Summer Collegiate

Sunday scaries avoided as the NorthPaws earn comeback victory to win the series finalie

Published

12 months ago

June 23, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The Kamloops NorthPaws defeated the Victoria HarbourCats in the rubber match on Sunday afternoon by a score of 6-5. The HarbourCats scored five runs in the second inning, including a grand slam, but the NorthPaws bullpen shut the door, not allowing a hit through the final six innings. Clutch hits from right fielder Jared Hall and left fielder Cade Palkowski came up with timely hits, securing yet another series victory on home soil. The win also marked another game decided by one run.

“It’s always nice to win a series’ it would’ve been tough after this week to lose three games by one run. It’s good to be on the other side of it,” said Head Coach Riley Jepson.

The NorthPaws struck first as center fielder Connor Clark and third baseman Drew Schmidt each walked. Two runners on the NorthPaws got aggressive and attempted the double steal. A throwing error from HarbourCats catcher Tai Berezowski allowed both Clark and Schmidt to score.

Berezowski and the HarbourCats would answer in a big way, however. Three straight singles in the top of the second got Victoria on the board. Following a walk, Berezowski came to the plate with the bases loaded and no one out. The catcher got a first-pitch fastball and drove it over the fence in left field for a grand slam, putting Victoria up 5-2.

In the third, Kamloops responded with second baseman Tanner Harnback and Drew Schmidt on base. Jared Hall was at the plate with one out. The HarbourCats outfielders were shading the lefty to his pull side, and it proved to be costly as Hall sent a ball to the gap in left-center, scoring both runners and earning himself a triple.

The pitchers dominated the middle third of the ballgame. Neither team could get hits and struggled to obtain base runners until Victoria managed to mount a two-out rally in the sixth inning, loading the bases after righty Nolan Austin walked back to back and hit a batter. Austin would get a strikeout as Victoria left the bases loaded.

In the seventh, the NorthPaws also would find themselves in a bases-loaded one-out situation with Schmidt at the plate. The third baseman lined out, bringing up Hall, who once again could add to his two RBI afternoon. The right fielder sent a fly ball to left field that was caught as Kamloops left the bases juiced this time around.

In the eighth, the NorthPaws were trying to mound a two-out rally as shortstop Anthony Setticassi singled, putting a pair of runners off base. Lefty Cade Palkowski was up to bat, and Victoria brought in a left-handed pitcher to counter. The left fielder took the third pitch of the at-bat down the right field line for a stand-up double, scoring both Joey Rico and Setticassi, giving the NorthPaws the lead.

“Happy for him to have a big hit. He’s a guy who’s pinch hit in those situations before, and it was cool to see him come through,” said Jepson.

Righty Daxton Vanderkooi shut the door, securing the victory, moving the team to 12-9 on the season and fourth in the North Division, just two games back of the Bellingham Bells for the division lead.

After Saturday’s offensive woes for both teams, the runs were a welcomed sight, especially for the NorthPaws, who gave themselves more chances to score runs on Sunday.

“We would’ve liked to have scored runs when we had no outs or one out, but I’m glad we did it with two outs. Hopefully, it prepares us for more meaningful games down the stretch,” said Assistant Coach Trey Newman.

The NorthPaws will start the week at home for the first time this season, playing a three-game home series against the Kelowna Falcons. The series will feature games on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Norbrock Stadium. Seven of the team’s next eight games will be played in Kamloops after a gruelling road schedule.

“We’ve had a pretty tough schedule being on the road a lot, so it will be nice to let the guys relax and get into a bit more of a routine,” said Jepson.

There are lots of chances to get out to Norbrock stadium and see the NorthPaws battle the Falcons, Bells and Apple Sox to close out the first half of the season. If you can’t attend a game, all the action is available on West Coast League TV.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Close Out Series with 6-3 Loss

Published

15 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

The Cats mustered just five runs over the three game series. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats offence came up short in this afternoon’s ballgame, as Victoria was defeated 6-3 to finish off the weekend.

The Falcons took an early lead this afternoon on a sacrifice fly to centre, but it was smooth sailing otherwise for starting pitcher Jeremiah Arnett (Rice). The righty gave up four hits over four innings, the only run being that sac fly, with a trio of strikeouts and no free passes.

