Kamloops – Through 15 games, the NorthPaws sit one game under .500 at 7-8. The season got off to a rocky start, but thanks to a 5-1 record during their most recent homestand, there’s plenty of optimism coming out of the four-day break.
“The guys are playing really well,” Assistant coach Nolan Austin said. “We’ve been in every game this season; this isn’t a team that gives up.”
The NorthPaws have established themselves as one of the West Coast League’s best offences in 2026. Heading into the weekend, the team owns the best team batting average at .278. The NorthPaws are also tied for first with the Walla Walla Sweets in extra base hits, even while playing three fewer games. Kamloops is also the only team with an on-base percentage above .400.
“We’re very deep in every position,” Austin said. “We can expect to hit well every night regardless of who’s in the lineup.”
A big reason for the team’s success at the plate is the production from their leadoff man, Kade Crawford. The Round Rock, Texas native is tied for the league lead in home runs with five, third in RBI’s with 21, and stolen bases with 13.
Hitting behind Crawford has usually been Evan Dugdale and Brock Garinger, who are both hitting above .300. Dugdale is second on the team with three home runs and has driven in 12 runs. Grainger has been a steady bat with six extra-base hits and has an on-base percentage of .444.
The only player with a higher batting average than Crawford is outfielder Camden Sanders. During the homestand, Sanders made four starts and went 9-19 with two home runs and five RBI’s. Sanders ‘ signature night came last Wednesday, when he went 4-6 with two home runs, including a walk-off two-run bomb in the bottom of the ninth.
While its been a hit parade at the plate the pitching has struggled at times. It’s been described by the coaching staff as minor mistakes snowballing into bad innings. To begin the season, the second-highest team ERA is at 6.39.
“We’re a young group, and we definitely were still adjusting and getting used to throwing to new catchers,” Pitching coach Dustin Beggs said.
Last weekend, however, the staff seemed to turn a corner, shutting down the Walla Walla Sweets’ offence through the first two games of the series.
“You knew it was coming,” Beggs said. “Once those guys got more work in the bullpen and started to make adjustments, the results followed.”
The next stop for the NorthPaws will be Joe Martin Field in Bellingham for a three-game weekend series. The Bells have been heating up, winning seven of their last eight games. Last season, the Bells had the NorthPaws’ number, winning eight of nine games between the two teams.
The NorthPaws projected starters are: Friday: Grady Beatz. Saturday: Jack Dickinson. Sunday: Kyu Lumsdon. Friday and Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:35, while Sunday’s contest is set for 1:05. All games are available on the Bellingham Bells YouTube channel as well as the WCL live app.
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