Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats | HarbourCats send six to pro ranks via 2021 MLB Entry Draft

Published

4 years ago

July 13, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

2017 Player of the Year Shane McGuire (above) heads up 2021 MLB Draft class

For Immediate Release

July 13, 2021

Victoria, BC – The Victoria HarbourCats are very proud to announce today that six former Victoria HarbourCats have been selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball (MLB) entry draft.

Today’s draft result is a direct testimony to the quality of player development that the HarbourCats have emphasized over the years and along with the other players drafted from the West Coast League (40 overall), is a testament to the quality of baseball that the league provides for its fans.

Leading the way in the 2021 draft was 2017 Player of the Year Shane McGuire (San Diego), who was selected in the 9th round of the MLB Draft (278th overall) by the Oakland Athletics. McGuire came to the HarbourCats as an incoming freshman and simply dominated, hitting .451 with four home runs and 32 RBI in 26 games. He was perhaps the best catcher and one of the most well-rounded players in HarbourCats team history.

Rowdey Jordan

Other HarbourCats drafted this year include:

2018 HarbourCat Rowdey Jordan, OF (Mississippi State) who was drafted by the New York Mets in the 11th round (322nd overall);
2019 HarbourCat Jack Neely, RHP (Ohio State) who was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 11th round (333rd overall);
2018 HarbourCat Owen Sharts, RHP (Nevada) selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round (373rd overall);
Former HarbourCat Wyatt Young, IF (Pepperdine) who was selected by the New York Mets in the 15th round (442nd overall); and
2017 HarbourCat Luke Boyd, RHP (Baylor) who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 17th round (520th overall).

Jack Neely

Also selected in the draft were three players who were signed to play for the HarbourCats, but for various reasons, COVID included, did not make their way to Victoria. These include:

Aaron Davenport, RHP (Hawaii), 6th round (186th overall) by Cleveland Indians;
Marcos Castanon, IF (UCSB), 12th round (370th overall) by San Diego Padres; and
Damiano Palmegiani, OF (Southern Nevada), 14th round (422nd overall) by Toronto Blue Jays.

“With only 20 rounds in this draft, down from 40 in 2019, this is a tremendous draft for so many in our organization,” said HarbourCats Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “These young men are tremendous ambassadors for their schools, their families, and our organization, and they have worked very hard to earn a pro opportunity like this. The HarbourCats program is second to none on Vancouver Island for development of top athletes and people.”

Owen Sharts

The Victoria HarbourCats will continue their quest to develop more MLB draft picks in 2022 when they resume play in the West Coast League following two years off due to the COVID pandemic. Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are now on sale. The 2022 schedule is anticipated to be released in October at which time single-game tickets will go on sale.

Full details on all West Coast League players drafted in 2021 can be found at https://westcoastleague.com/

Wyatt Young

Luke Boyd

SUPPORT YOUR HARBOURCATS! WE NEED YOUR HELP MORE THAN EVER!

Two summers in a row without baseball has been simply devastating for us, but we are confident that there will be a celebratory return to the diamond and the ballpark in 2022. To help us get there, we need your support. If you have been doing well throughout this pandemic, please consider supporting us in any of the following ways:

2022 Season tickets — “We’re Brand New in 2022!” Or as the saying goes, “What’s old is new again!” New players, some new coaches, some new seating changes, new promotions! Come and jump on the HarbourCats bandwagon and see the “new” team in town! Purchasing season tickets is the best way to help, one that guarantees you seats to all our games (usually 35 per year or so) plus other season ticket holder perks. Contact chris@harbourcats.com for details.

10-Game Flex Packs / Vouchers — Don’t want to commit, or can’t commit to season tickets? Consider 10-game flex packs – anytime vouchers that can be used in any combination…10 tickets at one game, 1 ticket at 10 games or anything in between. For you, for your friends, for your staff. Season ticket voucher equivalents are also available. Flex Packs can be purchased at the office and are also available on-line at THE CAT SHOP.

