July 3, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA B.C. — It’s all about the cookies — and the boys.

Helen Edwards is known for many things, her trademark red HC hat perhaps foremost among them at Victoria HarbourCats games.

But for “her boys,” she’s known for her cookies — as a symbol of her hospitality.

Helen is the epitome of opening a home for HarbourCats baseball players, providing a host stay for a combined 14 players since the end of the pandemic. And each one of them has fallen in love with her baking — chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, the cookie jar may just be the busiest place in her Fairfield character home.

“We also had some with mini M&M’s, they love their cookies,” said Helen, a season ticket holder with the HarbourCats since 2014, and one of the foremost experts on Victoria sports. After all, she’s literally written the book on the history of professional hockey in the city, and has a book in publishing mode chronicling the first 10 years of her beloved HarbourCats.

“They’ll eat anything I make, they like my cooking — chili, chicken wings, lasagna, and you should’ve seen the mac and cheese that disappeared last night. That would have been enough for my family for a few days, and it was gone! It’s great that they love it, and it’s nice to have someone to cook for, and see it being eaten.”

Helen has written other books, on her father-in-law’s diary during WW1, and on heritage buildings in Victoria. She’s also part of the ownership group of the HarbourCats, joining the group in 2020 and being the significant contributor to the Edwards Family Training Centre on Cook Street, the indoor facility that serves the HarbourCats, the collegiate Golden Tide, and at least a dozen local baseball and softball groups, providing a sheltered place for training.

This season, Helen has pitchers Devin Holmes, Spencer Hatch, and Cade Rusch, son of former MLB pitcher Glendon Rusch. In 2023, she had a somewhat revolving door with stalwart Jesse Brown leading a Helen-homed group that included Ben Smedshammer, Kevin Shea, Rei Kimura and Zak Johnson. In the 2022 year coming out of covid, she took in Addison Sells, Jace Walker, Walker Bordovsky, Tyler Attal, Nick Taylor and Aidan McCann.

Edwards, a former shareholder of the Vancouver Canucks who also now provides charitable help to many causes as a philanthropist, truly enjoys her interactions with the players, spoiling them with dinners at team sponsor Moxie’s — and she’s a proud advocate of the HarbourCats program, standing up for the organization at all times, in all situations.

“I’m the age of their grandparents, but it doesn’t seem to matter — because we all love baseball and we talk baseball,” said Edwards.

“They are getting me into doing fantasy baseball even, that’s what we talked about. It’s all so cool. Being able to watch them is like watching my own kids play sports, there is a connection, and the people around me always ask which guys are my players. It’s fun to know that I’m helping them, too, and one of them may make it to the Majors one day, and even if they don’t — I’m proud of them.

“The other benefit is meeting the parents, with some there’s an instant connection, and it’s like you’ve known each other forever.”

Every organization needs ambassadors, and people who will go above and beyond — Helen is such an example for not just the HarbourCats, but the West Coast League.

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July 2, 2024

For immediate release 

WENATCHEE, WA — It sure wasn’t a masterpiece, but it got the job done.

The Victoria HarbourCats opened a three-game road series in central Washington with a 12-9 win over the host Wenatchee AppleSox, a game that included a combined nine errors.

The HarbourCats outhit the AppleSox 12-11 and their three errors felt manageable compared to the six committed by Wenatchee.

BOX SCORE

The HarbourCats erupted for five runs in the third and then later had back-to-back three-run innings to account for most of the damage. Shortstop Tyrus Hall was 3-6 with three runs driven in, while Michelle Artzberger and Tate Shimao both had two hits and two driven in. Designated hitter Cam Schneider also added a pair of hits.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

Jagger Beck started on the mound for the HarbourCats in dusty and windy Wenatchee pitching three innings allowing one earned run, the only one Victoria would allow before the ninth inning.

Dom Corgiat and Nick Frers followed Beck, and then Australian Luke Hayhow made his WCL regular season debut but struggled with control in the ninth inning, opening a late door for the AppleSox. Kade Douglas came on to finish the job.

WATCH AWAY GAMES HERE and HOME GAMES HERE

The HarbourCats will play again Wednesday night in Wenatchee at 6:35 PM and then close off the series on Thursday before traveling back to the island for a weekend series with the Kelowna Falcons. Friday and Saturday are both 6:35 PM start times and Sunday’s 1:05 PM game is Harvey the HarbourCats birthday! Don’t miss the chance to celebrate the best mascot in the WCL. 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.

The HarbourCats are now 15-13 on the season and have begun second half of the WCL regular season schedule.

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July 2, 2024 

For immediate release

NANAIMO, B.C. — Two exciting endings, with a Canada Day fireworks capper — with dazzling defence, strong pitching and a grand slam.

The final two games between the Victoria HarbourCats and host Nanaimo NightOwls had it all on a special holiday baseball treat that showcased the best West Coast League baseball has to offer.

The HarbourCats took the first game 4-3 with the final out being made on a close tag play at home, the NightOwls inches away from tying the game and forcing extra baseball. The nightcap, before the stellar fireworks show, was a walkoff 5-4 victory for Nanaimo with a double steal forcing the issue and leading to an error.

All of it was done before a record Serauxmen crowd of 3,127.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

GAME TWO BOX SCORE

In the first game, Riley Paulino was 2-3 for Nanaimo and homered to lead off the bottom of the first, but a Tyrus Hall double scored two HarbourCats runs that proved important in the 4-3 Victoria win. Holden Hess pitched into the seventh inning for Victoria on less than 80 pitches.

Tate Shimao drove in two runs with a clutch single for Victoria and Michelle Artzberger had two hits.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

In Game 2, Victoria scored a single run in four innings while Nanaimo countered with a grand slam from Wylie Waters in the third inning — and that 4-4 score lasted until the bottom of the ninth when Paulino scored on a steal and a throwing error, sending the home crowd into bedlam.

BUY TICKETS HERE

The HarbourCats claim the RE/MAX Generation Alex Burns Island Cup, winning five of the nine games, the tightest battle between the teams to this point in the three-year rivalry.

WATCH GAMES HERE

The HarbourCats go on the road to Wenatchee for a Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday series, while the NightOwls have Tuesday off and then head to Port Angeles for games on Wednesday and Thursday.

Victoria is then home to Kelowna on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon.

Nanaimo returns from Port Angeles to host Wenatchee for a weekend series — Friday and Saturday night games, Sunday afternoon — and then the Maxxam Insurance promotion giving away Taylor Swift tickets arrives on Monday-Tuesday- Wednesday at Serauxmen Stadium, sure to be a popular series for Swifties and music lovers.

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