Nanaimo will get to step to the plate in the West Coast League.

An ownership group announced Thursday that Nanaimo will be the 13th team in the summer collegiate league and will start playing games in June 2021 at Serauxmen Stadium.

The Nanaimo franchise will be owned by the same group that operates the Victoria HarbourCats. The group includes John Wilson (of WilsonB次元官网网址檚 Transportation), Richard Harder, and Ken and Jim Swanson.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e excited to take whatB次元官网网址檚 been a really fun experience in Victoria and apply it to here and make the tweaks thatB次元官网网址檒l make it a Nanaimo feel and weB次元官网网址檙e excited to have that kind of a challengeB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� said Swanson. B次元官网网址淎ll the old stadiums, the new stadiums, every one of themB次元官网网址檚 got a different feel and this one will have a different feel from everywhere else as well and itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of fun to cultivate that and be part of it.B次元官网网址�

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The Nanaimo WCL team doesnB次元官网网址檛 have a name yet, but is already . Swanson said there have been B次元官网网址済reat suggestions already,B次元官网网址� mentioning the Bathtubbers and Humpbacks.

Lots of folks excited to welcome West Coast League baseball to Nanaimo. Official announcement was earlier this afternoon at the Rotary FieldhouseB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports)

Third baseman Liam Ballance, who has played for both the VIU Mariners and the Victoria Harbourcats, said it will be great to have a WCL team in Nanaimo.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檒l be good for the community and the fans and everything,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 had a blast playing the past few years and I hope if kids on the Island can get a chance to play for this team, then that will be good, too.B次元官网网址�

Numerous political representatives were on hand for ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 announcement and were already debating who will get to throw out the first pitch. Mayor Leonard Krog said the city is excited to welcome WCL baseball.

B次元官网网址淥ur businesses look forward to this, our community members, our sports fans, everyone looks forward to seeing that field used the way it should be by a first-clas team that is going to dominate the league, I am sure,B次元官网网址� he said.

The team owners thanked all those involved in bringing WCL baseball to Nanaimo including the municipality and its parks and rec department, Serauxmen Stadium Amateur Baseball Association and various levels of baseball.

editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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