Summer Collegiate

Weird, Wild and Wacky: NorthPaws get the W in their home opener

Published

2 months ago

June 7, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The Kamloops NorthPaws finally returned home after a six-game road trip and treated their fans to a 12-8 victory over the Kelowna Falcons on Friday night. The team’s home opener had a little bit of everything. The two teams combined for 20 runs, 23 hits and eight errors, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Kelowna would waste no time getting on the board, with three singles propelling them to a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, shortstop Elijah Clayton would walk and then steal second base. A high throw by the catcher sent the ball into center field; additionally, the center fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Clayton to score.

Back-to-back walks and a base hit loaded the bases with no one out as first baseman Keegan Drinkle sent a sacrifice fly to left field, tying the game. Later in the inning, right fielder Jared Hall doubled, bringing in two more runs and taking the lead.

The seesaw battle would begin as the Falcons scored in the second via a wild pitch and took a 5-4 lead off a fielder’s choice and an error in the third. In the bottom of the fourth, Ethan Kodama singled, tying the game, and would later advance to third after an error on a failed pickoff attempt. Kodama scored via a sacrifice fly to restore the NorthPaws lead.

The Falcons would stay pesky by driving in a run in the fifth and score two more runs in the seventh, taking an 8-7 lead. Kamloops tied the game after yet another RBI from Jared Hall. This time, it was a sacrifice fly. The seventh inning ended strangely, however, as second baseman Anthony Setticassi sent a single through the left side. Keegan Drinkle rounded third and was heading for home when the throw beat him. As he tried to avoid the tag, he ran into the side of the Kelowna catcher, knocking the ball loose from his glove.

Drinkle stepped on home and was initially called safe, but the Falcons catcher was furious and tried to go after him but was held back. Drinkle continued to walk toward the dugout, but the home plate umpire ejected him from the game right there, and he was called out, negating the potential game-tying run.

Kalen Applefield would replace him at first base, but the NorthPaws were determined to retake the lead in the eigth. A pair of Falcon errors put runners on second and third. Third baseman Kieran Gaffney sent a single to right field that tied the game. Outfielders Austin Coyle and Jared Hall both doubled, scoring four runs and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

“My teammates put me in a great position, and I’m thankful I was able to come through tonight,” said Hall

The five-run eighth inning was enough, as hometown kid Nolan Austin shut the door, securing the fifth win of the season for the NorthPaws. Austin was terrific on the mound, going two and two-thirds innings, giving up just two hits while not surrendering a run.

“Nolan was fantastic; he had all of his pitches working and was going after hitters all night,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.

After a series in Bellingham that saw the NorthPaw bats cool down, it was a refreshing sight to see situational hitting work in their favour.

“We left a lot of guys on base in Bellingham, so it was nice to come home and execute,” said Assistant Coach Trey Newman.

For many of the NorthPaw players, this was their first taste of intense baseball at Norbrock Stadium. For Trey Newman, it was a similar experience in 2022, and he remarked on how cool it was to hear the stadium loud again. Newman is eager to help the NorthPaws regain what they had three summers ago.

“I was telling everyone that this is what the stadium sounded like when we played at home. Keep coming out to Norbrock. I promise we will give you something to cheer about,” said Newman.

The NorthPaws will visit Kelowna for the first time tomorrow night. That game will be available on West Coast TV as well as the NorthPaws Mixlr. On Sunday, the team is back home for an afternoon game to conclude the three-game weekend series. The first pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.

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Summer Collegiate

Clutch Owls edged in extras in Edmonton

Published

10 hours ago

August 1, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

EDMONTON, Alta. — The comeback kids came up a bit short.

Two runs by the Edmonton Riverhawks in the bottom of the 10th inning broke the hearts of the Nanaimo NightOwls on Thursday night at Remax Field, with a stellar crowd of 6,132 looking on for an eventual 8-7 win for the home club.

The NightOwls scored two runs in the ninth to take a lead and had the Riverhawks down to their last strike in the bottom of that inning.

The Owls then went ahead 7-6 in the top of the 10th, and nearly held on — Edmonton found a clutch two-out hit to right field to provide the winning run.

The NightOwls, who outhit the Riverhawks 10-9, scored four times in the fifth inning, the key hit being a two-run double from outfielder Owen Wessel (Hawaii Pacific). Wessel was one of four NightOwls to record two hits — Ryder Florence, Raoul Fabian Jr. and Trevor Goldenetz being the others.

Vinny Bruno and Jaedeyn Edwards put up impressive relief appearances, Bruno throwing 1.2 innings with just one hit and no runs, and Edwards going three innings after Bruno exited, with one hit, two strikeouts, and no runs. Jayden Gabrillo threw well in his 1.2 innings recorded, striking out two.

The NightOwls fly back from Edmonton on Friday morning.

There are just three more regular season home games for the NightOwls in 2025, a weekend series against Kamloops that starts Friday (August 1-2-3), with the Friday and Saturday games at 6:35pm and the Sunday capper at 1pm. The NightOwls complete their fourth WCL regular season with a road series in Bellingham, August 4-5-6.

