We don’t know what we don’t know, but what we DO know, is that when we are given permission to play, we will play and we want fans to be ready to play along with us!
February 12, 2021
VICTORIA, BC – As we wait to see what happens in the next couple of months and for, hopefully, the full go-ahead to play baseball at Wilson’s Group Stadium in 2021, we are proceeding optimistically and are making plans for the season, so that we are ready to play when it is time to safely play.
And we want you and your group to come and play with us and celebrate a return to HarbourCats baseball!
To that end, when we get the go-ahead, we expect that our two unique group party areas, the Strathcona Rooftop Third Base Party Deck and the Wilson’s Group Upper Deck Experience, will be in high demand.
To be ready for that and to make sure you and your group have a chance to join us when we return, we are now taking reservations for both group areas for the proposed 2021 season.
We need to do this now, so that if we happen to receive short notice that we can play, for example in mid-May, we are ready to go, rather than rushing to get those areas reserved and everyone ticketed at the last minute.
A list of available dates can be found below for each area (note some dates already taken by groups who had reserved dates in 2020).
Reserve your group now so you don’t miss out on the return of HarbourCats baseball!
Sunday June 6, 1PM Port Angeles Sunday June 13, 1PM Ladysmith Wednesday June 16, 6:35PM Cowlitz Tuesday June 22, 6:35PM Nanaimo Wednesday June 23, 6:35PM Nanaimo Saturday June 26, 6:35PM Burnaby Sunday June 27, 1PM Burnaby Tuesday June 29, 6:35PM Kelowna Tuesday July 6, 6:35PM Bend Wednesday July 7, 6:35PM Bend Thursday July 8, 6:35PM Bend Friday July 9, 6:35PM Kamloops Sunday July 11, 1PM Kamloops Tuesday August 3, 6:35PM Edmonton Wednesday August 4, 6:35PM Edmonton Tuesday August 10, 6:35PM Nanaimo Wednesday August 11, 6:35PM Nanaimo – Jersey Off Back Night
Friday June 4, 6:35PM Port Angeles – Home Opener Saturday June 12, 6:35PM Ladysmith Tuesday June 15, 6:35PM Cowlitz Thursday June 17, 11AM Cowlitz – School Spirit Tuesday June 22, 6:35PM Nanaimo Wednesday June 23, 6:35PM Nanaimo Thursday June 24, 6:35PM Nanaimo Saturday June 26, 6:35PM Burnaby Sunday June 27, 1PM Burnaby Tuesday June 29, 6:35PM Kelowna Thursday July 1, 1PM Kelowna – Canada Day Tuesday July 6, 6:35PM Bend Wednesday July 7, 6:35PM Bend Thursday July 8, 6:35PM Bend Friday July 9, 6:35PM Kamloops Sunday July 11, 1PM Kamloops Tuesday July 20, 6:35PM SIBL All-Stars Wednesday July 21, 6:35PM SIBL All-Stars Saturday July 24, 6:35PM Ridgefield Wednesday August 4, 6:35PM Edmonton Tuesday August 10, 6:35PM Nanaimo Wednesday August 11, 6:35PM Nanaimo – Jersey Off Back Night Thursday August 12, 6:35PM Nanaimo – Fan Appreciation
The Strathcona Rooftop Third Base Party Deck
Please note, as in past years, a non-refundable $500.00 deposit is required to hold your date. This is then applied to your final total and invoice, closer to the event, once we determine final numbers, food costs, etc. Full payment is usually required at that time, usually two weeks prior to the event.
Your deposit also guarantees you a spot for 2022, should we need to make any cancellations to the schedule due to any continuing COVID-19 protocols.
All dates and group bookings above are subject to change pending any relevant COVID-19 health protocols or decisions that are made between now and the start of our 2021 season. Also, in the event that we are required to enforce and implement socially distanced occupancy in our group areas as part of this, we will advise of this accordingly and adapt with you as needed to accommodate your group as we can, or alternatively move you to a date in 2022 when restrictions are relaxed.
To book your spot, or for more information on any of the HarbourCats 2021 group party deck options, please contact Christian Stewart, Assistant General Manager, Ticketing and Media via e-mail (chris@harbourcats.com) or phone 778-265-0327 (office).
