The Kamloops NorthPaws defeated the Nanaimo NightOwls 11-3 on Saturday night, earning their first victory of the road trip. Kamloops saw their bats come alive, scoring runs in six straight innings to end the game and failing to score in only two trips to the plate. Six NorthPaws had multiple hits, including catcher Keegan Drinkle and third baseman Chris Tampoya, who each had two RBIs. On the mound, the NorthPaws got a quality start from right-hander Cade Webber as he went four innings, striking out three while not allowing an earned run.
Kamloops got a two-out rally going in the first as both Jared Hall and Keegan Drinkle walked. Left fielder Austin Coyle singled to bring home the first run. On the mound, Webber struggled at times with his command but effectively worked himself out of jams. With Webber on the mound, Nanaimo left five runners on base.
In the third, a throwing error tied the game for the NightOwls, but the NorthPaws had a response in the top of the fourth. Coyle led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice hit. New guy Braeden Scott notched his first RBI with a single to score Coyle, making it 2-1. This would kickstart Kamloops to score in every inning for the rest of the night.
In the fifth, shortstop Kason Siguenza singled and eventually reached third on a pair of sacrifice groundouts. Drinkle singled up the middle to make it 3-1. In the sixth, center fielder Cade Palkowski took advantage of an error in the field as Tampoya scored run number four. The seventh inning saw Coyle launch his first home run of the summer off the left field wall to make it 5-2.
Nanaimo got a run in both the sixth and seventh innings, but that was all. Right-handers Nick Westendorp and Jayson Tamayo shut the door, each striking out four batters in their outings.
Up 5-3, the NorthPaws extended their lead in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Cade Palkowski worked a walk and stole second. Siguenza singled again, this time scoring Palkowski. Jared Hall was up next and slapped a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Siguenza, making it 7-3
In the ninth, a walk, wild pitch and a single by Drinkle scored the first of four runs. Second baseman Zaiden Gukert singled, and Braeden Scott walked to load the bases. Chris Tampoya was up next and drilled a double to the gap in left center, adding two more runs for the NorthPaws. Palkowski followed that up with a double of his own, making it 11-3.
That’s how things would finish as Kamloops cruised to victory, evening up the series. The NorthPaws will have a chance to win the series on Sunday afternoon and head home with another win. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05. The team will return to Kamloops on Monday to conclude the 2025 season with three games against the Port Angeles Lefties.
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