Summer Collegiate

Regina Red Sox release concept plans for a Baseball Stadium at the Railyards on Dewdney

Published

4 years ago

April 7, 2021

Regina, SK ( April 4, 2021) – The Regina Red Sox Baseball Club (Club) a franchise member of the Western Canadian Baseball League are pleased to release concept plans for a 3500-seat state-of-the-art baseball stadium with the proposed location being the vacant railyards on Dewdney Avenue.

While the Red Sox would be the anchor tenant, the stadium would also be used by other baseball teams and leagues, in addition to functioning as a first-class venue for spring and summer festivals, concerts, flea markets and movie nights in the park.

In conjunction with the concept plans, the Club is also pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Living Sky Sports and Entertainment Inc. (LSSE). LSSE worked with the Club developing the concept plans and will help facilitate the Club’s financial participation with stadium construction costs.

Gary Brotzel, president of the Club said, “We are pleased to make this announcement today and encouraged to have been able to present our plans and vision to City Council this past Wednesday. A ballpark stadium is long overdue, and we hope the City of Regina see the merits of our vision and plan so we can work together to make this a reality. Brotzel added, “ We average 32 games per year with preseason and playoffs and we anticipate drawing 3200 plus fans per game. This means over a 100,000 people a year traveling to the downtown warehouse district between May and August. The vibrancy and economic activity of our entire downtown core will be positively affected by baseball games and the other events held at the stadium. For perspective, the Okotoks Dawgs, a team in our league, regularly attract 4000 fans per game – in a stadium similar to what we’ve proposed for the rail yards.”

Bernie Eiswirth, general manager of the Club said, “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for us to play at a 60-year-old field and recruit quality players and remain competitive – so we are very excited about the prospect of a new baseball stadium for Regina. As of now, Alberta teams have superior venues that gives them a significant recruiting advantage, but just as important, Currie’s old infrastructure severely limits our options for food and beverage, seating, parking and our ability to attract corporate sponsors. We need to offer a great environment with a competitive team, so fans have a memorable experience and want to keep returning to the ballpark. That’s not the case now playing a Currie.” Eiswirth added, “

Alan Simpson, Founder of LSSE commented, “We are eager to work with the Red Sox and the City of Regina to advance plans, complete further due diligence, figure out financing, and hopefully bring this proposed rail yard infrastructure project to fruition.” Simpson commented, “After touring Currie its apparent its best before date has long since passed. The baseball stadium the Red Sox envision would be a wonderful enhancement to our infrastructure in the downtown core. It would stand as a cornerstone of economic activity and pride in our community for the next 20 years.”

Stadium Concept Plans (View Video Below)

About Regina Red Sox

The Regina Red Sox are a summer league collegiate team based in Regina, Saskatchewan with roots stemming back to the 1940’s. The club operates as a franchise member of the Western Canadian Baseball League playing a 56-game schedule during the spring and summer with 28 home games plus preseason and playoffs held at the ball diamond at Currie Field. The Red Sox have a storied history in the city winning the WMBL title in 2011 and again in 2012. The Red Sox also won the SMBL (Saskatchewan Major Baseball League) championship in 1976 and 1977, and the SBL (Southern Baseball League) in 1942, 1953, 1955, 1960, 1964, and 1969. Connect with the Red Sox at www.reginaredsox.com or on Twitter @ReginaRedSox.

About LSSE

Living Sky Sports and Entertainment Inc. is a Saskatchewan based company initially incorporated for the purpose of launching a professional soccer club for the Province of Saskatchewan, and more generally, the development of the sports market in Saskatchewan. LSSE entered into an agreement with Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) and acquired the exclusive rights for the development and launch of a Canadian Premier League (CPL) team. Most recently, LSSE entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Regina Red Sox to assist with the development of a new baseball stadium in Regina. The founder and CEO of LSSE is Alan Simpson a life-long resident of Saskatchewan. Connect with LSSE at lssa.ca, on Twitter @livingskysports1, on Facebook @livingskysports and on Instagram @livingskysports.

