Connect with us

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Announce 2022 West Coast League Schedule

Published

on

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

Source

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Summer Collegiate

Japanese pitcher, Hawaiian speedster, big bat from VIU among eight added by NightOwls

Published

on

The pitching staff, it is growing — and adding interesting storylines.

Japanese pitcher Moosa Nonomiya, who is at Skagit Valley College in Washington, will add more to the international flavor of the Nanaimo NightOwls for 2024 — already with players from Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Taiwan

.

Not all are far flung — lefty-hitting DH/1B Brayden McClary of the VIU Mariners and returning lefty arm Hayden Cuthbertson are islanders who know Serauxmen Stadium well.

Hata can fly — he started 40 games as a freshman and will top that this spring, piling up 28 stolen bases over two seasons. He’s not just speed, he hit a game-winning grand slam in extra innings earlier this month and has three home runs and 25 runs driven in, batting .320 with a low strikeout rate.

.

Cuthbertson has had a breakout year with a 3-1 record and four saves, striking out 27 in 17 innings and earning a Division1 spot with Miami-Ohio. McClary, also an Islander, will be the first married player on the NightOwls — he’s a key offensive force in the middle of the VIU lineup, hitting a ball out of Serauxmen this weekend against TRU.

.

Felix is a young star catcher with position versatility— and he’s big at 6-2/200 as he goes to Cal Poly this fall. Jakobson is a righthander who will have ample innings available for the summer, a oower arm with bullpen potential.

.

Ariaza is a great mix of power and strikes, and he’s the biggest NightOwl to date at 6-5/270. He didn’t walk a batter in 10 outings as a freshman and has 25 strikeouts in 18 innings, along with a save, this spring.

.

Hanning has had success at the junior college level and has proven to be a workhorse, including 61 innings already this season, tops on his staff.

.

Nonomiya has moved into a starting role in the NWAC conference and is now over 30 innings for a team that has NightOwls assistant Sean FitzGerald on the staff.

Source

Continue Reading

Summer Collegiate

Three returning players, one a WCL all-star, and local infielder highlight eight NightOwls signings

Published

on

Those announced today:

.

OF/LHP Riley Paulino, University of Pikeville, 5-11/180, Fife, WA (returning player)

.
C Sammy Torres, University of Pikeville, 5-9/200, Yuaco, Puerto Rico (returning player)

.
LHP Richtter Castillo, University of Pikeville, 6-0/215, Maracay, Venezuela

.
IF Lucas Laukkanen, Cloud County commit, 6-0/190, Nanaimo

.
LHP Carson Jones, St. Martins, 6-0/180, Walla Walla, WA (returning player)

.
RHP Christian Lucero, Arizona Christian, 6-1/190, Sacramento

.
OF Sammy Kahler, San Diego State, 6-0/185, Stockton, CA

.
OF Drew Rutter, San Diego State, 6-1/190, Trabuco Canyon, CA

Source

Continue Reading

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Manny’s hitting coach added to staff by Coach Haney

Published

on

2024 HarbourCats Coaching Staff – Front Row (L to R) Scott Anderson (Pitching Coach), Todd Haney (Head Coach), Trovin Valdez (Hitting Coach), Steve Sinclair (Bench Coach); Back Row (L to R): Ethan Fox (Bullpen Coach), Troy Birtwistle (First Base Coach).

For immediate release

April 16, 2024

VICTORIA, B.C. — An already strong coaching staff under WCL Coach of the Year Todd Haney just got stronger with the addition of Trovin Valdez, a former pro who made it to AAA in the Montreal Expos system.

Valdez, 50, was the personal hitting coach of Manny Ramirez during much of his record-setting MLB career and now works extensively with his sons Manny Jr. and Lucas, who have joined the HarbourCats for the 2024 WCL season. Valdez, who was once traded for lefthander David Wells, also works with a number of MLB players from his base in Florida, moving around the continent — and now will spend the summer exclusively in Victoria working with all HarbourCats hitters.

Haney, who has been with the HarbourCats since 2018 and Head Coach since 2019, is proud to unveil the entire staff for 2024:

  • Todd Haney, Head Coach (5th year, 4th as Head Coach)
  • Trovin Valdez, Hitting/Outfield Coach (First year)
  • Scott Anderson, Pitching Coach (Second year)
  • Troy Birtwistle, First Base Coach (Sixth year)
  • Steve Sinclair, Bench Coach (Second year)
  • Ethan Fox, Bullpen Coach (Third year, former HarbourCats player)

Under Haney, the HarbourCats led the WCL in hits, runs and stolen bases in 2023 and set a WCL record with an astounding 25-2 home record at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP, adding two more home wins in as many dates in the playoffs. The HarbourCats reached the WCL’s final game for the third time in five seasons.

Jaxon Williams (pictured right), part of the 2023 staff, is unable to return due to career reasons and the HarbourCats thank him and wish him all the best, he will always be a part of the HarbourCats family.

“This is a tremendous staff under incredible leadership from Todd — our players will be well served in their development,” said Christian Stewart, GM of the HarbourCats. “We couldn’t be happier with the makeup of this group, and we’re excited to see Trovin go to work. Our team set multiple team and league records on the offensive side of the game last year and that exciting style of play will be on display for our fans again.”

Valdez stole more than 250 bases as a pro, spanning nine seasons, and he joins former pro players Haney (five years MLB with Expos, Cubs and Mets), Anderson (also Expos system), Sinclair (MLB lefty with Blue Jays and Mariners), and Birtwistle (Australia). Fox played college ball and is the Head Coach of the Golden Tide CCBC team.

The HarbourCats open on the road May 31 in Kamloops, the start of back-to-back series in Kamloops and Kelowna, before returning for the June 7 home opener against Wenatchee. The HarbourCats will be on the road this summer in Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee, Ridgefield, Port Angeles, Bellingham, and six games in Nanaimo against the Island-rival NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Teams visiting Victoria this year are Wenatchee, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Kelowna, Edmonton (two series), Kamloops and Corvallis, along with non-league games against the Redmond Dudes, Dub Sea Fishsticks, the SIBL All-Stars, and Victoria Mavericks All-Stars.

The regular season runs until August 7, with WCL playoffs running from August 10 to August 16.

Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online through our one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.

 

 

 

 

Source

Continue Reading

Trending