Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – ‘Cats get come from behind win over Nanaimo to keep in first place hunt
HarbourCats catcher Russell Young tags out Nanaimo’s Niko Diaz on an early play at home plate.
Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
August 1, 2023
Victoria, BC – Marco Pirruccello scored three times and Michael Crossland had a pair of RBI as the Victoria HarbourCats erased 5-1 deficit to beat the Nanaimo Night Owls 8-6 Tuesday night in West Coast League action at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria.
The win moves the now 33-15 HarbourCats to within 1.5 games of Wenatchee for first place in the North Division second-half standings, as the AppleSox lost 12-1 to Bellingham.
HarbourCats starter Russell Derbyshire delves a pitch.
After jumping into a 1-0 lead, the HarbourCats found themselves down 5-1 after the top of the fifth as the Owls push 2 runs across in the top of the fourth and another three in the top of the fifth.
Victoria would respond in the bottom of that frame, taking advantage of a number of Nanaimo defensive mistakes and then getting a two-RBI single from Crossland to score four in the frame and tie the game at 5-5. More defensive miscues for Nanaimo, who finished with four errors total in the game, allowed Victoria to score three more in the bottom of the sixth and put the game out of reach.
Hudson Shupe strokes a single in front of a crowd of over 2,800 at Wilson’s Group Stadium Tuesday night
Nanaimo would score one more in the eighth and threaten in the ninth, loading the bases, but ‘Cats closer Brett Harvey got a ground out to end the threat and the game.
In addition to Pirruccello’s two hits, Jesse Brown also had a two-hit night with an RBI and a run scored. Ryan Magdic added a double and Hudson Shupe also had a hit and a run scored to contribute to the win.
For Nanaimo Elijah Ickes had a four hit evening, including a double, while Ethan Rivera had three hits and three RBI in the losing effort.
On the mound, newcomer Dustin Davidson gets credit for the win in relief, while Harvey earns the save. Russell Derbyshire started the game for Victoria and went four innings giving up a pair of runs (on earned) on four hits. Four other Victoria pitchers also saw work Tuesday evening.
For Nanaimo, reliver Carson Jones takes the loss.
Ryan Magdic watches his second inning double head to centerfield
These two teams are right back at it on Wednesday night at 6:35 for the annual Odlum Brown Jersey Off Their Backs night where lucky fans can go home with a HarbourCats jersey following the game. The series wraps up Thursday at 6:35 pm with the annual Fan Appreciation Night, with all kinds of special prizes and one fan winning a Staycation at the Rialto Hotel.
Tickets for all remaining HarbourCats games and now the first TWO playoff games, can be purchased on-line at https://harbourcats.com/tickets.
Vouchers: A reminder that all ticket vouchers must be redeemed at either of our two remaining home games and may not be used for playoffs or carried forward to 2024.
Respected island businessman John Wilson has been named President of the company that oversees the successful collegiate baseball teams based in Victoria and Nanaimo.
Wilson, the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and whose family owns and operates the Wilson’s Group of Companies, has been part of the core ownership group of the Victoria HarbourCats since 2015, and the Nanaimo NightOwls since inception in 2020 (started play in 2022). The NightOwls, a rival to the HarbourCats on the field, play at historic Serauxmen Stadium.
Wilson takes the position from Ken Swanson, who remains on the board after a solid 10-year run as team president. The group also operates the Victoria Collegiate (CCBC) baseball program and the busy indoor facility on Cook St., the Edwards Family Training Centre.
“Ken has led the corporate structure well, and he’s deserving of a break,” said Wilson. “We have a strong and committed group of owners and staff and a refresh is good for us all, keeping these teams playing great baseball and positively impacting these amazing communities in a stable, creative manner. Ken literally leaves big shoes to fill.”
The HarbourCats, which started play in 2013, will host the WCL All-Star Game in 2026 and 2027, showcasing the island’s immense love of baseball and the team that helped produce eight current MLB players including Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays), Nick Pivetta (Padres), Cade Smith (Guardians), Andrew Vaughn (Brewers) and Chase Meidroth (White Sox). The 2026 all-star festival will take place July 14-15 using Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park and sites around the South Island, with exciting details to come.
