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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Cruise Over NorthPaws in 2023 Home Opener

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The HarbourCats in their home whites and Montreal Expos  style caps during Friday’s National Anthem.

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

June 2, 2023, Victoria, BC – The Victoria HarbourCats broke open a 3-3 tie with a six-run sixth inning, to cruise to a 13-3 win over the Kamloops NorthPaws in the West Coast League (WCL) season opener for both teams Friday night in front of just over 2,100 fans at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria.

FULL BOX SCORE

HeadCoach Todd Haney shares a chuckle as he prepares to submit the first line-up card of the 2023 season.

After falling behind 1-0 to Kamloops in the second inning, a Russell Young solo home run highlighted a three-run HarbourCats fourth inning, putting the ‘Cats up 3-1.

Kamloops would score a pair in the fifth to tie things up, but in the sixth, the HarbourCats took advantage of some sloppy NorthPaws pitching, and after a two-run double from Ryan Magdic and an RBI single from Kevin Shea, the HarbourCats had vaulted into a 9-3 lead.

Ryan Magdic, a Florida Southern product, had a two-hit and two-RBI night Friday.

Four more runs in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a two-run triple from Bradden Kesey and an RBI single from Nick Dumesnil sealed the deal and cemented the HarbourCats win.

Returning HarbourCat Jack Seward got the start for the HarbourCats and lasted two innings, giving up a run and two hits.  Dawson Hurford, Brett Harvey and Allan Dai saw work in relief.

HarbourCats starting pitcher, Jack Seward

At the plate, both Young and Magdic finished the night with a pair of hits, with Young scoring three times and Magdic notching a pair of RBI.  Kasey finished the night with three-RBI, while Kevin Shea quietly had a three-hit night, including two doubles, from the ninth spot in the order.

For Kamloops, six different players had hits, including right fielder Felix Chenier-Rondeau, who added a pair of RBI.

Tyrelle Chadwick was tagged with the loss, giving up four runs and two walks in that pivotal sixth inning.

HarbourCats second baseman Phoenix Sommay awaits the throw during a Kamloops stolen base attempt.

The HarbourCats and NorthPaws continue their three-game set on Saturday night at 6:35 pm, with the first of four 2023 fireworks celebrations to follow after the game.  The series then closes with a Sunday matinee at 1:05 pm. Tickets for both games are available online, through the HarbourCats one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at https://harbourcats.com//tickets.

NOTE: Saturday’s fireworks game is selling fast so get your tickets on-line to avoid disappointment at the gate!

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Offence Stunted Versus Kelowna

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Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 8-1 by the Kelowna Falcons in the second game of the series.

The Falcons drew first blood in this one, launching a three-run dinger to left field in the top of the fourth to snag an early lead. Victoria’s starting pitcher Schuyler Fairchild (Wenatchee Valley) had cruised through the first three frames without much trouble up to that point, but his contributions this evening came to a close after the long ball in the fourth. Fairchild allowed three runs on four hits, striking out one batter and issuing a walk.

BOX SCORE

Inning number five required the services of Auburn, Washington’s Caden Shoul (Wenatchee Valley). The right-hander pitched 1.2 innings, calling it a night after giving up two runs in the top of the sixth to push Kelowna’s lead to 5-0.

Tyler Bono (North Central Texas) came into the game with the bases loaded and put on a sub-par performance, hitting two batters and walking one to allow three more runs. Marcus Janovsky (UBC) was summoned from the bullpen to finally get out of the inning.

Garen Geoghegan (Whitman) and Pierce Stone (Regis) combined for two scoreless innings in the final stages of the game, but Victoria’s offence continued to sputter.

Centre fielder Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) led off the bottom of the ninth with a double, and was welcomed home by another double hammered by Carter Eberhard (Cal Baptist) to score the Cats’ first and only run of the game.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats close out the series on Sunday, June 7 at 1:05 pm before departing to Alberta for a midweek matchup with the Edmonton Riverhawks.

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 – Cats Fall 4-1 to Falcons

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Missed opportunities with runners in scoring position led to a disappointing outcome for the Cats. (Photo by Victoria Spotlight Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats were defeated 4-1 by the Kelowna Falcons on Friday night in the first game of the series.

Both sides’ bats stayed quiet until the third inning this evening, when the Falcons drove a pair of base hits up the middle, jumping out in front to a 2-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Easton Reimers (North Dakota State) entered the game in the top of the fourth to relieve Cats starter Bryson Toner (Hawaii). Toner allowed two runs on five hits through his three innings on the bump this evening, throwing in a walk and a strikeout as well.

Reimers was excellent throughout his first two innings until a leadoff homer in the sixth broke his hitless streak. A second run scored on a passed ball before Reimers was able to get out of the inning and pass the baton to Jack Clark (CSU San Marcos).

The Cats offence woke up in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases and scoring a run on a ball that dropped just fair in left field from Rohne Klein (San Jose State). That was the only run they got on this crucial opportunity, as the Falcons picked up a big strikeout to escape the jam and maintain a 4-1 lead.

Tate Collins (Arkansas State) claimed control of the mound for the Cats in the top of the eighth inning. Despite a leadoff walk, the Little Rock, Arizona native tossed a zero on the board to bring about the bottom of the eighth for the Victoria offence.

The Cats were unable to pull off a comeback after loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth, leaving the runners stranded and losing the ballgame 4-1

WCL STANDINGS

Victoria and Kelowna will be back in action Saturday, June 6 at 6:35 pm for game two of the weekend series.

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 – Cats Take Home Series Win on School Spirit Day

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Local schools packed the park for game three of the homestand!

Victoria, B.C. – The HarbourCats sent the School Spirit Day crowd home happy on Thursday afternoon, defeating the Edmonton Riverhawks 6-2 to clinch the series win.

The Cats got on the board early in this one thanks to a sizzling long ball off the bat of Matt Westley (George Mason) to lead off the second inning.

BOX SCORE

Right-hander Erik Rico (Fresno State) was utterly dominant through a four-inning start, allowing just one hit and racking up a septet of strikeouts over that span. Austin Lindsey (Hill College) took up the torch in the fifth inning, securing a quick three outs to preserve a 1-0 lead for Victoria.

The Cats put on a show in front of a crowd of 3,128 at Royal Athletic Park.

Victoria found another chance to score in the bottom of the sixth, with infielder Jax Heid (Southeast Oklahoma State) putting pressure on the Edmonton defence and bringing home a run to make it 2-0 for the HarbourCats. Dryden Fuoco (Hill College) wasted no time following up, rocking a line drive to left field and driving in two more.

The very next inning, Brady Hewitt (Fresno State) kicked the score and the energy up a couple notches. The Cats infielder utterly obliterated a baseball, ensuring same-day delivery to Pembroke Street on his second homer in as many days.

Hunter Daniels (Phoenix College) made a relief appearance in the eighth inning for the HarbourCats. The Arizona native allowed two runs, but a shutdown ninth inning from Asher Clark (Northern Colorado) cemented a 6-2 victory for the home team.

WCL STANDINGS

With a series win under their belts, the HarbourCats will take on the Kelowna Falcons for a weekend series, beginning Friday, June 5 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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