Coombs baseball player Brandon Nicoll will play closer to home next summer.
One of the best Canadian players in all of college in spring in the United States, Nicoll, who plays for the Souther Arkansas University Muleriders in the NCAA (Div. 2) has signed with the Nanaimo NighOwls in the West Coast League. Last summer Nicoll played for the Lethbridge Bulls in the WCL.
Head coach Greg Frady is excited to acquire Nicoll, one of four new signings the NightOwls made for the 2023 season. The other new players joining the NightOwls in their second season in the WCL are current national junior team star Ty Doucette, Wisconsin infielder Jax Hisle, who has family ties to the Blue Jays of their championship heydays, and crafty starter Nathan Buchan of the University of Redlands are the latest to join previously announced Tim Holyk, a former Parksville Royals player, and Aaron Marsh, both local infielders returning for a second tour of duty.
READ MORE: Coombs baseball standout Nicoll a big hit in freshman NCAA season
Nicoll in the spring of 2022, hit .333 with 14 home runs and 84 runs driven in his freshman year with the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders. He also recorded 26 doubles and stealing seven bases. The sophomore third baseman, a right-handed hitter and former Langley Blaze star, hit .329 in 29 games for Lethbridge of the WCBL in summer of 2022.
“We’re working hard to add more power and depth to our lineup this season, which we lacked last summer,” said Frady. “Nathan was simply outstanding for us last summer. Brandon brings a lot of experience and proven production, Ty is a big lefty bat, and Jax is as athletic as they come. These are players I’m excited to coach in front of our great Nanaimo fans.”
The WCL schedule is soon to be announced, and season tickets are starting to fill the best seats in the main grandstand at historic and remodeled Serauxmen Stadium.
— NEWS Staff