May 30, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s among the top rivalries in local sports — the Victoria Mariners, against the Victoria Eagles.

The two strong B.C. Premier Baseball League teams, stalwarts in the top high school aged loop in Western Canada, will face off on Tuesday, June 3, a 6:35pm start at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

That game and more are taking over the park until the WCL Victoria HarbourCats are done a season-opening six-game road trip that has them in Kelowna (Friday-Saturday-Sunday evenings) and Edmonton (Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday). The HarbourCats host the Port Angeles Lefties on Friday, June 6, 6:35pm, to open the home schedule, the first of a three-game series that includes FIREWORKS for the Saturday, June 7 game. (Tickets — harbourcats.com/tickets — for all events)

The Mariners-Eagles clash isn’t the only thing happening prior to the HarbourCats landing for real.

The Eagles will also play a doubleheader on Sunday, starting at noon, against the perennial powerhouse Langley Blaze, two seven-inning games at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

Prior to that, fastball returns to Royal Athletic for the first time in literal decades, when the sport ruled Victoria in summer.

The Sooke Loggers will take on the Lacey A’s in the EMERY ELECTRIC FASTPITCH SHOWCASE, some alterations to the baseball diamond and a secondary fence added to allow for this world-class-level fastball doubleheader which has already proven popular with ticket-buyers. Food trucks and all the entertainment that makes the HarbourCats such an enjoyable experience will be part of the atmosphere, including a pre-game walk down history lane with Cliff Lequesne and some of the greats of the past — scheduled to appear are legends such as Reg Underwood, Mike Piechnik, Rob Guenter, Korrey Hareau, and Kevin Bobroske, with hopes others will attend as well.

Upcoming schedule of events at WILSON’S GROUP STADIUM AT RAP

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 4pm
Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase
Sooke Loggers vs. Lacey A’s, doubleheader

SUNDAY, JUNE 1, Noon
BCPBL Doubleheader
Victoria Eagles vs. Langley Blaze

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 6:35pm
BC PBL Regular Season
Victoria Mariners vs. Victoria Eagles

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and 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.

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May 30, 2025

For immediate release

KELOWNA, B.C. – Familiar faces led the way for the Victoria HarbourCats as they began the 2025 season with a 6-4 win over the Kelowna Falcons. Three local Victoria players started the game, while five returning Cats featured throughout, all contributing to the opening night victory.

After a quick first two innings, Curtis McKay (Niagara) drove in Jai Berezowski (Golden Tide) with an RBI single in the top of the third to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Cats doubled that lead in the fourth when Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) grounded out with the bases loaded, allowing Jordan Bond (Doane University) to score.

Thomas Bridges (TCU) was given the ball for the opening game and was lights out through three innings. The freshman struck out four, giving up two hits and walking none.

BOX SCORE

Falcons left fielder Max Trembley’s fourth-inning RBI single cut the HarbourCats’ lead in half after Kyle Slater reached on an error.

Julian Orozco (Cal Baptist) pitched in relief of Bridges and was in control through 2-2/3 innings until a Falcons two-out rally in the sixth inning culminated in a Mathieu Moran bases-loaded single, scoring two and giving the hosts their first lead of the game.

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Victoria answered back immediately in the top of the seventh when Bobby Filler Jr. (Niagara) drove home Beltowski with an infield single, making it all square at 3-3.

Cade Rusch (IUS) got out of the jam in the sixth and followed it up with a three-up, three-down seventh, striking out all four batters he faced on the night. Son of former MLB pitcher Glendon Rusch, Cade is back for his second year as a HarbourCat.

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Another returning HarbourCat, Jack Johnson (Baylor), produced the all-important hit with two outs in the eighth, driving an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-3. Next up was Berezowski, who continued the two-out rally with an RBI single of his own, giving his team a 5-3 cushion.

Dominic Biello (Golden Tide) added an insurance run in the ninth with what should have been an inning-ending groundout, but the right fielder hustled out of the box and beat the throw, allowing a run to score to make it 6-3.

Shea Lake (West Texas A&M), back for his second season in Victoria, earned the save, recording the final six outs of the game, giving up one run on zero hits, while walking two and striking out one.

These two teams are back at it tomorrow at 6:35 PM for game two of the three-game set.

Don’t miss the three exciting events at the ballpark before the HarbourCats return home! The Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase between the Sooke Loggers and Lacey A’s is SATURDAY, MAY 31 at 4:00 PM. On SUNDAY, JUNE 1 at noon, the Victoria Eagles take on the Langley Blaze in a BCPBL Doubleheader. The Eagles are back on TUESDAY, JUNE 3 at 6:35 PM to take on the Victoria Mariners in BCPBL Regular Season action.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and 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.

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The Kamloops NorthPaws defeated the Kamloops Riverdogs 18U squad 4-3 in a game that came down to the wire. The NorthPaws scored four runs in the first three innings before the bats went silent. The Riverdogs, however, scored their three runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Paws got their offence from Many Recchi, Austin Coyle and a solo home run in the bottom of the first from former Riverdog Matthew MacDonald. The Kamloops native got the start behind the plate and went two for two with a base hit in his second and final at-bat of his night, earning him player of the game honours.

The Riverdogs threatened several times in the later stages of the game, including loading the bases with one out in the fifth inning and coming up empty-handed. They later faced the same situation in the eighth but only mustered one run.

The ninth inning saw the Riverdogs put up a pair of runs off RBI doubles and had runners at second and third with two outs. Reid Williamson hit a ball to the warning track in left field that was caught on the run by Recchi to end the game and secure the win for the NorthPaws.

Paws Head Coach Reily Jepson is also a former Riverdog and got his first taste of coaching against his old youth program.

“It’s different coaching against them; they had me on my toes for sure,” said Jepson.

For many of the players in the Northpaw lineup, this was their first game action in a couple of weeks, providing an excellent opportunity to get game experience before the regular season begins.

“Tonight was all about shaking off the rust for guys who haven’t played in a while and getting their feet under them – This was also the first time they were playing under us as a coaching staff, so they’re all a little nervous, so it’s just to get warm and get ready for the weekend,” said Jepson.

With both teams being local, the fans showed up and cheered on their beloved squads throughout the night.

“It was great to see people in the seats even though there may have been more RiverDogs fans, but it’s great to get the community involved,” Said Jepson.

The NorthPaws will hit the road for six games starting Friday in Port Angeles for a three-game series before heading back south of the border for three more to play the Belling Bells beginning Tuesday. The NorthPaws will be back at Norbrock Stadium for the home opener on Friday, June 6, where they take on their Interior rival, the Kelowna Falcons. The first pitch is set for 6:05; we hope to see you there!

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