Articles
HarbourCats, NightOwls partner with PitchCom
Island WCL teams and Golden Tide of CCBC to be first Canadian teams outside the Blue Jays to employ system used in MLB
The ownership group that oversees the two West Coast League teams on Vancouver Island — along with the Victoria Golden Tide of the CCBC — has added another key development tool to the programs of the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls.
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The teams will become the first Canadian baseball teams aside from the MLB Toronto Blue Jays to employ the PitchCom system, a one-way device which allows the catcher to communicate signals to the pitcher without any concern of having those signals picked up by the other team.
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PitchCom is the standard in this new technology area, used exclusively at the MLB level.
Son of former MLB star part of latest NightOwls signing group
Todd Hollandsworth was a third round pick of the Dodgers after a stellar high school showing in the Seattle area — he would go on to win the World Series with the 2003 Florida Marlins and play 12 MLB seasons and more than 1,100 games, with the Dodgers, Indians, Marlins, Rockies, Rangers, Cubs, Braves and Reds. He was the 1996 National League rookie of the year with the Dodgers, batting .291 with 26 doubles and 21 stolen bases.
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Tugg bats and throws left like his dad, and is now a prized developing freshman at Illinois State. His teammate Minshew is a valued 90mph-plus power arm out of the bullpen who is already being used as a freshman.
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Felix, a physical player with power, is being watched closely this spring by NightOwls pitching coach Gorm Heimueller, and projects as a star catcher at the baseball factory at Cal Poly — where Heimueller was a pitcher many decades ago on a team that featured Ozzie Smith.
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Hadley is a power lefty bat, a former Langley Blaze star, who was going to join the NightOwls in 2023 until he was injured. He’s second in at-bats with Barton this spring, batting .355 with five doubles and a home run, and 16 RBIs.
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Noonan is at Grossmont College but is making the jump to SDSU, a slick shortstop who smashed eight home runs as a freshman.
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Welter, a valuable lefty for deployment out of the bullpen at Serauxmen Stadium, is filling a key role for the Trojans this spring.
Top arms Robertson, Mattix return for NightOwls, first Taiwan player signed
Five pitchers, including two hard-throwers from Cal Poly and returning right-handers Payton Robertson and Adison Mattix, highlight the latest commitments to the Nanaimo NightOwls for the coming season.
Caden Pearlman, a lefty, and righty Paul Montgomery from Cal Poly are expected to be premium arms for Pitching Coach Gorm Heimueller and Head Coach Greg Frady. Robertson, a starter last summer, and Mattix, a valuable reliever, are joined by Canadian right-hander Armaan Drar of Texas-Permian Basin.
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The hitters announced today are Taiwanese infielder Hsu He-Chieh, from Fu Jen Catholic University, and high-tools outfielder Deshon Thomas of Arizona Christian, who has plus speed, a power bat and a big arm.
RHP Payton Robertson, Arizona Christian, 6-2/195, Lynden, WA
OF Deshon Thomas, Arizona Christian, 6-2/200,
RHP Adison Mattix, Everett CC, 6-4/200, Everett, WA
LHP Caden Pearlman, Cal Poly SLO, 6-3/200, San Diego
RHP Paul Montgomery, Cal Poly SLO, 6-4/215, San Jose, CA
RHP Armaan Drar, Texas-Permian Basin, 6-1/165, North Vancouver
IF Hsu He-Chieh, Fu Jen Catholic (Taiwan), 5-8/155
Robertson made eight starts for the NightOwls in 2023, going 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA and walking just 11 batters in 41.2 innings, tops on the team. Mattix appeared in nine games, with one start, giving up just 10 hits in 16 innings.
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Pearlman, a freshman and business major, helped La Costa Canyon HS to multiple championships before signing with Cal Poly. Coach Frady will get along with Montgomery, a power righty — he’s an avid pickleball player, and Frady is a U.S. Open pickleball champion.
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Drar is a freshman from the North Shore Twins, now in Texas — known for his high compete level. Infielder Hsu He-Chieh is a slick fielder with defensive versatility who bats from the left side and can play multiple roles for Coach Frady.
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Thomas, another Nanaimo recruit from Arizona Christian, is an intriguing outfielder, a right-handed hitter with size and speed who can play all three outfield spots, and is rarely caught on the basepaths. Thomas has the power to be a consistent long ball threat for the NightOwls, too.
