Local Sports posted May 30, 2024 @ 11:30am by Corvin Vaski

Kamloops NorthPaws back on the ball diamond beginning Friday

The Kamloops NorthPaws are back at Dearborn Ford Field at Norbrock Stadium as they open the 2024 West Coast League season against the Victoria HarbourCats on Friday.

The first pitch is at 6:35 pm, but the gates will open at 5 pm with the local band Rooster entertaining fans before and after the game.

<who> Photo Credit: Alan Douglas Photography

Fans will also have a chance to enter their name to win a Ford Maverick through Dearborn Ford and there will be numerous giveaways.

The HarbourCats are the reigning North Division champions, who finished last year with a 38-15 record, eventually coming up short in the WCL title game against the Corvallis Knights.

Kamloops on the other hand, will look to return to the playoffs after missing out with a 12-40 record last year.

<who> Photo Credit: John Hill

Leading the team this year is recently appointed manager Jose Bautista. The MLB vet spent the past two seasons as Kamloops pitching coach.

On the roster are a trio of locals, including Nolan Austin, Manny Recchi and Matthew MacDonald.

The roster will also feature a handful of international players, all of whom are pitchers.

Joining the team this year are Hayato Ikeda (Kanagawa, Japan), Hideyoshi Kawahara (Tokyo, Japan), Manato Tateno (Tokyo, Japan) and Casper Rammeloo (Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands).

The full NorthPaws schedule can be found online at this link.

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