Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats leading the way in mental wellness for players, coaches, staff

Published

2 years ago

June 15, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15th, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — Recognizing the importance of mental wellness in the workplace, at home, and in play, the Victoria HarbourCats have partnered with Coastality, a Victoria-based team of highly-trained mental wellness professionals, to assist everyone and anyone in their organization in all aspects of their own mental wellness, relationships, careers, education, and daily lives.

As part of their internal commitment to the health and wellbeing of the organization, their investment sees these services being provided confidentially and free-of-charge to the team.

“These types of initiatives are what make our club special, and we’re excited to double down on nurturing our greatest assets – our people – both on and off the field,” said Christian Stewart, General Manager of the HarbourCats. “In this day and age, particularly in sports, we need to take an active role in helping to maintain both the physical and mental wellness of our team”.

On the heels of the launch of MLB’s social responsibility platform ‘MLB Together’, a component of which is a mental health and wellness program aiming to create public awareness and reduce stigma around the conversation of mental health, the timing couldn’t be better.

“We applaud the HarbourCats for leaning in to this so enthusiastically and genuinely seeing the value, both short and long term, in offering these types of services as an extension of their own organization,” said Leanne Toews, Owner of Coastality and Registered Clinical Counsellor. “Having offered these types of programs in other industries, it is great to see it being taken on in the sports realm as well”.

In addition to the free counselling services for players, coaches and staff, the HarbourCats are also doing a special, “Coastality Check-In” ahead of each game, that will see three HarbourCats players making their way through the crowd and “Checking-In” with fans, and signing and giving away special “Coastality” branded. baseball-themed stress balls. “It’s a way for our fans, in our short season, to get to know some of our players,” added Stewart, “and for our players to make sure our fans are enjoying the game and that we are making our 10th Anniversary season a special one for all.”

Coastality is an integrated, multi-disciplinary team of mental wellness professionals offering virtual and in-person sessions for children, youth, adults, couples and families. Their accessible offices are located in Downtown Victoria and clinicians can offer service virtually across British Columbia.

For more information, visit the Coastality website at www.coastality.ca or the website or social media platforms of the HarbourCats.

The HarbourCats continue their 10th Anniversary season tomorrow, Friday, at 6:35pm as the Yakima Valley Pippins come to town for the start of a three-game set. Tickets for that series and the remainder of the HarbourCats home games in 2023 are now on sale and can be purchased on-line through our one-and-only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at harbourcats.com/tickets. They can also be purchased at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or at the Select Your Tickets box office at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Fans can also call 778-265-0327 to order over the phone.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also still available. For details on all ticketing options, including our special $10.00 Tuesdays, Forces Fridays and Save-on-Food Vouchers, please visit harbourcats.com/ticketinfo.

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls slide past Knights in extra inning thriller

Published

10 hours ago

July 25, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — Never better timing from Andrew Nykoluk.

The shortstop from Hawaii Pacific slapped a single into right centre with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning on Thursday night gave the Nanaimo NightOwls a much-needed 3-2 victory over the visiting Corvallis Knights.

Nykoluk’s hit scored JJ Abner from second base, rescuing a win to cap the three-game series, the first-ever visit by the Knights to Nanaimo.

The result ends a Nanaimo losing streak as the team prepares for a road series this weekend against the Kamloops NorthPaws.

On Thursday, both teams scored twice in the seventh inning — nothing but zeroes on the board other than that until the NightOwls scored in the 10th.

Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific) was 1-1 with two walks for Nanaimo, Jayden Gabrillo (Hawaii Pacific) was clutch for Nanaimo in weathering a storm in the ninth and 10th innings, holding the score at 2-2. Aidan Boice gave up just two hits and no walks in six innings, striking out five in a stellar start that Nanaimo sorely needed after dropping the first two games of the series.

Nanaimo pitchers limited the Corvallis bats to just five hits.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats cruise to victory

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Isaiah Afework had four RBIs in one game for the second time this season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 24, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats wrapped up their final non-league game of the season Thursday night against the Victoria Mavericks, coming out on top 22-2.

Logan Shepherd got things going in the first inning with an RBI single. Isaiah Afework followed that up with a two-run double to make it 3-0. Jake Butler hit an RBI single, and Garrett Brooks drove home two with a triple to cap off the six-run opening frame.

BOX SCORE

Back-to-back RBI doubles from Shepherd and Dillon Lopez in the second inning made it 9-0, before an Afework opposite field home run increased the lead to 11-0.

The Mavericks got on the board in the fourth inning when Sami Samir hit a double with the bases loaded to plate a pair.

The Cats scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, including a Liam Fast RBI double, pushing the lead to 14-2.

Connor Ross reached base three times and had one RBI tonight (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The hits kept coming as five HarbourCats hit RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth inning, which made it 22-2.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Jack Finn started the game and pitched three scoreless innings while striking out four. Ethan McNish-Heider replaced him and threw three of his own, giving up two runs and striking out four. Jacob Thompson pitched the seventh inning, striking out one, before the game was called due to a mercy rule.

Brooks and Afework led the way with four RBIs apiece. Shepherd drove in three and Jai Berezowski, Declan Brown, and Butler all drove in a pair of runs.

Tomorrow is the start of Peninsula Co-op’s Kids Free Weekend! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday’s games are free for kids 12 and under. You can get tickets at the gate or in person at the HarbourCats office; this option is not available online. Friday’s game is also Anawim House Sock Toss night! Bring pairs of new or gently used socks or buy a pair at the game to throw on the field after the first HarbourCats home run of the game.

Due to popular demand, we are expanding our $12 Tuesday seats. All remaining Premium Reserved seats (normally $22 per seat) for the July 29 game against Kamloops are now just $12. PLUS, WE NOW HAVE $12 THURSDAYS! All remaining Premium Reserved seats for our game Thursday, July 31 are now just $12. Come watch the best baseball in town for the best price anywhere!

BUY TICKETS 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.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls flash defensive gems against Knights

Published

2 days ago

July 24, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — Win or lose, the Nanaimo NightOwls are certainly entertaining.

Centre fielder Andrew Ivy made three highlight reel catches, Trevor Goldenetz made a spectacular catch at the left field wall, and infielder Ryder Florence had a spinarama ground ball out — but it wasn’t enough in a 9-2 loss as the visiting Corvallis Knights took advantage of almost all their baserunners on Wednesday night at historic Serauxmen Stadium.

No less than 10 great defensive plays combined were flashed by both teams.

Catcher Nate Davis was 3-5 for Nanaimo and Goldenetz had two hits including a double for the NightOwls.

The Knights only outhit the NightOwls 10-8 in winning the second game of the series.

Both teams committed two errors.

The third game of the series is 6:35pm at Serauxmen Stadium, and its host family appreciation night.

After the series, the NightOwls go to Kamloops to face the NorthPaws for games Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the latter an afternoon game.

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