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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Announce 2022 West Coast League Schedule

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For Immediate Release

November 9, 2021

VICTORIA, B.C. — The ‘Cats came back, shiny and new for 2022.

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce the 2022 West Coast League schedule that will see baseball return to Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park, headlined by the home opener on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 against the cross-strait rival Port Angeles Lefties.

The HarbourCats, who have been patiently staying active as the world deals with a health crisis, have weathered the storm and are excited to reveal the 34 home dates (not counting playoffs) that will welcome fans to Wilson’s Group Stadium.

Included in that mix is the first-ever series against the fledgling Nanaimo NightOwls, who will visit Victoria June 7-8-9. The NightOwls were set to debut in 2021, but the pandemic put that on pause.

‘We get to work on things we’ve wanted to work on for two years,” said Christian Stewart, Assistant GM, who handles ticketing aspects for the WCL club. “People have told us how much they have missed our games, the fun we bring to the community. They want to see Harvey, meet our new players, see Head Coach Todd Haney and the coaching staff. They want a hot dog and a beverage and to sing Sweet Caroline with thousands of others.

“We want that, too. We have a lot of ideas and energy to unleash.”

The HarbourCats are planning major promotional nights that will include the VICA (Vancouver Island Construction Association) bobble head giveaway, along with the ever popular fireworks games — dates to be announced soon.

Some final details are yet to be completed, but teams visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium for league play this year include Port Angeles, Nanaimo, the Kelowna Falcons, Wenatchee AppleSox, Cowlitz Black Bears, expansion Kamloops NorthPaws, Yakima Valley Pippins, Bellingham Bells, and another Canadian expansion team in the Edmonton Riverhawks. Non-League exhibition games are also planned against the Coquitlam Angels and Redmond Dudes, with one other series nearly finalized, and to be announced soon.

In 2022, the HarbourCats will visit Kelowna, Kamloops, Ridgefield, Portland, the expansion Springfield Drifters, Nanaimo (July 12-13-14), Edmonton, Port Angeles and Bellingham.

“The biggest thing this schedule reminds us of is how appreciative we are of our season members and corporate partners who have stayed with us through this — each and every one,” said Stewart. “We all knew the situation, and the work to keep the faith and be ready for a return to play. There hasn’t been much activity at our park since August of 2019, aside from our new CCBC college team Victoria Golden Tide, so we’re anxious to animate the facility again, with our loyal supporters and put on the full show that is HarbourCats baseball!”

Playoffs would start August 9, and the HarbourCats — two-time league finalists, 2017 and 2019 — are eager to make that next step under Coach Haney, who recently inked a five-year contract.

Season tickets are currently on-sale under the “Brand New for 2022” season ticket campaign with details at https://harbourcats.com/season-tickets/. Ten game flex-packs are also available for the Grandstand, Premium Reserved, General Admission and (new for 2022) Right Field Reserved seating areas.

Single-game tickets are NOT YET on sale, but will be announced once our ticketing system is updated and in place and after ticket holders from the cancelled 2020 and 2021 seasons have a priority opportunity to exchange seats for the 2022 season. Stay tuned to our website and social media for announcements on this soon!

Please visit our website at www.harbourcats.com or e-mail chris@harbourcats.com for more information.  You may also call the office at 778-265-0327.

Victoria HarbourCats 2022 schedule (bold, home)

Game Times: Mon-Sat, 6:35pm/Sun, 1pm first pitch for home games, except where noted

May 31-June 2, HOME TO PORT ANGELES LEFTIES
June 3-5, at Kelowna Falcons
June 7-9, HOME TO NANAIMO NIGHTOWLS
June 10-12, HOME TO KELOWNA FALCONS
June 14-16, at Kamloops NorthPaws
June 17-18-19, HOME TO Coquitlam Angels (Non-League)
June 21-23, HOME TO WENATCHEE APPLESOX
June 24-26, at Ridgefield Raptors
June 28-30, HOME TO COWLITZ BLACK BEARS
July 1-3, at Portland Pickles
July 4-6, at Springfield Drifters
July 8-10, HOME TO KAMLOOPS NORTHPAWS
July 12-14, at Nanaimo NightOwls
July 15-17, HOME TO YAKIMA VALLEY PIPPINS
July 19-21, HOME TO BELLINGHAM BELLS
July 22-24, at Edmonton Riverhawks
July 26-27-28, HOME TO TBD (Non-League)
July 29-31, at Port Angeles Lefties
Aug. 1, HOME TO Redmond Dudes (Non-League)
Aug. 2-4, at Bellingham Bells
Aug. 5-7, HOME TO EDMONTON RIVERHAWKS
 Playoffs begin August 9

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats to salute local legend Cliff Lequesne on July 17

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May 13, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — His voice, is everywhere in Victoria, in terms of sports, the signature of his presence at games and events for more than 40 years.

The Victoria HarbourCats will salute local broadcasting legend Cliff Lequesne on July 17 — as he continues to go strong as the morning news and sports icon at The Q, while handling in-house “voice of God” duties for the Royals, Grizzlies and Shamrocks.

His legendary run started at CFAX in 1972, learning from the unforgettable Ken Dobson, and he moved to The Q in 1987. He’s handled sports duties with the Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, the historic fastball teams that once ruled RAP, and even the Victoria Cougars — no, not the ones that won the Stanley Cup in 1925 (how old was Cliff then?), but the WHL version including the legendary 1981 run to the Memorial Cup.

“Cliff really IS sports in Victoria in so many ways, a worthy inductee into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame this past fall,” said Jim Swanson, who oversees the HarbourCats and is also a member of the Hall of Fame board.

