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Nanaimo NightOwls sign former Pirates and Royals standouts

WCL baseball club announces additions of Connor Caskenette and Aaron Marsh
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Former Nanaimo Pirates catcher Connor Caskenette has signed with the Nanaimo NightOwls. (Photo submitted)

Some recent signings ensure the Nanaimo NightOwls will be a real home team.

The city’s expansion West Coast League baseball club has been busy with roster additions the last two weeks and have added half a dozen players who played their high school ball with the Mid Island Pirates or Parksville Royals.

The most recent local signing is Connor Caskenette, a former Pirates catcher and slugger who batted .369 in his freshman year at Cochise College in Arizona. The NightOwls noted in a press release that they know Caskenette is a “legit” pro prospect who could get drafted this spring.

“We certainly hope he gets drafted high and does well in the draft, but we want him as a NightOwl, if we were talking selfishly,” said Jim Swanson, NightOwls general manager, in the release.

The NightOwls have also signed infielder Aaron Marsh, who is from Nanaimo, played for the Pirates, and hit .326 as Caskenette’s teammate at Cochise last spring.

Former Royals players Josh Laukkanen, Anson McGorman, Tim Holyk and Seth Gurr have also signed with the NightOwls. Laukkanen, a pitcher, has played both in the WCL with the Victoria HarbourCats and the NCAA Div. 1 at New Mexico State and will be expected to be a “pitching staff leader.” McGorman, another pitcher, is committed to play for the University of Utah in the NCAA’s Div. 1 in the fall. Gurr is also a pitcher and Holyk is a corner infielder.

“These are players I know and have followed for years, and I know most of them very well. I know their families,” said Swanson. “These are quality additions, on and off the field, and will help head coach Greg Frady establish a culture of winning and development from the very first pitch.”

For more about the Nanaimo NightOwls, visit http://nanaimonightowls.com.

RELATED: Former Parksville Royals baseball standouts join Nanaimo NightOwls in West Coast League

READ ALSO: Nanaimo NightOwls building their first roster



editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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