Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Todd Haney named WCL Coach Of The Year

Published

9 months ago

August 18, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Coach Todd Haney had plenty to be smiling about in 2023, including a 38-15 overall record, a 25-2 record at home, a ton of new offensive records and a trip to the WCL Championship game. He has now been rewarded for all of that as the WCL Coach of the Year!

August 18, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — A record season for home wins, a North Division championship and a long list of records and league-leading offensive performances don’t happen without a great coaching staff— and a stellar head coach.

The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce that third-year Head Coach Todd Haney has been named the top coach in the Weat Coast League for 2023, a most deserving honor.

Haney, a five-year Major League player out of Texas, led the HarbourCats to a 38-15 record including a 25-2 home mark, a league record for home victories that may never be broken. The team then went 3-1 in playoffs, eliminating Wenatchee and Bellingham at home — moving the mark at Wilson’s Group Stadium to 27-2 — before falling just short of the WCL title due to a 5-0 loss in Corvallis in a single-game championship matchup.

“Todd checks all the boxes for us — he develops players, he communicates effectively, and he teaches players how to win in a pro-style atmosphere that prepares them for returning to school or moving to the next level,” said Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “And, he and his wife Kira love Victoria and represent the city, the organization and the league at the utmost level.

Todd Haney relaxing pre-game earlier this season, with the look of a coach that has a team, at that time,, with a 13-1 record at home (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

“I know Todd will be the first to deflect this onto the players, the ones who show dedication and commitment right to the end of the season and playoffs, and also to the front office — and he definitely has surrounded himself with outstanding coaches with Scott Anderson, Steve Sinclair, Troy Birtwistle, Jaxon Williams and Ethan Fox.”

Haney holds two of the top-10 best win totals in league history, posting 39 wins (54 game schedule) in 2019, his first year as head coach, and 38 in 2023 — and he has never missed the playoffs, getting to the postseason in 2022 after two years away because of the pandemic, with a 26-28 record that year and a combined 103-58 record overall in his three years at the helm.

“Todd is on a long-term contract with us and we are excited for next season, with his coaching approach and his recruiting network bringing in more exciting players for our fans to cheer for,” said Swanson. “I think I speak for everyone in our organization and our support base — Congrats, Todd, and Kira, well deserved.”

HeadCoach Todd Haney shares a chuckle as he prepares to submit the first line-up card of the 2023 season on June 2, 2023.

Season Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 season. Renew your seats or lock-in new seats by October 31, 2023 to take advantage of 2023 pricing. Contact Christian at 778-265-0327 or by e-mail at chris@harbourcats.com for details or to book.

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Summer Collegiate

Arm injuries in pro and college baseball — NightOwls make organizational statement

Published

3 days ago

May 17, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Heimueller has served as a minor league pitching coach and coordinator for many MLB organizations, most recently with the Padres. He has World Series rings for his work with the Twins and Phillies.

With the NightOwls, Gorm has enjoyed working with them all — but especially strong-command pitchers such as Nathan Buchan, Garrett Goodall, Jake Fleury and Josh Laukkanen.

“Gorm loves to say he’s never seen a ground ball leave the park,” said Swanson.

“We see athletes on our team and others using max effort rather than prioritizing strikes — that makes for longer games, too, another focus in baseball. If someone can throw 97, with healthy actions and commanding the baseball, that’s great — but few can and let’s stop turning our backs on pitchers who can get people out with pitch location as the priority.

“There is too much focus on radar gun ratings, on spin rate readouts, and Gorm and our coaching staff will be developing and rewarding pitchers who locate pitches and get batters out.”

The NightOwls are excited about the player roster for the coming season, and the mix of pitchers on the roster — different styles, to create different looks and get the 27 outs required to win games.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – 2024 Season Ticket Pick-up Event

Published

3 days ago

May 17, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

WE ARE BACK! 2024 Season Tickets Available for Pick-Up

May 17, 2024

We are inviting all season ticket holders, host families, and fans to join us for our annual “MAX MIXER” Season Ticket Holder Pick Up Event on Tuesday, May 28th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at MAX FURNITURE at 3460 Quadra St. in Victoria.

WHAT: Season Ticket Pick-Up and Pre-Season Mixer
WHERE: MAX FURNITURE – 3460 Quadra St.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 28th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Come meet your fellow fans, grab your season tickets, and mingle with HarbourCats staff and Harvey the HarbourCat as we kickoff the 2024 season.

There will be ticket and merchandise deals offered exclusively at the event.

NO RSVP required but if you have any questions, please contact the HarbourCats office at 778-265-0327.

If you can’t make the event, you can pick up your tickets at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street. Open M-F 9AM to 5PM, and Saturdays 10AM to 4PM.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats unveil new home uniform for the 2024 season

Published

4 days ago

May 16, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Jai Berezowski and Jalen Sami show off new Expos-inspired uniform for the 2024 season

May 16, 2024

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Familiar colours for a familiar Coach, as the HarbourCats unveil new uniforms

Our tribute to Head Coach Todd Haney, the 2023 WCL Coach of the Year, and his dedication to our organization and the City of Victoria, will be on full display — the former Montreal Expos infielder, and our Pitching Coach Scott Anderson, who was in the Expos organization as a minor league pitcher, are the inspiration behind our new HOME WHITE uniforms, which we think our fans will love, made possible by our incredible partners at Save-On-Foods!

Save-On-Foods

“We’re not sure that even Head Coach Haney realizes how much of the very fabric of our team he has come to represent, and we hope this small gesture comes close to giving back what he’s given to our fans, players and staff over the years” – Managing Partner Jim Swanson

Fans will have their first chance to view the new uniforms at the HarbourCats home opener this season, as we play the Wenatchee Applesox on June 7th.

Tickets are already going fast, so get yours today at HarbourCats.com/Tickets

The HarbourCats open on the road May 31 in Kamloops, the start of back-to-back series in Kamloops and Kelowna, before returning for the June 7 home opener against Wenatchee. The HarbourCats will be on the road this summer in Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee, Ridgefield, Port Angeles, Bellingham, and six games in Nanaimo against the Island-rival NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Teams visiting Victoria this year are Wenatchee, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Kelowna, Edmonton (two series), Kamloops and Corvallis, along with non-league games against the Redmond Dudes, Dub Sea Fish Sticks, the SIBL All-Stars, and Victoria Mavericks All-Stars.

The regular season runs until August 7, with WCL playoffs running from August 10 to August 16.

Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online through our one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.

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