Author: Larry Read
KAMLOOPS, BC—The Kamloops NorthPaws returned home to Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium this weekend and had a tough time of it. They were swept in three straight West Coast League games by the Port Angeles Lefties.
On Sunday (June18) , the Lefties sent Fathers at the field home disappointed as they beat the Paws 14-5. This followed 2-1 and 11-1 victories on Friday and Saturday (June 16-17).
The Lefties are now 5-10 on the season while Kamloops drops to 4-11. Port Angeles was led by Roberto Nunez who went 9 for 15 on the weekend. He is hitting .446 which is third best in the WCL.
Kamloops has a 5-5 record in their last 10 starts. Port Angeles is 3-7.
The Lefties and NorthPaws will meet again in Port Angeles on July 18th. It is a three-game series as well.
Next up for the NorthPaws will be the Wenatchee AppleSox. They will roll into the Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium to conclude this six game homestand. Game one is Tuesday, June 20th. A reminder that all West Coast League games are available via their website: https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/
SERIES RECAP:
Friday June 16, 2023-Port Angeles Lefties 2 Kamloops NorthPaws 1
The game marked the West Coast League debuts for four NorthPaw players: Alexi Gravel (pitcher, Repentigny, Que), Joey Baran (DH, Austin, TX), Tyler Glowacki (outfielder) and Rei Kimura (outfielder).
Gravel pitched two thirds of an inning garnering a walk and a strikeout, Baran was 0-3, Glowacki was 2-3 with a run scored. Kimura was 1-3.
Kamloops let 1-0 after the third inning but the Lefties scored once in the fifth and sixth to seal the victory. Hayden Walker (Albuquerque, NM) suffered his first loss in three starts. He went 5 2/3 giving up three hits, walking two and striking out one. Joey Peralta (La Mirada, CA) picked up his first win of the year for Port Angeles. He tossed six innings of four hit ball with eight strikeouts. CJ Lewis (Bloomington, IL) earned his first save of the year. He struck out two in an inning of work.
Offensively, B.Y. Choi (South Korea) was 1-4 with and RBI for the Lefties. Roberto Nunez (Salinas, CA) was 1-4. Owen Alsup (Rosewell, NM) was 1-5. Port Angeles moved to 3-10 on the year, ending a five-game losing skid. The Paws record dipped to 4-9 as their two game winning streak was halted.
Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598678
Saturday, June 17, 2023-Port Angeles Lefties 11 Kamloops NorthPaws 1
The Lefties held a 6-0 lead on the NorthPaws until the bottom of the sixth inning when Nolan Austin (Kamloops, BC) got to first on an error by Port Angeles third baseman. Austin advances and later scores from third. Catcher Joey Adge (Parker, CO) and Glowacki were both 2-4 at the plate.
The big inning for Port Angeles was the eighth when they scored five runs on two hits.
Wyatt Henry (Parker, CO) started the game on the mound for Kamloops and went three and a third innings, giving up five runs, seven hits, and struck out one. His record fell to 0-2 on the year. He was one of six pitchers utilized by the NorthPaws in this game.
Jack O’Brien (San Diego, CA) was the winning pitcher as the Lefties won their second in a row. He went six and a third inning, surrendering four hits, one run, striking out four and walked one. Offensively, Alsup was 2-4 with two runs scored and 3 RBI. Nunez was 3-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Sam Adams (Hurst, TX) was 2-3 with two runs scored and 2 RBI. MJ Kim (South Korea) was 3-5 with two runs scored and 1 RBI.
The game marked the West Coast League debut for right-handed pitcher Anthony Manuel (Anticoch, CA) for Kamloops. He pitched an inning giving up two hits, one run and striking out one. Manuel came on in the eighth inning.
Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598679
Sunday, June 18, 2023 Port Angeles Lefties 14 Kamloops NorthPaws 5
Kamloops led 1-0 until the top of the third inning when the Lefties scored eight runs on nine hits including three on a double by Chris Schuchart (Poulsbo, WA).
