Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Haney names 2023 coaching staff, adds Anderson, Williams and local legend Sinclair
Friday, February 24, 2023
For Immediate Release
VICTORIA, B.C. — The coaching staff that will support Victoria HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney (above) in search of a West Coast League (WCL) title is a mix of new energy and tremendous experience.
Jaxon Williams
Haney, who enters his fourth year as a HarbourCats coach and third in the top job, is proud to add former Arkansas and Texas State player Jaxon Williams and veteran WCL pitching coach Scott Anderson, joining returning coach Troy Birtwistle, who will coach first base as he has since 2017.
Also joining the crew this year is Victoria legend and former MLB lefty Steve Sinclair. Curtis Pelletier remains part of the effort as youth program coach, collegiate Golden Tide head coach, and will provide specialist work with catchers and hitters.
“I’m excited about this group, no question,” said Haney, who played at the MLB level with the Expos, Cubs and Mets. “We have a great mix of youth and experience with the 2023 coaching staff, providing all of our players with a tremendous development opportunity for the summer. Troy, Curtis, Jaxon and Scott bring a wealth of knowledge to the team and the addition of Steve Sinclair makes us that much better!”
Scott Anderson
Williams, from Texas, was a scrappy infielder at Arkansas, then Texas State and has worked as a personal trainer and coached at the high school level since leaving college. The 25-year-old hit .265 with 10 home runs in 147 games combined in the SEC and Sun Belt Conference.
“Jaxon was one of my favorite players to coach at Texas State. Our players will love his energy and passion for the game,” said Haney who coached Williams for one season at Texas State.
Anderson’s record is distinguished, drafted three times — first round, second round and fourth round as a lefty pitcher — and starring at Oregon State. He earned six pro seasons, giving up just 362 hits in 459 innings. Anderson, who now lives in Phoenix, coached in Bend in the WCL and was named WCL manager of the year in 2009. The 67-year-old, one of the real characters in the game, led the Lefties pitching staff in Port Angeles in 2017.
Steve Sinclair
“I’m excited to work with Todd and for an organization like Victoria, they do everything the right way,” said Anderson, also a former MLB scout with Tampa, Cleveland and Baltimore. “The game experience for fans in Victoria is outstanding but it’s still about playing great baseball. Todd has the right approach for development, class and character.”
Sinclair pitched two seasons, for Toronto and Seattle, as a lefty specialist, making 45 MLB appearances. The Blue Jays traded Sinclair, a life-long Victoria resident, to the Mariners for first baseman David Segui in 1999. “We are thrilled Steve will have the opportunity to coach with us this summer. Scott Anderson is a proven winner and one of the top pitching coaches in the game. What a great learning experience for our pitching staff to have access to Scott and Steve on a daily basis during the summer season,” commented an excited Haney.
Ex-MLB players Greg Swindell and Mark Petkovsek were unable to return to Victoria for the summer, after serving with the team in 2022. “The HarbourCats organization will miss Greg and Mark, they loved Victoria and did a tremendous job of teaching last season ,” said Haney of his former college teammates.
Troy Birtwistle
HarbourCats 2023 Coaching Staff
- Todd Haney, Head Coach (third as Head Coach, fourth overall)
- Scott Anderson, Pitching Coach (first season)
- Jaxon Williams, Assistant Coach (first season)
- Troy Birtwistle, Assistant Coach (fifth season)
- Steve Sinclair, Assistant Coach (first season)
- Curtis Pelletier, Youth/Collegiate Development Coach (fourth season)
The HarbourCats celebrate their 10th Anniversary in 2023 and the season kicks off with the home opener against the Kamloops NorthPaws on Friday June 2, 2023. Single game tickets for that game and all 31 HarbourCats home games in 2023 are now on sale and can be purchased on-line through our one-and-only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at harbourcats.com/tickets. They can also be purchased at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or at the Select Your Tickets box office at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Fans can also call 778-265-0327 to order over the phone.
Curtis Pelletier
Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale. For details on all ticketing options, including our special $10.00 Tuesdays, Forces Fridays and Save-on-Food Vouchers, please visit harbourcats.com/ticketinfo.
HOST FAMILIES! The HarbourCats are in need of host families for 2023! If you are interested, you can find more details HERE, or contact Cindy Kent, our Host Family Coordinator by e-mail at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.
April 21, 2026
VICTORIA, B.C. — Practical power, provided — thanks to Emery Electric.
The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to recognize local company Emery Electric, a proud local business founded in 1930 by Ernie Emery and now overseen by Derek Emery.
What is this recognition all about? Well, working with the HarbourCats and the City of Victoria, Emery Electric has provided a major power upgrade to what is known during the baseball season as Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park — one that brings significant environmental improvements.
Emery Electric will be a key part of the HarbourCats season, helping to highlight “Emery Electric electric plays” by the home team, and the WCL All-Star Game Festival’s home run derby, featuring former Blue Jays star outfielder Kevin Pillar, will be referred to as “Powered by Emery Electric.”
“What was completed by Emery Electric earlier this year is a significant piece of quality work and infrastructure improvement we are proud to have put in place — and it will bring enhanced service capacity to all who use the City-owned facility,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats. “There should be no more brown-outs in that area. Derek and his staff are so community-minded, it’s hard to describe.
“We can’t yell ‘THANK YOU’ loud enough. It’s a big addition for the City, no cost to taxpayers, and we are proud to help contribute.”
In short, the work will provide power for the equivalent of four food trucks along Caledonia Avenue — a cabinet housing 4x30amp, 120/208 volt, and 4x15amp, 120 volt was installed in the off-season. That means generators and various fuels, and the associated hum of the engines, can be removed from the park (gas and diesel prices these days, anyone?).
Cup-A-Roni is one of many food trucks operating during HarbourCats games that will benefit from the power upgrades installed during the off season.
Emery Electric is nearing 100 years of serving Victoria and indeed all of Vancouver Island in commercial, industrial and marine electrical contracting.
The HarbourCats have been the main user of Royal Athletic Park since 2013, the longest continuous single user group in the history of the facility, which opened in May of 1908. The HarbourCats have contributed many improvements including dressing room upgrades, the movable fence, and enhanced seating areas, all with no taxpayer burden.
The HarbourCats begin their 2026 season on May 29th with a visit to Portland and then return to Victoria for the Home Opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 pm.
Season tickets, single-game tickets, 12 and 32-game flex packs are now on sale at harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 1814 Vancouver Street.
Tickets for the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 14th are currently available in a package that also include tickets for the WCL All Star Game that will be held on Wednesday, July 15th and feature the top players in the league. Prices for the package start at $40 for General Admission seats to $85 for field level Diamond Club Seats, and can be purchased ON-LINE, or by visiting the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, just around the corner from the stadium.
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