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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

NorthPaws get a timely hit in the seventh to complete the comaback against the AppleSox

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The Kamloops NorthPaws defeated the Wenatchee AppleSox 5-4 on Monday night, snapping their three-game losing streak. The AppleSox got off to a 3-0 lead, but the NorthPaws bullpen kept their bats at bay, allowing the bats to wake up in the fifth finally. In the bottom of the seventh, the bases were loaded for second baseman Tanner Hornback, and he sent a double down the right field line, clearing the bases and giving Kamloops the lead. Righty Julio Garcia came on for another six-out save, securing the victory.

Righty Joey Rico took the mound to begin the series and looked to improve upon his last start, where he gave up five earned runs in Walla Walla. Rico would get through the first two innings scoreless but ran into some trouble in the third: a walk and a single with two out brought

AppleSox third baseman Kyle Panganiban up to the plate. Panganiban sent a fly ball over the fence in left field, giving Wenatchee a 3-0 lead.
Kamloops once again struggled at the plate to begin the game, going hitless through the first four innings. In the fifth, the NorthPaws loaded the bases off two walks and a single from center fielder Connor Clark. With only one out, shortstop Anthony Setticassi sent a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to score Rico, making it a two-run deficit.

NorthPaws lefty Tyler Straily replaced Rico on the mound and was great yet again. Straily went three innings, giving up just three hits while not allowing a run and not walking a batter. Strailys outing gave the NorthPaw bats more time to wake up. In the sixth with two outs, Clark singled yet again, this time loading the bases. Unfortunately for Kamloops, catcher Kalen Applefield was unable to deliver as they left the bases loaded following a fly out.

The seventh inning saw the NorthPaws rattle off four hits, but none were bigger than Tanner Hornback’s. Setticassi, left fielder Elijah Clayton, right fielder Jared Hall and third baseman Drew Schmidt all reached base, including Schmidt drawing a walk to make it 3-2. Hornback was at the plate and shot a ball down the right field line that just stayed fair. He cleared the bases with one swing of the bat, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the NorthPaws led 5-3.

Wenatchee stayed pesky in the top of the eighth, however. Back-to-back doubles made it a one-run game, forcing Kamloops to send in righty Julio Garcia earlier than expected. Garcia struggled with command early on, hitting two batters and loading the bases. With two outs, the AppleSox sent a ball to right field that Jared Hall made a nice sliding catch on to preserve the lead.

In the top of the ninth, Garcia found his command, pitching a quick inning, securing his second six-out save in as many days. The NorthPaws now have 15 wins, matching last year’s total in just half the time. The two teams will battle it out on Canada Day at Norbrock Stadium, with the first pitch set for 6:35.

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NightOwls Wings Get Clipped In An Exhibition Game Against The Nanaimo Selects

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NANAIMO, B.C. — The Nanaimo NightOwls wings were clipped in an exhibition game against the Nanaimo Selects at Serauxmen Stadium Monday, June 30th. In front of a loud crowd, the Nanaimo Selects out hit Nanaimo for the 13-8 win. That brings an end to the NightOwls 6 6-game overall winning streak, but they will look to continue their regular season winning streak on Tuesday against the Victoria HarbourCats.

Photo Credit Chad Frostad

It was a back-and-forth game with lots of runs as Nanaimo…Uh, the other Nanaimo…Okay, the Selects. Jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the NightOwls scored six runs in the bottom of the inning to take a comfortable 6-1 lead. The Selects would claw away at the lead with two runs in the third and fifth innings. NightOwls extended the lead from 6-5 to 7-5, but the Selects would score eight runs in the final three innings to put the game out of reach.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=629560

Starting Pitcher Vinny “The Chef” Bruno made his first start of the season and had a good outing in his two innings. He gave up one earned run on two hits, walking one but striking out three Selects batters. That brings him up to nine strikeouts in just 5.2 innings with just four hits, one walk, and one earned run. Vinny could be important for the NightOwls as they enter the middle of the season.

