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Victoria HarbourCats – ‘Cats SWEEP Riverhawks to win second-half North Division title!

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Playoffs to begin in Wenatchee Tuesday, with Games 2 and 3 (if needed) at home Wednesday and Thursday

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

August 6, 2023

Edmonton, AB – HarbourCats Player of the Year Tyler Davis had a clutch two-out RBI in the top of the eighth, and Jack Johnson had an RBI double in the top of the ninth, to give the HarbourCats all they runs they needed, in an eventual 3-0 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks Sunday afternoon in the final game of the West Coast League regular season at Re-Max Field in Edmonton.

The win gave the HarbourCats the sweep over the Riverhawks, but more importantly, secured first place in the second-half North Division standings and the second seed in the playoffs, with the home field advantage that comes along with that.

What this means then is that the HarbourCats will open the North Divisional Playoffs Tuesday, August 8th IN Wenatchee against the AppleSox and then come home for Game 2 of the series on Wednesday and Game 3 (if needed) on Thursday.

North Divisional Playoffs
IN WENATCHEE
GAME 1 – Tuesday August 8th, HarbourCats @ Wenatchee, 6:35pm

AT WILSON’S GROUP STADIUM at ROYAL ATHLETIC PARK
GAME 2 – Wednesday, August 9th, Wenatchee @ HarbourCats, 6:35pm

GAME 3 (if needed) – Thursday, August 10th, Wenatchee @ HarbourCats, 6:35pm

Tickets for Wednesday’s playoff game can be ordered on-line at https://harbourcats.com/tickets.  Fans should be sure to order PLAYOFF GAME #1 for the Wednesday game and fan’s already holding tickets for Playoff Game #1 should be sure to use this ticket on Wednesday evening.

Fans can also come into the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver street to get their tickets. The office WILL BE OPEN on BC DAY Monday from 10 am to 5pm for this purpose, as well as all day Tuesday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and Wednesday pre-game from 9:30 am to 5pm.  Tickets will also be available at the gate at Wilson’s Group Stadium on Wednesday beginning at 5:30 pm.

Fans already holding tickets for Playoff Game #2, will use this ticket EITHER Thursday night (if the series goes three games), or else for the North Division final which we would host on Saturday, August 12th, should we win the Wenatchee series in two games.

Should the HarbourCats advance to the WCL Championship final, this potentially could be played at Wilson’s Group Stadium on Monday, August 14th, if anyone BUT the Corvallis Knights advance from the South.  By virtue of their 3-0 win over Ridgefield Sunday, the Knights secured the best record overall in the league (by one win over Victoria) and would host the final should they advance.

On Sunday in Edmonton, it was a classic pitcher’s duel, as the ‘Cats could not figure out Edmonton starter Halen Knoll until the eighth inning when Davis laced his RBI single, just the ‘Cats fourth hit of the game, to give the ‘Cats the 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile HarbourCats starter Sam Jordan, and relievers Jake Finkelstein and Ryan Magdic were also doing their best, limiting the ‘Hawks to just three hits through seven innings of work to keep the game scoreless.

After the Cats broke the tie in the eighth, they then added some insurance in the ninth, as Russell Young singled and was driven home on Johnson’s double, with Johnson then coming home on a Michael Crossland RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.

Reliever Brett Harvey would shut the ‘Hawks down on just a single hit through the eighth and ninth innings to preserve the lead and get the save.

NOTES:  The win gives the HarbourCats an overall record of 38-15 (25-2 at home) on the year with one game cancelled as a result of a rainout in Kamloops.  Hudson Shupe, who came into the game just .001 percentage point behind in the batting race, was o for 5 on the day Sunday and will lose the title to either Walla Walla’s Ben Parker (who is no longer on the Sweet’s roster) or Wenatchee’s Frankie Carney who will play later tonight.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Fall 2026 Indoor Training Clinics Now Open for Registration

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Sessions begin October 31. Register NOW!