The NorthPaws rallied for three runs on their own in the bottom of the fourth when third baseman Drew Giannini (Tracy, CA) and Manuel were issued back-to-back walks and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Glowacki. Later, catcher Jared Sucro (Kamloops, BC) singled and scored on a wild pitch.
Port Angeles added four runs in the sixth inning as Nunez blasted a grand slam over the left field wall. Nunez was 5-6 on the day with five runs batted in and two runs scored. Zachary Kim (Northbrook, IL) was 3-4, with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Schuchart was 1-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Alsup went 1-6 with two runs batted in and a run scored.
Brock Mayer (Torrance, CA) started for the Lefties. He went two and a third innings giving up six hits, two runs and struck out two. He was replaced by Nelson Smith (Miami, Florida) who went two innings giving up three runs, two hits, three walks and one strikeout. He moves to 1-2 on the year. Maclain Roberts (Auckland,NZ) went two and two thirds’ innings surrendering 10 hits, eight runs, striking out two and walking one. He is 0-3 on the year.
The NorthPaws utilized nine pitchers during the contest including Zack Beatty. The Maple Park Illinois resident played in Kamloops last year and spent this past school year at Kansas Wesleyan (NAIA).
Link to Scoresheet: http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=598680
HEAD COACH KEITH FRANCIS:
“We didn’t pitch particularly well. Our starters let us down. They are much better than they showed. Coming out of the bullpen, we weren’t throwing strikes. We just didn’t get it done. We weren’t hitting today (Sunday), we got double digit hits but up until then, we hadn’t been hitting the ball. I don’t have an answer for it. Its contagious—once it gets going it gets contagious. I hope it gets going.”
On utilizing 8 pitchers on Sunday (14-5 loss):
“It was a case of not burning everybody out. I wanted them to pitch one inning a piece. Like a little ‘light pen”. I wanted to get them some work so they are all ready for next week.”
NORTHPAWS CATCHER/UTILITY JARED SUCRO (KAMLOOPS, BC):
“I think the bats are starting to heat up here. Pitchers are battling on the mound. It is just a matter of coming together. We hit well in one game but don’t pitch well. The next game it is the reverse. Once we bring it together we should be fine.”
On catching:
“It was rough at the start. I hadn’t caught in a little bit. Like my position (utility) says, I try to help the team out anyway I can. Joey (Adge) has done a tremendous job back there. I just want to give him a bit of a break. I am just battling to find the rhythm I had when I caught in high school.”
Dealing with so many different pitchers:
“It is just finding the right chemistry with them. You catch them in the bullpen and get to know them off the field generally. That helps when they are coming onto the field. No matter who it is, you see a new guy every inning—you are going to be ready for them. It is just getting to know them. That is the key to success.”
NEXT UP FOR THE NORTHPAWS:
This homestand comes to a close with a three-game series with the AppleSox of Wenatchee, Washington. Game one is Tuesday June 20th at the Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium. Opening pitch each night is 6:35 PM. Tuesday night is “Homer’s” Birthday with some special celebrations. Wednesday night (June 21st) is Military Appreciation night.
Last year, the AppleSox won swept Kamloops on their home diamond, Paul Thomas Senior Stadium (July 19-21, 2022). The scores were 16-4,7-2, and 6-5. The teams played here (Kamloops) where Wenatchee won the first two nights 14-10 and 12-10 before the NorthPaws won the last game 11-6. Those games were played July 29-31, 2022.
The Lefties will hit the ferry and move into Nanaimo for a three-game set against the Night Owls. Game one is Tuesday( June 20th).
If you can’t make the games, they are all webcast on https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/ . Some home games will also be shown on Shaw TV in Kamloops (Cable 10 or 105 with Blue Curve).
TAILGATE PARTY:
The Molson’s Tailgate Party is hoppin’ before every NorthPaws home game. It runs Tuesday through Saturday 5-630 PM. The Party runs Sundays noon-1 PM. Hotdogs and a Pilsner are sold for $ 12.00 plus tax.
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