Summer Collegiate

WCL Adds Springfield Drifters as Newest Member Team

Published

4 years ago

April 23, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

Thursday, the West Coast League announced the addition of the expansion Springfield Drifters as the league’s 16th member team. The Drifters will join the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, and Portland Pickles as the league’s fourth Oregon-based team.

“When you look at a map,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “adding another team in the Willamette Valley is an easy call for us. We were simply waiting for the perfect situation, and with the Springfield Baseball Project, that’s now exactly what we’ve got.”

The Drifters, Bushnell University, and Huddle Up Foundation comprise the Springfield Baseball Project, which is partnering with Springfield Public Schools to renovate the Hamlin Sports Complex baseball field, located at Hamlin Middle School. Beginning in 2022, both the Drifters and the Bushnell Beacons will call the Hamlin Sports Complex home in their inaugural seasons.

“Bringing the high-level play of the West Coast League to Springfield is a baseball dream come true,” said Drifters General Manager Jamie Christopher. “Through the Springfield Baseball Project and Springfield Public Schools’ partnership, we are not only building a first-class baseball facility; we’re also bringing a community facility to an under-served youth population.”

The Drifters join the Edmonton Riverhawks, Kamloops NorthPaws and Nanaimo NightOwls as the four expansion teams set to begin play in 2022. Edmonton, Kamloops and Nanaimo, along with the Victoria HarbourCats and Kelowna Falcons, are gearing up for the 2022 campaign after withdrawing from the 2021 season due to continuing pandemic-related border and gathering limitations.

Springfield’s ownership team of Ike Olsson, from Olsson Industrial Electric; and Kelly Richardson of Richardson Sports, have been planning this venture for a year. “In partnership with the school district,” said Olsson, “we are honored to present our community with another phenomenal baseball complex that builds upon Huddle Up Foundation’s success with Rich Schwab Field at Maple Elementary School. This new project will continue Huddle Up’s mission of providing mentorship and after-school programs to underserved local youth.”

“The Springfield School District has been an ideal partner. Without their cooperation and shared vision, the Drifters Baseball Club and this new facility would not be possible,” said Richardson. “We are excited to bring collegiate baseball to the Springfield community and provide a first-class facility for local kids to use and be proud of.”

Fans can follow the team on social media: @driftersbball on Facebook and Twitter.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats shutout Owls in series opener

Published

5 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

June 17, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats came to play Tuesday night, shutting out the visiting Nanaimo NightOwls 9-0.

The scoring started early courtesy of a pair of bases-loaded walks in the first inning. Nanaimo starter Brady Pavlovsky walked five batters in the opening frame and seven in total. He lasted 1-2/3 innings, giving up two runs.

BOX SCORE

Tyler Patrick (Fresno State) made his first appearance for the Cats, starting the game and produced an outing his new team desperately needed. The freshman threw four shutout innings, giving up four hits while striking out four.

Jacob Silva walked three times tonight (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Jacob Doyle (Nevada) led off the bottom of the fourth with a 380-foot home run over the left field wall to make it 3-0. Later in the inning, Logan Shepherd (Tacoma CC) extended his hit streak to 10 games with an RBI single. Cayden Munster (Fresno State) followed that up with a bases-clearing double to the gap, increasing the Cats’ lead to 7-0. Xander “Boogie” McAfee (Texas Arlington) drove in an eighth run to end the frame with a single.

WCL STANDINGS

Shepherd drove in his team-leading 14th RBI with a fifth-inning single, making it 9-0.

Logan Saloman (Nevada) made his debut out of the bullpen and pitched two scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out a pair. Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) pitched the final three innings, giving up zero runs on zero hits while striking out two. Tonight, the three HarbourCat pitchers combined to walk zero batters.

WATCH GAMES HERE

The island rivals are back in action tomorrow at 6:35 PM. Get 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.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Shupe returns to HarbourCats

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For Immediate Release

June 16, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — A prime-time collegiate player and fan favourite is returning to the Victoria HarbourCats, and will be in uniform on Tuesday.