For more information please contact:

Gary Brotzel
President
Regina Red Sox Baseball Club
gbrotzel@reginaresox.ca
306-536-8792

Bernie Eiswirth
General Manager
Regina Red Sox Baseball Club
beiswirth@accesscomm.ca
306-539-0960

Alan Simpson
President
Living Sky Sports and Entertainment Inc.
simpsonvideo@sasktel.net
306-536-3771

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Chase makes eight! Meidroth recalled by Chicago

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 11, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — In 10 seasons of play, it’s now eight Major League Baseball players produced — not too shabby.

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce that the Chicago White Sox have recalled infielder Chase Meidroth, and he will make his MLB debut at second base tonight against the team that drafted him, the Boston Red Sox.

Meidroth was placed with the HarbourCats in 2019 by Head Coach Rich Hill, then at the University of San Diego (now at Hawaii), and starred for the Cats at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP under HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney, himself a former MLB player.

Meidroth joins Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia/Boston/San Diego), Andrew Vaughn (Chicago White Sox), Alex DeGoti (Houston), Nathan Lukes (Toronto), Cade Smith (Cleveland), Davis Wendzel (Texas) and Jack Neely (Chicago Cubs) as MLB players who have come through the Victoria program.

That Pivetta was the first HarbourCat in the majors was pure poetry — he threw the first pitch in HarbourCats history in 2013, and is a Victoria product and former PBL Victoria Eagles pitcher.

With Vaughn and Meidroth together, this will be the first time two HarbourCats have been on the same team at the MLB level — and they may even bat next to each other in the lineup over the coming days.

With the HarbourCats, Meidroth was a star defensively at shortstop, and was near impossible to keep off the bases — he hit a whopping .424, a .494 on-base percentage, with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 13 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft after his junior season at USD.

Meidroth is just 23, with a whole career ahead of him. He’s considered an excellent contact hitter with MLB power potential, and had a big year at AAA in the Boston system last year before being a key part of a major trade between the two Sox teams. He’s hit 38 home runs across all levels, batting .304 with 54 stolen bases.

“Chase was tremendous for us — so strong at short, and an impact bat in helping that 2019 team reach the WCL final,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “We are so proud of him — and all our players who go pro, and of course the eight now who have made it to the MLB level.”

Vaughn is the top bat with the White Sox after being the third-overall MLB draft pick in 2019, fast-tracked to the MLB level. Smith, Wendzel (now at AAA in the Reds organization) and Neely made their MLB debuts in 2024, and Lukes, the 2014 HarbourCats player of the year, is fast becoming a regular in the outfield with the Blue Jays. DeGoti saw time with the Astros during the covid season and is now at AAA in the Rangers organization.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Finn returns, two Tide guys sign, and three Horned Frogs

Published

1 week ago

April 10, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 10, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — There may not be a better team nickname in all of sports than that of TCU — The Horned Frogs. And three of those Horned Frogs will be with the Victoria HarbourCats this summer.

Catcher Jacob Silva and pitchers Andrew Carter and Thomas Bridges have been added to head coach Todd Haney’s roster for this summer, which the HarbourCats will start on the road in Kelowna on May 30 — less than two months away. TCU provided right-hander Carson Cormier, a WCL all-star and Pitcher of the Year, to the HarbourCats in 2024.

The home opener is June 6 with the Port Angeles Lefties at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

“It’s always good to add top young talent from a great program like TCU, which sees the value in the competition we get to face in the West Coast League on a daily basis,” said Haney, the 2023 WCL coach of the year, now in his fifth season as head coach of the HarbourCats.

Also added today are local pitcher Jack Finn, in his third season with the HarbourCats, and Victoria Golden Tide outfielder Dominic Biello, who is having a breakout season with the CCBC program in Victoria. Righty Jalen Sami, who was a valuable asset of
out the bullpen before starting a playoff game for Victoria in 2024, also returns.

“Having Jack Finn return with the strides he’s made at the D1 level, will be great for the staff as well,” said Haney. “He really enjoys working with our pitching coach, Scott Anderson.”

