The Kamloops NorthPaws begin their second season in action today as they kick off a three-game series on the road against the Victoria HarbourCats.
Kamloops had what many would consider a successful debut last summer, one that saw them become the fourth team in league history to make the playoffs in their inaugural season.
It’s almost time Paw’s Fan’s! We open up our 2023 @WCLBaseball Season on Friday in Victoria ⚾️#northpawsbaseball pic.twitter.com/0b8fsgDceT
— Kamloops NorthPaws (@northpawsbb) May 31, 2023
New to the team is manager Keith Francis, who becomes the third skip in the team's short history.
There will also be some familiar faces on the team as 10 players are returning from last year's squad that finished third in the division.
“I feel like we have an offensive lineup with players who have had very good seasons at their respective schools. I believe that our offense may have to carry (elsewhere) early until the pitching works itself out,” said Francis.
The NorthPaws play in the West Coast League (WCL), a summer collegiate baseball league that players join once their school seasons are done for the year.
But some of the players on the NorthPaws' roster are not quite done with their college season, so they will be joining the team in about a week's time.
“Our first series should be (a) mixed bag of a lineup with so many players not expected for another week, but it will give (our) younger players a chance,” said Francis.
The NorthPaws have 11 players on their roster from BC, including five from Kamloops; there are also two players who currently play on the Thompson Rivers Baseball team in right-handed pitchers Manny Recchi and Kolby Lukinchuk.
After the weekend series the NorthPaws will return to Kamloops to play their home opener Tuesday night against the Portland Pickles.
Wednesday night will be “Blazers Night,” as the NorthPaws recognize the Kamloops Blazers season and their accomplishments, and the hope is that some Blazers will attend the game and sign autographs.
There will also be a few rule changes this year in the WCL; umpires will use personal electronic devices to administer a general 20-second “action clock.”
Along with the 20-second limit, there will be a two-minute time limit between innings.
“The League currently has no plans for mandating visible clocks…It’s important to note that the WCL’s clock protocols are based on the current NCAA rulebook and not the rules currently used in Major League Baseball or affiliated Minor League Baseball,” states in a WCL release.
Games will be broadcast online at this link, and you can find more information about tickets, information and merchandise on the NorthPaws website.
