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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Announce 2024 West Coast League Schedule

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HarbourCats to host 32 regular season home games at Wilsons Group Stadium in 2024

November 6,  2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, B.C. — More meetings in the RE/MAX Island Cup with Nanaimo and a season-ending visit by the rival Corvallis Knights highlight the Victoria HarbourCats schedule for 2024, announced today by the HarbourCats and the West Coast League (WCL).

The 2024 season of HarbourCats baseball will start with a six-game road trip to the middle of BC, games in Kamloops and Kelowna starting May 31, before a rematch of last year’s first round of the playoffs with the Wenatchee AppleSox in Victoria for the home opener on Friday, June 7 at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

Head Coach Todd Haney and his roster will be intent on defending home turf — last summer, a league record 25-2 record at the best park in the WCL — and making the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season under the former MLB player’s leadership.

The HarbourCats will face the island rival Nanaimo NightOwls nine times this season in an expanded Island Cup series — and in a quirk of the schedule, all nine are in the first half of the season — with six of those games at historic-and-renewed Serauxmen Stadium in Nanaimo. The first-ever weekend meeting of the teams since the NightOwls joined the league in 2022 will take place leading into the Canada Day holiday, including the traditional Fireworks Night in Victoria on Sunday night, June 30th.

Overall the ‘Cats will play 32 home games at Wilson’s Group Stadium, including five non-league games against teams like the Redmond Dudes and for the first time ever, the Seattle based Dub Sea Fish Sticks, a two-game series July 9-10 that should have HarbourCats mascot Harvey the HarbourCat and hopefully fans, drooling with anticipation.

“We are working on arranging the specific dates of our promo schedule, special events like fireworks and Odlum Brown jersey-off-our-backs, and Bark in the Park — those will be released soon so people can buy single tickets or redeem 10pks well before Christmas,” said GM Christian Stewart. “Todd will have our players ready and looking to give our fans more exciting baseball from the home opener through the playoffs, the best entertainment value on the lower island.”

HarbourCats fans will see all the Canadian teams – Nanaimo NightOwls, Kelowna Falcons, Edmonton Riverhawks and the Kamloops NorthPaws –   along with the Wenatchee AppleSox, Bellingham Bells, Port Angeles Lefties and Corvallis Knights.  Victoria will also participate in the 2024 WCL All-Star game scheduled for July 17th (location to be announced), marking the first time this event returns since 2019.

The August 5-7 match-up with the Knights, a re-match of the 2023 Championship Final, marks the first time the Knights have travelled to Victoria since 2019 and given that the plan for that series includes BC Day Fireworks, the annual Jersey Off Our Backs night and Fan Appreciation night, it is anticipated that tickets for that closing series will be in high demand.

Speaking of tickets, Season Tickets and 10-game flex packs are now on sale for the 2024 season and can be purchased at the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or by calling the office at 778-265-0327.

SINGLE GAME TICKETS and flex pack voucher exchanges are not yet available.  It is anticipated that these will be available on-line for the general public starting December 1, 2023 and through our one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets.  Stay tuned or more information on that.

The full HarbourCats 2024 schedule and a number of tentative promotional dates (subject to change) is presented below (Download Graphic of calendar schedule HERE):

Fri May 31 @KAMLOOPS
Sat June 1 @KAMLOOPS
Sun June 2 @KAMLOOPS
Mon June 3 @KELOWNA
Tue June 4 @KELOWNA
Wed June 5 @KELOWNA

Fri June 7 vs WENATCHEE 6:35 PM – Opening Night
Sat June 8 vs WENATCHEE 6:35 PM – FIREWORKS!
Sun June 9 vs WEN 1:05 PM – Sunday Matinee

Tue June 11 vs NANAIMO 6:35 PM
Wed June 12 @ NANAIMO
Thur June 13 vs NANAIMO 11:00 AM Matinee School Spirit Game

Fri June 14 @EDMONTON
Sat June 15 @EDMONTON
Sun June 16 @EDMONTON

Tue June 18 @NANAIMO
Wed June 19 @NANAIMO
Thur June 20 @NANAIMO

Fri June 21 vs BELLINGHAM 6:35 PM
Sat June 22 vs BELLINGHAM 6:35 PM
Sun June 23 vs BELLINGHAM 1:05 PM Sunday Matinee

Tue June 25 vs REDMOND 6:35 PM – Non-League

Wed June 26 vs PORT ANGELES 6:35 PM
Thur June 27 vs PORT ANGELES 6:35 PM
Fri June 28 vs PORT ANGELES 6:35 PM

