WCL All-Star Festival returning to Victoria for two seasons, HarbourCats last hosted game in 2013

For immediate release 

July 17, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. – The best of the very best in the West Coast League will return to Victoria – not once, but twice.

In a media event on the field today, the Victoria HarbourCats are excited to announce, along with the West Coast League and the Greater Victoria Sports Tourism Commission, an arm of Destination Greater Victoria, that the WEST COAST LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME will be played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park the next two seasons – 2026 and 2027.

The expected dates will be July 15, 2026, and July 14, 2027 – in both cases, the day after the Major League Baseball all-star game. The West Coast League is a proud partner of Major League Baseball.

Destination Greater Victoria, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Wilson’s Group of Companies, Better Print, and New Era Cap Company are the first partners to officially join forces for this event – with opportunities for corporate and community partners at all levels.

“Our outstanding ballpark, which plays to professional standards, and the engagement of this market in terms of support of WCL baseball made this happen – two years in a row, the best of the league will be in the best city in the world,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the Victoria HarbourCats (and Nanaimo NightOwls).

“The excellent broadcast quality provided by Chris Jaycox Productions, and the tremendous work done by City staff on all facets of Wilson’s Group Stadium, put this over the top and made our bid to host in consecutive years successful with WCL board members.

“We could not be more excited to do the work to make these the best all-star games in league history.”

The event has already received support in the form of a sport hosting grant from the Province of British Columbia.

“Hosting the West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 will further elevate Victoria’s global profile as a premier sport tourism destination,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “These All-Star Games will bring significant economic benefits to our local tourism sector, boosting business revenues and creating ripple effects that will be felt throughout the region.”

Bellingham played host the last two seasons, including yesterday’s game. When Victoria hosted in 2013, the game set a league attendance record with more than 4,000 in attendance – 2026 and 2027 project to see more than 5,000 in-person spectators at each event. Edmonton, the WCL attendance leaders, and Victoria are league facilities capable of holding more than 3,500 spectators.

“Hosting back-to-back West Coast League All-Star Games in 2026 and 2027 is exciting for fans and once again demonstrates how Victoria is being recognized as a go-to destination for sports tourism and major sporting events,” said City of Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. “These games will be unforgettable, and our dedicated partners and passionate community are showing the world what Victoria can do.”

Swanson will be part of a steering committee that includes former BC Games chair Kelly Mann, former Oak Bay fire chief Dave Cockle, HarbourCats Creative Director Chris Beveridge, HarbourCats General Manager Christian Stewart, Marketing Director John Pollard, and VP Operations and Business Adrian Somers.

These events will be considerable contributors to the local economy, promoting the great and growing sports legacy of Victoria.

Further details will be rolled out, but tentative plans are slated to include:

**A next-level home run derby the day before the game

**Youth camps that will cover the entire city and be focal points of festivities

**MLB scouts will attend a combine that will happen before the game

**A signature luncheon on the day of the game, with an exciting keynote speaker to be announced

**A pre-game concert is in the works

**Plus a hot stove social event also in the planning stages.

“Ticket packages for the entire event will go fast, and we anticipate offering those to our partners, season ticket holders and host families first during a two-week window in September, with the general public able to snap up what is left after that – it will be affordable, and it will bring great value,” said Swanson.

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July 15, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats took on the South Island Baseball League All-Stars in non-league action and won 11-1 Tuesday night.

Hudson Lance (Coastal Carolina) started the game for the Cats and pitched a perfect two innings, striking out six.

Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) drove in the first run of the game with an RBI triple to deep centre field in the first inning. The senior made his first appearance for the HarbourCats this season after playing in 12 games last season, where he hit four home runs.

BOX SCORE

Victoria tacked on two more runs in the opening frame through a Dominic Biello (Golden Tide) RBI double and a Jai Berezowski (Golden Tide) sacrifice fly. In the second inning, Biello hit a two-run home run over the left field wall for his first home run of the season, making it 6-0.

