The Nanaimo NightOwls signed four players with Island connections, including two from Nanaimo, on Friday, Nov. 20. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

LOCAL TALENT

Nanaimo NightOwls pick up local players ahead of inaugural season

Nov 24, 2020 | 4:40 PM

NANAIMO — The city’s newest sports franchise will have some decidedly local flavour when they hit the field.

The Nanaimo NightOwls announced more player acquisitions on Friday, Nov. 20 as they build a roster before opening their first WCL season in June.

Josh Laukkanen and Connor Caskenette will join Gus Wilson and Zach Swanson in NightOwls blue in 2021. Laukkanen and Caskenette are from Nanaimo, while Wilson and Swanson hail from down-Island.

“Not only are they fine examples of the top-notch baseball talent that Vancouver Island can produce, but three of them have WCL experience and know what it takes to lead a team to the finals at this level and the other has represented his country on the international stage,” Greg Frady, NightOwls head coach, said in a release.

Both Nanaimo players have connections to the very successful Mid Island Pirates program. Laukkanen played for the team before moving onto college baseball at New Mexico State as a pitcher.

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Caskenette, a catcher, helped the team to a first-placed finish in the 2019 BCPBL regular season before joining the Canadian National Junior team in the spring of 2020.

Wilson, an infielder from Duncan, played at VIU and joined the HarbourCats roster late in the 2019 campaign. Swanson, from Victoria, has pitched for the HarbourCats in parts over the last few seasons in addition to his collegiate career at Park University in Arizona.

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