Sat June 29 @NANAIMO
Sun June 30 vs NANAIMO, 6:35 PM CANADA DAY FIREWORKS
Mon July 1 @NANAIMO

Tue July 2 @WENATCHEE
Wed July 3 @WENATCHEE
Thur July 4 @WENATCHEE

Fri July 5 vs KELOWNA 6:35 PM
Sat July 6 vs KELOWNA 6:35 PM
Sun July 7 vs KELOWNA 1:05 PM Sunday Matinee – HARVEY’S BIRTHDAY

Tue July 9 vs DUB SEA FISHSTICKS 6:35 PM – Non-League
Wed July 10 vs DUB SEA FISHSTICKS 6:35 PM – Non-League

Fri July 12 vs EDMONTON 6:35 PM
Sat July 13 vs EDMONTON 6:35 PM FIREWORKS!
Sun July 14 vs EDMONTON 1:05 PM Sunday Matinee – BARK IN THE PARK

Tue July 16 vs SOUTH ISLAND ALL-STARS 6:35 PM – Non-League
Wed July 17 WCL ALL-STAR GAME (LOCATION TBD)
Thur July 18 vs VICTORIA MAVERICKS 6:35 PM – Non-League

 Fri Jul 19 @ RIDGEFIELD
Sat July 20 @ RIDGEFIELD
Sun July 21 @ RIDGEFIELD
Mon July 22 @PORT ANGELES
Tue July 23@PORT ANGELES
Wed July 24 @PORT ANGELES

Fri July 26 vs KAMLOOPS 6:35PM
Sat July 27 vs KAMLOOPS 6:35 PM
Sun July 28 vs KAMLOOPS 1:05 PM Sunday Matinee

Tue July 30 vs EDMONTON 6:35 PM
Wed July 31 vs EDMONTON 6:35 PM
Thur Aug 1 vs EDMONTON 6:35 PM

Fri Aug 2 @BELLINGHAM
Sat Aug 3 @BELLINGHAM
Sun Aug 4@BELLINGHAM

Mon Aug 5 vs CORVALLIS 6:35PM – BC DAY FIREWORKS!
Tue Aug 6 vs CORVALLIS 6:35 PM – JERSEY OFF OUR BACKS!
Wed Aug 7 vs CORVALLIS 6:35 PM – FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT!

August 10-12 Divisional Playoffs
Wed August 14 Championship Semi-Finals
Fri August 16 Championship Final

$10 Tuesdays  – June 11, June 25, July 9, July 16, July 30 (not Aug 6)
All General Admission and Premium Reserved seats just $10

Winning Wednesdays  – June 26, July 10, July 31, Aug 7
All Red Arrow beer products on sale for just $6

Forces Fridays – June 7, June 21, June 28, July 5, July 12, July 26
Military and first responders can get half-price General Admission seating

 

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Pummel Bells in 17-6 Victory

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Victoria unleashed 11 runs in the sixth inning, paving the way to a resounding win over the top team in the West Coast League. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – A grand slam followed by an 11-run inning led to a robust win over the Bellingham Bells on Friday night, with the Cats claiming a 17-6 win.

BOX SCORE

The Cats looked a little trigger-happy in the first third of the game, only seeing 15 pitches from Bellingham’s starter. This enthusiasm didn’t earn much, with just two HarbourCats reaching base in a quick three innings.

On the other side of the coin, Jeremiah Arnett (Rice) made quick work of the Bells as well, refusing to allow them the luxury of a hit through four innings and earning five strikeouts on the side. Jake Rafferty (Tacoma) took up the torch for the fifth, getting himself into a sticky situation with a couple of wild pitches before finding his way out with a zero on the board.

Jeremiah Arnett allowed zero runs in a four-inning start. (Photo by JPM Photography)

The HarbourCats finally dug their claws in for the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases just in time for David Krahn (UBC). The British Columbia local stepped up to the plate and delivered, utterly pulverizing a ball to left field for an electrifying grand slam, breaking the seal and taking a 4-0 lead for the home side.

Bellingham responded passionately in the next inning, sneaking a run in on a base hit followed by a three-run blast off of Cats reliever Spencer Kratt (San Jose State). Victoria shrugged it off and pulled out all the stops in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of a Bellingham error and finding hits from Lukas Le Gras (Westmont), Bryan Bradshaw (UC San Diego), Rohne Klein (San Jose State) et al to jump out in front of the Bells. By the time the smoke cleared on a long sixth inning, the Cats were suddenly up 15-4. Not too shabby.

