Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Busy day for former HarbourCats as MLB draft concludes

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

July 16, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a full handful of Victoria HarbourCats turning pro as the Major League Baseball draft wrapped up on Tuesday.

Four players were drafted and one signed a free-agent contract — two of those players off the current WCL team roster.

Highlighting the group is outfielder Lucas Ramirez, selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 17th round. The son of perennial all-star and World Series MVP Manny Ramirez, who has been living in Victoria all summer with his family, had a scholarship to attend powerhouse Tennessee this fall but is expected to sign and head to Tempe, AZ, and the Angels team in the Arizona Complex League as the 18-year-old starts his pro journey.

Lucas Ramirez in action for the HarbourCats against the Redmond Dudes (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Memorable left-handed pitcher Ryan Magdic, a real fan favourite in 2023, was picked by the Oakland A’s in the 14th round — a power pitcher with tremendous upside. At 6-5/240, the Ontario product will get a strong look from that organization.

Also selected was right-handed pitcher Sean Heppner of UBC, who starred for the HarbourCats in 2023 as a powerful starting pitcher, tabbed by the Cleveland Guardians in the 12th round — where he will be an organizational teammate of former HarbourCats right-hander Cade Smith, who is one of the top rookie bullpen arms in the game. Smith was the opening day starter for the HarbourCats in 2019.

Pitcher Hunter Omlid, remembered for his stellar work in the 2019 WCL playoff run to the final game, was taken by the Colorado Rockies in the 20th and final round.

Catcher Connor Dykstra, a product of Chilliwack and George Mason University, agreed to a free-agent deal moments after the draft, inked by the Seattle Mariners.

Connor Dykstra showed off his rocket of an arm on a consistent basis for the HarbourCats this season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

“We are immensely proud of these players, their hard work and dedication to the game and to our program when they were wearing our uniform,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “These are tremendous young men, each has their own story and it’s one of excellence and high achievement. We hope they all make the steps to reach the MLB level and join the six players we have already produced since the HarbourCats landed in 2013.”

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Close Out Series with 6-3 Loss

Published

19 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

The Cats mustered just five runs over the three game series. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats offence came up short in this afternoon’s ballgame, as Victoria was defeated 6-3 to finish off the weekend.

The Falcons took an early lead this afternoon on a sacrifice fly to centre, but it was smooth sailing otherwise for starting pitcher Jeremiah Arnett (Rice). The righty gave up four hits over four innings, the only run being that sac fly, with a trio of strikeouts and no free passes.

BOX SCORE

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) was tagged in for the top of the fifth and nailed his first inning of work, setting the Falcons down in order. The sixth was a different story, as Lindsey allowed a solo homer to push Kelowna’s lead to 2-0.

San Jose State reliever Landon Marchetti took over on the mound for the seventh, letting a couple of runners on but managing to escape the inning without a run scoring.

Flynn Warren (Hawaii Pacific) emerged from the bullpen in the top of the eighth to a precarious situation: bases loaded, no outs. The New Zealander walked one batter, hit two more, and gave up a sacrifice fly to allow four runs before the end of the frame.

Jeremiah Arnett (Rice) pitched four innings with three strikeouts. (Photo by JPM Photography)

The bottom of the eighth saw the HarbourCats offence finally gain some ground. A double from Kade Davis (UTSA) made room for Koa Won (Hawaii) to score, followed up by a single from Hewitt to bring in another run. Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) drove in one more before the inning came to a close with a score of 6-3 in favour of the Falcons.

The Cats would be unable to add on any more runs in the bottom of the ninth, dropping the final game of the series 6-3.

WCL STANDINGS

Victoria will now head on the road for a midweek matchup with the Edmonton Riverhawks, returning home on Friday to take on the Springfield Drifters.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Offence Stunted Versus Kelowna

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 8-1 by the Kelowna Falcons in the second game of the series.

The Falcons drew first blood in this one, launching a three-run dinger to left field in the top of the fourth to snag an early lead. Victoria’s starting pitcher Schuyler Fairchild (Wenatchee Valley) had cruised through the first three frames without much trouble up to that point, but his contributions this evening came to a close after the long ball in the fourth. Fairchild allowed three runs on four hits, striking out one batter and issuing a walk.

BOX SCORE

Inning number five required the services of Auburn, Washington’s Caden Shoul (Wenatchee Valley). The right-hander pitched 1.2 innings, calling it a night after giving up two runs in the top of the sixth to push Kelowna’s lead to 5-0.

Tyler Bono (North Central Texas) came into the game with the bases loaded and put on a sub-par performance, hitting two batters and walking one to allow three more runs. Marcus Janovsky (UBC) was summoned from the bullpen to finally get out of the inning.

Garen Geoghegan (Whitman) and Pierce Stone (Regis) combined for two scoreless innings in the final stages of the game, but Victoria’s offence continued to sputter.

Centre fielder Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, and was welcomed home by another double hammered by Carter Eberhard (Cal Baptist) to score the Cats’ first and only run of the game.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats close out the series on Sunday, June 7 at 1:05 pm before departing to Alberta for a midweek matchup with the Edmonton Riverhawks.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Fall 4-1 to Falcons

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Missed opportunities with runners in scoring position led to a disappointing outcome for the Cats. (Photo by Victoria Spotlight Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 4-1 by the Kelowna Falcons on Friday night in the first game of the series.

Both sides’ bats stayed quiet until the third inning this evening, when the Falcons drove a pair of base hits up the middle, jumping out in front to a 2-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Easton Reimers (North Dakota State) entered the game in the top of the fourth to relieve Cats starter Bryson Toner (Hawaii). Toner allowed two runs on five hits through his three innings on the bump this evening, throwing in a walk and a strikeout as well.

Reimers was excellent throughout his first two innings until a leadoff homer in the sixth broke his hitless streak. A second run scored on a passed ball before Reimers was able to get out of the inning and pass the baton to Jack Clark (CSU San Marcos).

The Cats offence woke up in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases and scoring a run on a ball that dropped just fair in left field from Rohne Klein (San Jose State). That was the only run they got on this crucial opportunity, as the Falcons picked up a big strikeout to escape the jam and maintain a 4-1 lead.

Tate Collins (Arkansas State) claimed control of the mound for the Cats in the top of the eighth inning. Despite a leadoff walk, the Little Rock, Arizona native tossed a zero on the board to bring about the bottom of the eighth for the Victoria offence.

The Cats were unable to pull off a comeback after loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth, leaving the runners stranded and losing the ballgame 4-1

WCL STANDINGS

Victoria and Kelowna will be back in action Saturday, June 6 at 6:35 pm for game two of the weekend series.

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