Taylor Swift
In conjunction with our partners at Maxxam Insurance, the Nanaimo NightOwls have a pair of tickets to give away to one of the Taylor Swift concerts in December, 2024 at BC Place in Vancouver.
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HOW TO ENTER
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Entering is simple! You just need to come to one, two, or all three of our qualifying games on July 8th, July 9th and July 10th (all against Kelowna), obtain and fill out a ballot at each game you attend and drop it in the entry drum.
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The final draw will take place near the end of the game on Wednesday, July 10th. You do not have to be present to win, but of course by coming to all three games, you can maximize your chances!
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And as a bonus, fans who buy single game tickets or renew vouchers for these games in advance, or who lock in season tickets by March 31st, 2024, can receive additional bonus entries (see below)!
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Here are all the nitty, gritty entry details! Please read carefully!
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All fans who hold tickets for the NightOwls games on Monday July 8th, Tuesday July 9th and Wednesday July 10th AND who fill in a ballot at the ballpark as noted below will be eligible for the draw.
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All ticket holders who enter the gates during these games, including season ticket holders and single game ticket purchasers, as well as walk-up ticket purchasers on the days of each game, will receive ONE paper ballot form for each ticket held upon entry.
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This ballot MUST be filled in and DEPOSITED in the contest entry drum at the ballpark. Ballots will be date and color coded with only the ballot for a particular game being handed out on that day.
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Note: If you do NOT attend one or more of the three games that you hold tickets for, your ticket is NOT automatically eligible for an entry unless it was one purchased prior to March 31, 2024 (see BONUS ENTRIES below). You must enter the stadium and get a paper ballot for entry for each game.
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Note: Ballots will NOT BE ISSUED either in advance, or after the fact, for games that you have tickets for but did not attend. If you have tickets for all THREE games, you MUST attend all three games to receive individual ballots for each game.
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Note: Fans should ensure they get their ballot forms upon entry. NO ADDITIONAL BALLOTS WILL BE GIVEN OUT INSIDE THE STADIUM.
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BONUS ENTRIES!
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Maximize your chances to win buy purchasing early!!
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Any SINGLE GAME TICKETS for the three qualifying games purchased on-line (SELECT YOUR TICKETS) or at the NIGHTOWLS Office ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31, 2024 will receive ONE bonus entry into the draw.
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Assuming you attend the game with your ticket, this will give you TWO entries total, per ticket.
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Any 10-Game Flex Pack vouchers that are redeemed for a game ticket for any of the three qualifying games on or BEFORE MARCH 31, 2024 will receive ONE bonus entry into the draw. (Note: These exchanges must be done in person at the NightOwls office)
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All existing PAID 2024 Season Ticket holders (as of February 6) will receive TWO bonus entries into the draw for each season ticket seat held.
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All Season Ticket RENEWALS and NEW Season Ticket purchases that are made on or before MARCH 31, 2024 will receive TWO bonus entries into the draw for each season ticket held.
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NOTE: Any Season Ticket renewals or purchases, flex pack redemptions, or Single Game sales for these games AFTER MARCH 31, 2024 will not be eligible for the bonus entries, but will still be eligible to receive an entry form when they attend any of the three games during the promotion.
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IN SUMMARY:
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Attend the games July 8th, July 9th and July 10th, obtain and fill out a ballot at each game and drop it in the entry drum!
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Pre-purchase single game tickets on or before March 31st for any of these games to get ONE bonus entry per ticket!
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Exchange ticket vouchers on or before March 31st for any of these games to get ONE bonus entry per ticket!
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Become a Season Ticket holder (new or renew) on or before March 31st to receive TWO bonus entries per seat. (All paid Season Ticket Holders will automatically get their two bonus entries)
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Come to the games and have some fun!
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DRAW DATE: July 10th, 8th inning of the game against Kelowna.
PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE AT:
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ONLINE – SELECT YOUR TICKETS – Be sure you are ordering SINGLE GAME TICKETS from our one and only ticketing partner Select Your Tickets, or you may not receive your bonus entries. There are a ton of secondary ticket selling sites out there, so make sure you are buying direct from our official partner.
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AT THE OFFICE – Serauxmen Stadium, 745 Third St.
– For both single game sales, ticket voucher exchanges and season ticket renewals and purchases.
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Questions? Please call us at 250-739-6113 or email tina@nanimonightowls.com.
