Jake Haggard had five hits in this series including two doubles and a triple (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
June 23, 2024
For immediate release
VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats offence scored six runs in the second inning which proved to be enough, beating the Bellingham Bells 6-2.
Big lefty Payton Hawkinson (Cal State Fullerton) made his second start for the HarbourCats, pitching four innings of one-hit ball. He pitched his way into trouble in the first inning loading the bases, but was able to escape the jam. He settled in the rest of the way striking out two and lowering his season ERA to 1.00.
The HarbourCats huge second inning began with a Ny’Zaiah Thompson (Cal State Fullerton) double with the bases loaded, scoring three runs. Gunner Antillon (Cal Baptist) drove Thompson home with a single which was followed by a Jake Haggard (ULM) triple to make it 5-0 Cats. Haggard scored on an RBI single by Kerim Orucevic (UCSD) which completed the six-run frame.
Tate Shimao is batting .429 in his first six games as a HarbourCat (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The HarbourCats had 12 hits as a team with Garrett Teunissen (Cal State San Marcos) and Lucas Ramirez (Tennessee) joining Antillon and Haggard with two hits on the afternoon.
Jacob Thompson (Minot State) was awarded his second win of the season pitching two scoreless innings and striking out two. The North Saanich native has been as dependable as they come in his relief outings this season, giving up zero runs across 10.2 innings of work.
Carson Cormier (TCU) gave up two runs in the seventh but continued to display his swing-and-miss ability. He struck out three today adding to his season total of 16 strikeouts, which leads the team.
Gunner Antillon had two hits, improving his season average to .412 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Brett Harvey (Puget Sound) and Ben Hewitt (Everett CC) pitched scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth innings respectively to close out the victory for the HarbourCats.
The HarbourCats improve to 11-10 on the season and are back in action Tuesday at 6:35 PM against the Redmond Dudes. This is the first of four straight nights where all fans in attendance will be entered into a draw for a pair of Taylor Swift Eras Tour tickets! You do not want to miss your chance to win! Buy tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. The winner will be announced at the game on Friday, June 28!
The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce direct links to a DOWNLOADABLE SCHEDULE that will work on your iPhone or tablet, your Google calendar, or your Android device. Click HERE to access the calendars! Contact zach@harbourcats.com if you have any problems downloading the calendar to your device.
NANAIMO, B.C. — It’s NightOwl time as the home stand gets off to a great start. A 3-1 win on Wednesday night in game two of the series against the Kelowna Falcons makes it back-to-back wins for Nanaimo. The pitching for the NightOwls was superb, combining for just one run and six hits.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
The Kelowna Falcons jumped out to a one-run lead in the second inning. That was all they got as starting pitcher Richtter Castillo shut the door and set the tone for the rest of the NightOwls pitchers. Nanaimo was able to scrape in a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. That was all they needed to move their record closer to .500% at 15-17. Nanaimo finished the night with three runs on nine hits, and both teams had zero errors, making for a well-fielded game.
Of course it was All-Star Talan Zenk with a multi hit game. He went two for four with two doubles and a run scored. Third basemen Tyler Arnold also had a two hit night and scored a run for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
I mentioned it was a good night for the Nanaimo NightOwls pitchers, starting pitcher Richtter Castillo had a great game, going four strong innings. The left-handed senior from Maracay, Venezuela, finished the game giving up just one run on three hits while striking out three and only walking one. It paved the way for the rest of the pitching staff as newcomer Blake Hager came into the game in the fifth inning and threw two shutout innings with one hit and two strikeouts, he got the win for the NightOwls.
The great pitching continued as Jakin Rohne and Dalton Hanson came on and closed out the final three innings. They gave up just two combined hits and struck out three. Dalton Hanson got the save for the Nanaimo NightOwls. I spoke with head coach Cody Andreychuk after the game about the pitching staff.
“Complete pitching staff [W] tonight, Richtter set the tonne and the rest of our arms did exactly what we needed them to do.” He would continue, ” Super proud of the pitching staff this entire series so far by filling the zone and attacking hitters. Great bounce back effort from our pitching staff after the Edmonton series.”
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Shortstop Andrew Nykoluk also got in the action with an RBI and two singles, out of Hawaii Pacific University, Andrew went two for three on the evening. Local product Easton Mould added an insurance run in with an RBI thanks to a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh and that’s all the NightOwls needed.
One more game against in the series on Thursday July, 10th, at 6:35 pm against the Kelowna Falcons. Then it’s a series against the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 11th, 12th and 13th. The Friday and Saturday games go at 6:35 pm while Sunday is our Family Fun Day with first pitch going at 1:05 pm. Remember kids, and adults who feel like kids can run the bases after the game!
We have a very special treat tomorrow for anyone who can’t make it out to the ballpark on our live stream. We are going around the world so make sure to tune in to NightOwls.tv or the West Coast League link above. This is going to be a special night for us so we hope you can make it out but if not you will be treated at home! Make sure to follow us on social media to see what we are up to tomorrow and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark so we can interact with your posts on social media! Go Owls Go!!
PORT ANGELES, WA – The Victoria HarbourCats completed the sweep of the Port Angeles Lefties Thursday night with a 9-4 win. It was the perfect end to a successful road trip where they won five of six games.