Wilson and Swanson lead a nine-member ownership group that includes Rich Harder, Helen Edwards, Mike Macdonell, Sean Finn, Vic Vendetti, John Schnaderbeck and Jim Swanson.
“No one knows the community like John, so we are all looking forward to what will be a flawless transition that will bring some new life to the organization,” said Ken Swanson.
The management structure remains the same — former GM Jim Swanson in the Managing Partner role, overseeing day-to-day operations, assisted by Adrian Somers (Business Operations and Marketing). In Victoria, Christian Stewart (General Manager) and John Pollard (Marketing Director) remain in place, while Tina Cornett continues her strong leadership in Nanaimo as General Manager, with Kent Malpass overseeing the concession.
The teams maintain wholly separate coaching staffs and recruiting processes — veteran Todd Haney, a five-year MLB player, as the sixth-year Head Coach in Victoria, and local product Cody Andreychuk, a collegiate program head coach at University of Pikeville, enters his second season in Nanaimo, assisted by pitching coach Gorman Heimueller, who has three World Series rings from his 50 years in the game.
Tickets are selling fast…get yours today. www.NanaimoNightOwls.com/ticketinfo
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
For immediate release
January 20, 2026
VICTORIA, BC — A former HarbourCats outfielder, a member of the record-breaking WCL team in 2016, knew he wanted to send players he now coaches to a great summer baseball factory.
Jarron Silva, then an outfielder from UCLA, really enjoyed his time in Victoria, on a team that won a record 40 games, including 19 in a row at one point.
Now as an assistant coach at San Jose State, he connected with veteran HarbourCats coach Todd Haney to secure development spots for two pitchers and two position players.
“Jarron was a spark plug for that 2016 team, and he remembers the fan support and atmosphere at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP — Victoria is a baseball city,” said Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “We are excited to see the pitchers signed, and to see the power in Rohne Klein and Ethan Nunez — they have the potential to represent Victoria when we host the WCL All-Star Game on July 15.”
Four Spartans and a versatile fielder from George Mason, Matthew Westley, have been signed by Coach Haney:
- RHP Landon Marchetti, San Jose State, 5-11/190, Brentwood, CA
- RHP Spencer Kratt, San Jose State, 6-0/210, Woodland Hills, CA
- IF Rohne Klein, San Jose State, 6-4/230, L/R, Renton, WA
- OF Ethan Nunez, San Jose State, 6-4/190, R/R, Chino Hills, CA
- IF/OF Matthew Westley, George Mason, 6-1/210, R/R, Manassas, VA
Marchetti, previously at UC San Diego, has nearly 30 games of college experience, including five starts, and used a lower lefty arm slot to register high strikeout numbers in high school. Kratt is a power righty who runs it up to 92, a transfer from LA Valley College.
Landon Marchetti delivers a pitch while playing for the UC San Diego in 2025.
Klein, a transfer to SJSU from Utah, is a developing power bat who also is noted for a strong arm — can play third, outfield or first. He’s an athlete, playing both quarterback and linebacker on his high school team.
Nunez is a transfer from Colorado Mesa, where he was the RMAC freshman of the year — and he will miss the spring as a redshirt to get an injury fully rehabbed, but will be good to go for summer. At Colorado Mesa, he hit .356 with 14 bombs.
The lone non-SJSU addition announced by Coach Haney is utility guy Westley, formerly of Virginia Tech and now at George Mason. He has two summers of experience in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League.
The Victoria HarbourCats will begin their 2026 West Coast League season in late May of 2026, with the home opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Plenty of excitement is on board for 2026 including:
- Three fireworks nights (June 6, 30 and August 3)
- Two 11:00 AM School Spirit Games (June 4 and 18)
- Five Family Fun Sunday Matinees (June 7, 14, 28 July 19 and 26)
- $12 Tuesdays and Thursdays (June 16, July 2, 7, 9, 28 and 30)
Season ticket memberships, single-game tickets, 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) and 2026 WCL All-Star Game ticket packages are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
All ticket types and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-5pm.
John Wilson Named As New Team President
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
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