The Kamloops NorthPaws lost the series finale to the Nanaimo NightOwls 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Norbrock Stadium. The NightOwls scored two in the first but were immediately answered by three in the bottom half from the NorthPaws. The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth when Nanaimo loaded the bases twice and scored three runs on a single and a walk. The NorthPaws found themselves down by one run in the bottom of the ninth and had two runners on. Unfortunately, they couldn’t convert, ending the game and giving the NightOwls the series victory.
Right-hander Julio Garcia was on the mound for Kamloops and had trouble in the first inning. A leadoff single and a pair of stolen bases put a runner on third with one out. The next NightOwl batter singled to open the scoring. With two outs, a wild pitch made it 2-0.
Similarly to Saturday, the NorthPaws answered in the bottom half. With two outs, first baseman Jared Hall reached via an error. Designated hitter Joey Rico walked, and second baseman Tanner Hornback was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Right fielder Austin Coyle (back in the lineup for the first time since early June) had his welcome back moment, hitting a single that tied the game. A nifty double steal worked out as Hornback scored, making it 3-2 NorthPaws.
Garcia settled in on the mound and didn’t give up a hit for the remainder of his outing. Garcia walked just one NightOwl, holding them scoreless. The righty went five innings, giving up two earned and striking out a season high six batters.
In the top of the sixth, Garcia’s departure from the game opened the door for the NightOwls. A single and two walks loaded the bases to begin the inning. A single up the middle scored two runs. A hit by pitch reloaded the bases, but a 3-2-3 double play erased a pair of runners. The NightOwls loaded the bases for a third time with back-to-back walks. A third straight walk made it 5-3 for Nanaimo.
In the bottom of the eighth, Coyle reached base with a single and later stole second. With two outs, left fielder Cade Palkowski bunted one that got fielded by the Nanaimo pitcher. The out was unable to be made as a throwing error allowed Coyle to score, making it a one-run game.
Following the three-run sixth, righty Dylan Dekker came into the game and was very effective. Dekker went four hitless scoreless innings, giving his team a chance heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Both Jared Hall and Joey Rico reached base with two outs, bringing Coyle back to the plate with the winning run on base. Coyle struck out to end the game as the NightOwls won the series in Kamloops.
The NorthPaws now fall back below .500 for the second time this season. The NorthPaws will begin a six-game Vancouver Island road trip starting in Victoria on Tuesday. The team will be back at home on Monday, August 4th, when they host the Port Angeles Lefties in the final series of the regular season.
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