Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats | Easing of outdoor crowd restrictions too little, too late for HarbourCats and NightOwls

Published

4 years ago

June 29, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

Teams looking at possible exhibition series this summer, full speed ahead for 2022!

For Immediate Release

June 29, 2021

VICTORIA, BC — If only things were where we are now six months ago. Even two months ago.

The Province today announced that after July 1, outdoor gatherings in British Columbia can have up to 5,000 people in attendance, or up to 50% capacity, whichever is greater. While that is great news for many, and for all of us in British Columbia moving forward, unfortunately, it is too little, too late for sports teams like the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls, who had to make critical business decisions two months ago regarding the 2021 West Coast League Baseball season.

At that time, with the border still closed – and it is still slated to be closed until July 21 – and with the vaccination levels then nowhere near what they are right now, with COVID cases still high, the HarbourCats had to make the tough decision to forego playing the 2021 season, the second-straight lost season due to the pandemic.

It also meant at the time, the HarbourCats had to release all the players they had signed, so that they could find somewhere else to play this year. So for fans hoping to see the HarbourCats rapidly put a team together and start playing games, it is not going to happen.

There may be an opportunity though for the HarbourCats to put together some sort of exhibition game or series with their sister team the Nanaimo NightOwls later this summer, and Managing Partner for both teams, Jim Swanson, is starting to explore that possibility.

“With our U.S. teams in the West Coast League already well into their 2021 WCL season, and with the border still closed, it will be impossible for us to ramp up any kind of regular season,” said Swanson. “But we are exploring some kind of exhibition series between our two teams, albeit altered from what we’ve been proud to put on the field for so many years. If something is able to be done, we will let everyone know any plans at a later date.”
On a longer term, the news today means that the HarbourCats and NightOwls can both proceed full speed ahead for a full season of West Coast League baseball season in 2022, the eighth for the HarbourCats and the inaugural first for the NightOwls, with fans in full attendance.

While the 2022 West Coast League schedule is not expected to be released until October, fans should be warned now that tickets for 2022 will be in high demand. With four new teams in the league – the NightOwls, the Kamloops NorthPaws, the Edmonton Riverhawks and the Springfield (Oregon), Drifters, and the fact that fans will be itching to get to a game after a two-year absence, it could be a record-setting attendance year at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria, and close to a sell out for every game, in the smaller Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo.

“With many fans having vouchers to exchange from both 2020 and 2021 and the demand for tickets for people who will just want to see a game again, we are suggesting that if you have been sitting on the fence about getting HarbourCats season tickets, now is time to act,” said HarbourCats Assistant GM of Ticketing and Media Christian Stewart. “Season tickets are by far the best value for your money, and we have plenty of options available for Victoria in all seating areas, except our field level Diamond Club seats.”

Fans can also purchase 10-game flex pack vouchers now, but will have to renew them, along with all fans holding 2020 and 2021 vouchers, once the schedule is released in the fall. Flex-pack vouchers are also available as a “season ticket equivalent,” whereby for the same price as a season ticket, fans get 35 vouchers to use in any combination and for any regular season game that they wish.

“We can’t wait to entertain fans back at the ballpark again,” added Stewart. “Hopefully we can get something together for a game or two in July or August, but either way, 2022 is going to be amazing and we want as many fans as possible to be there with us when we celebrate the full return of HarbourCats baseball.”

For more information on tickets for both teams, please visit or contact:

Victoria HarbourCats
https://harbourcats.com/ticketinfo/
Contact: Christian Stewart chris@harbourcats.com
Phone: 778-265-0327

Nanaimo NightOwls
https://nanaimonightowls.com/tickets/
Contact: Raymond Kirk ray@nanaimonightowls.com
Phone: 250-709-2882

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats cruise to victory

Published

6 hours ago

July 25, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Isaiah Afework had four RBIs in one game for the second time this season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 24, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats wrapped up their final non-league game of the season Thursday night against the Victoria Mavericks, coming out on top 22-2.

Logan Shepherd got things going in the first inning with an RBI single. Isaiah Afework followed that up with a two-run double to make it 3-0. Jake Butler hit an RBI single, and Garrett Brooks drove home two with a triple to cap off the six-run opening frame.

BOX SCORE

Back-to-back RBI doubles from Shepherd and Dillon Lopez in the second inning made it 9-0, before an Afework opposite field home run increased the lead to 11-0.

The Mavericks got on the board in the fourth inning when Sami Samir hit a double with the bases loaded to plate a pair.

The Cats scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, including a Liam Fast RBI double, pushing the lead to 14-2.

Connor Ross reached base three times and had one RBI tonight (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The hits kept coming as five HarbourCats hit RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth inning, which made it 22-2.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Jack Finn started the game and pitched three scoreless innings while striking out four. Ethan McNish-Heider replaced him and threw three of his own, giving up two runs and striking out four. Jacob Thompson pitched the seventh inning, striking out one, before the game was called due to a mercy rule.