Older brother of first NightOwls draft pick signs for 2024 campaign
First, it was Elijah Ickes, a shortstop who became the first draft choice in the then-two year history of the Nanaimo NightOwls.
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His older brother Tui, a versatile outfielder who can play some infield, now carries the family torch in the West Coast League as the right-handed hitter with power has signed to play at historic-and-revamped Serauxmen Stadium. Tui — his full name is Tuiteavaika — is a redshirt sophomore at Hawaii Hilo, not far from the University of Hawaii where Eli is a true freshman with the Rainbow Warriors.
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Tui Ickes is one of six players announced as added to the roster that will again be coached by Greg Frady, Gorm Heimueller and Sean FitzGerald, the only coaches the team has known going to the third season in Nanaimo.
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Elijah was named the top pro prospect in the WCL in 2023, and the Texas Rangers made him an 18th round pick — he did not sign, taking the UH scholarship instead.
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Tui put in a lot of work in the gym to be ready for his second season in college and to show scouts there’s more than one great player in the family.
Strong returning core taking shape for NightOwls for 2024
Easter, Fleury, Buchan and Waters excited to be back in Nanaimo
Building a team is also about building a culture, with character people who have leadership skills — and that culture is important.
The Nanaimo NightOwls are pleased to announce the return of four key players from the 2023 team, the second season of WCL baseball at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and it’s a group of four that especially has veteran pitching coach Gorm Heimueller smiling.
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Two quality arms, a big bat and a second-team All-WCL catcher will be back in the navy and yellow — Michael Easter behind the dish, part of the catching crew that will receive pitches again from Nathan Buchan and Jake Fleury, along with a strong hitter in Wylie Waters. They join local infielder Aaron Marsh, last year’s co-player-of-the-year, as the first group confirmed for 2024.
Nathan Buchan, LHP, University of Redlands, from Mercer Island, WA
Jake Fleury, RHP, Skagit Valley College, from Burlington, WA
Wylie Waters, IF, South Mountain CC, from West Vancouver, BC
Michael Easter, C, Azuza Pacific, from Arcadia, CA
The WCL schedule was announced earlier this month — the regular season home opener for Head Coach Greg Frady and the NightOwls is Tuesday, June 4 against the Cowlitz Black Bears.
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Easter, who has moved from East LA CC to D-1 Azuza Pacific, was part of a strong catching core in 2023, walking more times than he struck out (26BB, 18K) and hitting .315 (16th in the WCL in average) with 21 runs driven in. His nine doubles tied for third on the team.
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Buchan, the opening day starter in 2023, is a warrior and a throwback, often going deep in games and going 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA over nine starts — a pitcher’s pitcher who struck out 32 batters in 37.1 innings.
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Potent hitter Waters, who played some infield, some outfield and DH in 2023 for Coach Greg Frady, is at South Mountain CC in Arizona, and had a strong summer in the WCL in which he hit .317 (14th in the WCL) with two home runs, 21 RBIs and 10 doubles, second on the NightOwls, in 42 games. He struck out just 22 times, matching his total of 22 combined base on balls (17) and hit by pitch (5).