The Victoria HarbourCats and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are now taking individual bookings for our Fall 2026 indoor training sessions for baseball.

The “Offseason Academy“, presented by The EFTC, is designed to keep athletes sharp, confident, and improving long after the final game of summer. Built for youth players who want to stay ahead of the competition, our Academy focuses not only on technical skill development but also on the physical conditioning that keeps athletes strong and game-ready.

With a lineup of specialized camps in areas such as hitting, analytics, and general skills, athletes can train with experienced coaches, benefit from professional-level technology like HitTrax, and build the habits that matter most during the offseason.

All sessions take place in the same professional training facility used by the HarbourCats and Victoria Collegiate Cats, giving players access to a proven environment for growth and performance.

Running for eight weeks, athletes will receive 32 hours of training designed to keep their skills sharp through the winter.

2026 Fall Sessions Include:

Baseball, Foundations and Futures, $300, Saturdays, 9:00am- 12noon, October 31 thru December 19. Ages 8-11
Foundations & Futures” is a high-energy baseball camp for players aged 8–11. This camp delivers professional-grade instruction in a dynamic, fun environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and carry your skills into next season. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, High Performance Prep, $300, Saturdays, 12:30-3:30pm, October 31 thru December 19. Ages 12-16.
High Performance Prep is designed for players aged 12–16 who are ready to refine their skills and maintain peak form after summer. This camp delivers advanced instruction in a focused, competitive environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and prepare for the season ahead. REGISTER HERE

There are limited spaces in each camp so don’t delay. Register NOW!

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Victoria HarbourCats – Zach Swanson Returning as Pitching Coach for HarbourCats in 2027

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September 2, 2026

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – After a successful debut season in the West Coast League, Zach Swanson will be back as Pitching Coach for the Victoria HarbourCats.

Head Coach Todd Haney is pleased to be putting together the key pieces of his staff already for the 2027 season, and that includes Swanson, the Victoria product and former college pitcher, after setting notable records in 2026.  Swanson is a Lambrick Park graduate who played for the Victoria Eagles and Mariners, and pitched collegiately at San Diego Christian and Park University-Gilbert, earning an MBA in the process.

The records and notables of the 2026 HarbourCats:

  • Most team strikeouts (536) in team history in a season, two short of a WCL record (and notably, the HarbourCats would have played two more games, but they were cancelled due to smoky conditions in Washington State)
  • Highest K/9 rate in WCL history (10.48)
  • Second in batting average against (.235)
  • Fourth in league ERA (4.48)
  • Right-handers Jeremiah Arnett (66) and Erik Rico (64) now sit first and second in HarbourCats history in strikeouts in a season, and both were named all-stars – on top of it, Arnett was named the WCL Pitcher of the Year
  • HarbourCats reliever Nathan Mueller was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and pitcher Will Zielinski was a 20th round pick of the Detroit Tigers

Swanson is the Pitching Coach at Hawaii Pacific University (NCAA Division 2) in Honolulu, entering his second year – in his first season, Swanson had three all-conference pitchers and the team ERA improved by more than a run per game.

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome Zach back as our pitching coach for the 2027 season.  He built tremendous trust with our pitchers and has a great understanding of what it takes to develop players,” said Haney, who earlier this week added former MLB infielder Jeff Frye to the coaching staff for 2027.

“Our pitching staff responded to Zach’s leadership every single day, and we saw real growth both on and off the mound.  Zach brings an exceptional work ethic, passion and competitive edge to our staff.  Our pitchers are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him now, as it’s only a matter of time before Zach is an MLB pitching coach.”

Swanson is excited to return to a team he knows well, holding many roles – batboy, to player, to play-by-play voice in 2022.  Swanson was Victoria’s starting pitcher for Game 1 of the WCL final in 2019 against the Corvallis Knights in a game played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

“It’s a joy and a privilege to be returning to Victoria in 2027,” said Swanson, son of Managing Partner Jim Swanson.