Vinny Bruno

Vinny Bruno is up to 9 strikeouts in 5.2 Innings (Photo Credit Chad Frostad)

It was a very rotated squad pitching on Monday night for the NightOwls. 6 pitchers went the distance with some position players with the night off from the field getting an inning or two. Coach Cody Andreychuk obviously wants to keep his pitching staff fresh as no one went over 2 innings. Moosa Nonomiya looked very good on the mound and hit the 90 mph mark. He went two innings and struck out three of the selects batters.

https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

Jacob Hayes hot bat continued as he went two for four with a single, double and two RBI. Third basemen Tyler Arnold also had two RBI’s going two of five with a double and a single. Newcomer Jayden Gabrillo had a hit in his debut for the Nanaimo NightOwls and also scored a run.

Photo Credit Chad Frostad

Other contributors on the night for the Nanaimo NightOwls were Alessandro Volpe who was one for three with two RBI and a walk. Ryder Florence also got in on the action with an RBI and Carter Cathers rounded out the scoring for the home side. Ryder also snagged a stolen base on the night but the umpire did not let him keep it.

http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets

Alright everyone, we have a big night tomorrow at Serauxmen Stadium with over 3000 tickets already sold. If you don’t have a ticket yet you might be able to get a General Admission ticket tomorrow but make sure to wear sunscreen, bring a hat and something to sit on as those bleachers get hot! We might also be releasing standing room only tickets with lots of great view points to watch the game. Check out all your social media platforms for news about that use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark in all your social media posts!

We will be having a fireworks show after the game when it gets dark enough and since we are the NightOwls we couldn’t help striking from the skies before the game. Make sure to get here early for parking and for anything else you need to know about the Big Canada Day Festivities, click on the link here.

The series continues for the Nanaimo NightOwls against the Victoria HarbourCats, but it shifts down Island for the final two games at Royal Athletic Park. The two teams will finish off the series on Wednesday, July 2nd, and Thursday, July 3rd. Then the NightOwls head off to Edmonton for a rematch with the RiverHawks. It should be a hard-fought series, as Edmonton will have been swept by the NightOwls fresh on their minds. Make sure to watch the game on the link above and cheer on your team on social media with the Hashtag #IlluminateTheDark.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Dudes hold on for narrow win on Fireworks night

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June 30, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats welcomed the Redmond Dudes to town for non-league action on the second Fireworks night of the season, and it was the Dudes who came out on top, winning 6-4.

The Dudes jumped out to a quick lead, scoring two in the first inning, making it 2-0.

Colton O’Brien cut the Dudes’ lead in half in the bottom of the second with a two-out single up the middle. Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s U) tied it up at two later in the inning with an RBI single of his own. The Cats took their first lead of the night on a wild pitch, making it 3-2 HarbourCats.

BOX SCORE

Brett Patterson started for the HarbourCats and pitched five innings, giving up three runs on six hits while striking out three.

The Dudes made it 3-3 in the top of the fifth through a sacrifice fly. The Cats loaded the bases in the bottom half of the fifth, and an error by the shortstop allowed a run to come home, giving Victoria a 4-3 lead.

WCL STANDINGS

Zach Swanson came in to pitch the sixth inning, and he almost got out of the inning unscathed, but gave up a two-out two-run double to Alex Lavassar to give Redmond a 5-4 lead. The right-hander’s night was done after two innings of work, after pitching a scoreless seventh.

The Dudes’ pitching kept the Cats at bay through the next few innings as they entered the eighth inning holding on to their slim one-run advantage.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Peter Cunningham came in to pitch the eighth for Victoria but gave up three singles immediately, which gave the visitors an important insurance run, making it 6-4.

Nate Major pitched a three-up-three-down ninth inning for the Cats. The home team was unable to capitalize on a lead-off walk in the bottom of the ninth as the Dudes closed it out for a 6-4 win.

BUY TICKETS HERE

The HarbourCats are back in WCL action Tuesday at 6:35 PM in Nanaimo for the first game of the second half of the season. It’s all to play for as the winner of the North Division second half will qualify for the WCL Playoffs. The two teams continue the series in Victoria on Wednesday and Thursday at 6:35 PM. Buy tickets for those two games at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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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