Two road games, two road wins for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
The NightOwls ensured a series victory over the host Kelowna Falcons with a decisive 7-3 win Saturday night, an evening after a 7-0 season-opening victory.
Starter Adison Mattix and relievers Grant Jakobson, Carson Jones and Kai Hanasaki handled mound duties, limiting Kelowna to seven hits and two earned runs, combining for nine strikeouts. Hanasaki pitched the last two-plus with four strikeouts.
Catcher Cassidy Watt (Dakota State) as the DH, was 2-4 with two RBIs in his first WCL game, while Kurt Felix (Cal Poly SLO) had a key two run drive to left centre that keyed a four run first inning that sent the NightOwls out to an early lead.
The NightOwls finish off the series on Sunday at Elks Stadium, located in the north part of downtown Kelowna — the game slated to start at 6:05pm. The team will travel back to the island and have Monday off to prepare for Tuesday’s home opener against the Cowlitz Black Bears, who are managed by 14-year MLB catcher Kelly Stinnett. That series goes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at historic Serauxmen Stadium. The home opener is sponsored by Mainroad MidIsland Contracting.
The NightOwls will announce Monday they will unveil First Nations jerseys sporting the outstanding logo designed by Snuneymuxw artist Noel Brown, sponsored by the Kwumut Lelum Foundation — with all team season ticket holders receiving a special surprise gift this week related to that. Being a season ticket holder has its perks!
