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HarbourCats have more company as WCL welcomes Edmonton franchise

The Edmonton Riverhawks are the West Coast League of baseball’s 15th team, it was announced Tuesday. The Riverhawks join the Nanaimo NightOwls and Kamloops NorthPaws among three WCL expansion teams, all in Canada, set to begin play next June.
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Following the WCL all-star game Tuesday in Port Angeles, Victoria returns Wednesday to Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

The Edmonton Riverhawks are the West Coast League of baseball’s 15th team, it was announced Tuesday.

The Riverhawks join the Nanaimo NightOwls and Kamloops NorthPaws among three WCL expansion teams, all in Canada, set to begin play next June. Also in the league are the Victoria HarbourCats and Kelowna Falcons.

The newest WCL team in the Alberta capital will play at RE/MAX Field, former home of the Pacific Coast League’s Edmonton Trappers.

“Adding a growing metropolis like Edmonton to the West Coast League,” WCL commissioner Rob Neyer said in a statement.

“It is obviously a real coup for us. Toss in this outstanding ownership group [Baseball Edmonton] and a tremendous stadium, and it’s easy to see why we’re so thrilled.”

Edmonton will host the first WCL team located outside of Oregon, Washington and B.C.

“We are very excited to bring one of the best summer collegiate leagues in all of North America to Edmonton,” said Randy Gregg, Baseball Edmonton’s managing director. “In the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, 90 West Coast League players were picked, including the No. 1 and No. 3 selections.”

Gregg, the medical doctor who won five Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, is part of a group of people who formed Baseball Edmonton.

Baseball Edmonton plans to upgrade RE/MAX Field with new artificial field turf, a new scoreboard, and new stadium lighting.