With tough season wrapped up, Kamloops NorthPaws brass look to rebuild for 2024

Francis was hired by the NorthPaws on March 31. At that point, the team was fully assembled for the season. He says more pitching is what he would like to recruit as he shifts to the off-season.

“Especially when you get a lot of pitchers who have come out of Division I programs, they have a limited pitch ability because of the number of innings they’ve pitched already in the spring season and their coaches don’t want to pitch them much more than that,” said Francis. “It’s difficult to keep them here so they have to go back. You have to find someone to fill in those shoes.”

Francis wasn’t the only member of the NorthPaws adjusting to a new team. Shortstop Cooper Neville also spoke on what he noticed about playing baseball in a different country.

“The ball doesn’t go as far here. It’s harder to hit a ball out. The pitching was a lot better than what I’m used to,” said Neville.

Despite the outcome of the season, Francis and Neville both say the fans’ energy level was consistent throughout the season.

“It was amazing to me, the support that we got late in the game, even when we were trailing,” said Francis. “They stayed with us until the very end. It was a great experience being around them. I learned a lot being around the fans and can appreciate them even more for what they have here.”

“The fans were the most consistent part of the summer because you come here and then it’s like you got the ‘who cares guys’ and like all the different chants that we do,” added Neville. “People talk about it from the other team, so it’s just kind of cool to have our own thing. It just makes it even sweeter when you do win then the fans get really loud.”

The NorthPaws now put their focus toward getting ready for the spring.

by Adel Ahmed

With tough season wrapped up, Kamloops NorthPaws brass look to rebuild for 2024

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