Brooks and Afework led the way with four RBIs apiece. Shepherd drove in three and Jai Berezowski, Declan Brown, and Butler all drove in a pair of runs.

Tomorrow is the start of Peninsula Co-op’s Kids Free Weekend! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s games are free for kids 12 and under. You can get tickets at the gate or in person at the HarbourCats office; this option is not available online. Friday’s game is also Anawim House Sock Toss night! Bring pairs of new or gently used socks or buy a pair at the game to throw on the field after the first HarbourCats home run of the game.

Due to popular demand, we are expanding our $12 Tuesday seats. All remaining Premium Reserved seats (normally $22 per seat) for the July 29 game against Kamloops are now just $12. PLUS, WE NOW HAVE $12 THURSDAYS! All remaining Premium Reserved seats for our game Thursday, July 31 are now just $12. Come watch the best baseball in town for the best price anywhere!

BUY TICKETS HERE

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

Source

Summer Collegiate

NightOwls flash defensive gems against Knights

Published

1 day ago

July 24, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — Win or lose, the Nanaimo NightOwls are certainly entertaining.

Centre fielder Andrew Ivy made three highlight reel catches, Trevor Goldenetz made a spectacular catch at the left field wall, and infielder Ryder Florence had a spinarama ground ball out — but it wasn’t enough in a 9-2 loss as the visiting Corvallis Knights took advantage of almost all their baserunners on Wednesday night at historic Serauxmen Stadium.

No less than 10 great defensive plays combined were flashed by both teams.

Catcher Nate Davis was 3-5 for Nanaimo and Goldenetz had two hits including a double for the NightOwls.

The Knights only outhit the NightOwls 10-8 in winning the second game of the series.

Both teams committed two errors.

The third game of the series is 6:35pm at Serauxmen Stadium, and its host family appreciation night.

After the series, the NightOwls go to Kamloops to face the NorthPaws for games Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the latter an afternoon game.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats rally late but fall short to Fish Sticks

Published

1 day ago

July 24, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Tanner Beltowski was back in the leadoff spot tonight, scoring two runs (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 23, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Dub Sea Fish Sticks survived a late push from the Victoria HarbourCats to win 10-8 Wednesday night.

For the second straight night, the Fish Sticks got on the board in the opening frame, and it was once again Matt Churchill who did the damage. The slugger drove in a run with a single to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. He had five hits and five RBIs in this two-game series.

The HarbourCats didn’t waste any time responding, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the first. Jake Butler (George Mason) and Declan Brown (Wenatchee Valley) both hit RBI singles to give the Cats a 3-1 advantage.

BOX SCORE

Fish Sticks’ left fielder Kai Gonzaga hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning to cut the deficit in half, making it 3-2. Dub Sea added two more in the inning to turn the game around and give them a 4-3 lead.

Declan Brown had three hits and three RBIs in the two games against Dub Sea (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Wyatt Hurley blew the game wide open with a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, extending the Fish Sticks’ lead to 7-3.

Dustin Davidson (Freed-Hardeman U) started for Victoria and threw three innings. He was replaced by Dillon Dibrell (Rogers State), who pitched two shutout innings while striking out six batters. Tristin Thomas (West Texas A&M) took over from there, pitching two innings of his own, giving up one run on two hits while striking out a pair.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Dub Sea extended their lead to 10-3 in the top of the eighth, but the home team did not go away quietly in the bottom half. A Butler RBI single, his third hit of the night, got things going, and Liam Fast then followed it up with a two-run single. Jai Berezowki and Dominic Biello, both from the Victoria Golden Tide, also hit RBI singles to cap off the five-run frame and make it 10-8.

The Cats rally did not continue into the ninth inning as the Fish Sticks were able to hold on for the victory.

Cade Rusch (Bellarmine) pitched the final two innings for Victoria, striking out six and giving up two runs.

Jake Butler had three hits tonight (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Tomorrow, the HarbourCats take on the Victoria Mavericks, and it is the first-ever Country Night! Get yourself gussied up in your country outfits and come on down to the ballpark for a night of all things country. Rob Curtis will be performing on the field when the gates open at 5:30 PM. Friday is the start of Peninsula Co-op’s Kids Free Weekend! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s games are free for kids 12 and under.

Due to popular demand, we are expanding our $12 Tuesday seats. All remaining Premium Reserved seats (normally $22 per seat) for the July 29 game against Kamloops are now just $12. PLUS, WE NOW HAVE $12 THURSDAYS! All remaining Premium Reserved seats for our Thursday games on July 24 and July 31 are now just $12. Come watch the best baseball in town for the best price anywhere!

BUY TICKETS HERE

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

Source