Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats load up on top-school bats with latest signings, Crossland returns

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Above: Returning outfielder Michael Crossland highlights the latest six HarbourCats signings for 2024 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

March 7, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, B.C. — All Michael Crossland did last summer was hit, and hit a lot — including a league-best 19-game hitting streak. The outfielder from Seattle and UC-San Diego returns for a second season as a Victoria HarbourCat, and is off to a strong start for the Tritons in San Diego. He’ll be joined by versatile teammate Kerim Orucevic, recruited from the Chicago area.

Also added today are top TCU hitters Camdon Sos, who hails from the San Diego region but was lured to Texas, and infielder Ryder Robinson from TCU, a Utah native.

Others signed are Floridian Jake Haggard, a big bat at Louisiana-Monroe, along with Cal State-Fullerton speedster Ny’Zaiah Thompson, who is originally from Oakland.

“This is a deep group of bats who will be expected to develop fast in our pro environment at Wilson’s Group Stadium,” said Head Coach Todd Haney, who recruited these players. “We all know what Michael can do, and this group is going to be right there with him, I’m excited to coach them all and our fans are going to like this group.”

OF Michael Crossland, UC-San Diego, 6-0/210, Seattle, WA
IF/OF Kerim Orucevic, UC-San Diego, 6-1/205, Park Ridge, Illinois
IF Ryder Robinson, TCU, 6-2/185, Cedar Hills, Utah
IF Camdon Sos, TCU, 6-3/200, Alpine, CA
IF/OF Jake Haggard, Louisiana-Monroe, 6-3/230, West Palm Beach, Florida
OF Ny’Zaiah Thompson, Cal State-Fullerton, 5-11/170, Oakland, CA

TCU’s Ryder Robinson in action against Washington State earlier this spring (Photo: TCU Athletics)

Crossland had 40 hits in the summer of 2023 in as many games, a .290 average with two home runs, 30 driven in and 18 stolen bases. He scored 24 runs and drew more walks (19) than he struck out (18) and somehow didn’t make the WCL all-star team. Crossland is batting .386 through a dozen games with five doubles and a home run this spring.

Orucevic, whose family is Bosnian, is a lefty hitter known for his all out style of play and his versatility — shortstop, outfield, any corner, he can handle it.

Sos is a top end recruit for TCU after a stellar high school career at Granite Hills. Robinson is batting .355 through his first nine collegiate games, showing extra-base power.

Haggard is all power — he hit five home runs as a true freshman at ULM while making 46 starts and tied for the team lead in walks, too. He already has four home runs in 12 games this spring, batting .293.

Louisiana Monroe’s Jake Haggard (14) celebrates a home run hit earlier this spring against Grambling (Photo: Luke Richard)

Thompson, who is related to former Seahawks star Marshawn Lynch, stole 35 bases as a senior in high school to set an all-time record, part of three championships for Mountain House High School.

Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.

REMINDERS!

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Drop Third Game of Kelowna Series

Published

17 hours ago

July 5, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Kelowna, B.C. – The HarbourCats took on the Kelowna Falcons for the third game a row this afternoon, losing the final matchup by a score of 9-2.

The Falcons were the first side to find purchase on the offensive side in a long third inning. Cats starter Daniel Tovar (Northern Kentucky) allowed a couple of baserunners on a walk and an error, and was swapped out for right-hander Houston Tomlinson (Arkansas State). Kelowna strung together a few singles together on Tomlinson over the course of the inning, taking a 3-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

The home team followed that up with an uppercut in their next trip to the plate, smashing a three-run homer off of Tomlinson in the fourth to blow the game wide open.

Tate Collins (Arkansas State) took over for the fifth and pitched a clean inning, but was accosted for another scoring trio in the home half of the sixth. A single, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly gave the Falcons a daunting 9-0 lead.

The Cats at last found life in the seventh frame, kicked off by a solo bomb off the bat of Fresno State outfielder Marcus Nolen. Matthew Westley (George Mason) followed that homer up with a fine job of manufacturing a run. The Virginia product drew himself a walk, stole two bases, and advanced all the way home on a wild pitch to continue cutting a chunk out of that mountainous lead.

Carson Ackermann (Tacoma) took to the pitcher’s mound in the seventh and only allowed two baserunners across his two innings of work, but in the end the lead proved insurmountable and the Falcons secured a 9-2 win on home turf.

