With four new pitchers signed at the beginning of March, the Nanaimo NightOwls are getting closer to filling out an opening day roster for their first ever WCL baseball season June 1. (NNN File Photo)

By Dan Marshall

Building a Winner

NightOwls continue to add players for inaugural season

Mar 11, 2021 | 7:34 PM

NANAIMO — Four pitchers are the latest additions to the Harbour City’s West Coast League baseball team.

The name most familiar to local fans is Jackson Stephen. The Cowichan Bay product played for the Mid Island Pirates of the BC Premier Baseball League and is currently enrolled at Marshalltown Community College.

Liam Bates also played in the PBL with North Shore and is attending Cloud Community College.

“We’re looking locally in Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver Island,” noted NightOwls coach Greg Frady. ” We’re looking for the best Canadian and American players to put the best product on the field.”

The other two are American pitchers, Brooks Zimmer and Matt Houlihan, who are both playing at Montana State University.

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Since the club began announcing player signings in September the NightOwls have focused heavily on local talent.

Connor Caskanette and Aaron Marsh both starred for the Mid Island Pirates and will be making the jump to the WCL.

Josh Laukkanen, Tim Holyk, and Anson McGorman also played in the Premier Baseball League with the Parksville Royals.

Gus Wilson and Zach Swanson are south Island products who will be making the move from the Victoria Harbourcats to the NightOwls in 2021.

With the four new pitchers added to the fold in early March, Nanaimo has a stable of at least 11 arms on their staff.

Frady said it will take about 15 pitchers to make it through a West Coast League season.

His criteria for pitchers is the same as it would be with any major league ball club.

“We’re looking at size, athleticism and arm strength. We’re also looking at make up, is he confident, is he tough, can he bounce back, is he mentally resistant?”

Frady added the NightOwls are also looking at players who will be a good fit in the community, especially because of the need to house non-local players with host families.

He doesn’t expect much roster turnover once Nanaimo gets all of their players signed and COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

It’s important to the NightOwls to have fans identify with the players.

“The hero in game one could be the hero they identify with in game 30 – we want that.”

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dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @danmarshall77