Image credit: CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

ON THE DIAMOND

Surging Kamloops NorthPaws hope Sandpipers, Stankoven bring fans to the ballpark

Jul 10, 2025 | 6:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops NorthPaws are hosting three games against the Bellingham Bells this weekend at Norbrock Stadium and the local West Coast League (WCL) baseball club is aiming to pack the ballpark with the help of two promotional events.

“I’m hoping good attendance will help the boys strive into their second half of the season and bring some more people into the park,” NorthPaws’ marketing and operations co-ordinator Marc Ashford said.

Logan Stankoven Signing Night is scheduled for Friday [July 11] and Retro Night – featuring the Kamloops Sandpipers – is slated for Saturday [July 12].

The former Kamloops Blazers’ captain Stankoven recently inked a U.S. $48-million contract with the Hurricanes.

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That signing hand will pen autographs from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Friday at Norbrock and throw the ceremonial first pitch, with game time slated for 6:35 p.m.

Fans will be permitted no more than two signatures each.

“He’ll be in the stadium cheering on the fellas during the game and just kind of roaming around,” Ashford said.

The Sandpipers are a now-defunct senior men’s baseball team that won four consecutive provincial championships – from 1984 to 1987 – and Western Canadian titles in 1988 and 1991.

NorthPaws’ operations manager Kolby Lukinchuk said his club will wear Sandpipers uniforms during the contest against the Bells on Saturday and the jerseys will be auctioned off after the game.

“They’ve been huge supporters through the whole building of this team,” Lukinchuk said, noting many Sandpipers alumni will be in attendance. “We figured it would be nice to honour these guys for what they did to build this.”

Sandpipers’ founder and Kamloops Sports Hall of Famer Rick Leroux is expected to throw the first pitch at 6:35 p.m.

The NorthPaws are on a tear to start the second half of the WCL campaign, undefeated after five games heading into a Thursday [July 10] night contest against the hometown Wenatchee AppleSox (0-5).

Kamloops is 19-13 overall this season (14-13 in the first half) and chasing its second playoff berth in franchise history, but on-field success has not yet translated to robust attendance numbers.

The club is averaging a league-worst 376 fans per game.

“I’m looking forward to having a good weekend, getting people out and supporting the Kamloops NorthPaws,” Ashford said.

The Bells posted an 18-9 record and won the first-half North Division title to claim a post-season berth, but have struggled early in the second half, posting a 3-5 mark.

Kamloops and Bellingham will finish the weekend series on Sunday, a 12:05 p.m. start at Norbrock.

ALL-STAR NODS

The West Coast League announced its all-star teams earlier this week.

Four NorthPaws were named North All-Stars — Mason Chien, Jared Hall, Elijah Clayton and Keith Manby.

The club has never had so many all-star selections in a single season.