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Smart hitting, aggressive baserunning and stellar pitching on display in opening-day victory

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7 months ago

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The Kamloops NorthPaws started their 2025 campaign off strong with a 8-0 victory over the Port Angeles Lefties. Notable performances from designated hitter Keegan Drinkle and right-handed pitcher Kaden Douglas-Pluff helped the NorthPaws cruise to win on Friday night.

Kamloops came out of the gates swinging, scoring one run in each of the first three innings courtesy of singles from Drinkle and catcher Matt MacDonald, along with a sacrifice fly from shortstop Anthony Setticassi.

Right-hander Owen Fernandez got the opening day nod and didn’t disappoint, going three shutout innings while allowing only three hits and striking out a pair of hitters. Lefty Kaden Douglass-Pluff was first out of the bullpen and pitched a gem. He threw five shutout innings, giving up three hits and striking out five while not allowing a walk.

“You couldn’t have drawn it up and better,” Said pitching coach Jack Slominski. “That’s one thing I’ve preached to them: if we are going to get beat, they going to have to hit their way on.”

Douglas-Pluffs’ brilliance on the mound allowed the offence to keep attacking. In the fifth, a hit-and-run attempt was perfectly executed as Matt MacDonald broke for second while Drinkle sent a double to the gap, scoring the fourth run of the game.

In the sixth, some aggressive baserunning put another run on the board as both runners on base attempted the double steal. The Lefties catcher threw the ball over his second baseman’s head, allowing Ethan Kodama to score. The NorthPaws were aggressive all night, creating chaos on the basepaths.

“I think we’re really athletic one through nine and have seven or eight guys who can run at all times, so we’re going to do that a lot and put pressure on teams,” Said Assistant Coach Trey Newman.

In the seventh inning, after yet another double steal, Keegan Drinkle drove in his third run of the ball game, this time via a sacrifice fly. He and Matt MacDonald were all over the bases, combining for seven hits and four RBIs. It’s noteworthy that of those hits, only one was for extra bases.

“This is what I expect from him (Drinkle). The guys in front of him did a great job setting the table, and he cashed in,” said head coach Reily Jepson.

In the ninth, second baseman Joey Marino had runners on second and third and sent a single up the middle that scored the seventh and eighth runs of the ballgame for the NorthPaws.

To round out the performance, there were a few nice defensive plays. In the bottom of the first, Kalen Applefield couldn’t get to a fly ball on the right field line but quickly threw a missile to second base to record the out. A pair of nice double plays were turned in the middle infield, and the defence was capped off by a heroic catch by center fielder Ethan Kodama, who ran down a ball and then slammed into the wall and hung on to secure the catch.

The NorthPaws will look to build on Friday’s performance in game two against the Lefties on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35. You can watch on West Coast League TV or listen on the Kamloops NorthPaws Mixlr.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats WINTER and MARCH BREAK Indoor Youth Training Sessions Now Available!

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6 days ago

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December 11, 2025

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Sessions begin January 10th. Register NOW!

The Victoria HarbourCats and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are now taking individual bookings for our Winter 2026 indoor training sessions and March Break Camps for baseball in both the 8-11 and 12-17 year old age groups.

The “Offseason Academy,” presented by The EFTC, is designed to keep athletes sharp, confident, and improving long after the final game of summer. Built for youth players who want to stay ahead of the competition, our Academy focuses not only on technical skill development but also on the physical conditioning that keeps athletes strong and game-ready.

With a lineup of specialized camps in areas such as hitting, analytics, and catching skills, athletes can train with experienced coaches, benefit from professional-level technology like HitTrax, and build the habits that matter most during the offseason.

All sessions take place in the same professional training facility used by the HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide, giving players access to a proven environment for growth and performance.

2026 WINTER Sessions Include:

Baseball, Foundations and Futures, $400, Saturdays, 9:00am- 1:00pm, January 10 – March 14th (10 Weeks). Ages 8-11: Foundations & Futures” is a high-energy baseball camp for players aged 8–11. This camp delivers professional-grade instruction in a dynamic, fun environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and carry your skills into next season. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, High Performance Prep, $300, Saturdays, 1:00-4:00, January 10 – March 14th (10 Weeks). Ages 12-17: High Performance Prep” is designed for players aged 12–17 who are ready to refine their skills and maintain peak form after summer. This camp delivers advanced instruction in a focused, competitive environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and prepare for the season ahead. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, Specialty Catching Clinic, $250, Saturdays, 4:00-5:30pm, January 10 – March 14th (10 Weeks). Ages 10-17:  With a well structured 10-week program, this clinic will introduce older players to the complex world of catching with a goal of developing strong, technically sound catchers. The clinic will help build confidence, leadership, and game awareness, improve receiving, blocking, transfer speed, and throwing precision and teach advanced catchers to manage pitchers and control the game. REGISTER HERE

2026 MARCH BREAK CAMPS!

2026 March Break Camps (March 16 – 27) are also now available for registration for both the Foundations and Futures (Age 8-11) Group and the High Perofrmance Group (ages 12-17).  Players can register for full 2-week camps, or select one week or the other if they can not attend both weeks.