“After a 2026 season full of development, my wife Madeline and I are looking forward to coming back to this great city.  I can’t wait to help write another chapter – both in the lives of these athletes and in the history books of this organization.”

 

The HarbourCats have started the recruiting process for 2027 already, and Season Ticket Memberships are now available for purchase or renewal.  New members may order their seats on-line if desired at harbourcats.com/tickets (click the Membership tab), or by calling the office at 778-265-0327.

Renew or purchase your seats by September 30th to be eligible to win a round trip airfare on Harbour Air to Vancouver.

The HarbourCats 2027 schedule is expected to be announced in late October 2026, with single-game tickets expected to be available by December 1, 2026.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Former MLB infielder Frye joins HarbourCats coaching staff

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August 31, 2026

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Add another former Major League player to the coaching staff of the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League — and one who definitely has opinions on how the game should be played.

Jeff Frye, who registered nine years and 15 days of MLB service and 667 big-league games overall, joins the staff led by Head Coach Todd Haney, another former MLB infielder who himself played parts of five seasons with the Expos, Cubs and Mets. Haney enters his seventh season as Victoria’s Head Coach in 2027 and has been with the HarbourCats since 2018.

The versatile Frye, who now lives in Maryland, played mostly second base for Texas, Boston, Colorado and the Toronto Blue Jays, and hit for the cycle as a member of the Blue Jays. Frye had a career .290 batting average and slugged 16 home runs — he had 626 hits in the big leagues, 162 of them for extra bases. He also stole 56 bases and only struck out 279 times in 2,451 plate appearances.

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Jeff to our coaching staff. Jeff knows exactly what it takes to compete at the highest level,” said Haney.

“He brings a winning mindset, tremendous baseball knowledge and a passion for helping players succeed. His incredible experience and expertise will elevate our player development as we continue our focus of bringing a championship home to our fans.”

Frye is also very well known in baseball social media circles (follow @shegone03 on X) for unabashedly standing up for the game’s fundamentals and traditional values — which are also important to Haney and the HarbourCats organization.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to coach with my buddy Todd Haney in the beautiful city of Victoria B.C.,” said Frye, who was born in California but played high school and college baseball in Oklahoma before being drafted by the Rangers in 1988 (30th round). (Haney, a native Texan, was a 38th round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 1987, the same draft the Mariners chose Ken Griffey Jr. first overall.)

“I’ve always had the desire to get back on the field teaching the game I love and it’s finally here. Let’s get to work!”

Frye, who celebrates his 60th birthday today, played college baseball at Carl Albert State College and Southeastern Oklahoma State, where he set program records with a .455 batting average in 1988 and a .420 career batting average. Despite being an undersized guy — a playing profile very much like Haney had in college and pro — Frye was all-conference twice, an all-American, conference player of the year, and was inducted into the Southeastern athletics hall of fame.

Frye also used two summers with the Fort Smith Red Sox in the Jayhawk League (1986-87) as valuable development, so he understands the value of baseball players playing baseball for a quality organization.

The HarbourCats franchise has a legacy of attracting former MLB players to be part of the coaching staff, including Greg Swindell, Mark Petkovsek, Brian McRae, and current local assistant coach Steve Sinclair, who played parts of two seasons with the Blue Jays and Mariners. The team also had Manny Ramirez as a guest coach in 2024 when his two sons, Manny Jr. and Lucas, played for the team.

The HarbourCats have started the recruiting process for 2027 already, and Season Ticket Memberships are now available for purchase or renewal. New members may order their seats on-line if desired at http://harbourcats.com/tickets (click the Memberships tab), or by calling the office at 778-265-0327.

Existing members who have accounts in good standing on SHOWPASS can simply log into their account to renew, or can also call the office or pop in to pay for their 2027 seats.

Renew or purchase your seats by September 30th to be eligible to win a round trip airfare on Harbour Air to Vancouver.

The HarbourCats 2027 schedule is expected to be announced in late October 2026, with single-game tickets expected be to available by December 1, 2026.

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