Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Anderson agrees to extension as HarbourCats’ pitching coach

Published

9 months ago

August 22, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

July 31, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — One of the best pitching coaches in the WCL is going to be staying around awhile longer.

Scott Anderson, who completed his first year with the Victoria HarbourCats, but with extensive college and WCL coaching experience, has agreed to a two-year extension running through the 2025 season, working with Head Coach Todd Haney, recently named the 2023 WCL Coach of the Year and who is also signed long-term by the club.

Anderson, who has also been a head coach in the WCL, worked very well with the experienced coaching staff and helped the HarbourCats to a second place overall finish in the 2023 regular season (38-15), being crowned North Division Champions and making their third trip to the WCL Championship game. The pitching staff was second in strikeouts, fourth in team ERA and fifth in walks allowed, as Anderson managed a deep and diverse group of pitchers, one that totaled almost 40 players in 2023. Anderson can also take pride in knowing that nearly half of those pitchers had ERAs of 3.00 or less.

Part of that management was his tutelage of pitchers Logan MacNiel and Davis Franklin, both named to the WCL end of season all-star rosters, MacNiel (6-0, 1.08 ERA) to the first team and Franklin (2-1, 1.44 ERA) to the second team.

His trademark phrase “figure it out” also became a real mantra for the 2023 team.

Pitching Coach Scott Anderson was masterful at managing the revolving door of close to 40 different pitchers that the HarbourCats used in 2023, helping to guide the team to the North Division Championship and the 2023 WCL Championship game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

“I have really enjoyed my experience in Victoria, this is a premium place for summer baseball and development of college players,” said Anderson. “Working with Todd, with Steve Sinclair and Ethan Fox, and with the rest of the coaching staff, was really fun this summer and we’re excited to prepare for 2024. Staying with this organization is a blessing for me.”

Haney sees the stability of the coaching staff as a key for ongoing success with the HarbourCats.

“Scott has been outstanding and has really fit in with the group, and gives so much value to our pitchers,” said Haney, who has been with the HarbourCats since 2018, and head coach since 2019. “I’m excited to know we have him back the next two years.”

Season tickets for the 2024 HarbourCats season are now on sale and available for renewal. Lock in your seats at special Early Bird pricing – the same rates as 2023 – prior to October 31, 2023. Contact Christian at the office at 778-265-0327 or by e-mail at chris@harbourcats.com for details or to take care of payment. You can also pop in to the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street to renew or purchase in person. Off-season office hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10AM to 5PM.

The 2024 HarbourCats schedule is anticipated to be released in late October or early November of 2023. Single game tickets will go on sale shortly after that. Keep your eyes peeled on the various HarbourCats social media sites for more information as it becomes available.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HabourCats load up on pitching in preparation for 2024 season

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Preston Kelly in CCAA action for the Cal State-San Marcos Cougars (Photo: Greg Siller, Cal State-San Marcos)

May 13, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Local pitcher Jacob Thompson joins the HarbourCats for the 2024 season, along with four other college arms.

The HarbourCats are excited to announce the addition of five pitchers to their 2024 pitching staff, all joining the club for the first time.

Announced today:

RHP Jacob Thompson, Minot State University, 6-0/180, North Saanich, BC
RHP Preston Kelly, Cal State-San Marcos, 5-10/190, Eastvale, CA
RHP Jason Krakoski, Cal State-Fullerton, 6-3/180, Livermore, CA
LHP Payton Hawkinson, Cal State-Fullerton, 6-7/230, Turlock, CA
LHP Brandon Bertsch, University of Texas, 6-0/170, Dallas, TX

Thompson, a graduate of Lambrick Park Secondary, is a freshman at Minot State University. He has appeared in nine games for the Beavers in 2024, primarily as a reliever, and has given up one or less earned runs in seven of those appearances.

Kelly has posted a 3.96 ERA over 38.2 innings for Cal State-San Marcos during the 2024 season. The California native started the season on a tear as he did not allow an earned run until his 10th appearance. He has struck out 33 batters while limiting the walks to just eight over the course of the season so far. In 2023, Kelly finished with nine saves which was the second most in school history.

Krakoski is the first of two pitchers joining Victoria from Cal State-Fullerton. He has struck out 20 batters over 21.2 innings in 2024 and has limited the long ball by only giving up one home run all season. In high school, he captained his team to the NCS playoff semi-finals in back-to-back years. The freshman comes from a family of athletes as both his grandfather and uncle played professional football – his grandfather played for the Oakland Raiders from 1963-1966 and his uncle was a linebacker in the NFL for Washington in 1986.

Hawkinson (pictured right), another California native, is a big lefty standing at 6-7/230. The freshman has pitched in seven games this year for the Titans and has given up one or less earned runs in six of those appearances. In his junior year of high school he earned first-team all-conference and conference pitcher-of-the-year awards as he led his team to conference championship.

Bertsch is a freshman right-hander from Dallas. He starred in high school becoming just the second player in school history with more than 100 strikeouts in a season. He will add a lot of swing and miss potential to an already formidable HarbourCats pitching staff.

The HarbourCats are looking forward to seeing these young arms in action against West Coast League batters.

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.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Fresno State bats and two returning pitchers part of next six signed by HarbourCats

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

2023 pitcher Flynn Ridley will return to the HarbourCats for 2024, along with 2023 teammate Brett Harvey and four other new players announced today (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

May 4, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — On a strong pitching staff, Flynn Ridley and Brett Harvey were standouts for the 2023 Victoria HarbourCats.

The HarbourCats are excited to announce the return of the two right-handers, along with excitement at adding two quality hitters from a school that has long provided great players, Fresno State.

Ridley and Harvey, along with Sky Collins and Cam Schneider from Fresno State, highlight a new signing group that includes a huge right-hander from TCU in Carson Cormier, and a star catcher from Texas A&M in Kyle Micklus, a lefty hitter with power.

Announced today:

RHP Flynn Ridley, Ottawa (AZ), 6-4/200, Burnaby, BC
RHP Brett Harvey, Puget Sound, 6-2/190, Auburn, WA
C Kyle Micklus, West Texas A&M, 5-9/190, Waller, TX
OF Sky Collins, Fresno State, 6-1/180, Fresno, CA
IF/OF Cam Schneider, Fresno State, 6-3/190, Fresno, CA
RHP Carson Cormier, TCU, 6-5/225, Westford, MA

Harvey (pictured right) posted a combined 1.90 ERA over 15 regular season and playoff games for the ‘Cats in 2023, giving up 20 hits in 23.2 innings. Ridley started four games among his nine appearances and was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA, striking out 28 in 24 innings. Take away his last start, and he was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA, limiting opposing hitters to a .132 average.

Micklus, an energy guy behind the dish, is hitting .421 with six homers for West Texas A&M, after starring at Lassen College in California. He’s also stolen 11 bases, adding 15 doubles and two triples, and will give the catching staff an older presence.

Collins and Schneider are both from Fresno, and bring size to the lineup. Schneider is hitting .273 as a freshman this season, while Collins joined the Bulldogs off a strong two years at Fresno City College, winning a gold glove and being named second team all-conference.

Cormier is big, 6-5 and 225. From just outside of Boston, the freshman has won numerous academic and leadership awards and was on the Dodgers scout team before landing at TCU as a top prospect who will get valuable innings in the summer with the HarbourCats.

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

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