For Immediate Release

June 21, 2025

KAMLOOPS, BC – Mother Nature sure put a damper on the HarbourCats offence on Saturday.

After scoring 23 runs and notching 30 hits in their sweep of Nanaimo last week, the HarbourCats could only muster one run and four hits on Saturday in Kamloops, but, thanks to some stellar pitching, that was enough to earn a split with the NorthPaws, taking game two Saturday 1-0, after dropping the first game by that exact same score in extra innings.

After a rain out Friday night that created today’s 7-inning double header scenario, Tommy Bridges (Northwestern) got the start for the HarbourCats in game one and he was brilliant, facing the minimum number of batters and striking out seven in five innings of work.

His only blemish was a fourth inning single by Drew Schmidt, who was then thrown out trying to steal second by HarbourCats catcher Kyle Hepburn (S. Illinois Edwardsville), who came on in the first inning to replace Jacob Silva (TCU), who injured a foot sliding into second earlier in the game.

Unfortunately for Bridges and the HarbourCats, Kamloops starter Keith Manby was also strong, going four scoreless and hitless innings, giving way to Mac Gatzke who went another three scoreless innings to keep the Cats off the board.

BOX SCORE GAME 1

After such great pitching performances on both sides, forcing the game into an extra eighth inning, it would be somewhat ironic that Kamloops would win the game on a bases loaded walk surrendered by Garret Villa (Angelo State) to the NorthPaws Elijah Clayton.

In game two, Logan Rumberg (George Mason) got the start for Victoria and taking a cue from teammate Bridges, he also dominated, going five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out six.

He got all the run support he needed in the fifth inning when JC Allen (UC San Diego), making his first start as a HarbourCat, walked and then later came in to score on an RBI single from Jack Johnson (Baylor).

BOX SCORE GAME 2

Victoria native Oliver Mabee (Nebraska Omaha) came on to pitch the final two innings and earned the save, giving up one hit and striking out two, and inducing a game-ending double-play to kill a NorthPaws threat in the bottom of the seventh.

The split Saturday moves the HarbourCats record to 11-9 on the season, tied with Kamloops for fourth place and 3.5 games back of Division leading Bellingham.

The HarbourCats and NorthPaws will complete their three-game set with a quick turn around for the rubber match of the series, a 12 noon start on Sunday. Scheduled to take the mound for the HarbourCats is Julian Orozco. That game can be seen on-line live at WCL amd Kamloops streaming site at https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/events/68413255ee5610062bf7f4d7/

The ‘Cats will then head home to begin a three-game set with the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, on $12 Tuesday, where select Premium Reserve seats are available for just $12. Tickets for that game are available at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or by calling the HarbourCats office at 778-265-0327.

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NANAIMO, B.C. — The NightOwls didn’t have it on Friday night in front of  1172 fans at Serauxmen Stadium. They fell to the Port Angeles Lefties 9-1 thanks to a great day on the mound from the Lefties starter. Nanaimo could only muster one run on 5 hits and had no errors. Port Angeles had nine runs on 15 hits with no errors.

Bright spot on the day for the Nanaimo NightOwls was Spencer Sullivan. The outfielder from Virginia Commonwealth University went two for two with a single, a double, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base. It wasn’t a bad at the plate for Spencer, but he had two of the five hits for the NightOwls.

Raoul Fabian Jr. had a single and a stolen base on Friday night. While Caden Petrey and Talan Zenk had the other two hits for the NightOwls.

The NightOwls relievers were able to shut things down after the fourth inning but the bats just didn’t come alive. Vinny “The Chef” Bruno made his season debut coming an injury and looked strong in his one and two thirds innings pitched. He faced six batters giving up two hits and striking out three.

Not to be outdone, both Dawson Shultz and Andrew Nykoluk pitched scoreless innings for the Nanaimo NightOwls. Starting pitcher Richtter Castillo pitched better than his stat line says ending the night with four runs on seven hits. The balls were just finding gaps Friday night. He did finish with five strikeouts and zero walks so his command wasn’t a problem for the NightOwls.

The Nanaimo NightOwls continue their 10-game homestand with games on Saturday and Sunday, June 21st and 22nd, against the Port Angeles Lefties. Saturday night first pitch is at 6:35 and Sunday it’s Nanaimo Bar and Family Day at the Park with a 1:00 pm start. Then we welcome the Redmond Dudes on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24th and 25th. The good thing is we always get amazing fans at the park so come out to the ballpark!

We have some great promotions coming up this weekend. Saturday night is Indigenous Peoples Night and we have Halloween in June at the ballpark where you can dress up and watch some great baseball. Make sure to follow all our social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and the platform formally known as Twitter for the latest news and updates from the team.

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For immediate release

June 20, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — For Chris Vlaj, it’s a promotion from a few years in an assistant coach role — to now being named the Head Coach of the Victoria Golden Tide of the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC).

Vlaj, 27, will lead a coaching staff that will include a new Pitching Coach Darius Opdam Bak, who pitched for the Golden Tide for three years, and returning Assistant Coach Colton O’Brien, who also serves as the lead for recruiting efforts.

Former Head Coach Ethan Fox has left the organization after being in that role for three seasons.

“We are pleased with the continuity in elevating Chris to this role, while bringing back Colton and seeing the transition of Darius to the coaching side,” said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the group that oversees the Golden Tide along with the West Coast League teams in both Victoria and Nanaimo.

“We thank Ethan for his time and service. We think this program is in position to take a next step and be a top program annually in the CCBC. These coaches are dedicated to putting in the work and being detailed to build the best season of Golden Tide baseball, and I’m excited to see them roll up their sleeves. Our organization goal is to never be outworked, and trust the process to become a force in the CCBC.”

The Golden Tide use the Edwards Family Training Centre and Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park as their primary facilities, for training, practices and games — excellent locations for a collegiate athlete.

Vlaj, a former catcher, brings experience from two strong programs — the Nanaimo Pirates and the Okanagan College Coyotes — where he proved to be a dependable presence behind the plate.

Opdam Bak (pictured above) a three-year starter with the Golden Tide and a former Little League World Series participant, has been building his coaching résumé at the high school level and is now set to make his collegiate coaching debut.

O’Brien, a former Victoria Eagles outfielder, continues to play a key role on staff as an assistant coach, with a primary focus on recruiting alongside the rest of the coaching team.

For more information on the Victoria Golden Tide, please visit their website at https://goldentide.ca/ and learn more about the coaches at https://goldentide.ca/coaching-staff/

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