Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Ink First Players for 2025

Published

6 months ago

October 25, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Four returnees (above L to R: Wyatt MacDonald Jake Finkelstein, Jacob Thompson Kyle Hepburn) and two Fresno State infielders first to become 2025 HarbourCats

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 24, 2024

VICTORIA, BC — With the 2025 West Coast League (WCL) schedule close to being announced, Victoria HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney has been busy behind the scenes, assembling a 2025 roster that will look to bring home it’s first ever WCL championship.

Looking to build on the playoff success of 2024 and previous seasons, four familiar faces will make their return to the HarbourCats, including pitchers Jake Finkelstein (Georgia Gwinnett), Jacob Thompson (Minot State) and Wyatt MacDonald (Lower Columbia) — the last two are Victoria natives — and catcher Kyle Hepburn (Southern Illinois), who hails from the Lower Mainland.

Also joining the 2025 roster are first baseman Cayden Munster and middle infielder Jett Ruby, both at Fresno State, continuing a run of solid players from that school that last year brought us WCL All Star Sky Collins and Cam Schneider, in 2023, Team MVP Tyler Davis and Marco Pirruccello and in 2022, WCL All Star Grady Morgan.

Finkelstein was with the HarbourCats in 2022 and 2023 and brings veteran leadership to the pitching corps. In his two years to date, Finkelstein has appeared in 26 games, starting two, and earning a 4-3 record with a 3.16 ERA over 48.1 innings of work. He struck out 50 batters, while walking 18.

Thompson was solid for the HarbourCats out of the bullpen in 2024, appearing in 12 games (20.2 innings pitched) and amassing a 4-1 record and an ERA of 3.48. He struck out 13 batters and walked only four holding opponents to a .211 batting average.

MacDonald was with the HarbourCats late in 2023 as a call up from the Victoria Eagles and saw limited action on the mound appearing in just one game. He is just beginning his freshman season at Lower Columbia under in part the tutelage of Assistant Coach Mike Callia, a former HarbourCat.

Hepburn was an early season call-up for the HarbourCats in 2022, appearing in just five games and then returned for the 2023 season where he appeared in 12 games, hitting .286 with one home run and 11 RBI. He is transferring to Southern Illinois from Johnson Community College where in his freshman year in 2023 he batted .308 (28-for-91) with nine doubles, a triple, a home run, 20 runs scored and 26 RBI.

Munster (6-3/235) and Ruby (6-0/185) will look to provide some pop at the plate from the left side and see key playing time in the infield. Munster was the winner of the Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award in 2024, one of the highest academic honors bestowed by the conference. Ruby played summer baseball in the PEL for the Humboldt Crabs hitting .345 in 27 games while being named the Team MVP.

“We have a great relationship with Ryan Overland, Head Coach at Fresno State, who consistently sends us quality players and quality individuals,” said HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney. “I am confident that Munster and Ruby will be key offensive players for us in 2025, the same way Schneider and Collins were last year, and the players before them” added Haney. “Finkelstein, Thompson, Hepburn and MacDonald, as returning players, know the championship expectations of playing in Victoria and will be able to pass that along to new players on the 2025 team.”

The HarbourCats, who joined the WCL in 2013, will enter into their 11th season of play at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park in 2025 (with the 2020 and 2021 seasons cancelled due to COVID) and have made the playoffs in six of those 10 previous seasons including the last four in a row (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024) with trips to the WCL Championship game(s) in 2017, 2019 and 2023.

The 2025 schedule, which will feature 27 home league games and (where possible) 2-5 non-league games, should be released in the next week. Season Tickets and 10-game Flex Packs are now on sale, with Season Tickets on at Early Bird Pricing until October 31st. Stop in to the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street to order, or call 778-265-0327. Flex packs may also be ordered on-line in the Cat Shop HERE.

For more updates, be sure to follow the Harbourcats here on our web and on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Woof, Woof… Woofability presents Bark In The Park Day

Published

17 hours ago

May 1, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

HarbourCats welcome dogs on Sunday, July 13 at Wilson’s Group Stadium

For immediate release

May 1, 2025

VICTORIA — The ‘Cats are going to the dogs again this summer, thanks to Woofability.

On Sunday, July 13, the gates will open at noon for a 1pm Victoria HarbourCats game and all the pooches are welcome.

The game is presented by Woofability, a tremendous local business that specializes in service dog training, also offering enrichment, boarding and training services, and even online training for pets and their humans.

“This is exciting for us, to work with Woofability and showcase what they do,” said avid animal lover and HarbourCats Director of Online Services Chris Beveridge. “This is my favourite day of the season, getting to plan all the events with Woofability for Bark in the Park.”

Treats, water dishes, a place for dogs to run a bit — all will be provided on Woofability’s “Bark in the Park“ day.

