Summer Collegiate

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

Published

2 years ago

August 7, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

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 – Tonight: Parent Information Session on U.S. College Baseball Pathways

Published

17 hours ago

July 22, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Monday, July 21, 2025 – 7:00 PM at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to host an important evening for parents of young ballplayers looking to better understand the journey to playing college baseball in the United States.

Tonight’s session will begin at 7:00 PM, hosted in the Wilson’s Lounge at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, with a live Zoom option available for those unable to attend in person. This interactive discussion is open to all parents interested in helping their child navigate the next steps in their baseball development.

The session will be chaired by HarbourCats Managing Partner Jim Swanson, and will feature a panel of experienced parents from programs such as the Victoria Eagles and Mariners. These panelists will share firsthand insight on what families can expect—from recruiting timelines to the realities of college baseball life.

Key topics will include:

Understanding the U.S. College Baseball System:
An overview of the different levels—NCAA, NAIA, Junior College (JuCo)—as well as Canadian alternatives like UBC and the Golden Tide.
Recruitment and Exposure:
How players get noticed, including tips on recruiting windows, highlight videos, email outreach, tournaments, and showcase events.
Financing College Baseball:
A look at athletic scholarships, academic awards, NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) opportunities, and other financial options.
What Life Is Really Like in a U.S. Baseball Program:
Honest discussion on the expectations, time commitments, and lifestyle student-athletes experience once they’re enrolled.

There will also be an open Q&A period, giving attendees a chance to ask specific questions and get practical advice directly from those who’ve been through it.

Event Details:

Wilson’s Lounge, Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Monday, July 21 – 7:00 PM
Zoom Link: Click here to join the session

Whether your child is just starting high school ball or already drawing interest from scouts, this is a valuable opportunity to learn how to support their goals and plan ahead.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Summer Collegiate

Late rally falls just short for NightOwls

Published

3 days ago

July 20, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

WENATCHEE, WA — The Nanaimo NightOwls had their chances to put up a big number on the host AppleSox — plenty of them.

The hosts in Wenatchee took a 7-4 lead with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth and held on for an 8-6 victory on Saturday night in central Washington. Both teams are in the mix for one of four North Division playoff positions.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=620371

The NightOwls scored four runs with two outs in the fourth inning, and held a 4-2 lead. Seven different Nanaimo batters had hits, and both teams committed three errors. Ryder Florence, Andrew Nykoluk and Easton Mould had RBIs.

Lino Zepeda, Cole Carmichael, Kiki Villegas, Dalton Hanson and Asher DeLeo handled the pitching duties for the NightOwls.

The NightOwls stay in Wenatchee for the weekend series, playing Sunday evening, returning home on an early ferry Monday morning. On Tuesday, the Corvallis Knights make their first ever appearance at Serauxmen Stadium with a three-game series that continues Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday is the Christmas in July celebration at Serauxmen.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Bells walk-off ‘Cats in tense playoff-like pitching duel

Published

3 days ago

July 20, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2025

Bellingham, WA – The Bellingham Bells pushed a run across in the bottom of the ninth inning to eke out a 2-1 win over the Victoria HarbourCats in West Coast League action Saturday night at Joe Martin field in Bellingham.

FULL BOX SCORE

The game was a tense pitching duel throughout, with ‘Cats starter Tommy Bridges and Bells starter Cameron Young keeping things tight through four innings.

Young in particular retired 12 batters in a row after allowing a first-inning single to Jack Johnson. The Bells gave him a lead in the fourth, getting a run off Bridges on a sacrifice fly to hold a 1-0 lead.

Victoria then had a chance to answer in the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but Bells reliever Will Franklin came in and put out the fire to keep the Bells in the lead.

Victoria finally clawed their way on to the scoreboard in the top of the eighth thanks to an RBI-single from Johnson, his second hit of the game, scoring Connor Ross who earlier walked.

In the ninth, Victoria had another stellar chance to take the lead, loading the bases with nobody out, but a big double-play and strikeout ended the threat and sent the game to the bottom of the inning at 1-1.

In the bottom of the frame, Andrew Lamb lead off with an infield single and then advanced to second on a questionable balk call against HarbourCats reliever Garret Villa. Villa then retired the next two batters, but then a throwing error by shortstop Tanner Beltowski allowed the winning run to scamper home and give the Bells the 2-1 win.

The Bells win spoiled solid pitching performances from Bridges, as well as relievers Ryne Palmer and Garrett Brooks, who combined, allowed just two Bells hits in their eight innings of work.

The HarbourCats will now need to quickly regroup as the rubber match in the series goes Sunday afternoon in a 1:30 pm start. Logan Rumberg is the scheduled starter for Victoria.

WATCH HERE

They then return to Wilson’s Group Stadium on Tuesday for the first of a two-game set with the Dub Sea Fish Sticks, and then a return engagement with the Victoria Mavericks on Thursday. The Wenatchee AppleSox then come into town for a three game set starting Friday.

Tickets for all those games are selling fast and are available in advance at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or at the harbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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