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Victoria HarbourCats – Three returnees highlight first HarbourCats players signed for 2023 season

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(Above): Returning middle-infielder Hudson Shupe highlights a list of four players signed for the HarbourCats 2023 season.

November 3, 2022

VICTORIA, B.C. — Loyalty matters — and loyal fans of the Victoria HarbourCats will be happy with the first signed players for the 2023 West Coast League season.

Versatile infielder Hudson Shupe, catcher Russell Young, local pitcher/infielder Ryder Green and stocky lefty Jake Finkelstein, the only new player of the bunch, will be part of Head Coach Todd Haney’s attack when WCL baseball returns to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in June — with the potential home opener on Friday, June 2.

“Hudson and Russell were warriors for us last year, and it’s great to have them back and establish the culture we value in Victoria,” said Haney, who will lead the coaching staff for a third season, a HarbourCats longevity record. “Ryder came on and helped us late this last season, and Jake is the kind of southpaw that eats valuable innings in a competitive league like the WCL.”

Russell Young hitting his first career WCL home run in 2022 (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

Shupe, a middle infielder from West Richland, Washington and Seattle University was solid for the HarbourCats from start to finish in 2022, appearing in 38 regular season games and both playoff games and hitting a respectable .270 on the regular season. He also showed his versatility on the mound, pitching 13.1 innings and amassing an ERA of 4.05.

Productive and durable, Young, from Surrey and a Langley Blaze product, and with the HarbourCats from start to finish in 2023, hit .290 with two home runs (including a dramatic, game-winning, bottom of the eighth inning grand slam against Yakima last July 17) and 20 runs driven in over 29 regular season games.  He then went 5-7 in the two playoff games. Young is a former national junior team catcher who started his college career at Gonzaga, moved to Johnson County CC, and is now playing for Chris Pritchett at UBC.

Finkelstein is a 6-0/190 left-handed pitching product of Richmond, BC who moved from Spokane Falls CC to Montana State this fall, and has two years of summer experience with the Sylvan Lake Gulls of the Western Canada Baseball League, where in 2022 he had a 2-0 record and struck out 21 batters in 17 innings of work.

Green, a former HarbourCats batboy now with the Victoria Golden Tide (CCBC), joined the ‘Cats after completing his high school season with the Victoria Eagles. He appeared in non-league games, but also saw four innings in league action and was eligible for playoffs. He picked up a save in a win at Port Angeles. Green can play infield, outfield, and even catch — adding to his value.

Ryder Green, playing here this past fall for the Victoria Golden Tide, will be a useful utility player for the ‘Cats in 2023 (Photo Christian J. Stewart)

2023 Season Tickets
Season ticket renewals and new season ticket sales are now underway for 2023, the HarbourCats 10th season!  Lock in the best seats in the house by the end of November prior to single-game tickets going on sale. Contact chris@harbourcats.com or call the office at 778-265-0327 for details or to renew your existing seats!

2023 Flex-Packs
2023 10-Game and Season Ticket Equivalent Flex Pack vouchers are also now on sale! These can be purchased at the office in-person or by phone and can also be ordered on-line via The Cat Shop at https://victoria-harbourcats-official.myshopify.com/products/10-game-flex-pack-general-admission

2023 Single Game Tickets
The 2023 West Coast League schedule is currently in draft mode and a final schedule is anticipated in the next week or two. As such, we anticipate that single-game ticket sales for 2023 will be available in person and on-line in early December.

Stay tuned to all of our social media for updates and details as they become available.

Web: www.harbourcats.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harbourcats
Facebook Fan Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/harbourcats
Twitter: https://twitter.com/harbourcats
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harbourcats

 

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Summer Collegiate

NorthPaws close out first full week of the season with a loss to Kelowna

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The Kamloops NorthPaws were unable to secure a weekend sweep of the Kelowna Falcons, losing 9-3 on Sunday afternoon at Norbrock Stadium. After taking the first two, the NorthPaws were unable to manufacture runs despite having nine hits. Kelowna took advantage when they needed to, and the deficit was too large to overcome. 

The Falcons would draw first blood as a single with two runners on would make it 1-0. In the bottom of the second, Kamloops left fielder Austin Coyle singled and stole second. Coyle took off for third and would score off a throwing error by the Kelowna catcher, tying the game. 

In the top of the fourth, the Falcons went to work, forcing four walks, a hit by pitch, and two singles, scoring four runs and making it 5-1. Kelowna would add one more in the top of the fifth off an RBI double. Kamloops responded with a Joey Marino sacrifice fly in the bottom half, but a controversial play at third base killed the rally.

The Falcons would use that and capitalize in the top of the seventh. Three walks and a single made it 7-2. A few pitches later, the bases were loaded, and a base hit up the middle made it 9-2. In the bottom half, second baseman Elijah Clayton hit his second triple in roughly 17 hours. He would later score courtesy of a single up the middle from designated hitter Matt MacDonald. 

