Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats | HarbourCats commit to Head Coach Haney for the long-term

Published

4 years ago

June 18, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

Five-Year MLB veteran signs on to coach HarbourCats through 2026 season.

June 18, 2021

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s always good when a great thing can be made to last.

The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce that Todd Haney, the team’s Head Coach and a five-year MLB player (Expos, Cubs, Mets), has agreed to a five-year contract extension, that will see him slated to lead the team from the 2022 season through the summer of 2026.

Better yet for the organization, it was Haney himself who sought the extension.

“We love Victoria. And we really miss Victoria, with what’s gone on with the pandemic and losing two seasons,” said Haney, from his home in Waco, Texas. “Kira and I consider it our second home. We love the city, the people, and the opportunity to lead the HarbourCats program.”

Haney, who took over as Head Coach for the 2019 season, led the team to the third-best all-time regular season record of 39-15, and to within a game of the West Coast League title. He was an assistant coach in Victoria for the 2018 season.

“Todd has been a perfect fit for us, in how he recruits and develops players, how he works with every single person in the organization, and how he interacts with our fans and partners,” said GM Jim Swanson. “We’re humbled to have Todd and Kira wanting to be part of this, and we think it says a lot about Victoria and what an amazing city this is.”

Haney will look to retain the coaching staff that was planned for the 2021 season, including Mark Petkovsek, Greg Swindell, Curtis Pelletier and Troy Birtwistle. Petkovsek, the Pitching Coach, played nine years in the Majors, while Swindell, the Bench Coach, spent 17 years in a MLB uniform — which gives the HarbourCats a staff with a combined 31 years of MLB playing experience. Haney, Petkovsek and Swindell were college teammates with the Texas Longhorns.

All Texas Longhorn alumni, Mark Petkovsek (left), Todd Haney (centre) and Greg Swindell (right), will bring 31 years of MLB experience to the HarbourCats coaching staff in 2022.

Pelletier, the Hitting/Catching Coach, and Birtwistle, First Base Coach, are Victoria products.

“A lot of work is going on to be ready for the 2022 season, including recruiting, and locking in the coaching staff is perhaps the most important part of those efforts,” added Swanson. “This is a five-year extension for Todd, but really I have in mind he will be our coach as long as he wants to be.”

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR HARBOURCATS

It has been a tough two summers without HarbourCats baseball, but rest assured we will be back with a vengeance in 2022 and we expect our games will be the hottest ticket in town! Lock your spots in NOW with season tickets, or 10-game flex packs! Gift cards and merchandise are also available!

Season Tickets and 10-Game Flex Packs Now Available! (NOTE: Single game tickets for 2022 will go on-sale in late 2021 once our schedule is available)

If you are able, or if you know friends and colleagues who are able, please consider any of the following:

2022 Season tickets — the best way to help, one that guarantees you seats to all our games (usually 35 per year or so) plus other season ticket holder perks. Contact chris@harbourcats.com for details.

10-Game Flex Packs / Vouchers — Don’t want to commit, or can’t commit to season tickets? Consider 10-game flex packs – anytime vouchers that can be used in any combination…10 tickets at one game, 1 ticket at 10 games or anything in between. Season ticket voucher equivalents (35 vouchers) are also available. Flex Packs can be purchased at the office and are also available on-line at: https://victoria-harbourcats-official.myshopify.com/products/10-game-flex-pack-general-admission

Corporate Partnerships – Want to put your company name or brand in front of the 80,000 to 100,000 fans we anticipate next season? Or know someone who does? Consider joining us as a partner. From a simple program ad, to the most complex of game day sponsorship, complete with signage and tickets, we will customize any campaign to suit your needs and budget. And with our new HCATS.TV platform and our ownership group’s expansion of a new team in Nanaimo in 2022, the opportunities are now Island wide! Contact john@harbourcats.com for details.

Fundraising / 50-50 – Have an organization that needs to raise funds now? A $1000 investment buys you 100 anytime 2022 game vouchers for our Premium Reserved seats that you can then turn around and sell for $20 each, earning you your investment back, plus another $1000 in return. We will then hold a 50-50 date for you in 2021 and you can bring your group to the park to sell that game, taking home 50% of the proceeds. Contact chris@harbourcats.com for details.