Surrey, B.C.’s Marcus Janovsky (UBC) entered the game in the seventh to face a battered and bruised group of Bells, who snuck home on a sloppy relay from the outfield to scratch away at the 11-run lead standing over them.

Unwilling to let up after taking a comfortable lead, the Cats kept their foot on the gas in the bottom of the seventh. Designated hitter Jacob Silva (UTSA) batted in a pair of runs with a one-out single, pushing the score to a humble 17-6 with two innings to go.

Hunter Daniels (Phoenix College) came in from the bullpen to dot the i’s and cross the t’s on a booming victory for the HarbourCats in their first game against the top team in the West Coast League Standings.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats get another crack at the Bells on Saturday night at 6:35 pm, and the series comes to an end with an afternoon game on Sunday.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Silenced by NightOwls in 2-1 Loss

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Despite out-hitting the NightOwls, two solo homers in the fourth inning was all Nanaimo needed to overpower the visiting Cats. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Nanaimo, B.C. – The Island Rivalry Series came to an end in Nanaimo on Thursday evening, with the Cats offence held quiet in a 2-1 loss to the NightOwls.

Erik Rico (Fresno State) was dominant in the opening third of the ballgame, keeping Nanaimo scoreless with six strikeouts. The Cats starter wavered in the bottom of the fourth, surrendering a solo homer for the first blemish on his previously spotless ERA this season. The NightOwls took the opportunity to pummel another ball over the wall, taking a 2-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning.

BOX SCORE

The Cats had their first real offensive opportunity in the top of the seventh, moving Rohne Klein (San Jose State) over to third after a leadoff single. Nanaimo’s defenses held strong, however, and Klein was stranded to end the inning.

Victoria finally broke through in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Kade Davis, but one run was all they could muster. Nanaimo closed it out in the top of the ninth to claim a series victory in the first Island Rivalry Series of the year.

Northern Kentucky reliever Daniel Tovar was introduced to the ballgame in the fifth inning, powering through two scoreless innings before handing the ball over to Houston Tomlinson (Arkansas State). Tomlinson worked his way across the seventh and eighth, picking up a strikeout and allowing two hits in two innings.

WCL STANDINGS

With the Nanaimo series complete, the Cats will now host the Bellingham Bells in a weekend series at home, beginning Friday night at 6:35 pm.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Nanaimo Hands Cats 8-3 Loss to Tie Series

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Victoria, B.C. – The NightOwls rolled into town and squashed the HarbourCats on a warm Wednesday night, tying the series and forcing an 8-3 loss on Victoria.

Nanaimo opened the scoring early in the second game of the series, getting a couple of men on in the first inning and cashing in a run on a single up the middle to take control of the game. The visitors tacked on a couple more in their next trip to the plate, taking advantage of an eastward wind for a two-run homer to make it 3-0 in the second inning. It was the first long ball surrendered all season by Hudson Lance (Coastal Carolina), and the first multi-run effort against the right-hander as well.

BOX SCORE

Retaliation came off the bat of Max Bernal (Fresno Pacific) in the bottom of the second, who fired a double straight into the gap and scored a runner from first to cut into Nanaimo’s lead. The NightOwls, however, got them right back. A ground ball caromed off two Cats in the bottom of the third inning, giving a Nanaimo baserunner time to find his way home to restore the three-run gap.

Hudson Lance worked his way through 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs on ten hits with four strikeouts. (Photo by JPM Photography)

The NightOwls rocked their second long ball of the game to lead off the top of the fifth, followed by a base hit into centre field to push their lead to 7-1 at the midway point of the ballgame. This would spell the end of Hudson Lance’s start, as the Cats tagged in Easton Reimers (North Dakota State) to finish off the inning.

Reimers locked in for a powerful performance, striking out six NightOwls in just three innings to keep the score from getting any further out of hand. Reimers was swapped out for Flynn Warren (Hawaii Pacific) in the eighth inning, who worked the final two innings for the Cats.

Matt Westley (George Mason) let fly an absolute laser over the fence for a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too little too late as Victoria fell short to Nanaimo by a score of 8-3.

WCL STANDINGS

The series comes to an end tomorrow night in Nanaimo, following which the HarbourCats will engage with the Bellingham Bells for a weekend series in Victoria.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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