Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Busy final home weekend full of promos for HarbourCats games

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

HarbourCats head home for final weekend series of the season, with plenty of fun promotional options in store

July 27, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — Fireworks after a jam-packed Friday, and a free funeral — yes, a free funeral, the last prize you ever need to win.

Promotional weekends don’t get much more packed than this one, with the playoff-chasing rival Kelowna Falcons in town to face the Victoria HarbourCats for a Friday-Saturday-Sunday series, with two evening games and a Sunday matinee.

Here’s how it stacks up, with something for everyone:

FRIDAY (6:35pm, gates at 5:30pm) — It’s a Galaxy Motors FORCES FRIDAY, as all Fridays are with the HarbourCats, and it’s BC Transit Day at the Park — special giveaways, and the 50-50 benefitting Tour De Rock.

SATURDAY (6:35pm, gates at 5pm) — It’s FIREWORKS! Last one of the year, with Joan Wallace Driving School, and welcoming groups from the Victoria Royals, Red Arrow Brewing and Martha’s Delectables. This fireworks game will be a super-busy one, potential for a crowd over 5,000 making for an even better atmosphere.

SUNDAY (1pm, gates at noon) — Yes, you can win a FREE FUNERAL, with HW Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre, with a will package from Mary McManus at Stevenson Doell Law, and an insurance and financial review with Mike Reilly of Gaining Altitude Financial. It’s our highest-value giveaway of the season — and you must be in attendance to win the prize.

“This is the time of year when the playoff chase and the promotions hit a fever pitch at Wilson’s Group Stadium,” said Christian Stewart, GM of the HarbourCats. “There is a lot going on off the field, and the team is 20-1 on home field and contending for a WCL championship. People come to our games for the baseball, but also for the promotions and the food trucks — lots come by bike this time of year, with great bike racks inside the complex.”

The HarbourCats are mired in a second-half playoff battle and as of Thursday morning, sit two games back of the Wenatchee AppleSox for the second–half title. The Cats are also in the wild card running and currently hold down the third seed in the North. The ‘Cats are on the road Thursday night to complete a series with Kamloops, having won 2-0 on Tuesday and then dropped a 6-3 decision Wednesday. They will look to keep pace in the Division by winning the series tonight.

Following the weekend series with Kelowna the ‘Cats welcome the Nanaimo NightOwls to town on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the final regular season home games of the season. They then hit the road for the final series of the season in Edmonton.

PLAYOFFS: Should the HarbourCats win the second-half title, the first home playoff game will be on Wednesday, August 9th at 6:35 pm with a potential game three in the series on Thursday August 10th. Should the HarbourCats clinch a wild card spot, the first home playoff game will be on Tuesday August 8th at 6:35 pm. Tickets for any potential playoff games will go on sale on Tuesday August 1st.

Tickets for the upcoming series against Kelowna and Nanaimo, as always, can be purchased on-line at https://harbourcats.com/tickets. They can also be purchased in person in advance at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or at the stadium box office on game days starting one hour prior to game time.

VOUCHERS: If you have General Admission, Premium Reserved or Grandstand Reserved ticket vouchers, or if you have Save On Foods General Admission vouchers, please note you only have the six remaining home games to exchange vouchers for game tickets. Vouchers are not eligible for any 2023 playoff games and may not be carried forward to the 2024 season.

If you have any questions regarding ticket voucher exchanges, please contact the office at 778-265-0327.

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Summer Collegiate

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

Published

12 hours 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.

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

Published

3 days 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.

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