer to start the fifth inning and gave up back-to-back doubles to Sato and Kyle Yip which tied the game up at 3-3. Later in the inning Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) made a diving grab at third to save a run and keep the game tied.

WCL STANDINGS

Edmonton took the lead in the top of the sixth and it was Sato and Yip again driving in the runs to give the visitors a 5-3 lead.

Time was running out for the Cats with this being a seven-inning game, but they started to rally in the bottom of the sixth. The bases were loaded for Jack Johnson (Tulane) who was hit by a pitch to bring home a run making it 5-4. Nahaku then hit a sacrifice fly to level things up at 5-5. That brought up Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s) with two outs and he fouled off four pitches before hitting a bloop single that plated two runs and gave the Cats a 7-5 lead.

More than 3000 fans were on their feet in to watch Austin Lindsey (Hill College) get the final three outs as he induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the ball game.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Each team winning one game of the doubleheader keeps them tied for first place in the North Division second half standings. With Edmonton holding the tiebreaker the math is simple, one more win for Edmonton and they will clinch the second half title, while the Cats need to win the remaining two games to finish above the Hawks and earn home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

Tomorrow is Jersey off our Backs night, sponsored by Odlum Brown, where lucky fans will receive the popular baby blues. Wednesday is the final regular-season game of the campaign and is Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Passion Sports. Get tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

BUY TICKETS HERE

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats claw past Lefties to take series

Published

1 day ago

August 4, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 3, 2025

For immediate release

PORT ANGELES, WA – The Victoria HarbourCats ended their final road trip of the regular season with a hard-fought 8-6 win over the Port Angeles Lefties to win the series.

It was a back-and-forth encounter early with multiple lead changes in the first few innings. The Lefties scored two in the bottom of the first, but the Cats answered back with three runs in the top of the second to take the lead. Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) drove home his college teammate Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s) with an RBI double before scoring on a Jake Butler (George Mason) single to make it 2-2. Dominic Biello (Golden Tide) continued his strong weekend with an RBI double of his own to make it 3-2.

BOX SCORE

The lead didn’t last long as Tommy Markey tied things up in the bottom half with an RBI single before Taylor Kirk’s sacrifice fly restored the Lefties’ lead, making it 4-3.

An error by Lefties’ third baseman Jett Nelson on a Lopez groundball allowed two runs to score, which gifted the visitors a 5-4 lead.

Marcus Janovsky (UBC) started for Victoria but only lasted two innings, giving up four runs on five hits while striking out a pair. He was replaced by Jack Finn (Illinois State), who was impressive through three shutout innings, striking out three.

WCL STANDINGS

While Finn shut things down on the mound, the offence went to work adding three insurance runs in the top of the sixth to extend the lead. First, Tanner Beltowski (Westmont) drove in his 25th run of the campaign with a sacrifice fly. Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) then came up with the bases loaded and smacked a single up the middle to score a pair, extending the lead to 8-4. The Auburn, WA native has a hit in all 12 games he has suited up in this season.

Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) was next out of the bullpen for Todd Haney’s team and pitched the rest of the way. He surrendered a pair of runs, including one in the ninth when the Lefties were pushing for a late comeback, but was overall effective over four innings of work, striking out three and recording his second save of the season.

Victoria and the Edmonton Riverhawks continue to be tied at the top of the second-half North Division standings, as the Hawks won their sixth straight game Sunday afternoon.

Tomorrow is the start of the final series of the regular season as the Riverhawks come to town. Monday is a BC Day doubleheader starting at 4:05 PM, followed by FIREWORKS presented by Joan Wallace Driving School. Tuesday is Jersey off our Backs night, where the baby blues will be given away thanks to Odlum Brown. The regular season wraps up on Wednesday on Fan Appreciation Night, sponsored by Passion Sports.

BUY TICKETS HERE

The HarbourCats are heading back to the playoffs! Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park will host at least one playoff game during the August 8-10 weekend. Seeding is still to be determined, with the second-half North Division title up for grabs and five games to go! For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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