WCL STANDINGS

The HarbourCats will now travel back to Victoria and look to rebound on Tuesday night in the first matchup of a three-game mid-week series versus the Bend Elks.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games 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.

GET YOUR ALL-STAR TICKETS BEFORE THEY ARE GONE! Tickets for the 2026 WCL All-Star Home Run Derby (featuring former Blue Jay Kevin Pillar) and the West Coast League All Star Game on July 14-15 are selling fast. Get yours today! Each event is now on sale separately, or grab the package deal for both and save a few bucks at http://harbourcats.com/tickets! Or call the office at 778-265-0327 to order by phone.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Two major events announced with Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game

Published

1 day ago

July 5, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Legendary scout Marti Wolever to speak at luncheon

July 4, 2026

VICTORIA, B.C. — Having the West Coast League all-star festival in Victoria brings tremendous extra opportunities — like hearing from some of the best in the game.

The organizers of the Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game, presented by Canadian Club, are proud to announce two signature pieces of the two-day festival, and they are sponsored by valued partners of the Victoria HarbourCats Baseball Club — The Wilson’s Group of Companies, and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

“Sponsors like Wilson’s and The Chamber make events like this possible — and with the big names and details, will get people fired up to attend,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the Victoria HarbourCats.

Both events are also held at the Studio 919 thanks to partnership with the Strathcona Hotel (919 Douglas Street).

HOT STOVE PANEL, presented by The Wilson’s Group of Companies
Tuesday, July 14 — 9pm-11:30pm
Studio 919, Strathcona Hotel
Admission — $10
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

A soiree on baseball following the WCL All-Star Home Run Derby, fans are urged to keep the evening going with a social, relaxed, panel-style discussion of baseball and tons of stories — headlined by Kevin Pillar and legendary baseball scout Marti Wolever, and including HarbourCats head coach Todd Haney, himself a five-year MLB player, the dean of pitching coaches, Gorm Heimueller, who is celebrating his 50th year in the game, and legendary local baseball scout Walt Burrows.

Food and refreshments will be available for attendees to purchase.

OFFICIAL ALL-STAR LUNCHEON, presented by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
Wednesday, July 15, 11:30am-1pm
Studio 919, Strathcona Hotel
Tickets — $25 (Limited quantities available to the public).
TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE!

All of the all-stars and coaches will be there to hear a welcome from John Wilson, a member of the HarbourCats ownership group and also the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, from WCL commissioner Rob Neyer, and then keynote speaker Marti Wolever, who has been enshrined in the MLB Scouts Hall of Fame, and now is senior amateur scouting advisor for the Miami Marlins.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Narrowly Defeated by Falcons in Game Two

Published

1 day ago

July 5, 2026

Dugout Wire Service

Kelowna, B.C. – The HarbourCats took to the field against Kelowna again on Saturday night, dropping the second game of the series by an all-too-familiar score of 3-2.

The Falcons swooped in to take an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, punishing Landon Marchetti (San Jose State) for allowing two walks with a 2-RBI double.

BOX SCORE

That score stood until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Kelowna gained enough ground to add on. A few baserunners and a sacrifice fly ended the outing for Landon Marchetti, who went 3.2 innings with three runs, three hits, and seven strikeouts. The new job opening was filled by Concordia-Nebraska right-hander Trent Schlim, who successfully cleaned up the runners left behind by Marchetti.

Schlim exited the game after loading the bases with nobody out in the fifth, and in came Taylor Franklin (George Fox) for his season debut. Franklin worked quickly to get a popout and a double play, miraculously escaping the jam with no runs across.

Landon Marchetti allowed Kelowna’s only runs in his three-inning start. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria found the beginnings of revenge in the top of the sixth, executing a double-steal perfectly for Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) to swipe home plate and score the Cats’ first run. David Krahn (UBC) came around to score on a single later in the frame, making it a one-run ballgame with three innings to go.

Franklin retired to the dugout after a couple of scoreless innings, replaced by Leif Friedrich (Concordia-Nebraska) for the eighth. Friedrich held strong for a quick one-two-three inning, swiftly getting the Cats back on offence. Victoria kept it close but were unable to break the threshold, taking their second 3-2 loss in a row.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats will attempt to salvage a win in the final game of the series tomorrow night, and will return to Victoria for a three-game set with the Bend Elks starting on Tuesday.

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