Those home games are the only chance to use remaining vouchers purchased at Save On Foods, or as part of 10packs.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats complete sweep with dominant win

Published

11 hours ago

August 1, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Jack Johnson’s three hit night raised his batting average to .303 on the season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

July 31, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats took care of business this week, completing the sweep of the Kamloops NorthPaws with a resounding 18-3 win Thursday night.

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) has been a constant out of the bullpen this season, making 11 appearances, but was tasked with the start tonight. The first three batters he faced all reached, but he escaped the bases-loaded jam, limiting the damage to just one run.

Jai Berezowski (Golden Tide) levelled it up for the Cats at 1-1 in the second inning on a sacrifice fly.

Lindsay was rolling after the shaky start, retiring six in a row before a bang-bang play at first was called safe to extend the third inning. A stolen base put the runner in scoring position for Matthew MacDonald, who restored the visitors’ one-run advantage, making it 2-1 with a single. The Lufkin, Texas native completed three innings, giving up two runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking none.

BOX SCORE

The HarbourCats bats started to come alive in the third inning when Logan Shepherd (Mercer U) tied the game at two with an RBI double to the gap. He then came home on a Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) RBI single to give the Cats their first lead of the evening. Nahaku scored on a wild pitch later in the frame to double the lead, making it 4-2.

Kamana Nahaku has 16 RBIs in nine games this season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

In the fourth inning, Jack Johnson (Tulane U) crushed a two-run home run over the left field fence to extend his team’s advantage to 6-2, his fourth of the campaign.

The NorthPaws made it 6-3 through a Jared Hall double in the top of the fifth inning, but the home team then exploded for eight runs in the bottom half. Jake Butler (George Mason) continued to torment Kamloops pitching, driving in a pair with a double to the gap to make it 8-3. Dominic Archila (Texas Tech) recorded an RBI for the second straight night with a single before Shepherd and Nahaku both drew bases-loaded walks to bring home two more runs. Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s) plated a pair with a single up the middle before Butler recorded his second hit of the inning, this time an RBI single to cap off the huge inning.

WCL STANDINGS

Declan Brown (Ottawa U) came off the bench for Victoria and hit his first home run as a cat, a solo shot in the seventh, extending the lead to 15-3. Tanner Beltowski’s (Westmont College) second hit of the game was a two-run double down the left field line, pushing the lead to 17-3.

Butler hit another RBI double in the eighth inning for his fifth RBI of the game and seventh of the series.

Dustin Davidson (Freed Hardeman), Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M), and Ethan McNish-Heider (Niagara) all pitched in relief to close out the 18-3 win.

Garrett Brooks recorded a season high of four hits and also scored four times (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

With this sweep, the HarbourCats stay top of the North Division second-half standings with a 16-5 record. The Edmonton Riverhawks are still just one game back after they completed a sweep of the Nanaimo NightOwls with a walk-off win tonight.

The HarbourCats travel down to Port Angeles tomorrow for the final road series of the season. Friday and Saturday are 6:35 PM first pitches while Sunday is a 1:35 PM afternoon start. Watch the games HERE.

VOUCHER REMINDER: The Victoria HarbourCats only have three remaining home dates this season. A doubleheader on Monday, August 4, that starts at 4:05 PM, and evening games Tuesday, August 5, and Wednesday, August 6. Don’t forget to redeem your vouchers. You can do so at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any questions or need help exchanging your vouchers, call the HarbourCats office at (778) 265 0327.

10 Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ 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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Summer Collegiate

Road warrior NightOwls battle hard in loss in Alberta

Published

2 days ago

July 30, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

EDMONTON, Alta. — The Nanaimo NightOwls have been anything but a pushover this season, refusing to make things easy on the opposition.

Five late runs by the host Edmonton Riverhawks turned a 1-0 lead by the NightOwls, that lasted for six innings, into a 5-1 victory by the Albertans on Tuesday night at Remax Field, a game played in front of a legitimate crowd count of 7,108. Edmonton is the unquestioned attendance leader in the WCL.

Outfielder Spencer Sullivan’s sacrifice fly in the first inning, scoring Trevor Goldenetz, actually looked like it might hold up as all the scoring needed — until the bottom of the sixth inning.

Dawson Schultz was masterful in his starting pitching role for the NightOwls (20-26 overall, 8-11 in second half), throwing four innings with just one hit allowed — he walked none, and used his defence with no strikeouts recorded.

Reliever Cole Carmichael was effective in two innings, surrendering one run, but had the NightOwls in position to still find a way to win. The Riverhawks scored once each in the sixth and seventh innings, and broke open a 2-1 game with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Third baseman Ryder Florence was 2-4, and Goldenetz stole his fifth base of the season for Nanaimo.

The NightOwls stay in Edmonton for two more games in the Alberta capital, evening games on Wednesday and Thursday before heading home on Friday morning.

Those home games are the only chance to use remaining vouchers purchased at Save On Foods, or as part of 10packs.

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