Office hours through February are Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm.
NANAIMO, B.C. — The losing streak continues for the Nanaimo NightOwls as they were on the wrong side of a 5-0 score line against the Port Angeles Lefties. That brings the losing streak up to five games and drops the NightOwls to 8-12 on the season. The good thing is they are back at it tomorrow at 1:00 pm for the final game of the series, with a chance to salvage a game of the series and get back to their winning ways.
They couldn’t capitalize on runners in scoring position and finished the game with nine left on base. Nanaimo finished with zero runs on seven hits and one error. The Lefties had five runs on seven hits and no errors.
Starting pitcher Aidan Boice took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. He had a rough start to the game, giving up four runs in the first inning before settling in nicely and only giving up three hits in the next five innings of work.
Nanaimo NightOwls Pitcher Aidan Boice
Relievers Dillon Thompson and Asher De Leo pitched solid in relief combined for three innings of one hit one run ball. Thompson also struck out two while De Leo struck out four of the eight batters he faced to end the game.
Once again it was Spencer Sullivan with a multi-hit game. After going two for two in the first game of the series against the Port Angeles Lefties, he followed it up with a three for four night with 3 singles. He currently has five of the 12 hits for the Nanaimo NightOwls in the series and is hitting a crazy .833, lets hope it continues for the final game of the series.
Drew Giannini continues to hit well contributing with a single and stolen base and going one for four on the evening. Eli Watson, centerfielder Owen Wessel, and Nanaimo product Easton Mould all added singles for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
In the field the NightOwls were able to turn 3 double plays. Shortshop Andrew Nykoluk, from Simi Valley, California, was a man one wrecking crew in the middle of the infield. At one point in the fourth and fifth innings he made five straight outs including a highlight reel diving catch to rob the Lefties of a base hit. Should probably have that highlight!
One more game in the series against the Port Angeles Lefties on Sunday June 22nd where the NightOwls will look to end their 5 game losing streak. Then the Redmond Dudes come into Serauxemen Stadium for a two game series on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24th and 25th.
Sunday after noon we will be wearing our Nanaimo Bar jerseys and it’s a Family Fun Day where kids get to run the bases after the game. It’s also Halloween in June! So show up to the stadium in a costume and cheer on the team. Make sure to follow all of our social media accounts for the latest news and updates about the Nanaimo NightOwls and all the team. Stay tuned this week for a special player profile on one of your Nanaimo NightOwls!
The Kamloops NorthPaws split Saturday’s doubleheader with the Victoria HarbourCats winning the first game 1-0 and losing the second game by the same score. After Friday’s contest was rained out, the two teams were back at it for a pair of seven-inning games that saw just two runs and nine hits combined between the two teams in 15 innings of baseball.
“That’s a first for me,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson. “The pitchers threw well today, and both teams hitters just couldn’t hit; it happens in baseball sometimes.”
Game one saw righty Keith Manby get the start and throw four scoreless innings, walking and striking out two batters, all while not allowing a hit. Lefty Mac Gatzke came on in relief and pitched three scoreless innings. In the fifth, he gave up back-to-back singles but got a nifty 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam. Righty Julio Garcia was called upon in the eighth and hit the first batter he faced but got out of the inning unscathed.
At the plate, it was a struggle for Kamloops as HarbourCats starter Thomas Bridges gave them five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and striking out seven batters. Unlike the HarbourCats, the NorthPaws never really had a dangerous opportunity to score, only leaving one runner on base. That stranded runner came in the bottom of the seventh with Right Fielder Connor Clark at second base and first baseman Jared Hall failing to drive him in with two outs.
The NorthPaws eventually would put together good at-bats in the eighth. Catcher Kalen Applefield led off with a walk. Tanner Hornback pinch hit and reached base via an error and would later steal second base. The next two NorthPaw hitters failed to convert with Applefield 90 feet away, bringing up a two-out situation. Center fielder Ethan Kodama walked, loading the bases and setting up Elijah Clayton to be the hero. Clayton found himself in a two-strike count but worked a walk, scoring the lone run of the game and giving Kamloops the win in a bizarre fashion.
