Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Team Black prevails in Game 1 of Golden Tide Intersquad World Series
Above: Team Black’s Zeke Holt celebrates scoring one of six runs in the second inning against Team Gold Wednesday.
Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
October 28, 2021, Victoria, BC – Team Black jumped out to an early 6-0 lead but then had to hang on for an exciting 14-13 win over Team Gold in Game 1 of the Victoria Golden Tide Inter-squad Wold Series on Wednesday afternoon at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria.
Team Black shortstop Brandon Green puts the tag on Team Gold baserunner Tyler Burton during this first inning rundown on Wednesday.
The World Series, the first for the inaugural year of Golden Tide baseball, pits Team Gold (coached by Ethan Fox) against Team Black (coached by Kyle Orr) in a best of three series. The winning team not only gets bragging rights, but will be awarded with a night in the Wilson’s Transportation Group suite at a Victoria Royals game.
Team Gold’s Brody Alexandre had two hits, a walk and two runs scored in the loss to Team Black Wednesday.
The Series is being played under some unique rules, designed to speed up game play and keep the games exciting, as due to other events scheduled in the evenings at the stadium, games have to be completed by 6:30pm.
As such, pitchers are required to pitch within 10 seconds and teams have to hustle on and off the field between innings. Any delays or infractions will warrant a warning from Head Coach Curtis Pelletier and if a team is notified a second time, a run is granted to their opponents.
Team Black left-handed slugger Ryan Deagle had two singles, a double a walk and two RBI to lead the Team Black offence Wednesday.
Batters are also not allowed to call time outs, or a strike will be called, catchers have pinch runners at all times and in all the even numbered innings, teams begin the inning with a runner on second base.
While there were a few warnings in Wednesday’s game, there were no penalty runs awarded under the rules, however the runner at second in the even innings had a dramatic impact on the game, with seven of those eight runners ultimately scoring.
Team Gold’s Daniel Sawchyn, here celebrating a score, would have three hits and two RBI to pace the Team Gold offence.
This aspect came into effect immediately Wednesday, as Team Black would jump on Gold starter Brady Wilson for six runs in the top of the second inning, thanks to five five consecutive base hits, one of which, by high schooler Ryan Deagle, scored Alex Mclauchlan, the special runner, with the first run of the game.
Team Black’s Brett Paterson would be credited with the win in relief on Wednesday.
Team Gold would get one of those runs back in the second, when special runner Brody Alexandre scored despite a 1-2-3 inning and then they would jump into a brief 7-6 lead in the third, when they finally got to Black starter Ethan Dean for six runs on the strength of six hits.
A three-run fourth inning, keyed by an RBI single from Jaxson Cordle, would put Team Black back in front 9-6 and they would extend that lead to 14-9 heading to the bottom of the eighth (the agreed upon final inning due to curfew).
Team Black’s Jaxson Cordle slides safely into second base ahead of the throw to Team Gold second baseman Myles Wall.
Team Gold would not go down without a fight however and after a pair of walks and singles from Parker Harris, Daniel Sawchyn and Alexandre, they had closed the gap to 14-13 with the tying run sitting on second base. Reliever Haldon Craig would not be fazed however and struck out Jordan Bond to end the game and preserve the crucial game one win.
Team Gold’s Will Podmoroff hustles to third base during action Wednesday against Team Black.
For Team Black at the plate, Parksville Royal product Deagle had a great night, slashing two singles, a double, two RBI and scoring twice. Zeke Holt also had a three hit night with two runs scored, while Cordle, Ryan Whelan and Witt Nevins all had RBI base hits.
On the hill, Dean was picked up with some solid middle-inning relief by Brett Paterson, who gets credit for the win, going three innings and surrendering two runs on one hit and two walks. Nate Major pitched the seventh and part of the eighth innings and Craig would get the save.
Team Gold’s Jayden Puri would provide four innings of solid relief in Wednesday’s game.
For Team Gold, Sawchyn would lead the offence with three hits, two RBI and a run scored, while Alexandre would chip in with two hits a walk and two runs scored. Tyler Burton was his usual instigator in the leadoff spot, with a single, walking three times and scoring twice, while Victoria Eagle product Ryder Green would single, walk and score three times in the losing effort.
Team Black’s Zeke Holt would make a valiant effort to catch this foul pop-up in Wednesday’s game.
On the mound, Wilson would pitch through the fourth, taking the loss. Jayden Puri would take over in relief, finishing the game and giving up five runs on five hits and three walks in his four innings of work.
Game two in the series was scheduled for 4:00 pm on Thursday afternoon, but has now been cancelled because of extreme rain and weather. It will now be played Friday at 4:00 pm. Game three then (if needed), would likely then be held Sunday afternoon, with a time to be determined.
Tam Gold’s Jordan Bond slides safely into second, ahead of the throw to Team Black second baseman Austin Gurney.
The Golden Tide will also be in action on Saturday for their last formal game of the fall season, when they take on the Ontario Giants at 3:00 pm at Wilson’s Group Stadium in a single nine-inning game. Tickets are available at the gate. That game will be preceded by a game at 12 noon between the HarbourCats Players Development Club and the Giants U16 club. That game is included with the ticket for the Tide game at 3:00pm.