Foundations and Futures (Ages 8-11), 9AM to 1PM, Monday to Friday – $225 for one week camp, $400 for two week camp.
High Performance (Ages 12-17), 1:15 to 3:15PM, Monday to Friday – $125 for one week camp, $200 for two week camp

There are limited spaces in each camp so don’t delay. Register NOW!

2025 CHRISTMAS CAMPS
It is not too late to register for our 2025 Christmas Camps in all categories including fastball and softball.  Camps start December 20th! . Register NOW!

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NightOwls Resign Standouts Rohne and Florence

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7 days ago

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December 10, 2025

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Head Coach, Cody Andreychuk is proud to announce that reliever, Jakin Rohne and small ball specialist, IF, Ryder Florence will return to the Owls Nest in ’26!

Florence, who has a high baseball IQ and can play short, third, second or outfield, is a savvy, athletic baserunner with a strong arm, and a bat that finds gaps. He’s played 58 games for the NightOwls and will surpass 200 WCL plate appearances in 2026.

Rohne, an Islander, took huge steps last summer under esteemed pitching coach Gorm Heimueller. Rohne, with good breaking stuff, has developed into a starter for his CCBC program. Rohne made 14 appearances with a 2.59 ERA in 2025, taking an aggressive approach against tough WCL batters.



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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats load up on catchers, add two arms — including a two-way star in Davis

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7 days ago

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December 10, 2025

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Catcher Jacob Silva is one of four more returning players for 2026 announced by the HarbourCats today (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

December 10, 2026

For immediate release

VICTORIA — Under Todd Haney as Head Coach, the catching position has been an area of strength. That will continue with the 2026 edition of the Victoria HarbourCats.

Haney, entering his seventh season with the HarbourCats— sixth in the top role — is happy to be bringing back two more catchers from the 2025 team, including local product Jai Berezowski, the team leader of the CCBC Victoria Golden Tide.

Berezowski will both provide support for and learn from fellow returnees Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s, announced previously) and Jacob Silva (UT-San Antonio), veterans who play at the NCAA D1 level. Silva can also play in the outfield.

“We will be strong behind the dish, depth not only defensively but guys who are versatile and can fill the DH role with their bat— we have other strong catchers lining up as well,” said Haney. “Jai has really grown in his time with us, and has earned trust. Dillon is all-star level and Jacob showed that same promise last year before an injury sliding hard into a base. These guys play the right way. We are very happy they wanted to come back and be HarbourCats — players love to return to Victoria.”

Local product Jai Berezowski will return for his third season as a HarbourCat in 2026 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Silva had a home run and triple in 11 games, batting .292 and stealing four bases. He joins Lopez who hit .350 with three home runs, 18 RBIs and just 12 strikeouts in 21 regular season games, then hit .286 in the playoffs.

Also added is exciting two-way star Kade Davis, a teammate of Silva’s at UTSA — who could be one of the players to watch in the WCL in 2026 with his mound work and potent left-side bat. Davis hit .361 with five home runs at Temple College in 2025, while also throwing 54 innings including four starts, with 49 strikeouts and just 47 hits allowed. He can play the outfield or first base.

Speaking of returnees, right-hander Hudson Lance is back — he made seven appearances, five of them starts, and the best was five scoreless innings on June 19 against Nanaimo, giving up four hits. He walked only three batters in 26.1 innings as a HarbourCat.

Hudson Lance will return for his second season on the mound in 2026 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Berezowski is not the only local player signed by Haney. Pitcher Garen Geoghegan, a product of the Victoria Eagles (PBL) now at Whitman, was a workhorse and strike-thrower for Eagles Head Coach Mitch Davidoff, and then helped the Victoria Mavericks to a men’s provincial title.

Berezowski hit .269 over 24 games in total, including playoffs and non-league. He mashed four home runs and his best game may have been a defensive gem when he threw out five baserunners. This will be his third season with the HarbourCats.

The list of new signees:

  • LHP/OF Kade Davis, UTSA, 6-0/175, L/L, Cedar Park, TX
  • C/OF Jacob Silva, UTSA, 5-10/210, R/R, San Antonio
  • RHP Hudson Lance, Coastal Carolina, 5-10/180, R/R, Trinity, NC
  • RHP Garen Geoghegan, Whitman, 5-10/185, R/R, Victoria
  • C Jai Berezowski, Victoria CCBC, 6-2/200, R/R, Victoria

___

The Victoria HarbourCats will begin their 2026 West Coast League season in late May of 2026, with the home opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Plenty of excitement is on board for 2026 including:

  • Three fireworks nights (June 6, 30 and August 3)
  • Two 11:00 AM School Spirit Games (June 4 and 18)
  • Five Family Fun Sunday Matinees (June 7, 14, 28 July 19 and 26)
  • $12 Tuesdays and Thursdays (June 16, July 2, 7, 9, 28 and 30)

Season ticket memberships, single-game tickets, 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) and 2026 WCL All-Star Game ticket packages are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.

All ticket types  and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Monday thru Friday, 10am-5pm from now until December 22nd.

CRAZY CHRISTMAS CLEARANCE! From now until December 23rd, select HarbourCats apparel, including replica and game-worn jerseys, is on sale for 50% off!  Load up now in time for Christmas at https://victoria-harbourcats-official.myshopify.com/collections/50-off-crazy-christmas-clearance

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