Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats erase a five-run deficit to beat the Bells 6-5

Published

2 weeks ago

June 22, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

The HarbourCats snap the Bells six-game win streak with a come from behind victory in the series opener (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

June 21, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats are making a habit of comeback victories against the Bellingham Bells. In their first meeting since the dramatic victory over the Bells in last year’s Championship Semi-Final, the Cats once again erased a five-run deficit to win by one run, winning tonight’s game by a score of 6-5.

The Bells got to Victoria starter Elijah Higginbottom (Tacoma CC) in the second inning scoring two runs, including a Jacob Mejia home run off the Pagliacci’s sign in left-centre field. The Bells lead was extended to three in the third inning courtesy of a Conner Smith RBI single.

BOX SCORE

Higginbottom’s night was done after three innings giving up three runs on six hits, striking out three.

Cade Rusch (IUS) made his second HarbourCats appearance out of the bullpen pitching two innings while giving up two runs in the fifth inning.

Victoria native and current Savannah Banana Ethan Skuija threw out the ceremonial first pitch (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

HarbourCats hitters struggled to time up Bells starter Tyler Van Dyke who pitched four scoreless innings of three-hit ball while striking out five.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

The new faces continued to make an impact offensively as Gunner Antillon (Cal Baptist) and Tate Shimao (Hawaii) each drove a run in to make it a 5-2 ballgame in the fifth inning.

Jake Finkelstein (Montana State) threw two scoreless innings, striking out two while giving up one hit. That set the stage for the offence to go to work in the bottom of the seventh.

After Ny’Zaiah Thompson (Cal State Fullerton) scored on a wild pitch, Kerim Orucevic (UCSD) drove in Shimao with a two-out RBI single to make it 5-4. Jake Haggard (ULM) reached on an error which allowed Kyle Micklus (West Texas A&M) to hit with two runners in scoring position. After fouling off four pitches, Micklus legged out an infield single which tied the game at five. Haggard scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat making it 6-5, giving the HarbourCats their first lead.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Kyle Micklus threw out a Bells runner attempting to steal while picking up a stolen base of his own in tonight’s game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Connor Sims (IUS) came into pitch in the eighth inning after Logan MacNiel (Campbellsville) gave up a walk and a double to the first two batters he faced. Sims struck out two with a fastball touching 92 MPH and induced a ground ball for the third out to get out of the jam.

Sims was back out for the ninth where he set down the Bells hitters in order, striking out a third en route to recording his first win as a HarbourCat.

The series continues tomorrow at 6:35 PM, with the finale going Sunday at 1:05 PM. Next week if you attend any game between June 25-28 you will be entered into a draw for a pair of tickets to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Vancouver! The winner will be announced at the game on June 28. 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.

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls Drop Series Opener to Wenatchee

Published

3 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — Not getting insurance runs earlier came back to haunt the Nanaimo NightOwls in a 5-4 home field loss to the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday.

The AppleSox scored two runs in the ninth, on an awkward infield chopper, to go from trailing to leading at Serauxmen Stadium. This was the first game of a three-game series in Nanaimo between the two North Division teams.

Boxscore Link

The NightOwls came out looking very much like the team that hadn’t had to travel all day, as Wenatchee had. Nanaimo scored three times in the first inning, keyed by triples from Wylie Waters and Mitchell Middlemiss, then added another run in the fourth to hold a 4-2 lead.

Wenatchee got within one in the sixth, setting the stage for the come from behind ninth inning. The NightOwls had two runners on base when the final out was recorded.

Standings Link

The NightOwls outhit Wenatchee 11-9 thanks in part to Middlemiss going 3-5. Nanaimo made the only errors of the game, and two of those three were charged in the final inning.

nightowls.tv / WCL Pixellot

Jake Fleury was strong in his start on the mound, striking out four in four innings with no walks, but allowing three hits and two runs. Landon Welter followed him, with Armaan Drar coming in to make clutch pitches to escape a jam and go two scoreless innings. Hayden Cuthbertson took the loss.

The NightOwls are back on the island for a stretch now, completing this series with Wenatchee with games Saturday evening (6:35pm) and Sunday afternoon (1pm).

The Kelowna Falcons then arrive for a Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday set at Serauxmen.

Tickets are available online, at the gate, or get general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Parksville. The NightOwls are expecting more strong crowds for this weekend series after setting a franchise record on Monday with 3,127 in attendance for the Canada Day Classic doubleheader and fireworks show.