And, Woofability Service Dog Training will put on a pre-game demonstration, on the field, for fans to see. More special surprises will be planned.

“We are very excited to partner with the HarbourCats for this unique day in the HarbourCats calendar, and to be able to tell people about Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and also about our society, Pawsibilities Service Dogs Society, which advocates, educates and supports members of the public who need a service dog but don’t have the resources to have one,” said CEO Tim Land, who co-owns the businesses along with his wife April Sauve, the Head Trainer, highly skilled in training service dogs, dog tricks and K9 body conditioning. “This is an ideal event for our great staff to be able to show the community how much we love what we do.”

Tickets for the game are available now through our one and only ticketing partner SHOWPASS and will be available right up to gametime on that Sunday.

For more information on Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and Pawsibilities Service Dog Society, follow the links Woofability, Woofability Service Dog Training and Pawsabilities Service Dog Society.

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The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. 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.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com. Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided. More details HERE

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats to honour outgoing VicPD Chief Del Manak on July 30

Published

2 days ago

April 30, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — He’s been our police chief for nearly 10 years, and at the end of August he’ll ride off into well-deserved retirement.

Before that, on July 30, the Victoria HarbourCats will give people a chance to say thank you with Salute to Del Manak & VicPDNight, with the Kamloops NorthPaws in town for a game at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

“Chief Manak — who doesn’t simply call him Del? — has become a friend to so many through his leadership, and he deserves a rousing thank you from us all,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats.

“We have had a strong partnership borne of a similar view of how to build this great community and make it better. Del has done a tremendous job.”

Manak was born and raised in Victoria and is in his 35th year of policing. He trained at the FBI National Academy Program and graduated from the Dalhousie University Police Leadership Program, and has a Master of Arts from Simon Fraser University in terrorism, risk and security studies.

He’s been appointed Member of the Order of Merit of police forces and had that advanced to Officer of the Order of Merit in 2024. He has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, the Police Exemplary Service medal, and this year the King Charles III Coronation medal.

“About the only thing we can fault him on — the New York Islanders, really, he cheers for them?” questioned Swanson.

Chief Manak will throw out the first pitch after having an opportunity to speak to fans and thank them for the support that has been so key in his success in leading VicPD.

Members of VicPD officers and staff will be on hand to show appreciation to their retiring boss and share their expertise with the crowd, including GVERT, Integrated Canine Service (ICS) and more.

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

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Yamaguchi leads group of top hitters coming to Victoria

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 26, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Victoria HarbourCats, under veteran Head Coach Todd Haney, have been known for their exciting speed game, setting WCL stolen base and run records.

This summer, there looks to be more bash to complement that speed.

Haney, in his fifth season leading the HarbourCats, and sixth season with the organization overall, is proud to announce the signing of six more players for the summer of 2025 — five quality hitters and a key pitcher, the latter a Canadian in right-hander Logan Rumberg from George Mason who hails from Okotoks, Alberta.

Third baseman Sean Yamaguchi of Nevada-Reno is the biggest of the big bats added — this spring, the Hawaiian has been named Mountain West player of the week, and twice the Mountain West freshman of the week.

IF Sean Yamaguchi, Nevada-Reno, R/R, 5-9/205, Aiea, Hawaii
C Dillon Lopez, St. Mary’s, R/R, 5-11/200, San Antonio, TX
OF Garrett Brooks, St. Mary’s, L/L, 6-0/200, Spring Branch, TX
OF Bobby Filler, Niagara, R/R, 6-0/187, Philadelphia
OF Jacob Doyle, Nevada-Reno, R/R, 6-7/225, Sparks, NV
RHP Logan Rumberg, George Mason, R/R, 5-11/175, Okotoks, AB

The stocky, powerful Yamaguchi has 10 home runs and 33runs driven in, in his first 34 games played, a key part of the Wolf Pack offence. He’s batting .333.

Teammate Doyle is a rather large outfielder at 6-7, in his sophomore season — and has nine home runs as well, hitting .269 and fast for his size, stealing five bases. He had a 10-game hitting streak which included 10 RBIs and a .378 average.

Rumberg is a junior who has made 50 career appearances including 11 starts for George Mason in his career. He threw to former HarbourCats catcher Connor Dykstra at George Mason the previous two spring’s — Dykstra is now in single-A with the Seattle Mariners, playing for the Modesto Nuts.

Lopez is a catcher at St. Mary’s in Texas, hitting .330 with four home runs and 13 extra-base hits with 15 runs driven in. Teammate Brooks is an outfielder who is smashing the ball this spring, .351 with 10 bombs and 44 RBIs in 46 starts.

Filler is a freshman outfielder from Niagara whose hometown is Philadelphia. He’s a former Perfect Game player from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy before landing at Niagara.

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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