That would be all the NorthPaws could muster against the Falcons. Kelowna made it through Sunday with just three pitchers being used. Each arm went three innings, giving up one earned run. 

“We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit today with leaving guys on base and being too aggressive, but that will happen from time to time,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson

Although it wasn’t the conclusion to the week they wanted, the NorthPaws have won two of their first three series and are off to their best start in franchise history. 

“We’ll take 6-3 for sure, I’m proud of the way these guys have grinded in the first 10 days of the season,” said Jepson.

Local kid Matt MacDonald has been finding his form of late with two hits on Sunday and playing a significant role in Kelowna on Saturday night, hitting the team’s first home run of the season. Having played 7 of their first nine on the road, hearing the home crowd road on Friday night still hits home.

“When the crowd started clapping during the final out was so cool to me; I haven’t really experienced that, so it was really cool. I’m hoping we get more games like that this year,” said MacDonald.

The team will be off on Monday but back on the road Tuesday night as they pay a visit to Wenatchee for a three-game series against the Apple Sox. The NorthPaws will be back at home on Friday, June 13th, as they host the Edmonton River Hawks for a weekend series. 

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Summer Collegiate

The Bars Fall Short In The Series Finale

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NANAIMO, BC — It seemed to be Arrowsmith day at Serauxmen Stadium as the Nanaimo Bars lost the series finale 10-3 against the Wenatchee AppleSox. “Walk this way” for seven combined walks from the pitching staff.

It was not a good day for starting pitcher Moosa Nonomiya who just went 1.1 innings and gave up four runs.

Nanaimo was down four runs after the 1st inning and were never able to get back in the game. Despite a couple of good rallies in the 3rd and 4th innings the NightOwls were only able to muster one run in each.

There were a couple of bright spots on the offensive side of the ball for the Nanaimo NightOwls. 3rd basemen Drew Gianni, who was making his debut, went three for five with a run. He should provide a solid bat going forward.

Brady Morse, the native of Daville Kentucky, also had a decent day at the plate going two for four with and RBI and a run. Talan Zenk also went two for four and added a Stolen Base and RBI.

Tickets Here

There will be a quick day off Monday before the NightOwls host their island rivals, the Victoria HarbourCats, on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10th and 11th, before heading back out on a 7-game road trip.

Tuesday is CrackerJack night, and also Italian night at the Ballpark. Our very own Pitcher Vinny Bruno will be cooking up his own special recipe! Make sure to get out to Serauxmen Stadium and cheer on your Nanaimo NightOwls.



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Victoria HarbourCats – Cats beat Lefties 6-1 to win series

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Tanner Beltowski reached base four times this afternoon (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

June 8, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats are back over .500, improving to 5-4 on the season with a 6-1 win against the Port Angeles Lefties on the first Family Fun Sunday of the season.

The Cats wasted no time this afternoon, scoring three runs in the first inning. Curtis McKay (Niagara) walked with the bases loaded, bringing in the first run. McKay was the last batter Lefties starter Cade Stuart faced, being replaced by Levi Arnold after Stuart surrendered three walks and a hit. Isaiah Afework (Tacoma CC) ripped the second pitch he saw from Arnold into left field for a two-run single, giving Victoria a 3-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Enrico “Big Papi” Carrion (Hawaii) made his fourth appearance of the season, getting the start behind the plate, and he proved his inclusion right, driving in a run with an RBI single in the third inning, his first of two hits, to make it 4-0.

Julian Orozco (Cal Baptist) got the start for the HarbourCats and was lights out. The right-hander struck out six batters over four scoreless innings, giving up two hits.

Julian Orozco struck out five of the first six batters he faced (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

BUY TICKETS HERE

Oliver Mabee (Nebraska Omaha) made his second appearance of the season, throwing two innings, giving up no runs on no hits and striking out a pair.

Three Cats singles to lead off the sixth inning loaded the bases, which put the pressure on Lefties pitcher Brad Johnson, who inherited the runners. He hit Xander McAfee (Texas Arlington) and then threw a wild pitch, which brought home two more runs for the home team, making it 6-0.

WCL STANDINGS

Carson Burks (Hill College), Marcus Janovsky (UBC), and Dustin Davidson (Brookhaven) pitched an inning of relief each for the Cats. Port Angeles tacked on one run in the eighth, but it was no more than a consolation.

The HarbourCats have the day off tomorrow before opening a three-game set against the Nanaimo NightOwls. Tuesday and Wednesday are in Nanaimo, but Thursday, June 12, is Mayfair Optometric’s Annual School Spirit Game in Victoria. First pitch is 11:00 AM and is guaranteed to be an incredible atmosphere.

The HarbourCats had 11 hits for the second straight game (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

WATCH GAME HERE

Missed the game? Catch HarbourCats in 30 airing at 10:30 PM after every home game all season long on CHEK TV.

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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