Corporate Partnerships – Want to put your company name or brand in front of our 80,000-100,000 fans we anticipate in 2022? Or know someone who does? Consider joining us as a partner. From a simple program ad, to the most complex of game day sponsorship, complete with signage and tickets, we will customize any campaign to suit your needs and budget. And with our new HCATS.TV platform and our ownership group’s expansion of a new team in Nanaimo in 2022, the opportunities are now Island wide! Contact john@harbourcats.com for details.

Fundraising / 50-50 – Have an organization that needs to raise funds now? A $1000 investment buys you 100 anytime 2022 game vouchers for our Premium Reserved seats that you can then turn around and sell NOW for $20 each, earning you your investment back, plus another $1000 in return. We will then hold a 50-50 date for you in 2022 and you can bring your group to the park to sell that game, taking home 50% of the proceeds. Contact chris@harbourcats.com for details.

Merchandise – Consider a HarbourCats merchandise purchase from our store at 1814 Vancouver Street, or from our on-line store, THE CAT SHOP. We have lots of stock that needs to go!

OFFICE HOURS

We are officially open Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, but may be away at meetings, or dealing with other issues. Best to call 778-265-0327 before venturing over to make sure. Closed Saturday and Sunday.

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Summer Collegiate

Road warrior NightOwls battle hard in loss in Alberta

Published

2 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

EDMONTON, Alta. — The Nanaimo NightOwls have been anything but a pushover this season, refusing to make things easy on the opposition.

Five late runs by the host Edmonton Riverhawks turned a 1-0 lead by the NightOwls, that lasted for six innings, into a 5-1 victory by the Albertans on Tuesday night at Remax Field, a game played in front of a legitimate crowd count of 7,108. Edmonton is the unquestioned attendance leader in the WCL.

Outfielder Spencer Sullivan’s sacrifice fly in the first inning, scoring Trevor Goldenetz, actually looked like it might hold up as all the scoring needed — until the bottom of the sixth inning.

Dawson Schultz was masterful in his starting pitching role for the NightOwls (20-26 overall, 8-11 in second half), throwing four innings with just one hit allowed — he walked none, and used his defence with no strikeouts recorded.

Reliever Cole Carmichael was effective in two innings, surrendering one run, but had the NightOwls in position to still find a way to win. The Riverhawks scored once each in the sixth and seventh innings, and broke open a 2-1 game with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Third baseman Ryder Florence was 2-4, and Goldenetz stole his fifth base of the season for Nanaimo.

The NightOwls stay in Edmonton for two more games in the Alberta capital, evening games on Wednesday and Thursday before heading home on Friday morning.

There are just three more regular season home games for the NightOwls in 2025, a weekend series against Kamloops that starts Friday (August 1-2-3), with the Friday and Saturday games at 6:35pm and the Sunday capper at 1pm. The NightOwls complete their fourth WCL regular season with a road series in Bellingham, August 4-5-6.

Those home games are the only chance to use remaining vouchers purchased at Save On Foods, or as part of 10packs.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Long ball leads the way in Cats win

Published

2 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Kamana Nahaku finished a double shy of the cycle (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 30, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats players gave their head coach the best birthday present he could ask for, beating the Kamloops NorthPaws in resounding fashion 10-3.

For the second game in a row the Cats scored three runs in the opening frame. After a pair of singles to lead off the game from Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) and Jack Johnson (Tulane U), Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) crushed a triple to the gap to plate both, making it 2-0. He then scored on a Connor Ross groundout to give the hosts an early 3-0 advantage.

BOX SCORE

Beltowski continued his hot series with a two-out RBI single in the second inning to push the lead to 4-0. The shortstop recorded three hits for the second straight game.

Solo home runs from Jake Butler (George Mason) and Nahaku in the middle innings extended the lead to 6-0. Nahaku has hits in every game he’s played in this season which is good for a .387 batting average.

Head Coach Todd Haney celebrated his 60th birthday today (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Dominic Archila (Texas Tech) drove in his first run as a HarbourCat with an RBI single in the fifth to make it 7-0.

