Nanaimo NightOwls

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Nanaimo NightOwls
Nanaimo NightOwls Logo.png
Information
LeagueWest Coast League
Location Nanaimo, British Columbia
Ballpark Serauxmen Stadium
Founded2020 [1]
ColoursNavy blue, gold, white
   
MascotNey-Te the Night Owl [2]
OwnershipJim Swanson, Ken Swanson, John Wilson, Richard Harder [1]
Manager Greg Frady [1]

The Nanaimo NightOwls are a Canadian collegiate summer baseball team located in Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Night Owls are members of the West Coast League and began play in 2022; they play their home games at Serauxmen Stadium.

Contents

History

The Nanaimo NightOwls were announced to the public on 15 July, 2020 [2] with the ball club's name paying homage to the Nanaimo Owls baseball team of the 1920s, [3] whilst the 'night' in the name refers to the work that the City of Nanaimo's undertook to install floodlights at Serauxmen Stadium. [3] On the same day, the team's mascot was also announced; Ney-te (pronounced 'Nate') the NightOwl was named in honour of former mayor of Nanaimo Frank Ney. [2] A month later, it was announced that former Georgia State Head Coach Greg Frady would serve as the team's inaugural Coach. [4] One month after his appointment, Frady announced his first signings for the club; a quartet of players affiliated with Illinois State, three of whom had Canadian passports. This group was made up of infielders Aidan Huggins and Nick Gile, outfielder Dayton Peters and right-handed pitcher Chase Florendine. [5]

Name

The Nanaimo NightOwls are unusual among sports teams in that they have two names; the Nanaimo NightOwls and the Nanaimo Bars. [2] Named after the dessert of the same name, Nanaimo Bars had been the most requested name by the fans when asked to name the team. [2] Games that are played during the day will see the club go by the Bars moniker, whilst evening games will be played under the guise of the NightOwls. To this end, the team partnered with supermarket chain Save-On-Foods in order to stock away game concessions stands with Nanaimo bars. [3]

2024

On July 9th, Adison Mattix, Nevan Noonan, Riley Paulino, and Wylie Waters were selected to represent the NightOwls in the 2024 All Star Game in Bellingham. [6]

The NightOwls finished fifth in the north division with a 26-28 record for the second year in a row. [7] Infielder Wylie Waters (University of South Carolina Upstate) finished the season with 9 home runs and 44 runs batted in while pitcher Adison Mattix (Everett Community College) would finish with 48 strikeouts. [8] 35,920 fans attended the NightOwls home games for an average of 1,437 fans per game. [9]

With the Riverhawks clinching a wildcard berth, the NightOwls along with the Lefties and Drifters are the only three teams remaining in the league to never qualify for the playoffs.

2025

On July 8th, Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific) and Talan Zenk (Everett Community College) were selected to represent the NightOwls at the All Star Game in Bellingham. [10]

Season-by-Season Record

League ChampionsDivision ChampionsDivision Regular Season ChampionsPlayoff Berth
SeasonLeague Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GBPostseasonManager
2021Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)
2022 WCL North6th2232.40711.5Did Not QualifyGreg Frady
2023WCLNorth5th2628.48112.5Did Not QualifyGreg Frady
2024WCLNorth5th2628.4818.5Did Not QualifyGreg Frady
2025WCLNorth6th2028.4179.5Did Not QualifyCody Andreychuk

Playoff Appearances

The NightOwls are one of only three teams (excluding Marion who has yet to play a single season) that has never qualified for the postseason. Port Angeles and Springfield are the other two.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nanaimo Night Owls". West Coast League . Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nanaimo unveils new WCL baseball team". CTV News. July 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nanaimo NightOwls will play ball under the lights next season". Nanaimo News Bulletin. July 15, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Veteran NCAA coach Greg Frady takes helm of Nanaimo NightOwls". Times Colonist. August 26, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ "WHO's been signed by the NightOwls?". Nanaimo NightOwls. September 23, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ "WCL All-Star Game Rosters Announced". 9 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "West Coast League - standings".
  8. ↑ "West Coast League - leaders".
  9. ↑ "West Coast League - attendance".
  10. ↑ https://westcoastleague.com/2025-wcl-all-stars-announced/
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