Summer Collegiate

The Incredible Stories of Gorm Heimueller

Published

2 years ago

November 1, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

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.

Yes, a tale capped with an alleged murderer.

Gorm Heimueller, now the pitching coach of the Nanaimo NightOwls of the West Coast League, is that guy. (Writer’s recommendation — buy Gorm dinner any chance you have, and sit back and listen to the stories. Worth every penny from a guy whose first spring training managers were Frank Robinson and Billy Martin.)

This story — well, it’s worth the read for sure.

Heimueller, a former MLB pitcher with nearly 50 years in the game (should it be mentioned that his college shortstop at Cal Poly was Ozzie Smith?), has World Series rings from developing pitchers for the Twins and Phillies, but his true wealth is the stories he can tell about the people he’s met. (His true wealth aside from his lovely wife LeeAnn, of course. You can’t forget LeeAnn, the Finnish Canadian.)

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

This whole story germinated from news that Serafini, who pitched for four MLB teams over an 11-year span, was arrested for murder and attempted murder tied to an attack in 2021 in the Lake Tahoe area.

“I remember him well — he gave me a gift at the end of that fall season to thank me for putting up with him being such a pain in the ass,” said Gorm, laughing.

“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.

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls Drop Game Two 15-9 Against The HarbourCats In A Battle Of The Bats

Published

7 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

VICTORIA, B.C. — The balls were flying out of the park on Wednesday night at Royal Athletic Park for game two of the Nanaimo NightOwls and Victoria HarbourCats series. Unfortunately for the NightOwls, they were not able to outslug the HarbourCats, falling 15-9, dropping the second game of the three-game series.

The Nanaimo NightOwls had nine runs on 12 hits and no errors. Normally, that would be enough offense for the win, but it wasn’t our day down in Victoria. Despite jumping out to an early lead thanks to a three-run home run from Talan Zenk. Nanaimo made it 4-0 in the top of the second before the HarbourCats exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second inning and four more in the bottom of the third to make it 9-4.

The game was closer than the score looks. The NightOwls continued to put on the pressure, but the HarbourCats just had their number tonight, scoring two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings before solidifying things with one more in the seventh and eighth.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=620556

It wasn’t a good night for the Nanaimo NightOwls Pitchers as they gave up 15 runs on 18 hits. That concludes the pitching portion of this post-game recap. The nice thing about scoring nine runs is that there were lots of contributors for the Nanaimo NightOwls on Wednesday night.

I feel like I am in the movie “Groundhog Day” because I keep having to write about Talan Zenk blasting balls out of the park. The utility infielder from Brier, Washington, went three for five and was just a triple away from hitting for the cycle. Talan finished the night with a HR, double, single, five RBI, and a stolen base.

Talan Zenk (@TalanZenk, @EvCC_Baseball ’26) went 3-for-5 with a double, home run, 4 RBI, 2 runs, and a stolen base last night for the @wclNightOwls. Zenk has now homered in three consecutive games. pic.twitter.com/k72PCnwg8j

— PNW College Baseball Report (@PNW_CBR) July 3, 2025

https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

I mentioned home runs and 3rd basemen Tyler Arnold also joined the party. He hit a solo shot in the top of the second for his first home run of the season for the NightOwls. Tyler finished the night one for four with a HR, two runs scored and a walk. Raoul Fabian Jr. also had three hits on the night going three for five with two singles and a double and scoring two runs for the Nanaimo NightOwls.

Jacob Hayes has another hitting streak going as he went one for five with an RBI for the NightOwls. Andrew Ivy also went two for three with two singles and a walk.

http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets

One more game for the Nanaimo NightOwls against the Victoria HarbourCats, at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. Nanaimo looks to pull out one game from the series and get back closer to a winning record as they enter into the second half of the season.

The two teams will finish off the series on Thursday, July 3rd before the NightOwls head off to Edmonton for a rematch with the RiverHawks. That series will go Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 4th, 5th, and 6th. Make sure to watch the game on the link above and cheer on your team on social media with the Hashtag #IlluminateTheDark and we may feature your post!

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Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws break out the late-game theatrics to sweep the AppleSox

Published

20 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The Kamloops NorthPaws completed the sweep of the Wenatchee AppleSox, defeating them 6-3 on Wednesday night. Catcher Kalen Applefield drove in five of the six runs for Kamloops, including a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth.

“Credit to him, he’s been showing up early every day hitting in the cages before batting practice and working his butt off trying to get himself back on track and he came up big tonight which is awesome,” said Assistant Coach Trey Newman.

Applefields teammate at UC Berkley, righty JM Harduvel, was on the mound for the NorthPaws and had his best outing of the summer, going three innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out a season high five batters.

“He’s one of the hardest workers on this team, and everything that’s coming towards him he’s earned, and I think he’s going to keep getting better,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.

