The Nanaimo NightOwls played their first ever West Coast League game on Tuesday, May 31 in Portland against the Pickles. (Portland Pickles)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

PLAY BALL

Nanaimo NightOwls drop opening game in Portland

May 31, 2022 | 9:56 PM

NANAIMO — It was a night of firsts during a long overdue debut for the Harbour City’s newest high level sports team.

The Nanaimo NightOwls played their first ever West Coast League game on Friday, May 31, just over two years after being announced as a new franchise days before the pandemic took hold in March 2020.

A three-game set against the Portland Pickles opened with the NightOwls first ever hitter, Marcus Steen getting the night off to a perfect start with a single in the top of the first inning.

Portland pulled ahead in the game via runs in the first and third innings to lead 3-0 through seven innings.

Nanaimo got on the board in the top of the eighth inning through the first home run in franchise history as Tobey Jackson cleared the fence to make it 3-1.

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The Pickles added two more runs in the eighth inning and eventually went on to win 5-1.

Nanaimo-born pitcher Garrett Goodall started the game for the NightOwls and lasted three innings, giving up three hits while striking out four.

The games in Portland are a precursor to the NightOwls debut at Serauxmen Stadium on Friday, June 3 against the Edmonton Riverhawks.

NightOwls general manager Jim Swanson told NanaimoNewsNOW it’s the end of a very long journey, only extended by the pandemic, but just the start of the team’s run in Nanaimo.

“It’s part surreal and it’s probably relief than it is excitement for those of us on the inside but we’re certainly feeling the excitement from everybody else that this is an opportunity for something really new and fun in the summer for Nanaimo.”

Nanaimo will host Edmonton Saturday and Sunday, also at Serauxmen Stadium.

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