Cayden Munster (Fresno State) got things started in the top of the second inning with a solo shot to make it 1-0. Later in the frame, Isaiah Afework (TAMU-CC) hit a no-doubter over the left field fence to give the Cats an early 2-0 lead. Jake Butler (George Mason), who got the start at second base after a two-hit effort the night before, capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Butler cashed in another run in the fourth inning with an RBI single that scored Curtis McKay (Niagara). The next batter was Hudson Shupe (Gonzaga), who hit an RBI single to plate Butler and give the HarbourCats a 5-0 advantage.
Afework was at it again in the fifth inning, hitting another solo home run, this time to increase the lead to 6-0.
Logan Saloman (Nevada) made his third start of the season and, for the third time, completed five innings. He gave up no runs on two hits while striking out a season-high eight batters. He now has a 0.52 ERA in 17 innings of work this season.
Carson Burks (Hill College) replaced the big right-hander, but the hosts flashed some power of their own in the sixth inning. Taylor Kirk and Sam Matosich both went deep to make it 6-3, slicing the Cats’ lead in half.
Jalen Sami (Golden Tide) started the seventh inning for Victoria but only faced four batters, giving up one run on three hits and was subsequently replaced by Austin Lindsey (Hill College). Lindsey got out of the inning as the Cats escaped with their 6-4 lead intact.
Shupe’s second RBI of the game came on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth to restore the HarbourCats’ three-run lead, making it 7-4. Afework put the finishing touch on his standout performance in the ninth inning, hitting his third home run of the night, this time a two-run shot.
The Lefties could not solve Lindsey, who closed out the 9-4 win, pitching 2-2/3 scoreless innings, striking out six.
The HarbourCats’ second-half record is now 8-1 after their impressive road trip. After a day off tomorrow, they are back home for an exciting weekend series against the Kelowna Falcons Friday, July 11 at 6:35 PM. Friday is Harvey’s Birthday, Saturday is a Fireworks night, and Sunday’s matinee is the always popular Bark in the Park game, where all dogs are welcome! Get tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets.
10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are on sale for all home games and “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.
For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
NANAIMO, B.C. — The Nanaimo NightOwls were very happy to be home at Serauxmen Stadium on Tuesday Night. Nanaimo improved its record to 14-17 on the season after a 9-4 win over the visiting Kelowna Falcons. Despite a slow start and the Falcons jumping out to a three-nothing lead, Nanaimo put two runs on the board in both the fourth and fifth innings before exploding for another four runs in the seventh.
Nanaimo would add one more run in the eighth, and some great pitching from the NightOwls would allow them to close out the game in front of a rowdy crowd of 529. The NightOwls finished off the day with nine runs on eight hits with one error. The Visiting Falcons had four runs on seven hits with three errors.
Starting pitcher Asher DeLeo struggled a bit with his control but was able to weather the storm and get out of the second inning. Asher finished the day with two strikeouts and had a no-decision. Nanaimo stranded 12 runners on base, and DeLeo was key in that, as things could have gotten out of control. It was fitting that Cole “Cowboy” Carmichael came out in relief on Country Night at the ballpark. He pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless ball, giving up just 2 hits.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs. Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Vinny “The Chef” Bruno was the winning pitcher on the evening for the NightOwls, going 1.2 innings and striking out four of the eight batters he faced, only giving up one hit and two walks. I spoke with him after the game about the game: “The whole staff really pitched well and the guys came up with the hits when it counted.” Short, sweet, and right to the point from a Senior from the University of Bridgeport.
Brennan Kettle and Carter Chad-Hill came in and closed out the final 3 innings for the Nightowls. Kettle went two innings and gave up no runs and no hits while striking out three and walking only one. Chad-Hill finished things off with one inning and a strikeout to end the game to the cheers of the Nanaimo fans.
It was All-Star selection day for the West Coast League and the NightOwls had two players who will be making the trip to Bellingham. IF/OF Talan Zenk was named to the team and went one for three on the day with a single, RBI, run, walk and a stolen base (His 6th of the season). Not to be outdone his All-Star Counter part Jacob Hayes had a blast of a day.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs. Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Jacob went two for three with a massive two run home-run, a single, a walk and two runs scored. Another reason why he is an All-Star was shown off tonight as he was able to pick some throws at first base. Catcher Brock Wirthgen went three for five with two singles and an RBI. He did spill jam everywhere but since he had a great game I’ll let him off the hook this time because he threw out a runner trying to steal second base.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Centerfielder Andrew Ivy went one for three with a single and was hit by a pitch. He was also a monster on the base path as he swiped a bag and scored two runs for the Nanaimo NightOwls on Tuesday night. Tyler Arnold also reached base twice on the day with a double, scoring a run and getting hit by a pitch.
We go again on Wednesday and Thursday, July 9th and 10th, at 6:35 pm against the Kelowna Falcons. Then it’s a series against the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 11th, 12th and 13th. The Friday and Saturday games go at 6:35 pm while Sunday is our Family Fun Day with first pitch going at 1:05 pm. Remember kids, and adults who feel like kids can run the bases after the game!
Make sure to follow us on social media for the latest NightOwls news and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark so we can share your posts! We have some awesome promotions coming up so stay tuned for those
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