The All-Stars’ only run came in the fourth inning when RJ Forbes came home on a groundout.

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Biello’s second RBI double of the evening came in the sixth inning, which made it 7-1. The Victoria native had five RBIs and reached base five times.

Solomon Anderson had two hits on the night, including an RBI double in the eighth inning.

Dustin Davidson (Brookhaven), Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist), and Jake Finkelstein (Georgia Gwinnett) all pitched two innings apiece. Palmer struck out six, and Finkelstein recorded four strikeouts. Jalen Sami (Golden Tide) closed it out with a scoreless ninth inning to wrap up the 11-1 win.

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The Cats are back in action Thursday, July 17 at 6:35 PM against the Victoria Mavericks. Get tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets. For the remainder of the season, Thursday games are now $12 Thursdays! All premium reserved and general admission seats are just $12.

Watch Tommy Bridges, Logan Shepherd, Jack Johnson, JC Allen, and Tanner Beltowski tomorrow night on MLB.com in the West Coast League All-Star game down in Bellingham.

10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “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.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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NANAIMO, B.C. — It wasn’t our day as the Nanaimo NightOwls dropped the series finally 5-2 to the Wenatchee AppleSox on Sunday. Nanaimo took a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, but the AppleSox were able to score two runs in the eighth and added two more in the ninth to take the series.

The NightOwls had two runs on 10 hits but committed three errors on the day, which didn’t help their pitchers. The Wenatchee AppleSox had five runs on nine hits with one error. That drops Nanaimo to 17-19 on the year and 3.5 games back of the playoff spot.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=621655

It was a great night for starting NightOwls pitcher, Teague Van Dyke, who went 5.1 innings. The 6’2 right-handed pitcher from Flagstaff, Arizona, gave up just one run on six hits and struck out four. It was a great performance as his family was in town for the weekend to watch him pitch.

UNCOMMITTED Juco transfer from Umpqua CC
6’2 215 pounds
Starting pitcher for the @wclNightOwls

Fastball 88-90 t 91
Splitter 79-81
Curveball 74-76

Tonight’s outing vs Wenatchee Applesox
5.1 IP 4ks 0BB ER
53 strikes to 21 balls@PNW_CBR @PNW_Uncommitted @FlatgroundApp pic.twitter.com/1MkIxIJZGp

— Teague Van Dyke (@VanDyke52452) July 14, 2025

Nanaimo NightOwls Vs Wenatchee AppleSox (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)

Asher DeLeo came on in relief and pitched 1.2 innings of perfect ball with two strikeouts. Dalton Hanson was the losing pitcher of record for the Nanaimo NightOwls, and Aidan Gonzalez got the win for the AppleSox, going 3.1 innings and giving up just one run on four hits and striking out five Nanaimo batters.

https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

All-Star Talan Zenk was on base three times on the afternoon for the NightOwls. He went one for three with a double, two walks and a run scored. He will be joining fellow NightOwl Jacob Hayes down in Bellingham for the West Coast League All-Star Game.

Nanaimo NightOwls Vs Wenatchee AppleSox (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)

Hayes had another hit on the day going one for five as he was given the day off from first base. Tyler Arnold was tasked with manning first base and he did an amazing job making a great diving snag in the field and also producing at the plate. Tyler went one for three with a sacrifice fly and single.

http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets

A break now for the Nanaimo NightOwls as Monday is an off day before getting back on the field Tuesday July 15th again the Nanaimo Selects in an exhibition game. Then we have the West Coast League All-Star Break on July 16th.

One more exhibition game on Thursday July 17th against the Nanaimo Selects before we get back into league action. Than it’s back on the road for a weekend series against the Wenatchee AppleSox Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 18th, 19th, and 20th. Make sure to follow the team on the live stream and use the hashtag #IlluminuteTheDark on social media so we can engage with you! Go Owls Go, Hoot Hoot!!!!!

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