Harduvel’s only rocky inning was in the second when the AppleSox put up a pair of runs. A hit by pitch, a stolen base and a single scored the first run, while a pair of two-out singles scored the second run, putting the AppleSox up 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, the NorthPaws responded as center fielder Connor Clark singled to begin the inning. With Applefield at the plate, the hit and run was on as Clark broke for second. The NorthPaws catcher sent a double down the right field line that scored Clark, cutting the lead in half.

In the bottom of the third, second baseman Tanner Hornback singled to begin the inning. Two batters later, first baseman Joey Rico sent a double of his own down the right field line, scoring Hornback and tying the game at two.

In the fourth, the AppleSox put together a two-out rally with a walk and a base hit. Wenatchee took the lead on an infield error. From there, the bullpen shut the door. Righties Landon Guiterriez, Nolan Austin, and Cade Webber threw a combined five scoreless innings, giving up just three hits, including another unbelievable outing from Austin, giving up just one hit in three scoreless innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, the third baseman, Drew Schmidt, walked. Rico followed that up with a base hit. Left fielder Matt MacDonald reached base via a throwing error from the pitcher off a bunt attempt. Clark struck out, setting Applefield up for the most significant opportunity of the season. He had been hitless in his last six games and came into the contest with just four RBI’s. With his go-ahead grand slam, he had five on Wednesday night alone.

The NorthPaws would complete the sweep as Cade Webber came on and got the save. The series was entertaining to say the least. Two one-run victories and two come-from-behind wins for the NorthPaws. After struggling to get timely hits over the weekend, Hornback, Burke and Applefield all delivered on different nights, playing crucial roles in the victories.

“They’re good players, that’s why they’re here. Good players find ways to make good moments happen, so it was cool to see those guys come through in three separate games,” said Head Coach Riley Jepson.

The team will now have a couple of days off before playing an exhibition double header against Webber Academy on Saturday. The team will resume West Coast League action on Tuesday, July 8th. After a gruelling schedule to this point, Jepson and the rest of the team are looking forward to their days off.

“It will be nice for the guys to reset and let their bodies catch up to them, it’s not easy coming off long spring schedules at school and start playing six days a week,” said Jepson.

You can stay up-to-date with the team and follow along on social media. Stay tuned for more stories coming over the weekend.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Allen leads offensive outburst as Cats beat Owls

Published

20 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The HarbourCats clinched the Island Cup with games to spare, winning six of eight against the NightOwls this season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 2, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats picked up where they left off on Canada Day, putting up season highs in runs and hits Wednesday night, beating the Nanaimo NightOwls 15-9.

It was the visitors who got off to the perfect start in the top of the first inning when Talan Zenk took a Hudson Lance (Coastal Carolina) hanging breaking ball over the left field wall for a three-run home run. It was the second baseman’s second long ball in as many days and his fourth of the season.

JC Allen extended his hit streak to seven games and has seven hits in this series (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

In the next inning, it was Tyler Arnold who took another hanging slider from Lance over the fence for a solo shot, making it 4-0 Nanaimo.

BOX SCORE

The Cats answered back immediately in the bottom half when Jack Johnson (Baylor) drove home Victoria’s first run of the game with an RBI single. Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) followed that up with a two-run single, making it 4-3. JC Allen (UC San Diego) tied it up at four with a two-out single, and Logan Shepherd (Mercer U) gave the HarbourCats the lead with an RBI single of his own.

Nathan Davis levelled things up at five in the top half of the third with a two-out RBI single. Victoria restored their lead, putting four more runs on the board in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a Jacob Doyle (Nevada) RBI double.

WCL STANDINGS

The scoring kept coming when Zenk drove in two more runs with a double to make it 9-7 HarbourCats after four innings.

Lance lasted three innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, walking none and striking out three. He was replaced by Jacob Thompson (Minot State), who walked three and surrendered two runs on three hits. Oliver Mabee (Nebraska Omaha) took over from there and pitched a season-high 3-1/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits, and striking out three.

Garrett Brooks has three hits in his first two HarbourCats games (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

WATCH GAMES HERE

Allen hit a two-run home run for his third long ball of the season in the fifth inning to extend the Cats’ lead to 11-7. Hudson Shupe (Gonzaga) and Allen hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth inning to make it 13-7. The NightOwls scored a pair in the top of the seventh before a Beltowski RBI double in the bottom half gave the Cats a 14-9 lead late on.

Allen capped off his player-of-the-game performance by crushing a solo home run in the eighth inning, bringing the score to 15-9. The first baseman went four for four with two home runs, a double, and five RBIs.

Every HarbourCat starter had at least one hit, with Beltowski and Dillon Lopez (St Mary’s) recording three hits each. As a team, Victoria recorded 18 hits and drew 10 walks.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Jake Finkelstein (Georgia Gwinnett) and Ethan McNish-Heider (Niagara) both pitched a scoreless inning to close out the game.

The HarbourCats go for the sweep tomorrow at 6:35 PM. Buy tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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