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Victoria HarbourCats – Cats back on track in rout of Lefties

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The HarbourCats had a season high 10 runs and 11 hits Saturday night (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

June 7, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats snapped their four-game losing streak on the first fireworks night of the season, beating the Lefties 10-4.

The early going didn’t go to plan for the hosts as two throwing errors in the second inning led to the first two runs for the Lefties, giving them a 2-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

The Cats’ bats finally came to life in the fourth inning when they put seven runs on the board. A bases-loaded walk got the Cats their first run, which was followed by a hit-by-pitch allowing another run to score, tying the game up at two. Isaiah Afework (Tacoma CC) gave the Cats their first lead of the evening with a two-run double down the left field line. Later in the inning with two away, Jack Johnson (Baylor) hit his second home run in as many games, this time a three-run shot, blowing the game wide open and giving his team a 7-2 lead.

Connor Ross has three hits in his first two games as a HarbourCat (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

WCL STANDINGS

Thomas Bridges (TCU) made his second start of the season after throwing three scoreless innings in the season opener last week in Kelowna. The freshman was once again impressive, this time going one better, throwing four innings giving up zero earned runs on five hits, while striking out three. Bridges was excellent at pitching ahead in the count and attacking batters with all three pitches. The Los Angeles, California native has yet to give up a walk this season.

Logan Shepherd (Tacoma CC) had his second straight multi-hit game, including a sixth-inning RBI double that increased the Cats’ lead to 8-2.

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Andrew Carter (TCU), Ben Hewitt (Ottawa), and Austin Lindsey (Hill College) all threw an inning out of the bullpen, giving up no runs on no hits. Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) made his second pitching appearance of the season after playing three games in center field in Kelowna. He gave up two runs on three hits while striking out two.

The HarbourCats reached double digits in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of a Xander McAfee (Texas Arlington) RBI double and a Shepherd RBI single. McAfee, Shepherd, Connor Ross (Cal Baptist), and Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College) all had two hits apiece tonight.

2016 MLB All-Star with the Toronto Blue Jays and Victoria native, Michael Saunders, threw out the ceremonial first pitch (Photo: Justin P. Morash) 

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Garrett Villa (Angelo State) made his season debut, finishing the game with a scoreless ninth inning and striking out one batter. The right-hander became an ever-present last season in high-leverage situations and was as effective as they come. In his final 15-2/3 innings in 2024, he gave up just one run and recorded three saves.

Tomorrow is the first Family Fun Sunday of the season with the series finale starting at 1:05 PM. The Cats, who are now 4-4 on the season, will try to win the series and get back over .500 before an off day on Monday. Buy tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Missed the game? Catch HarbourCats in 30 airing at 10:30 PM after every home game all season long on CHEK TV.

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.

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Summer Collegiate

The Losing Streak Continues For The Nanaimo NightOwls

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NANAIMO, B.C. — The losing streak continues for the Nanaimo NightOwls as they were on the wrong side of a 5-0 score line against the Port Angeles Lefties. That brings the losing streak up to five games and drops the NightOwls to 8-12 on the season. The good thing is they are back at it tomorrow at 1:00 pm for the final game of the series, with a chance to salvage a game of the series and get back to their winning ways.

 

They couldn’t capitalize on runners in scoring position and finished the game with nine left on base. Nanaimo finished with zero runs on seven hits and one error. The Lefties had five runs on seven hits and no errors.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=621644

Starting pitcher Aidan Boice took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. He had a rough start to the game, giving up four runs in the first inning before settling in nicely and only giving up three hits in the next five innings of work.

Nanaimo NightOwls Pitcher Aidan Boice

 

 

Relievers Dillon Thompson and Asher De Leo pitched solid in relief combined for three innings of one hit one run ball. Thompson also struck out two while De Leo struck out four of the eight batters he faced to end the game.

Once again it was Spencer Sullivan with a multi-hit game. After going two for two in the first game of the series against the Port Angeles Lefties, he followed it up with a three for four night with 3 singles. He currently has five of the 12 hits for the Nanaimo NightOwls in the series and is hitting a crazy .833, lets hope it continues for the final game of the series.

Drew Giannini continues to hit well contributing with a single and stolen base and going one for four on the evening. Eli Watson, centerfielder Owen Wessel, and Nanaimo product Easton Mould all added singles for the Nanaimo NightOwls.

In the field the NightOwls were able to turn 3 double plays. Shortshop Andrew Nykoluk, from Simi Valley, California, was a man one wrecking crew in the middle of the infield. At one point in the fourth and fifth innings he made five straight outs including a highlight reel diving catch to rob the Lefties of a base hit. Should probably have that highlight!

One more game in the series against the Port Angeles Lefties on Sunday June 22nd where the NightOwls will look to end their 5 game losing streak. Then the Redmond Dudes come into Serauxemen Stadium for a two game series on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24th and 25th.

Sunday after noon we will be wearing our Nanaimo Bar jerseys and it’s a Family Fun Day where kids get to run the bases after the game. It’s also Halloween in June! So show up to the stadium in a costume and cheer on the team. Make sure to follow all of our social media accounts for the latest news and updates about the Nanaimo NightOwls and all the team. Stay tuned this week for a special player profile on one of your Nanaimo NightOwls!

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Great pitching, solid defense and almost no offense. A wacky double header gets split on Saturday

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The Kamloops NorthPaws split Saturday’s doubleheader with the Victoria HarbourCats winning the first game 1-0 and losing the second game by the same score. After Friday’s contest was rained out, the two teams were back at it for a pair of seven-inning games that saw just two runs and nine hits combined between the two teams in 15 innings of baseball.