BOX SCORE

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) was tagged in for the top of the fifth and nailed his first inning of work, setting the Falcons down in order. The sixth was a different story, as Lindsey allowed a solo homer to push Kelowna’s lead to 2-0.

San Jose State reliever Landon Marchetti took over on the mound for the seventh, letting a couple of runners on but managing to escape the inning without a run scoring.

Flynn Warren (Hawaii Pacific) emerged from the bullpen in the top of the eighth to a precarious situation: bases loaded, no outs. The New Zealander walked one batter, hit two more, and gave up a sacrifice fly to allow four runs before the end of the frame.

Jeremiah Arnett (Rice) pitched four innings with three strikeouts. (Photo by JPM Photography)

The bottom of the eighth saw the HarbourCats offence finally gain some ground. A double from Kade Davis (UTSA) made room for Koa Won (Hawaii) to score, followed up by a single from Hewitt to bring in another run. Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) drove in one more before the inning came to a close with a score of 6-3 in favour of the Falcons.

The Cats would be unable to add on any more runs in the bottom of the ninth, dropping the final game of the series 6-3.

WCL STANDINGS

Victoria will now head on the road for a midweek matchup with the Edmonton Riverhawks, returning home on Friday to take on the Springfield Drifters.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Offence Stunted Versus Kelowna

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 8-1 by the Kelowna Falcons in the second game of the series.

The Falcons drew first blood in this one, launching a three-run dinger to left field in the top of the fourth to snag an early lead. Victoria’s starting pitcher Schuyler Fairchild (Wenatchee Valley) had cruised through the first three frames without much trouble up to that point, but his contributions this evening came to a close after the long ball in the fourth. Fairchild allowed three runs on four hits, striking out one batter and issuing a walk.

BOX SCORE

Inning number five required the services of Auburn, Washington’s Caden Shoul (Wenatchee Valley). The right-hander pitched 1.2 innings, calling it a night after giving up two runs in the top of the sixth to push Kelowna’s lead to 5-0.

Tyler Bono (North Central Texas) came into the game with the bases loaded and put on a sub-par performance, hitting two batters and walking one to allow three more runs. Marcus Janovsky (UBC) was summoned from the bullpen to finally get out of the inning.

Garen Geoghegan (Whitman) and Pierce Stone (Regis) combined for two scoreless innings in the final stages of the game, but Victoria’s offence continued to sputter.

Centre fielder Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, and was welcomed home by another double hammered by Carter Eberhard (Cal Baptist) to score the Cats’ first and only run of the game.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats close out the series on Sunday, June 7 at 1:05 pm before departing to Alberta for a midweek matchup with the Edmonton Riverhawks.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Fall 4-1 to Falcons

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Missed opportunities with runners in scoring position led to a disappointing outcome for the Cats. (Photo by Victoria Spotlight Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 4-1 by the Kelowna Falcons on Friday night in the first game of the series.

Both sides’ bats stayed quiet until the third inning this evening, when the Falcons drove a pair of base hits up the middle, jumping out in front to a 2-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Easton Reimers (North Dakota State) entered the game in the top of the fourth to relieve Cats starter Bryson Toner (Hawaii). Toner allowed two runs on five hits through his three innings on the bump this evening, throwing in a walk and a strikeout as well.

Reimers was excellent throughout his first two innings until a leadoff homer in the sixth broke his hitless streak. A second run scored on a passed ball before Reimers was able to get out of the inning and pass the baton to Jack Clark (CSU San Marcos).

The Cats offence woke up in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases and scoring a run on a ball that dropped just fair in left field from Rohne Klein (San Jose State). That was the only run they got on this crucial opportunity, as the Falcons picked up a big strikeout to escape the jam and maintain a 4-1 lead.

Tate Collins (Arkansas State) claimed control of the mound for the Cats in the top of the eighth inning. Despite a leadoff walk, the Little Rock, Arizona native tossed a zero on the board to bring about the bottom of the eighth for the Victoria offence.

The Cats were unable to pull off a comeback after loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth, leaving the runners stranded and losing the ballgame 4-1

WCL STANDINGS

Victoria and Kelowna will be back in action Saturday, June 6 at 6:35 pm for game two of the weekend series.

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