Merchandise – Consider a HarbourCats merchandise purchase from our store at 1814 Vancouver Street, or from our on-line store, The Cat Shop, at https://victoria-harbourcats-official.myshopify.com/ New items, including 2020 game caps and player’s gear are arriving weekly and we need to clear them out!

Gift Cards
Can’t decide yet on tickets or merchandise? A HarbourCats Gift Card is the next best solution! Come in to the office to set one up for any denomination, or order fixed denominations on-line HERE. Exchangeable for tickets or merchandise at the office or at the park!

OFFICE HOURS

During this time we are officially open Monday through Friday 10 am to 5 pm. We are often in and out of office however, so best to call 778-265-0327 before venturing over to make sure. Closed Saturdays and Sundays.

For up to date details on the HarbourCats and the 2022 West Coast League season, stay tuned to the HarbourCats web site at https://www.harbourcats.com and join the HarbourCats Facebook Fan Community Group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/harbourcats

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Lefties take game one in resounding fashion

Published

16 hours ago

June 7, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Logan Shepherd celebrates his first home run of the season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

June 6, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Port Angeles Lefties won their second straight game, spoiling the party on the Victoria HarbourCats home opener, cruising to a 9-3 win.

The HarbourCats got off to a great start when Logan Shepherd (Tacoma CC) hit a 109 MPH laser over the left field wall for a two-run home run, giving his team an early 2-0 lead. The designated hitter went two for four tonight, adding a single in the eighth.

Jack Finn (Illinois State) started for the hosts and looked good through his first two innings of work. The Victoria native added velocity to his fastball, sitting high 80’s and touching 90 MPH tonight. That is up from last season, where he pitched 25 innings for the Cats, posting a 3.96 ERA. Finn struck out four, walked three, and gave up two earned runs on four hits in 2-2/3 innings of work.

BOX SCORE

Eric Valdiva tied the game in the third inning with a two-out, two-run double to deep left-centre field. He came home after a Jack Johnson throwing error allowed him to score, giving the Lefties a 3-2 lead.

Jake Cumming pitched four innings out of the bullpen for Port Angeles and was utterly dominant. He gave up zero runs on zero hits while striking out seven batters. His fastball sat mid-90s, which he paired with a wipeout slider that the HarbourCats hitters had no answer for.

Xander McAfee has four hits in his first four games (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

BUY TICKETS HERE

Hudson Lance (Coastal Carolina) ate up meaningful innings out of the bullpen and was efficient in doing so. He threw 4-1/3 innings in just 50 pitches, loading up the zone using his entire repertoire. The freshman gave up two runs on five hits.

Jalen Sami (Golden Tide) pitched the eighth inning, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out one. John Ondus (Niagara) pitched the ninth and didn’t fare much better, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out three.

Jack Johnson (Baylor) continued his hot start to the season, crushing a hanging breaking ball over the left field fence for a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth.

WCL STANDINGS

Debutant Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) played third base and recorded his first HarbourCats hit, going one for four.

The two teams are back at it tomorrow at 6:35 PM for the first of four FIREWORKS nights! Gates open early at 5:00 PM. Get tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets

Missed the game? Catch HarbourCats in 30 airing at 10:30 PM after every home game all season long on CHEK TV.

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.

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Summer Collegiate

A wild first inning proves to be enough as the NorthPaws avoid the sweep in Bellingham

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The Kamloops NorthPaws avoided the sweep in Bellingham and defeated the Bells 6-2 on Thursday night. The NorthPaws scored all six of their runs in the first inning and held the fort down, shutting down the Bell’s offence and only giving up five hits.

Bellingham would turn to highly touted South Dakota right-handed pitcher Jackson Dial, who will be attending Washington State in the fall. The first NorthPaw he faced was center fielder Ethan Kodama, who saw three straight balls before getting hit by the next pitch. Dial would strikeout left fielder Cade Palkowski, walk third baseman Kieran Gaffney, strikeout right fielder Kalen Applefield and hit catcher Brendan Burke, loading the bases with two outs.