After a game no one expected, the two teams regrouped and returned to the field for game two. No one in the crowd thought another contest like that was possible again, but they would be proved wrong.
The NorthPaws saw their righty starter Lukas Dykstra make his longest outing of the season, going four and a third innings, giving up just one run on two hits. The Harbourcats got to him in the fifth inning after a walk, hit by pitch and a single. From there, the HarbourCats shut the door with their starter going five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and a six-out save by former NorthPaw Oliver Mabee. The NorthPaws had a chance in the bottom of the seventh after a Connor Clark single, but Tanner Hornback hit into a game-ending double play, securing the split for the HarbourCats.
Five hits in 15 innings for a team that put up 18 runs in their previous three games in Walla Walla. Heading into the series finale, the Kamloops hitters are going to put more of an emphasis on their team approach at the plate.
“I think we were a bit antsy tonight; I know I was antsy in some at-bats swinging at stuff I shouldn’t be swinging at, but we just need to get back to our approach tomorrow,” said infielder Drew Schmidt.
The pitching on both sides was excellent all night, with just nine combined walks in the doubleheader. Notably, the HarbourCats staff did not walk a single batter in game two. Despite the split, there are plenty of positives to take away, including the performances from the NorthPaw bullpen.
“I think we commanded the inner half really well tonight, and that allowed us to work that outside corner more. Usually, when you throw a lot of strikes and don’t give guys free passes, you give yourself a good chance to win,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.
The series finale will be a crucial one, as both teams are tied for fourth in the North Division at 11-9. The matinée will get underway at 12:05.
KAMLOOPS, BC – Mother Nature sure put a damper on the HarbourCats offence on Saturday.
After scoring 23 runs and notching 30 hits in their sweep of Nanaimo last week, the HarbourCats could only muster one run and four hits on Saturday in Kamloops, but, thanks to some stellar pitching, that was enough to earn a split with the NorthPaws, taking game two Saturday 1-0, after dropping the first game by that exact same score in extra innings.
After a rain out Friday night that created today’s 7-inning double header scenario, Tommy Bridges (Northwestern) got the start for the HarbourCats in game one and he was brilliant, facing the minimum number of batters and striking out seven in five innings of work.
His only blemish was a fourth inning single by Drew Schmidt, who was then thrown out trying to steal second by HarbourCats catcher Kyle Hepburn (S. Illinois Edwardsville), who came on in the first inning to replace Jacob Silva (TCU), who injured a foot sliding into second earlier in the game.
Unfortunately for Bridges and the HarbourCats, Kamloops starter Keith Manby was also strong, going four scoreless and hitless innings, giving way to Mac Gatzke who went another three scoreless innings to keep the Cats off the board.
After such great pitching performances on both sides, forcing the game into an extra eighth inning, it would be somewhat ironic that Kamloops would win the game on a bases loaded walk surrendered by Garret Villa (Angelo State) to the NorthPaws Elijah Clayton.
In game two, Logan Rumberg (George Mason) got the start for Victoria and taking a cue from teammate Bridges, he also dominated, going five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out six.
He got all the run support he needed in the fifth inning when JC Allen (UC San Diego), making his first start as a HarbourCat, walked and then later came in to score on an RBI single from Jack Johnson (Baylor).
Victoria native Oliver Mabee (Nebraska Omaha) came on to pitch the final two innings and earned the save, giving up one hit and striking out two, and inducing a game-ending double-play to kill a NorthPaws threat in the bottom of the seventh.
The split Saturday moves the HarbourCats record to 11-9 on the season, tied with Kamloops for fourth place and 3.5 games back of Division leading Bellingham.
The HarbourCats and NorthPaws will complete their three-game set with a quick turn around for the rubber match of the series, a 12 noon start on Sunday. Scheduled to take the mound for the HarbourCats is Julian Orozco. That game can be seen on-line live at WCL amd Kamloops streaming site at https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/events/68413255ee5610062bf7f4d7/
The ‘Cats will then head home to begin a three-game set with the Edmonton Riverhawks on Tuesday, on $12 Tuesday, where select Premium Reserve seats are available for just $12. Tickets for that game are available at http://harbourcats.com/tickets or by calling the HarbourCats office at 778-265-0327.
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