Infielder Hudson Shupe of Gonzaga, a junior who can play short, second or third, will be making his third season appearance with the HarbourCats. A 21-year-old from Richland, WA, was with the HarbourCats in 2022 (.270 AVG, 13 stolen bases) and 2023 (.353 AVG, 10 stolen bases) before spending last summer with Orleans of the Cape Cod League (.310 AVG over 38 games). He has played in 83 total games for the Cats between the regular season and playoffs.

Shupe, always a team leader and an energy guy who brings fans to their feet, is a career .320 hitter over three seasons of Division 1 baseball, with Seattle U and Gonzaga. He is a highly regarded prospect for the upcoming MLB draft, and will be using the next month to be ready for pro baseball, if selected and signed.

“Hudson loves Victoria, and loves the HarbourCats, and this will cement his place as one of the best players in our team’s history — we could not be more excited,” said GM Christian Stewart. “Fans will want to get out to our home games to see this future pro, who has a legitimate shot at becoming an MLB player and joining the eight other former HarbourCats who have progressed all the way to the top level of the game, something we are very proud of.”

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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Summer Collegiate

The Bats Come Alive For The NightOwls As They Take The Series With An 8-2 Win

Published

2 days ago

June 16, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

KELOWNA, B.C. — The bats came alive for the Nanaimo NightOwls in the tune of eight runs on nine hits with two home runs. The complete opposite of last night, where Nanaimo just couldn’t get things going at the plate. Tonight they had 4 extra base hits, and that combined with some great pitching led to the series win.

Starting pitcher Aiden Boice, from Holladay, Utah, had a great night on the mound, pitching five innings, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four. Catcher Brock Wirthgen and Caden Petrey both went yard in the game for the NightOwls. Andrew Ivy continues to impress, going two for four with a walk and a stolen base. If feels like every game I have to mention him swiping a bag.

The Nanaimo NightOwls jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to some smart base running from Eli Watson. He stole second and was able to score on an error trying to steal third. After the Falcons tied it up with a run in the second, the NightOwls went off with a huge sixth inning, putting a four-spot on the board. After a walk to Andrew Ivy, and an Easton Mould single. Eli Watson would cash one after a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third.

Then walked up Brock Wirthgen, who cracked one out of the park to give the NightOwls the 5-1 lead. The 7th innings saw Easton Mould and Eli Watson driving in back-to-back RBI singles. Not to be outdone, Caden Petrey also got into the party with a home run in the top of the 8th inning to make it 8-1. The Falcons would claw one run back in the 9th, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Besides starting pitcher Aiden Boice, Dawson Shultz and Dalton Hanson also had great games on the mound. They combined for four innings of 2 hit ball, giving up just 1 run and preserving the win for Boice.

The Starting pitching gave the Nanaimo NightOwls a chance to find their bats. I asked head coach Cody Andreychuk about the performance of Aiden Boice after the game, “Ya, he competed and did a wonderful job for us tonight. Commanded all his pitches for strikes. Got behind some of the hitters but would always get back and get the hitters out. [The] best way to say it is he competed well tonight in a getaway game to win the series on the road.”

Some big innings for the NightOwls and some great pitching saw them take the series against the Kelowna Falcons two games to one on Sunday night. Nanaimo finished the night with eight runs on nine hits and an error. Kelowna had two runs on eight hits and three errors in the loss. The NightOwls move back above .500% with the win at 8-7.

The Nanaimo NightOwls head back to the Island but not home as they will take on the Victoria HarbourCats for a three-game series, June 17th, 18th, and 19th. The team returns home on June 20th for a weekend series against the Port Angeles Lefties. That goes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 20th, 21st, and 22nd at Serauxmen Stadium.

The team is on a 10-game homestand starting on the 20th of June. We have some great promotional days coming up, including Indigenous Peoples Day and Halloween in June. 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!

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