WCL STANDINGS

Tyler Patrick (Fresno State) started his fifth game of the season for Victoria and picked a good time to produce his most impressive outing yet. The freshman threw a season high six innings giving up no runs on just three while striking out a pair.

Butler went yard again in the seventh inning for his second home run of the game and season. The second baseman recorded a season high three hits tonight.

Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) was the fourth HarbourCat to hit a homer tonight when he crushed a two-run shot over the left field fence to make it 10-0. Four home runs as a team is a season high for Victoria.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Jake Finkelstein (Georgia Gwinnett) replaced Patrick and was solid through the seventh and eighth innings, but the NorthPaws batters got to him in the ninth, scoring three runs against the lefty. Marcus Janovsky (UBC) came in to replace him and recorded the final two outs on four pitches.

Del Manak threw out the first pitch on his celebration night (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Elsewhere in the WCL, the Edmonton Riverhawks beat the Nanaimo NightOwls 7-0 which keeps them a game behind the HarbourCats for first in the North Division second half standings.

The Cats go for the sweep tomorrow night against the NorthPaws. Austin Lindsey (Hill College) is projected to start for Victoria.

VOUCHER REMINDER: The Victoria HarbourCats only have 5 home games remaining this season, so don’t forget to redeem your vouchers. You can do so at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any questions or need help exchanging your vouchers, call the HarbourCats office at (778) 265 0327.

10 Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Shepherd steers Cats to victory

Published

1 day ago

July 29, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

With two hits tonight, Logan Shepherd increased his batting average to .356, which is third best in the WCL (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

July 29, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – With Logan Shepherd leading the charge, the Victoria HarbourCats cruised to a 9-3 win over the Kamloops NorthPaws to open the series.

For the third game in a row, the Cats gave up a run in the top of the first inning. A walk and single to start the game was followed up by a Kason Siguenza RBI single to give the NorthPaws the early lead.

The hosts wasted no time answering back in the bottom half when Shepherd (Mercer U) crushed a breaking ball off the scoreboard beyond the left field fence for a three-run home run to make it 3-1. It was his third straight game going yard and his eighth home run of the season. That ties him for the HarbourCats single-season home run record with Gabe Clark, Hunter Vansau, and Colton Moore, who all hit eight long balls in 2014, 2017, and 2022, respectively.

BOX SCORE

Tanner Beltowski had three hits and scored three runs (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Kamloops starter Mason Chien struggled facing the lineup the second time through the order in the third inning, giving up a pair of hits, walking three, and a wild pitch. Victoria took advantage of his lack of control, scoring runs on a bases-loaded walk, RBI groundout, and wild pitch to give starter Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist) a solid cushion to work with. Another bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning, this time drawn by Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s), gave the Cats a 7-1 lead.

Palmer made his fourth appearance of the campaign and first start. He pitched five innings, giving up one earned run on two hits, striking out six and walking two. In 2024, the right-hander from Peoria, Arizona, led the Cats with seven starts and 27-1/3 innings pitched.

WCL STANDINGS

The NorthPaws added a pair of runs in the middle innings, but the HarbourCats cancelled out those runs in the eighth through back-to-back RBI singles from Jack Johnson (Tulane U) and Shepherd to restore their six-run lead, making it 9-3.

Ryne Palmer has 12 strikeouts in 9-2/3 innings pitched this season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Ben Hewitt replaced Palmer and threw a season-high four innings to close out the game for the hosts. The big right-hander struck out four while surrendering just one run on one hit.

WATCH GAMES HERE

With tonight’s win, the HarbourCats maintain their one-game lead at the top of the North Division’s second-half standings. The Edmonton Riverhawks, who sit in second, beat the Nanaimo NightOwls 5-1 Tuesday night.

The two teams are back in action tomorrow at 6:35 PM. Tyler Patrick (Fresno State) is your projected starter for Victoria.

10 Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

Source