Elijah Olaybal is bringing undeniable enthusiasm into his ball club, the Kamloops NorthPaws’ rookie outfielder happy to demonstrate potential home-run celebrations upon request.
“I might blank out and just start screaming, just throwing everything,” he said while waving his arms wildly. “You guys will see that in person, for sure.”
Olaybal will have ample opportunity to impress the hometown crowd in June, with the NorthPaws — who in May began their fifth season of West Coast League baseball play — scheduled to play 10 games at Norbrock Stadium.
“We’re pretty young this year,” NorthPaws’ head coach Riley Jepson said. “Throughout the year, we’ll have six to 10 guys that played here last year. Everyone else is pretty new, a lot of Canadians. I’d say we’re about 70 percent Canadians, guys who play [post-secondary baseball] down south, obviously. We’re going to be pretty young, but I think we’ll be pretty good this year.”
The wood-bat summer league is populated by top collegiate players from Canada and the U.S., most of whom have professional baseball aspirations.
“I want to get as many reps against the best players I can possibly play against and perform in front of the right people,” Olaybal said. “I’m just hoping I’m able to prove myself against these guys to climb the ranks.”
The NorthPaws have not qualified for the WCL post-season since their expansion campaign in 2022.
Jepson took the helm last year and the team improved under his watch, posting 25 wins — 10 more than it did in 2024.
“The big thing is to keep building every year,” Jepson said. “The goal is always playoffs. Last year, we were pretty close for most of the year. Our depth pitching started to fade at the end of the year, with the more guys you lose. We’re hoping to bring guys in halfway through to restock our pitching.”
Jepson — the first multi-year bench boss in club history —had a busy off-season recruiting players such as Olaybal, who plays during the school season for the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
The NorthPaws also experienced significant coaching turnover after the 2025 campaign. Nolan Austin, a player for Kamloops in each of its first four seasons, has moved into an assistant coaching position to help bolster the staff.
“I wasn’t really ready to leave the game,” Austin said. “I kind of wanted to stay a part of it and when Jep came to me with the opportunity, it was one that I couldn’t pass up. It’s in my hometown, I get to build a résumé and I get to coach and watch some really good baseball and just learn from Jepson.’”
The NorthPaws finished last in league attendance in 2025, averaging about 450 fans per game, but co-owner Norm Daley was encouraged by stretches of well-attended games.
“At the end of the year, we were getting upwards of 700, 750, 850 at various games,” said Daley, whose club was averaging 376 fans per game as of July 10 last year. “That’s what I’m looking at.”
Marc Ashford, the club’s marketing and operations co-ordinator, said the recent success of the Toronto Blue Jays may lead to increased enthusiasm for baseball in the country.
“I know that’s been the case with the Kamloops Minor Baseball Association,” Ashford said. “So, we’re hoping that boost will kind of drive our season and we have some people come out and show their support to local sports.”
Among the marquee dates on the NorthPaws’ calendar is Saturday, June 13, which is Bark in the Park night at Norbrock. Fans are invited to bring their dogs when Kamloops hosts the Walla Walla Sweets.
“It’ll be presented by Petland,” Ashford said. “They’ll have a chance to win some nice treat packages, some gift cards, some giveaways, all that sort of stuff, and it’s just a nice night to get out with your whole family, including the dogs.”