The Kamloops NorthPaws dropped game three in Walla Walla, losing the series as the Sweets scored 15 runs on 13 hits. Walla Walla scored five in the first inning and would hold the lead for the entire game, scoring six runs between the third and fifth innings as well as four more in the eighth. The NorthPaws kept the game close with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth, but the eighth inning proved to be too much.

The NorthPaws got the lead in the top of the first as two wild pitches brought center fielder Connor Clark home. Righty Joey Rico was on the mound making his first start. Rico was also in the lineup as the designated hitter. The Sweets jumped all over him, however. Three singles, a double and a home run put five on the board for the Sweets, all without Rico recording an out.

In the second, left-fielder Matthew MacDonald and second-baseman Tanner Hornback walked and singled. Both would advance on a wild pitch, setting up third baseman Drew Abercrombie, who doubled down the third base line, scoring both runners and making it a 5-3 game.

The Sweets wouldn’t take long to respond as they scored two runs in the third and fourth, making it 9-3 heading into the top of the fifth. The NorthPaws stayed tough with right fielder Jared Hall and Clark reaching base. The centerfielder would later score off a Rico single. Catcher Brendan Burke then sent a single of his own through the right side, scoring Hall. Finally, after a pitching change, MacDonald singled off the first pitch he saw, scoring Rico once again, putting the NorthPaws within three.

Walla Walla came back in the bottom half with their third straight inning with two runs on the board, erasing any NorthPaw momentum for the time being. With one out, the Sweets had the bases loaded and sent a grounder toward first base. The throw was about to be made home for the force out, but a throwing error saw the ball hit the backstop, scoring runs 10 and 11.

Kamloops refused to go away just yet as shortstop Elijah Clayton doubled. Clark followed that up a few pitches later with a double of his own, scoring Clayton. Clark would later score off a balk from the Sweets pitcher, putting Kamloops within striking distance. The Sweets went down scoreless in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the NorthPaw bats went silent.

Despite the 10 hits given up by Walla Walla pitcher, they only walked four batters the entire game and held the NorthPaws off the board in the final third of the ballgame. Everything unravelled in the eighth inning, with the Sweets scoring four runs and putting any hope of a NorthPaw come back to bed.

Kamloops drops to 10-8 on the season, but the good news for them is that 11 of the team’s last 12 games to close out the first half will be played at NorBrock Stadium. The gurgling road stretch is over, and the only road game they will play is next Wednesday in Kelowna. The Victoria HarbourCats come to town fresh off a sweep of their Island rivals, the Nanaimo Night Owls.

Victoria and Kamloops are tied for third in the division, making this weekend’s series that much more important. Friday and Saturday’s games will be at 6:35, and Sunday’s first pitch is at 12:05. Come out and support the NorthPaws in person or follow all the action on West Coast League TV.

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VICTORIA, B.C. — The NightOwls leave empty-handed after a tough 10-3 loss to the Victoria HarbourCats in game three of the series. The NightOwls fell behind one to nothing in the first inning before the HarbourCats went off for eight runs in the bottom of the third inning. Nanaimo was able to put a couple on the board to make it respectable, but in the end, were swept by their Island rival.

Nanaimo had three runs on 10 hits with no errors. The Victoria HarbourCats had 10 runs on 16 hits with no errors on the day in front of 2576 fans.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=620552

Brock Wirthgen had a 344-foot home run to left field in the top of the seventh inning to make it 10-2. Brock, from California Baptist University, went one for four on the afternoon with a home run and an RBI. Raoul Fabian Jr. was on base twice with a walk and was hit by a pitch. Drew Giannini also contributed on the day with a hit, going one for four.

Ricardo Villegas pitched three innings and started strong, but struggled in the third inning. He took the loss with a stat line of two and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs on six hits. The bullpen was able to stop the bleeding as Carter Chard-Hill and Ryder Florence both pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth.

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Andrew Ivy had a strong game for the Nanaimo NightOwls. He went three for five at the plate with one hit and one RBI. Caden Petrey, Eli Watson, Andrew Nykoluk, and Alessandro Volpe each chipped in on the day with a single.

There was some definite base running errors, which I am sure Coach Cody Andreychuk will address going forward. The NightOwls were thrown out three times on the bases from fly ball or line drive double plays.

The Nanaimo NightOwls start a 10-game homestand with a weekend series against the Port Angeles Lefties. The series goes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 20th, 21st, and 22nd at Serauxemen Stadium. Then we welcome the Redmond Dudes on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24th and 25th.

Make sure to get your tickets and follow the team on our website and social media when they are on the road for the latest information and updates. We have some great promotional days coming up, starting on Saturday with Worker Safety night with some free swag on the concourse, AND Bring A Friend night with a free gift at the Owl’s merch tent for you and your BFF.

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June 19, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. –  The Victoria HarbourCats completed the sweep of their island rival Nanaimo NightOwls with a 10-3 win Thursday afternoon. It was an early start for the second school spirit game of the season, which was presented by KidSport.

The Cats got on the board early through a fielder’s choice, which gave them a 1-0 lead after one inning.

Isaiah Afework (Tacoma CC) and Xander “Boogie” McAfee (Texas Arlington) hit back-to-back RBI singles in the third inning to increase their advantage to 3-0. The runs did not stop there as Connor Ross (Cal Baptist), Curtis McKay (Niagara), and Owen Clyne (George Mason) all hit two-RBI singles to cap off the eight-run frame and give the hosts a 9-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Tanner Beltowski (Westmont) hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning to make it 10-0.

Hudson Lance (Coastal Carolina) had his best outing of the year, pitching five shutout innings, giving up no runs on four hits and striking out two.

WCL STANDINGS 

Nanaimo got on the board in the sixth and seventh innings, scoring three runs against Ethan McNish-Heider (Niagara), making it 10-3. From there, Marcus Janovsky (UBC) and Wyatt McDonald (LCC) closed out the final three innings giving up no runs.

Eight HarbourCats recorded at least a hit with Ross, Clyne, and Beltowski having three-hit games.

WATCH HOME GAMES HERE

The Cats are back in action tomorrow in Kamloops to open up a three-game weekend series.

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.

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