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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats bid for first WCL Championship denied by Corvallis

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With bonus photo coverage by Christian J. Stewart

CORVALLIS, Oregon — The 10th Anniversary season fell one agonizing game short.

For the third time since 2017 the Victoria HarbourCats lost the final playoff game of the season at the home of the Corvallis Knights, Monday’s result a 5-0 final in the WCL championship game.

Kieper Pate, Russell Young and Jack Johnson in dugout re-game

Tyler Davis works the line in re-game intros.

The HarbourCats, who set a long list of records in 2023, including an overall 27-2 record at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park, had chances to score in bunches early in Monday’s game, but couldn’t find that key hit at the right time.

Stater Davis Franklin in the dugout before Monday’s game.

Jack Johnson, steady at third all year, makes a nice play Monday,

Starting pitcher Davis Franklin, was outstanding, giving up one unearned run in four innings striking out three. Josh Berenbaum, Ryan Magdic and Brett Harvey all had strong performances in relief of Franklin, an error and a couple of tough calls added to the Corvallis lead with two runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.

Davis Franklin was great on the mound, allowing no earned runs through four innings of work.

Hudson Shupe would get the HarbourCats started with a first inning single.

The single game final was played in Corvallis because the Knights finished a half game ahead of the HarbourCats for first overall. Monday’s game start time was also an unusual 8pm due to extreme heat conditions in Oregon.

Dallas Macias would stroke a triple playing on his home school field

Corvallis starter Merit Jones struck out eight of the first nine HarbourCats hitters he faced and pitched into the sixth inning.

Tyler Davis throws to first after fielding a bunt.

Marco Pirruccello laps over the Corvallis baserunner to make t.he catch during a stolen base attempt.

In the regular season, the HarbourCats set a league record with 150 stolen bases and lead the league in hits and batting average, but were limited to five hits on Monday. Michael Crossland also shattered the HarbourCats franchise record for longest hit streak with a 19 game streak earlier this season. The teams 25-2 home record in the regular season in 2023 is a record that likely won’t be broken, just like the 19 straight wins by the 2016 Victoria team.

Shortstop Hudson Shupe and the Corvallis baserunner look for the call.

Lefty Ryan Magdic saw some work in relief Monday.

The HarbourCats front office and ownership group would like to thank its partners and fans for so much support, and work has already begun on 2024. Season ticket renewals and new opportunities will begin on Wednesday.

TheCorvallis Knights dogpile after winning their seventh straight WCL title.

Pitching Coach Scott Anderson sums up what a crazy ride the 2023 season has been.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Tonight: Parent Information Session on U.S. College Baseball Pathways

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Monday, July 21, 2025 – 7:00 PM at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to host an important evening for parents of young ballplayers looking to better understand the journey to playing college baseball in the United States.

 

Tonight’s session will begin at 7:00 PM, hosted in the Wilson’s Lounge at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, with a live Zoom option available for those unable to attend in person. This interactive discussion is open to all parents interested in helping their child navigate the next steps in their baseball development.

The session will be chaired by HarbourCats Managing Partner Jim Swanson, and will feature a panel of experienced parents from programs such as the Victoria Eagles and Mariners. These panelists will share firsthand insight on what families can expect—from recruiting timelines to the realities of college baseball life.

Key topics will include:

 

  • Understanding the U.S. College Baseball System:
    An overview of the different levels—NCAA, NAIA, Junior College (JuCo)—as well as Canadian alternatives like UBC and the Golden Tide.

  • Recruitment and Exposure:
    How players get noticed, including tips on recruiting windows, highlight videos, email outreach, tournaments, and showcase events.

  • Financing College Baseball:
    A look at athletic scholarships, academic awards, NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) opportunities, and other financial options.

  • What Life Is Really Like in a U.S. Baseball Program:
    Honest discussion on the expectations, time commitments, and lifestyle student-athletes experience once they’re enrolled.

There will also be an open Q&A period, giving attendees a chance to ask specific questions and get practical advice directly from those who’ve been through it.

Event Details:

Wilson’s Lounge, Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Monday, July 21 – 7:00 PM
Zoom Link: Click here to join the session

Whether your child is just starting high school ball or already drawing interest from scouts, this is a valuable opportunity to learn how to support their goals and plan ahead.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Summer Collegiate

Late rally falls just short for NightOwls

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WENATCHEE, WA — The Nanaimo NightOwls had their chances to put up a big number on the host AppleSox — plenty of them.

The hosts in Wenatchee took a 7-4 lead with three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth and held on for an 8-6 victory on Saturday night in central Washington. Both teams are in the mix for one of four North Division playoff positions.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=620371

The NightOwls scored four runs with two outs in the fourth inning, and held a 4-2 lead. Seven different Nanaimo batters had hits, and both teams committed three errors. Ryder Florence, Andrew Nykoluk and Easton Mould had RBIs.

Lino Zepeda, Cole Carmichael, Kiki Villegas, Dalton Hanson and Asher DeLeo handled the pitching duties for the NightOwls.

The NightOwls stay in Wenatchee for the weekend series, playing Sunday evening, returning home on an early ferry Monday morning. On Tuesday, the Corvallis Knights make their first ever appearance at Serauxmen Stadium with a three-game series that continues Wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday is the Christmas in July celebration at Serauxmen.



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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Bells walk-off ‘Cats in tense playoff-like pitching duel

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2025

Bellingham, WA – The Bellingham Bells pushed a run across in the bottom of the ninth inning to eke out a 2-1 win over the Victoria HarbourCats in West Coast League action Saturday night at Joe Martin field in Bellingham.

FULL BOX SCORE

The game was a tense pitching duel throughout, with ‘Cats starter Tommy Bridges and Bells starter Cameron Young keeping things tight through four innings.

Young in particular retired 12 batters in a row after allowing a first-inning single to Jack Johnson. The Bells gave him a lead in the fourth, getting a run off Bridges on a sacrifice fly to hold a 1-0 lead.

Victoria then had a chance to answer in the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but Bells reliever Will Franklin came in and put out the fire to keep the Bells in the lead.

Victoria finally clawed their way on to the scoreboard in the top of the eighth thanks to an RBI-single from Johnson, his second hit of the game, scoring Connor Ross who earlier walked.

In the ninth, Victoria had another stellar chance to take the lead, loading the bases with nobody out, but a big double-play and strikeout ended the threat and sent the game to the bottom of the inning at 1-1.

In the bottom of the frame, Andrew Lamb lead off with an infield single and then advanced to second on a questionable balk call against HarbourCats reliever Garret Villa. Villa then retired the next two batters, but then a throwing error by shortstop Tanner Beltowski allowed the winning run to scamper home and give the Bells the 2-1 win.

The Bells win spoiled solid pitching performances from Bridges, as well as relievers Ryne Palmer and Garrett Brooks, who combined, allowed just two Bells hits in their eight innings of work.

The HarbourCats will now need to quickly regroup as the rubber match in the series goes Sunday afternoon in a 1:30 pm start.  Logan Rumberg is the scheduled starter for Victoria.

WATCH HERE

They then return to Wilson’s Group Stadium on Tuesday for the first of a two-game set with the Dub Sea Fish Sticks, and then a return engagement with the Victoria Mavericks on Thursday.  The Wenatchee AppleSox then come into town for a three game set starting Friday.

Tickets for all those games are selling fast and are available in advance at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or at the harbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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