“That’s a first for me,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson. “The pitchers threw well today, and both teams hitters just couldn’t hit; it happens in baseball sometimes.”

Game one saw righty Keith Manby get the start and throw four scoreless innings, walking and striking out two batters, all while not allowing a hit. Lefty Mac Gatzke came on in relief and pitched three scoreless innings. In the fifth, he gave up back-to-back singles but got a nifty 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam. Righty Julio Garcia was called upon in the eighth and hit the first batter he faced but got out of the inning unscathed.

At the plate, it was a struggle for Kamloops as HarbourCats starter Thomas Bridges gave them five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and striking out seven batters. Unlike the HarbourCats, the NorthPaws never really had a dangerous opportunity to score, only leaving one runner on base. That stranded runner came in the bottom of the seventh with Right Fielder Connor Clark at second base and first baseman Jared Hall failing to drive him in with two outs.

The NorthPaws eventually would put together good at-bats in the eighth. Catcher Kalen Applefield led off with a walk. Tanner Hornback pinch hit and reached base via an error and would later steal second base. The next two NorthPaw hitters failed to convert with Applefield 90 feet away, bringing up a two-out situation. Center fielder Ethan Kodama walked, loading the bases and setting up Elijah Clayton to be the hero. Clayton found himself in a two-strike count but worked a walk, scoring the lone run of the game and giving Kamloops the win in a bizarre fashion.

After a game no one expected, the two teams regrouped and returned to the field for game two. No one in the crowd thought another contest like that was possible again, but they would be proved wrong.

The NorthPaws saw their righty starter Lukas Dykstra make his longest outing of the season, going four and a third innings, giving up just one run on two hits. The Harbourcats got to him in the fifth inning after a walk, hit by pitch and a single. From there, the HarbourCats shut the door with their starter going five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and a six-out save by former NorthPaw Oliver Mabee.
The NorthPaws had a chance in the bottom of the seventh after a Connor Clark single, but Tanner Hornback hit into a game-ending double play, securing the split for the HarbourCats.

Five hits in 15 innings for a team that put up 18 runs in their previous three games in Walla Walla. Heading into the series finale, the Kamloops hitters are going to put more of an emphasis on their team approach at the plate.

“I think we were a bit antsy tonight; I know I was antsy in some at-bats swinging at stuff I shouldn’t be swinging at, but we just need to get back to our approach tomorrow,” said infielder Drew Schmidt.

The pitching on both sides was excellent all night, with just nine combined walks in the doubleheader. Notably, the HarbourCats staff did not walk a single batter in game two. Despite the split, there are plenty of positives to take away, including the performances from the NorthPaw bullpen.

“I think we commanded the inner half really well tonight, and that allowed us to work that outside corner more. Usually, when you throw a lot of strikes and don’t give guys free passes, you give yourself a good chance to win,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.

The series finale will be a crucial one, as both teams are tied for fourth in the North Division at 11-9. The matinée will get underway at 12:05.

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Victoria HarbourCats – ‘Cats earn split in Saturday double header in Kamloops

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For Immediate Release

June 21, 2025

KAMLOOPS, BC – Mother Nature sure put a damper on the HarbourCats offence on Saturday.

After scoring 23 runs and notching 30 hits in their sweep of Nanaimo last week, the HarbourCats could only muster one run and four hits on Saturday in Kamloops, but, thanks to some stellar pitching, that was enough to earn a split with the NorthPaws, taking game two Saturday 1-0, after dropping the first game by that exact same score in extra innings.

After a rain out Friday night that created today’s 7-inning double header scenario, Tommy Bridges (Northwestern) got the start for the HarbourCats in game one and he was brilliant, facing the minimum number of batters and striking out seven in five innings of work.

His only blemish was a fourth inning single by Drew Schmidt, who was then thrown out trying to steal second by HarbourCats catcher Kyle Hepburn (S. Illinois Edwardsville), who came on in the first inning to replace Jacob Silva (TCU), who injured a foot sliding into second earlier in the game.

Unfortunately for Bridges and the HarbourCats, Kamloops starter Keith Manby was also strong, going four scoreless and hitless innings, giving way to Mac Gatzke who went another three scoreless innings to keep the Cats off the board.

BOX SCORE GAME 1

After such great pitching performances on both sides, forcing the game into an extra eighth inning, it would be somewhat ironic that Kamloops would win the game on a bases loaded walk surrendered by Garret Villa (Angelo State) to the NorthPaws Elijah Clayton.

In game two, Logan Rumberg (George Mason) got the start for Victoria and taking a cue from teammate Bridges, he also dominated, going five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out six.

He got all the run support he needed in the fifth inning when JC Allen (UC San Diego), making his first start as a HarbourCat, walked and then later came in to score on an RBI single from Jack Johnson (Baylor).

BOX SCORE GAME 2

Victoria native Oliver Mabee (Nebraska Omaha) came on to pitch the final two innings and earned the save, giving up one hit and striking out two, and inducing a game-ending double-play to kill a NorthPaws threat in the bottom of the seventh.

The split Saturday moves the HarbourCats record to 11-9 on the season, tied with Kamloops for fourth place and 3.5 games back of Division leading Bellingham.

The HarbourCats and NorthPaws will complete their three-game set with a quick turn around for the rubber match of the series, a 12 noon start on Sunday. Scheduled to take the mound for the HarbourCats is Julian Orozco. That game can be seen on-line live at WCL amd Kamloops streaming site at https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/events/68413255ee5610062bf7f4d7/

The ‘Cats will then head home to begin a three-game set with the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, on $12 Tuesday, where select Premium Reserve seats are available for just $12. Tickets for that game are available at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or by calling the HarbourCats office at 778-265-0327.

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