Summer Collegiate
The Incredible Stories of Gorm Heimueller
There may only be one man alive who, in the span of four minutes, can weave a story that includes the best basketball player of all time, a sure-fire hall-of-fame Major League manager, the legendary captain of the Yankees, two all-star catchers, and an accused killer.
Gorm (it should be mentioned he once struck out Reggie Jackson, twice, and Rod Carew in a game in the Bigs) heard the news of the recent arrest of ex-Twins lefty Dan Serafini (more on that later) and was left recalling his fall in the fairly-new Arizona Fall League in 1994, sent by the Twins to help the Chandler Diamondbacks, playing games at the archaic former Brewers spring stadium.
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Ah, yes, 1994 — no October MLB playoffs due to the August walkout and players strike that surely kept the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays from their collision course in an all-Canadian World Series. (We all know the Expos would have needed six games to halt the Blue Jays’ run of World Series titles at two, right? Right.)
“We were the only baseball around, there was a lot of attention on us and that was fun,” said Gorm.
Gorm’s team’s catchers were Charles Johnson and Jason Kendall, who would go on to all-star status at the MLB level. A player in the league that fall was none other than Michael Jordan, who for still mysterious reasons abruptly left the Chicago Bulls in the midst of their dynasty to strike out a lot with the Birmingham Barons, AA affiliate of the White Sox. Ex-Expo Terry Francona, surely headed to the Hall of Fame as a manager, had Jordan on his teams both in Arizona and Birmingham — where Jordan famously bought a tricked-out bus for the team’s travel comfort.
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Gorm’s fall league shortstop? Gangly, barely 20 years old, defensively inconsistent at the time but taken sixth overall in 1992 by the Yankees — Derek Jeter.
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“Jeter and Serafini attended my son’s fifth birthday party that fall. I saw Jeter a few years later and, I hated doing this, but I wanted to get something signed so I went up to him — he said ‘Hey, Gorm! How are you’,” said Heimueller. “I was shocked he remembered me. And he was glad to sign some things for me.”
Actually a Jeter connection is why Heimueller is coaching for the NightOwls in the first place. His good friend in the game, legendary scout Marti Wolever, who was scouting supervisor for the Yankees when Jeter was drafted, worked with Gorm in the Phillies organization and they are close friends to this day.
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The classy Wolever, a member of the Professional Scouts Hall of Fame and a former minor league outfielder, was a top scout with the Detroit Tigers in 2016 when Jim Swanson, now GM of the NightOwls, was added as an Associate Scout by the Tigers. Wolever connected Swanson and Heimueller for the pitching coach opening in Nanaimo, putting NightOwls history in motion.
“I liked him, and he went on to pitch for us with the Twins. But I guess with all those names it just shows you never know what’s going to become of people, right?” he added.
April 21, 2026
VICTORIA, B.C. — Practical power, provided — thanks to Emery Electric.
The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to recognize local company Emery Electric, a proud local business founded in 1930 by Ernie Emery and now overseen by Derek Emery.
What is this recognition all about? Well, working with the HarbourCats and the City of Victoria, Emery Electric has provided a major power upgrade to what is known during the baseball season as Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park — one that brings significant environmental improvements.
Emery Electric will be a key part of the HarbourCats season, helping to highlight “Emery Electric electric plays” by the home team, and the WCL All-Star Game Festival’s home run derby, featuring former Blue Jays star outfielder Kevin Pillar, will be referred to as “Powered by Emery Electric.”
“What was completed by Emery Electric earlier this year is a significant piece of quality work and infrastructure improvement we are proud to have put in place — and it will bring enhanced service capacity to all who use the City-owned facility,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats. “There should be no more brown-outs in that area. Derek and his staff are so community-minded, it’s hard to describe.
“We can’t yell ‘THANK YOU’ loud enough. It’s a big addition for the City, no cost to taxpayers, and we are proud to help contribute.”
In short, the work will provide power for the equivalent of four food trucks along Caledonia Avenue — a cabinet housing 4x30amp, 120/208 volt, and 4x15amp, 120 volt was installed in the off-season. That means generators and various fuels, and the associated hum of the engines, can be removed from the park (gas and diesel prices these days, anyone?).
Cup-A-Roni is one of many food trucks operating during HarbourCats games that will benefit from the power upgrades installed during the off season.
Emery Electric is nearing 100 years of serving Victoria and indeed all of Vancouver Island in commercial, industrial and marine electrical contracting.
The HarbourCats have been the main user of Royal Athletic Park since 2013, the longest continuous single user group in the history of the facility, which opened in May of 1908. The HarbourCats have contributed many improvements including dressing room upgrades, the movable fence, and enhanced seating areas, all with no taxpayer burden.
The HarbourCats begin their 2026 season on May 29th with a visit to Portland and then return to Victoria for the Home Opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 pm.
Season tickets, single-game tickets, 12 and 32-game flex packs are now on sale at harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 1814 Vancouver Street.
Tickets for the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 14th are currently available in a package that also include tickets for the WCL All Star Game that will be held on Wednesday, July 15th and feature the top players in the league. Prices for the package start at $40 for General Admission seats to $85 for field level Diamond Club Seats, and can be purchased ON-LINE, or by visiting the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, just around the corner from the stadium.
