NightOwls Come Out on Top in Weekday Matinee
2026-07-08
Edmonton falls 12-4 in opening game of homestead
Box ScoreEDMONTON, AB—
The Edmonton Riverhawks saw their record dip back to .500. The Riverhawks opened up a three same West Coast League series at home falling to the visiting Nanaimno NightOwls 12-4 on Tuesday.
The Hawks are now 15-15 while Nanaimo improves to 19-15. The NightOwls scored 12 times on 14 hits and had two errors. Edmonton had four runs on seven hits and had one error.
This day was the first ever: “Corporate Hookey: Office Olympics Edition!” where 4,620 people ‘called in sick’ when the thermometer at RE/MAX Field topped 26 degrees.
The NightOwls weren’t intimidated by the big crowd. They opening the scoring in the top of the first inning. #5 Beau Musser singled to centerfield off Riverhawks starter #38 David Sheppard and scored on a double by #23 Ethan Reynolds. Reynolds, who led the West Coast League in batting average going into this contest (.326) hit it to the wall in left field.
The Riverhawks were quick to tie it up when they came up in the first. #1 Shiryu Sato hammered the ball to the wall in right field for a double off Nanaimo starter Frankie Flores Jr. He scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of #39 Chris Parkin. Edmonton took the lead when #48 Max Stagg got aboard on an error and scored after stealing third and coming home on a throwing error charged to NightOwls catcher # 17 Malachi Noet. Edmonton 2 Nanaimo 1.
The top of the third inning saw the NightOwls come out with four straight singles to load the bases. They capitalized on that. Noet and Musser come across on a Reynolds single. Two batters later, #13 Francis Subero hits a two run single bringing #7 Aiden Nykoluk and Reynolds across to give Nanaimo a 5-2 lead.
In their half of the 3rd, Sato led off with a single to centerfield. He made it a 5-3 contest when he scored on a fielder’s choice.
Nanaimo upped their lead to four in the top of the fourth: #6 Kyler Shojinaga doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a Musser ground out. Noel makes it a 7-3 contest on an RBI single from Nykoluk.
The Riverhawks loaded the bases in the bottom of seventh inning off NightOwls reliever #14 Caleb Morrison. Morrison would promptly hit #51 Easton Andrews which brought home #36 Mitchell Middlemiss from third. Edmonton was down 7-4 which prompted Nanaimo to lift Morrison in favor of #29 Luke Morris.
It was the NightOwls' turn to load the bases in the top of the eighth of Edmonton reliever #11 Brandon Craven. With one out, Musser hit the ball to right field which scooted under the outstreached glove of Riverhawks right fielder Middlemiss. That cleared the bases and gave Nanaimo a six run advantage (10-4).
Craven was replaced by #8 Spencer Mueller who promptly served up an RBI single to Nykoluk scoring Musser. Nykoluk plated when the next batter, Reynolds placed it nicely along the left field line wall. The NightOwls sent 11 men to the plate in that eighth inning, scoring five runs.
Flores Jr (1-1) was the winning pitcher. He threw five innings of five hit ball, giving up three runs, striking out three and walking two. Sheppard suffered his first loss of the season (4-1). He gave up nine hits through four innings with seven runs, walking one and striking out six.
Reynolds and Musser paced the NightOwls offensively. Both had four runs batted in. Reynolds was 3 for 5 with three doubles. Musser went 4 for 6 scoring three times as well.
Middlemiss was 1 for 3, Stagg went 1 for 4: both with a run scored. Andrews went 0 for 2 with two runs batted in.
The teams continue their series tomorrow with a 7:05 PM MDT opening pitch at RE/MAX Field. It is “Turning Singles Into Doubles: Date Night!
We’re bringing romance to the ballpark with speed dating on the Alley Kat Party Pen Patio, musicians serenading all the lovebirds, double drink specials at the concession stands, and maybe even a divorce lawyer or two...Media Partner: 104.9 Virgin Radio The NightOwls and Riverhawks conclude the series Thursday (July 9). Edmonton will host the Marion Berries beginning Friday (July 10). It is the first ever meeting between the two West Coast League franchises.EXTRA INNINGS:
The WCL announced its all-stars for next week’s game in Victoria, BC. There will be four Riverhawks going: #51 Easton Andrews (first base/DH), #1 Shiryu Sato (shortstop), #38 David Sheppard (pitcher) and #19 Carter Fink (pitcher). The WCL All-Star game is set for Wednesday, July 15th at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. A home run derby will be held on Tuesday, July 14th.