“He’s one of the most likeable guys in Victoria, and remembers details, maybe only Cleve Dheensaw of the Times Colonist is in his category for sports media in the city. A gentleman and we are proud to honour him.”

Cliff — and his famous Cliff’s Call — and battery mate Ed Bain can be heard mornings on The Q.

Lequesne will be on the mic for the Emery Electric Fastpitch Challenge on Saturday, May 31, helping recall events of the past and introduce some of the fastball legends of yesteryear before a doubleheader (4pm, 6pm) between the host Sooke Loggers and the Lacey A’s, the first return of fastball to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in decades. The games are possible because of Emery Electric and the support of the HarbourCats Foundation.

Tickets for the Emery Electric Fastpitch Challenge and the Cliff Lequesne Salute on July 17 are available at harbourcats.com/tickets.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

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Victoria HarbourCats – Cat’s add local pitcher and “Big Papi” as a catcher

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Victoria native and former Victoria Eagle Oliver Mabee, above, pitching for Nebrasks-Omaha, joins the HarbourCats pitching staff for 2025 (Photo courtesy Nebraska-Omaha Athletics).

May 12, 2025

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Oliver Mabee always wanted to be a Victoria HarbourCat, and the former Victoria Eagles pitcher will get his chance.

Mabee, a local product, is completing his junior collegiate year so this is his last shot at playing at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico catcher Enrico Carrion doesn’t want to be called Kiki or Enrico — the hard swinging right-handed bat wants to be known as “Big Papi” by HarbourCats fans.

The two players are part of five players announced today by Head Coach Todd Haney:

  • RHP Hudson Lance, Coastal Carolina, 5-10/180, R/R, Trinity, NC
  • RHP Robert Sanford, Paris JC, 6-1/195, R/R, Carrollton, TX
  • LHP Dillon Dibrell, Central Oklahoma, 6-0/190, L/L, Piedmont, OK
  • RHP Oliver Mabee, Nebraska-Omaha, 6-6/215, R/R, Victoria
  • C Enrico ‘Big Papi’ Carrion, University of Hawaii, 5-11/195, R/R, Puerto Rico

“We are always thrilled to add proven arms to our pitching staff” said Coach Haney. “We expect significant contributions from each of the pitchers announced today and  Big Papi is a young, high energy catcher from Puerto Rico that we are excited to work with this summer.”

Mabee is an Oak Bay grad who was a two-way collegiate baseball player at Trinidad State, now focusing on his mound work at Nebraska-Omaha. He has a 6.66 ERA in 15 appearances with UNO, striking out 26 batters in 25.2 innings. He played for Kamloops in the WCL last summer as an outfielder and hit .231 with five RBIs in 18 games for the NorthPaws.

Carrion will be a freshman at the University of Hawaii in fall, with a powerful bat and already developed strong defensive skills.

Lance, who did a lot of winning as a pitcher and with his high school program, has made five appearances as a freshman at a top college in Coastal Carolina.

Sanford is 2-2 with a save in 15 appearances at Paris (TX) Junior College in a very strong conference.

Dibrell, who played for Port Angeles in the WCL in 2022, has five strikeouts in three innings so far with Central Oklahoma, making the full transition from infielder to pitcher.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

 

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Victoria HarbourCats – Lake returns to the ocean, one of six pitchers signed by HarbourCats

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Returning HarbourCat Shea Lake highlights six pitchers signed by the ‘Cats in preparation for the 2025 season  (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

For immediate release

May 6, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a second season in Victoria for right-hander Shea Lake — he liked it so much in 2024, he had to say yes to a return engagement.

The former Hawaii Pacific University pitcher, now at West Texas A&M where he was a redshirt this spring, returns to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP for the 2025 season to work with pitching coach Scott Anderson.

“I am thrilled Shea, along with 10 returning pitchers will lead our pitching staff this summer,” said Anderson, in his third season under Head Coach Todd Haney. “The pitchers announced today are a great mix of proven college pitchers. They are excited to continue developing with our tremendous staff of pitching coaches and fired up to bring a championship to Victoria,” added Head Coach Todd Haney.

Lake had a 4.40 ERA last summer in five appearances, allowing just 10 hits in 16.1 innings pitched.

Announced to the roster today by Haney:

  • RHP John Ondus, Niagara, 6-2/215, R/R, Gowanda, NY
  • RHP Ethan McNish-Heider, Niagara, 6-4/215, R/R, El Cajon, CA
  • RHP Logan Salomon, Nevada-Reno, 6-5/230, R/R, Chandler, AZ
  • RHP Tyler Patrick, Fresno State, 6-1/215, R/R, Fresno, CA
  • RHP Shea Lake, West Texas A&M, 6-3/190, R/R, Temecula, CA
  • LHP/OF Tristin Thomas, West Texas A&M, 5-8/140, L/L, Carlsbad, NM

Lake is at West Texas A&M with Tristin Thomas, a redshirt freshman who is hitting .429 this season with one home run, while also throwing 12 innings off the mound.

In Ondrus and McNish-Heider, the HarbourCats get a pair of big right-handers who project as power pitchers at the college level — both are roughly a strikeout per inning, and are expected to provide proven experience in the bullpen.

Salomon is a large specimen at 6-5/230, and has had an impressive season — 31 innings pitched, and one five-inning relief outing in which he fanned nine batters, and another relief stint with seven strikeouts. He is 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA and one save.

Patrick, a high school star catcher and pitcher, is finishing his freshman season and is focusing on mound work. He’s thrown 25.1 innings with just eight walks, and has a 3.55 ERA.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

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