Next week, the games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, ticketed fans will all get a chance to win highly valued concert tickets for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, arriving in Vancouver in December.

Tickets Link

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats bats go quiet, lose 2-0 to the Falcons

Published

3 hours ago

July 6, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Michelle Artzberger is batting .357 with seven RBIs in his first seven HarbourCats games (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 5, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Kelowna Falcons edged the Victoria HarbourCats in what turned into a pitcher’s duel in the series opener, winning 2-0 on Pride Night.

Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist) started his fifth game of the season for the HarbourCats. The right-hander struggled with control, walking four and hitting one batter, but pitched out of trouble on multiple occasions striking out four. Palmer gave up zero runs on just one hit over three innings.

Falcons starting pitcher Carson Kimbell pitched six shutout innings, giving up two hits while striking out five.

BOX SCORE

Ryne Palmer leads the HarbourCats with 19.1 innings pitched (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Brandon Bertsch (Texas) was impressive over a season-high four innings pitched. He gave up one run, a fourth-inning sacrifice fly, on one hit while striking out one batter.

Brett Harvey (Puget Sound) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to keep the HarbourCats within one.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Flynn Ridley (Ottawa) walked the lead-off batter in the top of the ninth and that came back to haunt him as Nate Castellon’s RBI single gave the Falcons a crucial insurance run, making it 2-0.

Returning for a second straight season, Michael Crossland (UC San Diego) made his season debut going 1-4 with a ninth-inning double. That brought the tying run to the plate but Tyrus Hall (Bossier Parish) grounded out to end the game.

WATCH GAMES HERE

It was Pride Night at the ballpark, presented by The Oswego Hotel (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Carter Boone made his season debut for the Falcons, pitching the final three innings giving up one hit while striking out three.

The HarbourCats hope to find their offensive rhythm tomorrow for another 6:35 PM game against the Falcons. It’s Burpees for Charity Night with KidSport! 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. You can also purchase general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods in the South Island.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a host family of the HarbourCats players? Read all about how rewarding the experience is through the eyes of our very own Helen Edwards HERE. If you are interested in becoming a host family, email Cindy at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats earn bragging rights over the NightOwls, win the 2024 Island Cup

Published

15 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

July 5, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Walk-off wins, fireworks on and off the field, and tension down to the last day, the Victoria HarbourCats edged the Nanaimo NightOwls five games to four to win the 2024 RE/MAX Generation Island Cup! The HarbourCats have won the cup three years, since the inaugural Island Cup in 2022.

This season the NightOwls and the HarbourCats faced off nine times, which was an increase in games from last season and made for a great rivalry on the field. The HarbourCats won two of the first three games this season against the Owls, capped off by a walk-off win on School Spirit Day in front of 5000 fans.

Later in June, the HarbourCats opened a series in Nanaimo with back-to-back wins, increasing their lead in the Island Cup to four games to one. Victoria was one win away from clinching the cup, but Nanaimo did not go away quietly. The Owls comfortably won the next two games against Victoria, scoring 13 runs in each of those wins.

Due to a postponement caused by rain, the Island Cup came down to a doubleheader on Canada Day, with the Cats needing one more win. The HarbourCats won game one of the doubleheader holding on for a 4-3 victory. The NightOwls won game two 5-4 on a walk-off win of their own, meaning the hotly contested season series went to Victoria.

You can access the full box scores for all nine games below.

June 11: Nanaimo 7-4 Victoria

June 12: Victoria 8-4 Nanaimo

June 13: Nanaimo 1-2 Victoria

June 18: Victoria 8-3 Nanaimo

June 19: Victoria 4-2 Nanaimo

June 20: Victoria 5-13 Nanaimo

June 30: Nanaimo 13-4 Victoria

July 1 Game one: Victoria 4-3 Nanaimo

July 1 Game two: Victoria 4-5 Nanaimo

Thank you to Alex Burns and RE/MAX Generation for their incredible support.

The HarbourCats are back at home TONIGHT for a weekend series against the Kelowna Falcons. Tonight’s 6:35 PM first pitch is Pride Night presented by The Oswego Hotel! Saturday is the Burpees for Charity game with Kidsport, also at 6:35 PM. Sunday’s 1:05 start is Harvey the HarbourCat’s Birthday! You won’t want to miss the celebration! 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.

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