VICTORIA, B.C. — The ka-boom before the ka-boom — and even more ka-boom set for Monday, July 1.

On the night before Canada Day, and shortly before the host Victoria HarbourCats set off their famous June 30 fireworks show, it was the Nanaimo NightOwls who lit the fuse in a convincing 13-4 win at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in Victoria.

Building an early 7-0 lead, and punctuating with a four-run inning in the eighth, the NightOwls earned their third win in seven games between the island rivals — and setting up an interesting Monday, July 1, at Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo, when the Re/Max Generation Island Cup will be determined in the closest race in three years.

The NightOwls can win their first Island Cup with a sweep of the doubleheader on Monday, with first game slated for a 4pm start, with an approximately 7pm start for the second outing (one ticket gets entry to both games). The second game is a make up because of Saturday’s rain out.

In front of more than 4,000, Nanaimo pounded out 13 hits, including Nevan Noonan going 2-6 with four runs driven in. Mike Easter was 2-4 with two runs driven in, Deshon Thomas was 2-5 with two RBIs, Wiley Waters was 1-4 with two RBIs, and Riley Paulino was 1-4 with two runs, two walks, and two runs driven in. Noonan hit a two-run home run in the ninth to cap the scoring.

Nanaimo scored two in the first, three in the second, and two more in the third to race into the lead. Waters had a triple to score two in the first, Noonan scored two with a single in the second, and Thomas also drove in a pair with a single in the third.

Tickets Link

Victoria scored three in the fourth to give a hint of a comeback, but the HarbourCats were held to seven hits and made two costly errors. Michelle Artzberger hit a solo shot to right in the bottom of the ninth to complete the Victoria scoring.

Nanaimo starter Josh Torres had a strong start, going four-plus innings, giving up six hits, and three runs (two earned), striking out five and allowing one walk. Li Sih-te was strong in two scoreless innings, leading to two spotless innings from Paul Montgomery. Grant Jakobson finished the game off in the ninth inning.

The NightOwls will send Adison Mattix and Aidan Boice to the mound in the starting assignments on Monday, which will see Nanaimo unveil new Canada Day red jerseys sponsored by the Serauxmen Service Club. The first game will start at 4pm, the second game tentatively slated for 7pm — both seven-inning games.

After the second game, the NightOwls are set to have their first-ever in-season fireworks show, which would start at darkness after the completion of the game, sponsored by Kw’umut Lelum Foundation and Maxxam Insurance — tickets available at the gate, at nanaimonightowls.com, or with general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Parksville and Ladysmith. The fireworks are the only Canada Day fireworks being done in the mid-island region.

Source

The HarbourCats are now 13-12 after dropping Sunday’s game against the NightOwls (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

June 30, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Nanaimo NightOwls kept their RE/MAX Generation Island Cup hopes alive as they beat the Victoria HarbourCats 13-4 on fireworks night in Victoria.

The NightOwls hitters were locked in from pitch number one. A two-run triple by Wylie Waters in the first inning gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. They added three more runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by a Nevin Noonan two-run single which made it 5-0 Owls.

That was the end of Malik Harris’ (Memphis) night after he gave up five runs on five hits while striking out two.

BOX SCORE

Connor Dykstra went 1-4 with two RBIs while making a highlight reel catch defensively (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Flynn Ridley (Ottawa) pitched the third inning but fared no better than Harris, as the Owls recorded two more runs increasing their early lead to 7-0.

The HarbourCats were hitless until the fourth inning when Jake Haggard (ULM) and Lucas Ramirez (Tennessee) reached on back-to-back singles. Connor Dykstra recorded his first RBIs, driving two runs home with a single up the middle, which cut the deficit to 7-2. After Michelle Artzberger (ULM) earned his first hit as a HarbourCat, Ny’Zaiah Thompson (Cal State Fullerton) added his team-leading 15th RBI with a double scoring his new teammate and making it 7-3.

Payton Hawkinson (Cal State Fullerton), Jagger Beck (Hawaii), Carson Cormier (TCU), and Connor Sims (IUS) each pitched a scoreless inning giving their hitters the chance to chip away at the Owls lead.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Unfortunately for the Cats, the NightOwls bullpen arms were just as good. Li Sih-te and Paul Montgomery both pitched two scoreless innings, preventing any chance of a comeback for the HarbourCats.

The HarbourCats lead the league in stolen bases with 82 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The NightOwls put the game beyond doubt in the eighth inning scoring four runs, and then two more in the ninth.

Michelle Artzberger (ULM) made his HarbourCats debut and hit a bomb over the right field fence in the bottom of the ninth for his first home run.

However, that home run was only a consolation as the NightOwls closed out a 13-4 victory.

WATCH GAMES HERE

The two island rivals are back in action tomorrow night with a doubleheader in Nanaimo at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The two games will determine the winner of the RE/MAX Generation Island Cup! The HarbourCats lead the season series 4-3. Thank you to Alex Burns and RE/MAX Generation for your continued support.

The HarbourCats are back at home on July 5 to begin a three-game set against the Kelowna Falcons! Get tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets, by coming to the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street in advance, or by calling 778-265-0327.

Source

Todd Haney’s team were unable to complete the sweep on Taylor Swift Night (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

June 28, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Port Angeles Lefties will leave the island with a win, beating the Victoria HarbourCats 5-3 to avoid the sweep.

It was Taylor Swift Night at the ballpark with one lucky fan going home with a pair of Eras Tour tickets, thanks to Maxxam Insurance.

The Lefties jumped on Cats starter Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist) early scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Palmer settled down after giving up two runs in the first, retiring eleven straight batters to complete his fourth start of the season. The Peoria, Arizona native pitched four innings giving up two runs on three hits while striking out four.

BOX SCORE

Cam Schneider went 1-4 with an RBI (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The Cats continued to be haunted by infielder Roberto Nunez who went 3-5 with two RBIs on Friday, his third straight multi-hit game against in this series.

Two HarbourCats errors in the fifth gifted the Lefties a run making it 3-0.

Garrett Teunissen’s (Cal State San Marcos) perfect bunt in the bottom of the fifth caused an errant throw, allowing Kyle Micklus (West Texas A&M) to score, getting the Cats on the board. A Cam Schneider (Fresno State) RBI groundout made it 3-2 later in the inning.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

The Lefties added a single run in the sixth and seventh innings, extending their advantage to 5-2.

Sparks flew off the bottom on Ny’Zaiah Thompson’s (Cal State Fullerton) cleats as he stole four bases on the night. He is now tied with teammate Teunissen for the WCL lead with 13 steals.

Ryne Palmer pitched four strong innings in his fifth appearance of the season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

WATCH GAMES HERE

Brandon Bertsch (Texas) and Kade Douglas (CSU Pueblo) pitched two innings each, the sixth appearance of the season for both.

Jacob Thompson (Minot State) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the HarbourCats, a feeling he knows all too well. The North Saanich native has pitched 11.2 innings over seven games giving up zero runs.

A Kerim Orucevic (UCSD) RBI single in the bottom of the ninth made it 5-3 and put the winning run on base. However, the HarbourCats rally came short as Connor Dykstra (George Mason) grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game.

The HarbourCats look to shake it off tomorrow night in Nanaimo as they continue the RE/MAX Generation Island Cup. The two rivals play at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park on Sunday, June 30 at 6:35 PM. It is the second fireworks night of the season! Get tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets, by coming to the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street in advance, or by calling 778-265-0327.

Source