Summer Collegiate
Nanaimo NightOwls unveil VIDEOBOARD, elevating game-day experience at Serauxmen Stadium
The Nanaimo NightOwls are raising the bar for fan engagement with the introduction of a brand-new videoboard ahead of the club’s highly anticipated fifth West Coast League season.
This major addition to historic Serauxmen Stadium will transform the in-game experience, delivering dynamic replays, interactive features, contests, live broadcast integration, and enhanced entertainment that brings fans closer to the action than ever before.
The videoboard is being delivered in partnership with Chris Jaycox Productions, led by Chris Jaycox — the creative force behind the NightOwls’ live streaming broadcast seen on www.NightOwls.TV
His team will oversee both production and execution, ensuring a seamless and high-quality experience from first pitch to final out.
“I’m excited to be part of such a great team and to help bring another level to the in-game experience for fans,” said Jaycox. “The videoboard will create new energy in the ballpark, featuring interactive promos, replays, contests, and the live broadcast, and really accentuate every moment of the NightOwls experience.”
The installation has been made possible thanks to the unwavering support of anchor sponsor Chinook Scaffolding, a stellar Island company whose contribution has been instrumental in bringing the project to life.
The NightOwls also extend sincere thanks to the City of Nanaimo for its collaboration and commitment to helping turn this vision into reality.
“This is a defining step forward for our organization and our fans,” said Tina Baker-Cornett, General Manager of the Nanaimo NightOwls. “We’re always looking for ways to elevate the experience at the ballpark, and this videoboard allows us to create something more immersive, more engaging, and more memorable for everyone who walks through our gates.”
Serauxmen Stadium, which opened 50 years ago, has never had a videoboard in its proud history.
The videoboard will make its debut on Opening Day of the NightOwls’ fifth WCL season on June 2, setting the stage for an exciting new era of baseball in Nanaimo.
Don’t miss out on the excitement as we raise the bar even higher!
Secure your Single Game, 10 Game Flex Passes, and limited Season Tickets now at
www.NanaimoNightOwls.com/ticketinfo
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Superman landing — former Blue Jays star Kevin Pillar to headline unique Home Run Derby event at WCL All-Star Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2026
VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s all the excitement of a HOME RUN DERBY with fun and unique twists… including points on defence.
And — with former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar, known as “Superman” for his fence thievery as well as his bat, as the star attraction.
Pillar, 37, who recently retired after a stellar 13-season, 1234-game career spent mostly as a Blue Jay, will be one of the West Coast League (WCL) Home Run Derby participants — he and his family are excited to be in Victoria for the event.
Pillar, a former Vancouver Canadian who also played for nine other MLB teams over his final seasons and is now doing some broadcasting on Sportsnet, hit 114 MLB home runs and was a fan favourite for how hard he played the game — and of course his memorable home run robbing catches at Rogers Centre.
Yes, the format will showcase a HR derby with gloves and sliding catches, even fence robberies, and an altered field configuration.
Intrigued? You should be — and no one should miss this.
The host committee of the 2026 WCL All-Star Game is excited to announce it will use the groundbreaking format/rules of Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby X as part of the WCL All-Star Game Festival, July 14-15.
It will be the first time that a Canadian site will use the format, which MLB has successfully showcased in the US and overseas over the last few summers.
This event will be an important Day 1 aspect of the overall All-Star Game festival, Tuesday, July 14, 6:35pm.
“The West Coast League has a working relationship with Major League Baseball, so the fans will see something special on that Tuesday at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP,” said ASG co-chair Brenda MacFarlane. “This is all about the home runs, but the twists on defence make it an absolute blast — pardon the pun.
“Having Kevin Pillar as one of the players in this, wearing a Blue Jays uniform, will be a must-attend for any Jays fan, any sports fan.”
The rules involve a three-on-three, three-inning competition in which hitters have two minutes, thirty seconds during their time at the plate. The opposing team of three grab their gloves and can steal points in the “catch zone” near the fence, while hitters aim for a double-point target zone and use strategy to add “hot streak” bonus points.
With a unique defensive component in the 2026 WCL Home Run Derby, fans may get to see Kevin Pillar make some of the amazing catches that were a signature of his time with the Blue Jays.
“It’s a creative way to bring more of the game into a home run derby, and fans have loved it,” added MacFarlane.
The home run derby, which will start at 6:35pm on that Tuesday, July 14, is just part of the overall WCL All-Star Game Festival, which will take over so many locations on the Lower Island — more announcements to come. The main spot will of course be Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
Tickets for the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 14th are currently available in a package that also include tickets for the WCL All Star Game that will be held on Wednesday, July 15th and feature the top players in the league. Prices for the package start at $40 for General Admission seats to $85 for field level Diamond Club Seats, and can be purchased ON-LINE, or by visiting the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, just around the corner from the stadium.
Victoria HarbourCats – Emery Electric powers HarbourCats, food trucks, and RAP
Nanaimo NightOwls unveil VIDEOBOARD, elevating game-day experience at Serauxmen Stadium
Victoria HarbourCats – Superman landing — former Blue Jays star Kevin Pillar to headline unique Home Run Derby event at WCL All-Star Festival
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Summer Collegiate4 days agoNanaimo NightOwls unveil VIDEOBOARD, elevating game-day experience at Serauxmen Stadium
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Victoria HarbourCats – Superman landing — former Blue Jays star Kevin Pillar to headline unique Home Run Derby event at WCL All-Star Festival
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