Third season of NightOwls baseball set to roll with schedule released
NightOwls 2024 Overview
THU May 30, 6:35 PM vs Nanaimo Pirates – Non-League
FRI May 31 @ KELOWNA FALCONS
SAT June 1 @ KELOWNA FALCONS
SUN June 2 @ KELOWNA FALCONS
TUE June 4, 6:35 PM vs COWLITZ BLACK BEARS – Home Opener
WED June 5, 6:35 PM vs COWLITZ BLACK BEARS
THU June 6, 6:35 PM vs COWLITZ BLACK BEARS
FRI June 7 @ EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
SAT June 8 @ EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
SUN June 9 @ EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
TUE June 11 @ VICTORIA HARBOURCATS
WED June 12, 6:35 PM vs VICTORIA HARBOURCATS
THU June 13 @ VICTORIA HARBOURCATS (Note: 11:00 AM School Spirit GAME)
FRI Jun 14, 6:35 PM vs REDMOND DUDES – Non-League
SAT Jun 15, 6:35 PM vs REDMOND DUDES – Non-League
SUN Jun 16, 1:05 PM vs REDMOND DUDES – Non-League, SUNDAY MATINEE
TUE June 18, 6:35 PM vs VICTORIA HARBOUCATS
WED June 19, 6:35 PM vs VICTORIA HARBOUCATS
THU June 20, 6:35 PM vs VICTORIA HARBOUCATS
FRI June 21 @ PORTLAND PICKLES
SAT June 22 @ PORTLAND PICKLES
SUN June 23 @ PORTLAND PICKLES
TUE June 25, 6:35 PM vs KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
WED June 26, 6:35 PM vs KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
THU June 27, 6:35 PM vs KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
SAT June 29, 6:35 PM vs VICTORIA HARBOURCATS
SUN June 30 @ VICTORIA HARBOURCATS -Fireworks Night
MON July 1, 1:05 PM vs VICTORIA HARBOURCATS — CANADA DAY MATINEE
WED July 3 @ PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
THU July 4 @ PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
FRI July 5, 6:35 PM vs WENEATCHEE APPLESOX
SATJuly 6, 6:35 PM vs WENEATCHEE APPLESOX
SUN July 7, 1:05 PM vs WENEATCHEE APPLESOX – Sunday Matinee
MON July 8, 6:35 PM vs KELOWNA FALCONS
TUE July 9, 6:35 PM vs KELOWNA FALCONS
WED July 10, 6:35 PM vs KELOWNA FALCONS
FRI July 12 @ BELLINGHAM BELLS
SAT July 13 @ BELLINGHAM BELLS
SUN July 14 @ BELLINGHAM BELLS
MON July 15 @ PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
TUE July 16, 6:35 PM vs NANAIMO SELECTS – Non-League
WED July 17 ALL-STAR GAME
THU July 18 6:35 PM vs NANAIMO SELECTS – Non-League
FRI July 19 @ KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
SAT July 20 @ KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
SUN July 21 @ KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
TUE July 23 @ EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
WED July 24 @ EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
THU July 25 @ EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
FRI July 26, 6:35 PM vs BELLINGHAM BELLS
SAT July 27, 6:35 PM vs BELLINGHAM BELLS
SUN July 28, 1:05 PM vs BELLINGHAM BELLS – Sunday Matinee
MON July 29, 6:35 PM vs PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
TUE July 30, 6:35 PM vs PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
WED July 31, 6:35 PM vs PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
FRI August 2 @ WENATCHEE APPLESOX
SAT August 3 @ WENATCHEE APPLESOX
SUN August 4 @ WENATCHEE APPLESOX
MON August 5, 6:35 PM vs EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
TUE August 6, 6:35 PM vs EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
WED August 7, 6:35 PM vs EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
August 10-12 Divisional Playoffs
Wed August 14 Championship Semi-Finals
Fri August 16 Championship Final
The Incredible Stories of Gorm Heimueller
There may only be one man alive who, in the span of four minutes, can weave a story that includes the best basketball player of all time, a sure-fire hall-of-fame Major League manager, the legendary captain of the Yankees, two all-star catchers, and an accused killer.
Yes, a tale capped with an alleged murderer.
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Gorm Heimueller, now the pitching coach of the Nanaimo NightOwls of the West Coast League, is that guy. (Writer’s recommendation — buy Gorm dinner any chance you have, and sit back and listen to the stories. Worth every penny from a guy whose first spring training managers were Frank Robinson and Billy Martin.)
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This story — well, it’s worth the read for sure.
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Heimueller, a former MLB pitcher with nearly 50 years in the game (should it be mentioned that his college shortstop at Cal Poly was Ozzie Smith?), has World Series rings from developing pitchers for the Twins and Phillies, but his true wealth is the stories he can tell about the people he’s met. (His true wealth aside from his lovely wife LeeAnn, of course. You can’t forget LeeAnn, the Finnish Canadian.)
NightOwls Coaching Staff Returns for Third Season
The only coaching staff the Nanaimo NightOwls have known is staying together for a third season.
Greg Frady returns as Head Coach, with trusted sidekicks Gorman Heimueller (Pitching Coach) and Sean FitzGerald (Assistant Coach) back to lead the West Coast League team into its third season at historic-and-improved Serauxmen Stadium.
Frady and the staff posted a 22-32 record in the inaugural season, playing spoiler at times during the season. In 2023, the NightOwls improved to within a win of the .500 mark at 26-28 including a notable series win over the Victoria HarbourCats in July at Serauxmen Stadium.
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Along the way, the players developed are headlined by shortstop Elijah Ickes of Hawaii, drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 18th round this past summer.
