Northpaws slide past Riverhawks in 1st WCL game ever for both
Okotoks Dawgs Academy alum Tyrelle Chadwick (Kamloops, BC) started and pitched 2 1/3 innings and also went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Kamloops NorthPaws in their first West Coast League game on Wednesday. Photo: Bob Broughton
June 3, 2022
By Bob Broughton
Canadian Baseball Network
LF Jared Sucro (Cairn), a Kamloops native, hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Kamloops NorthPaws an 8-7 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks in the first-ever game for both West Coast League teams on Wednesday.
SS Mike Fitzsimmons led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, then stole second base. CF Ty Siffermann struck out. Fitzsimmons moved to third on a passed ball, then scored on the hit by Sucro.
Nolan Austin had a big night for the NorthPaws. He moved from third base to the mound at the start of the eighth inning, replacing another pitcher who was ruled ineligible because he wasn’t listed on the official roster. He got the win when he retired six of the seven batters he faced, struck out one and walked one. He also went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk at the plate.
Another NorthPaw with a big night was Tyrelle Chadwick. He was the starting pitcher. He was relieved after only 2 1/3 innings. He allowed only one hit, but walked six batters, and threw a wild pitch. However, he remained in the game as the designated hitter, then replaced Austin at third base. He finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
The NorthPaws outhit the Riverhawks 11 to five, but the Riverhawks led most of the game, due not only to the large number of walks (relievers RHP Sean Heppner and RHP Carter Harbut walked three and four, respectively), but also an expensive error and a passed ball.
The Riverhawks took the early lead on a home run by 3B Brad Jolley in the top of the second, the first-ever home run for the Riverhawks. The NorthPaws answered with two runs in the bottom of the second, with Chadwick scoring when 2B Angus Stayte (Morehead State) reached on an error, and Austin scoring on a passed ball.
The Riverhawks took a 4-2 lead in the top of of the third, and led 7-5 at the seventh inning stretch. The NorthPaws made it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly by Simmerman in the bottom of the seventh, then tied it in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single by Austin.
2B Brett Grupe finished 2-for-4 with a double for the Riverhawks. RHP Kyle Poabst, who faced three batters in the ninth, got the loss.
Concessions are taken very seriously at Norbrock Stadium. Yes, they have hot dogs and hamburgers (the hamburgers are very good), but they also have a Philly cheese steak and a shawarma wrap. The beer offerings include NorthPaws lager, brewed by Main Street Brewing, a Vancouver microbrewery.
Pre-game entertainment is also taken seriously. Tonight, they had a classic rock band, Shattered Blue. The original grand opening the previous night was rained out, but they still had a set by the excellent March Hare Band of Vancouver, who did a Bob Seger tribute.