NANAIMO, B.C. — The Nanaimo NightOwls are developing the ability to hammer on the gas pedal, but make no mistake it’s Wylie Waters controlling the steering wheel.
The second-year NightOwls infielder hit his second three-run home run in as many nights, leading Nanaimo to an 11-5 home-field victory over the visiting Kelowna Falcons, a game played Tuesday night at historic Serauxmen Stadium.
Waters cleared the wall in left field yet again as part of a seven-run fourth inning that put the NightOwls in the driver’s seat on a night with absolutely perfect baseball weather.
The crowd of 1,325 on hand, many excited for a chance to win Taylor Swift concert tickets at the games this week, with the draw on Wednesday during the series finale, also witnessed the first WCL home run by catcher Clark Springs.
Waters, a no-brainer all-star selection for the league’s showcase game next week, finished 3-4 with a double, his long ball, and four runs driven in, while fellow all-star Nevan Noonan was 2-4 with an RBI.
Waters has six home runs this season — he leads the WCL, and has set the team single-season home run record. He’s the franchise leader in career bombs with eight.
Waters is hitting .330, and Michael Easter now has a .341 average following his 1-4 night, the hit a double. Mitchell Middlemiss was 2-5 with an RBI as six different NightOwls drove in runs. The teams both had 10 hits and committed two errors.
Jake Fleury, the first arm out of the bullpen, earned the win with four outs and no runs scored, giving up one hit and striking out one. Starter Caden Pearlman went three and two-thirds scoreless innings, giving up two hits, three walks, and fanning three.
Lawson Minshew, Fareed Ahmed, Kai Hanasaki and Grant Jakobson also worked in relief.
The NightOwls are now 15-16 on the season and tied for a playoff spot, and tied for the North Division lead for the second half with Kamloops and Wenatchee.
The NightOwls had a comfortable 10-0 lead after two runs in the third, seven in the fourth, and one more in the fifth. Kelowna scored two each in the sixth and seventh to show a bit of life, but it wasn’t enough.
The series concludes Wednesday in one of the most-anticipated promotional dates in NightOwls history when tickets to the game will earn an entry into the draw for the hugely-coveted Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert tickets, with her show slated for Vancouver in December. Concert tickets are selling for more than $5,000, and main sponsor Maxxam Insurance has made it possible for Nanaimo baseball fans to have a chance to win two tickets.
Wednesday will be the last chance to enter — and also the night of the draw.
Tickets are available online, at the gate, or get general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Parksville. The NightOwls are expecting more strong crowds after setting a franchise record on Monday, July 1 with 3,127 in attendance for the Canada Day Classic doubleheader and fireworks show.
