Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Clutch moments the difference as the Riverhawks take game two 10-4
WCL All-Star Tate Shimao was 1-4 with a double (Photo: Justin P. Morash)
July 13, 2024
For immediate release
VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats kept clawing away at The Edmonton Riverhawks lead until the visitors put the game beyond doubt with a big ninth inning winning 10-4.
Payton Hawkinson (Cal State Fullerton) made his fourth start of the season, however, unfortunately for him, he recorded the loss for the second straight time. The six-foot-seven lefty gave up four runs on six hits, striking out two over three innings of work. Three of those runs came in the third inning off back-to-back home runs by Sam Kane and Jacob Poturnak, giving the Hawks an early 4-0 lead.
The HarbourCats responded in the bottom half of the third with Cam Schneider (Fresno State) and Michelle Artzberger (ULM) with back-to-back RBI singles, cutting the Edmonton lead in half.
Over 4000 fans packed the stadium for the third fireworks show of the year, presented by Odlum Brown (Photo: Justin P. Morash)
The Riverhawks made it 5-2 in the top of the fifth adding a run on a Mahidutt Tabata two-out RBI single after a Cats error extended the inning.
Victoria continued to stay within touching distance as the game went on through a Ny’Zaiah Thompson (Cal State Fullerton) sacrifice fly in the sixth, which made it a 5-3 ballgame.
Garrett Villa (Angelo State) pitched 1-1/3 innings giving up zero runs on zero hits, his sixth straight scoreless outing.
Brett Harvey (Puget Sound) gave up a run on two hits while pitching the seventh and eighth innings, which gave the Riverhawks a 6-3 lead.
Garrett Villa has given up three hits and zero runs in his last eight innings of work (Photo: Justin P. Morash)
The HarbourCats did not go away quietly with Gunner Antillon’s (Cal Baptist) two-out single in the eighth getting his team within two runs.
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The Riverhawks got the better of Cats pitcher Brooks Brewster (Panola College) in the ninth producing a two-out rally that scored four runs. That made it a 10-4 game, putting the result beyond doubt.
Victoria had their chances but struggled to find that clutch hit, leaving nine runners on base throughout the game.
The rubber match is tomorrow at 1:05 PM at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. It’s Bark in the Park, presented by Bosley’s on Yates! Bring your dog to the park and enjoy a great afternoon of HarbourCats baseball! Get tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets, by coming to the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street in advance, or by calling 778-265-0327.
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Alan Choo has seen a lot of home runs in his life — hundreds from his father, and now a healthy number off his own bat in college.
The son of former MLB all-star outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, a Korean product who hit 218 long balls in his 16-season career, Alan himself has now established himself as a power hitter in the college ranks.
Choo, currently at Orange Coast College, is tied for third in home runs in the CCCAA with nine, including two in a game on Tuesday. He is a legitimate draft prospect for this coming July!!
“I’m so pumped to play for the NightOwls,” said Alan Choo, who turns 21 at the end of this week. “I’ve only heard great things about the organization and coaching staff and the players’ futures that go through the NightOwls. I’m super excited for the summer!”
Choo, a lefty hitter who plays first base and DH, is close friends with returning catcher Clark Springs, who is in D1 baseball at UT-Arlington. Choo, who was born in Phoenix Arizona, is a sophomore and checks in at 6’1” and 225 lbs.
“This is a big signing for us, adding a feared lefty power bat to hit in the middle of the order with returning all-stars Jacob Hayes and Talan Zenk,” said Head Coach Cody Andreychuk. “We will have big bats and depth on our roster, and we think Alan will be a leader for us so we can bring a championship to Nanaimo.”
Choo the senior was an outstanding Major League hitter, starting his big league time as a Seattle Mariner in 2005, then moving on to Cleveland, Cincinnati and Texas, where he played his final season in 2020. He received MVP votes in 2010 and 2013 and went to the all-star game in 2018, representing the Rangers. In seven of his seasons, he hit 20 or more home runs. He also stole 157 bases in his career, with three 20-20 seasons.
Shin-Soo Choo is still involved in the game after retirement, now as a scout.
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