Team Black catcher Andrew Baxter puts the tag on Team Gold’s Jordan Bond on this play at the plate Wednesday.
Today is the 12th time this season the HarbourCats have scored 10 or more runs (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
July 27, 2025
For immediate release
VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats clinched an important series win against the Wenatchee AppleSox with a 13-8 victory in front of more than 2000 fans on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
It wasn’t going to plan early for the hosts, as for the second game in a row, the AppleSox jumped out to an early two-run lead. Izzy Madariaga and Jehee Lee hit back-to-back RBI doubles to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) crushed a 100 MPH double to the gap after Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s) drew a walk after battling through a 10-pitch at bat. That put runners on second and third for Jai Berezowski (Golden Tide), who hit a clutch two-out single to plate both runners, making it 2-2.
Including non-league action, Jai Berezowski is on a five-game hit streak producing eight hits and nine RBIs (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Berezowski got things started in the fifth with a double down the left field line for his second hit of the game. The Victoria native reached base four times this afternoon. Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) brought him home, hitting a single up the middle, giving Victoria their first lead of the afternoon. The shortstop came around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch to give the Cats a 4-2 lead. Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) blew the game wide open for the second time this weekend, crushing a three-run home run to push the Cats’ advantage to 7-2.
The HarbourCats did not let up in the sixth inning, scoring six more runs in the sixth inning after the big five-run fifth. A pair of wild pitches allowed two runs to score before Logan Shepherd (Mercer U) crushed his seventh home run of the season, a three-run blast, to extend the lead to 12-2. Ross drove in his first run of the game with an opposite-field single later in the frame, which pushed the score to 13-2.
WATCH GAMES HERE
Logan Rumberg (George Mason) started for Victoria, and after his shaky first inning, he produced one of the most dominant displays the West Coast League has seen this season. The flame-throwing right-hander struck out eight over seven innings of work, walking zero batters. After surrendering a second-inning single, the Okotoks, Alberta native retired 16 batters in a row to complete his outing.
Logan Rumberg’s 35 strikeouts this season rank eighth in the West Coast League (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Garrett Villa (Angelo State) pitched the final two innings for the Cats and, due to some poor defence all around the infield, gave up four runs in the eighth inning. The Sox scored two more in the ninth inning through a Madariaga two-run single to cut the lead to 13-8, but that was all they could produce as Villa got Jehee Lee to ground out to wrap up the win.
The HarbourCats entered Sunday tied for the second-half North Division lead alongside the Edmonton Riverhawks. This win puts them half a game up on the Hawks for the time being, as they are in action later tonight against the Kelowna Falcons.
After an off-day on Monday, Victoria plays host to the Kamloops NorthPaws for three games on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. All games are at 6:35 PM. Get tickets at harbourCats.com/tickets.
VOUCHER REMINDER: The Victoria HarbourCats only have 6 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).
The HarbourCats are tied for first in the second half North Division Standings (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
July 26, 2025
For immediate release
VICTORIA, B.C. – The Wenatchee AppleSox took an early lead and did not look back Saturday night, evening up the series beating the Victoria HarbourCats 8-2.
Elijah Pelayo hit a two-run single with two outs in the first inning the give the visitors an early lead. Both runs were uneanred after a Jake Butler (George Mason) error earlier in the frame.
The Cats answered back right away through Logan Shepherd (Mercer U), who hit his team-leading sixth home run of the campaign, a two-run shot to tie the game at two.
In the top of the second inning the Sox batters continued to make good contact off of Tommy Bridges (Northwestern U) as Cade Martinez and Izzy Madariaga hit back-to-back RBI singles to double their advantage, making it 4-2.
Logan Shepherd leads the HarbourCats in hits, home runs, and RBIs (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Bridges battled from there over five innings of work, giving up nine hits, walking zero and striking out three. On the other side was Mitch Haythorn who started for Wenatchee. He struck out seven Cats over five innings of work and managed to escape a bases loaded jam in the fifth inning, getting Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) to lineout to end the threat.
Tyler Patrick (Fresno State) replaced Bridges and gave up a pair of runs in the sixth inning including an Adam Haight home run, his second in as many games, to extend the Sox lead to 6-2.
Victoria had the bases loaded for Ross once again in the seventh inning, but Masen Swan got the Napa, California native to groundout to end the inning.
Austin Lindsey (Hill College) replaced Patrick and pitched a three-up-three-down inning in both the seventh and the eighth. He gave up two runs in the ninth inning on a pair of RBI singles which made it 8-2 Wenatchee and put the game beyond doubt.
Tommy Bridges’ 1.83 ERA is the third lowest in the WCL (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The HarbourCats could not take their chances tonight, leaving 11 men on base throughout the night.
WATCH GAMES HERE
The all important rubber match is tomorrow at 1:05 PM! Logan Rumberg is your projected starter for Victoria.
VOUCHER REMINDER: The Victoria HarbourCats only have 7 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).
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