Announced today:

LHP Jack Finn, Illinois State, 6-2/185, L/L, Victoria
OF Dominic Biello, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-0/200, R/R, Victoria
RHP Jalen Sami, Victoria Golden Tide, 5-10/170, R/R, Burnaby
RHP Andrew Carter, TCU, 6-2/192, R/R, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
RHP Tommy Bridges, TCU, 5-11/190, R/R, Los Angeles
C Jacob Silva, TCU, 5-10/203, S/R, San Antonio, TX

Finn, a product of the Victoria Eagles, had an impressive showing for the HarbourCats late in the 2023 season, before heading to Normal, Illinois and Illinois State. The sophomore is used as a lefty out of the pen by head coach Steve Holm, but started seven games among his nine appearances in summer of 2024 in Victoria, going 0-2 with a 3.96 ERA — 16 strikeouts and 23 hits allowed in 25 innings.

Biello, who attends UVic, is tied for the Tide team lead in home runs with two this spring, batting .318, with a team-high nine runs batted in, along with three doubles. An Eagles product, Biello is a leader for the Tide, usually batting second in the order — also a strong defender in the outfield.

Sami, from Burnaby, took the winter off to rest, rehab and strengthen his pitching arm but will be ready by late May. He made nine appearances for the HarbourCats in 2024, giving up just 10 hits in 16.1 innings, walking only two hitters.

Silva hit .375 in his high school career before joining his older brother Anthony at TCU. Jacob was a stellar student-athlete at Clark HS, recognized for his academics and named a unanimous all-district player. He won the Texas 6A Student Athlete Award in 2024.

Carter had three no-hitters in high school and was first-team all-conference in his last two years of prep baseball. He is a freshman at TCU, as is Bridges, who had a record 0.59 ERA in high school, earning an invite to the Perfect Game national showcase.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Little League Classic coming to RAP, ahead of nationals at Layritz

Published

2 weeks ago

April 8, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a first for the best baseball park in Victoria, and a way to celebrate a major event coming to Layritz Park in late July.

With Layritz due to host the Canadian Little League Championship starting on July 29 — the winner advances to Williamsport, PA, and represents team Canada for the Little League World Series — the Victoria HarbourCats, and the HarbourCats Foundation, are hosting the LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

On Sunday, July 20, all six Little League organizations in the Victoria area will be represented as a preview of the Canadian Little League Championship, which will start at Layritz on July 29 — an event supported by the HarbourCats Foundation through the Victoria Foundation.

“This is something we have never tried, and we can’t wait to see the faces of these young athletes when they are on that field, with their pictures up on the video scoreboard,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “We think this is something that could grow in future years to see Wilson’s Group Stadium used for an entire youth baseball showcase weekend — the same as we are using the Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase on May 31, featuring the Sooke Loggers and Lacey A’s, to bring attention to that area of diamond sports.

“We could not be more excited to see what Layritz is doing in hosting the Canadian Little League Championship. There is no more pure level of sport than events like that, the pure joy of the young stars, and all who support them.”

Little League Classic schedule of events:

Sunday, July 20 2025 Little League Classic
Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP

11am, Hampton vs. Central Saanich
1pm, National vs. Lakehill
3pm, Layritz vs. Beacon Hill

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the HarbourCats Foundation to bring the Little League Classic to Royal Athletic Park,” said Brittney Crump, Chair of the Canadian Little League Championships Planning Committee. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talent of our little league athletes in Victoria and build excitement for the Canadian Little League Championship at Layritz. We are grateful for the support we have received to date from the local community – but we have not reached our fundraising goal yet. Community support is vital to the success of these events, and we’re proud to stand together with the HarbourCats Foundation in making this experience possible for these young athletes.”

Tickets are available on-line for the Little League Classic, and are by donation for adults, with a minimum donation of $5 required. Kids 12 and under are free! These great events need financial support to be able to pull them off, and the HarbourCats and HarbourCats Foundation are proud to be part of that effort.

Anyone wishing to learn more or to support the national tournament can visit the tournament website at https://layritz.ca/tournaments/2025-canadian-championship/ or e-mail Brittany Crump at media@layritz.ca.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and three “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

Source