With first baseman Joe Gagnon at the plate, Dial would throw a wild pitch, allowing Kodama to score the first run of the game. Gagnon would later draw a walk, reloading the bases. Second baseman Joey Marino was next up, and Dial would plunk him, bringing in another run.

The nightmare wasn’t over yet for Dial as he issued his third walk of the inning to shortstop Anthony Setticassi. Designated hitter Dylan Dekker was making his debut at the plate and sent a line drive down the first base line, driving in two runs and making it 5-0.

Dial was pulled after only two-thirds of an inning. Kodama was back at bat with Dekker on first and Setticassi on third. Before Kodama saw a pitch, Dekker took off for second while Setticassi ran home. Dekker sacrificed himself, ending the inning but allowing the sixth run to score.

Kamloops sent out righty Owen Fernandes on the mound to make his second start of the season. The Bells would get a run back via a sacrifice fly at the bottom of the first. In the third, a leadoff triple set up the Bells to capitalize on yet another sacrifice fly to make it a four-run ballgame.

Fernandes would throw four strong innings, giving up only one earned run while striking out two batters. Righty Jayson Tamayo was the first call out of the bullpen and walked the first to hitters he faced. A flyout and an infield hit loaded the bases with one out as the Bells were all of a sudden within striking distance. Tamayo got a clutch strikeout and a groundout to leave the bases loaded and preserve the four-run lead.

“If they convert there, it’s a different game. He made big pitches when he had to, and that definitely helped us lock up the game,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.

Rightys Daxton Vanderkooi, Lukas Dykstra and Cade Webber each came into the game and pitched clean innings giving up three combined hits all while not walking a single batter. Webber struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth, securing the win.

In game two, the NorthPaws scored first, but mistakes on the mound cost them; tonight, the NorthPaws flipped the script on the Bells.

“The last two nights, we were behind the eight ball for most of the game, so it was nice to get a big lead early; I think it helped everyone settle down,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson.

The six-game road trip is over, and with the win, the NorthPaws head back to Kamloops with a 4-2 record.

“It’s been a tough stretch playing six games on the road in two separate trips, but it will be nice to get back home and play in front of our fans,” said Jepson.

Next up for the NorthPaws, a weekend home-and-home series against the Kelowna Falcons, with games at Norbrock Stadium on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Riverhawks complete sweep of Cats with 7-1 win

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

June 5, 2025

For immediate release

EDMONTON, A.B. – The Edmonton Riverhawks remain perfect on the season, winning their third straight and sweeping the HarbourCats with a 7-1 win Thursday night.

Robert Sanford (Paris JC) started for the Cats and was solid early until he ran into trouble in the third inning. A pair of two-out walks and a single loaded the bases, signalling the end of the sophomore’s night. Dustin Davidson (Brookhaven) was given the task of getting out of the jam but failed to do so, throwing a wild pitch allowing a run to score, then surrendering a three-run home run to Jason Green to give the hosts a 4-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Oliver Mabee (Nebraska Omaha) made his Cats debut pitching the fifth, however, it was not a debut to remember as he gave up a towering two-run double to the returning Trent Lenihan to extend the Hawks’ advantage to 6-0.

The visitors had a chance to cut into the deficit in the seventh inning by loading the bases, however, they could only tack on one run through a Bobby Filler Jr. (Niagara) bases-loaded walk.

WCL STANDINGS

Dillon Dibrell (Central Oklahoma) pitched a scoreless sixth inning, striking out one batter, and Ethan McNish-Heider (Niagara) completed the final two innings, giving up one run on zero hits, walking four, and striking out three.

Victoria was held to just three hits tonight and was outscored 29-5 in total over the three-game series. They will need to hit their stride quickly as they welcome the Port Angeles Lefties to Victoria for a three-game set.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Tomorrow is the HarbourCats’ home opener! First pitch is at 6:35 PM against the Port Angeles Lefties. Saturday, June 7th, is our first of four FIREWORKS nights of the season! Don’t miss out! Grab tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.

WATCH HOME GAMES HERE

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

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