Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Golden Tide battle hard, but run out of gas against Coyotes in CCBC semi-finals
Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
October 10, 2021, Kelowna, BC – The new kids on the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) block, the Victoria Golden Tide, battled hard, but eventually dropped an 11-5 decision to the Okanagan College (OC) Coyotes in semi-final action Sunday night at the CCBC Fall Championship Tournament at Elks Field in Kelowna.
Tide starting pitcher Triston Seitz would have a tough first inning, but then settle down to hold the Coyotes scoreless in the rest of his five inning outing Sunday.
The scrappy Tide, who earlier in the day ousted Thompson Rivers from the tournament with a 13-4 win, actually took a 5-4 lead into the bottom half of the seventh inning against the Coyotes, but then ran out of gas, and watched as the host squad would score two in the bottom of the seventh and another five in the bottom of the eighth to cruise to what appeared to be an easy win.
Victoria second baseman Alex MacLauchlan looks for the call but doesn’t get it as the OC’s Ryan Doucette slides in safely on this play.
That was anything but the case, as the tide battled back from an early 3-0 deficit with two runs in the third and another in the fourth to tie the game and then after Okanagan plated a run in the bottom of the sixth to re-take the lead, the Tide scored another two in the top of the seventh to vault into a 5-4 lead.
Coyote third baseman Nolan Rivard prepares to throw over the head of pitcher Adam Sarafinchin on a ground ball from the Tide’s Will Podmoroff.
The Tide would also outhit the Coyotes 8-5 on the day, but seven Victoria errors, combined with 12 passed balls and five wild pitches, would be the ultimate undoing for Victoria, as the Coyotes scored five of their final seven runs, including the tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh, courtesy of passed balls and wild pitches.
Victoria’s Tyler Burton (12) is congratulated by Jordan Bond (33) after scoring a run for the Tide.
McCoy Pearce, who had an RBI single as part of a Coyotes three-run first inning, would be the offensive catalyst for OC, finishing with three hits, including a triple, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Nolan King would also have a hit, two walks and a pair of runs scored.
The Tides’ Brendan Morrison would get around the tag of Coyotes catcher Caleb Lumbard to score one of Victoria’s runs Sunday evening.
For Victoria, leadoff hitter Tyler Burton led the way with a pair of singles, a walk and two runs scored, while Brendan Morrison continued his hot streak with a hit and pair of RBI. Will Podmoroff also had a single, walk and run scored in the losing effort.
Victoria’s Zeke Holt slides into third safely under the tag of Coyotes third baseman Nolan Rivard.
On the mound OC’s Aiden Mordecai gets the win in relief of starter Adam Sarafinchin. Jesse Poniewozik pitched the ninth inning to close out the win.
For the Tide, starter Triston Seitz would settle down after a tough first inning and not allow another run after that in his five innings of work, walking five and striking out six. Nick Lee, who pitched 1.2 innings in relief gets tagged with the loss, while Wyatt Mohr-Royer and Ben Havelock also saw work on the hill.
The Tide’s Will Podmoroff gets high fives after scoring against Okanagan College Sunday evening.
The Coyotes will now move on to the finals at 12 Noon on Monday where they will play the winner of the game between the Prairie Baseball Academy and the University of the Fraser Valley. That game was in progress at press time with PBA leading UFV 1-0 in the fourth inning.
Victoria shortstop Brandon Green makes a throw to first during Sunday’s game.
The Tide will now head home to Victoria and continue their fall season this Saturday, October 16th, with a Black vs Gold intersquad doubleheader and then Sunday, the top college baseball program in Canada, the UBC Thunderbirds come to town for a pair.
Victoria’s Chase Thompson celebrates after scoring the tying run in the seventh inning of Sunday’s game.
All games Saturday and Sunday will be at Wilson’s Group Stadium with both doubleheaders scheduled to start at 1:00 pm. Tickets are $5.00 and $10.00 and will be available at the gate. Children 12 and under get in free!
Victoria’s Tyler Burton slides home safely with what would be the go-ahead run in the seventh inning Sunday.
The Coyotes celebrate their 11-4 semi-final win over Victoria.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2026
VICTORIA — Jeremiah Arnett experienced so much positive development as a member of the Victoria HarbourCats, he has signed up for more.
The West Coast League (WCL) pitcher of the year in 2026, also named the team’s top hurler, has announced his intention to return to Victoria for the summer of 2027, to again work with Head Coach Todd Haney and Pitching Coach Zach Swanson.
Arnett, a right-hander from Rice, is a 6-4/215-pound product of Waco, TX — all he did in 2026 was go 5-2 with a 2.15 ERA and 66 strikeouts (all league-best figures) in 54 innings stretched over 10 starts. He only walked 14 batters, and hit just one, surrendering 43 hits.
His 4.71 strikeout-to-walk ratio was elite for any level.
“Having the WCL Pitcher of the Year back in a HarbourCats uniform next summer is an incredible boost for our entire organization,” said Haney, another Texan who previously coached Arnett prior to their time together with the HarbourCats.
“Jeremiah didn’t just break franchise strikeout records and win the pitching Triple Crown last season—he set the standard for how our guys prepare and compete every single day.”
Arnett pitched for Team North in the Showpass WCL All-Star Game, played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP — and he’ll have his sights set on doing that again when the game makes a second consecutive appearance in Victoria, July 14, 2027.
Arnett also was a first for the HarbourCats — the team’s first married player, as he and bride Emma truly enjoyed the summer in Victoria and getting to know their hosts, Dave Campbell and family.
The HarbourCats being their 2027 season at home on Tuesday, June 1, vs the island rival Nanaimo NightOwls. Single game tickets for that game and all 2027 games, including the All Star Game and Home Run Derby are expected to be available starting December 1st, possibly sooner.
Season Ticket Memberships, and 12 and 24-game flex packs for the 2027 HarbourCats Season are now available for purchase or renewal. New members may order their season 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 (click on the Memberships item), or can also call the office or pop in to pay for their 2027 seats.
Victoria HarbourCats – MAJOR SIGNING
Victoria HarbourCats – Island Cup rivalry starts the summer for 2027 HarbourCats
Plenty of weekend action in 2027 NightOwls schedule
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