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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats start 2022 signings with local talent

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Nine from Victoria, including Golden Tide standouts, lined up for WCL season

January 6, 2022

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. –– There’s a lot of baseball talent in the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce the first nine signings — yep, a full lineup, from Victoria — for the 2022 West Coast League season, and all have strong Victoria roots.

The players range from NCAA Division-1 players to those who showed their skills and work ethic with the Victoria Golden Tide, the new Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) team that plays out of Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.

Tide pitcher Haldon Craig will join the HarbourCats in 2022 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

“Developing local talent from the ground up has been my goal since I came on board with the HarbourCats in 2018,” said Curtis Pelletier, the team GM who was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for four years with the HarbourCats and is also the Head Coach of the Golden Tide. “The kids in the stands all hope to wear the HC one day and we’re making that a reality now. We have put together a phenomenal group of coaches to train the Golden Tide and Players Club athletes with the goal of signing them to the HarbourCats. Get used to seeing local players on the field here in the summer as there is some serious talent coming through our programs.”

Golden Tide’s Daniel Sawchyn, will bring speed to the HarbourCats outfield and base paths in 2022 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The nine players are:

• RHP Noah Takacs, Sacramento State, 6-3/200
• OF Josh Walker, Sacramento State, 6-1/175
• LHP/1B Eric Luchies, Lower Columbia College, 6-3/200
• RHP Owen Luchies, Lower Columbia College, 6-2/195
• RHP Dawson Hurford, Western Nebraska College, 6-3/195
• RHP Haldon Craig, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-3/215
• LHP Jacob Popadynec, Victoria Golden Tide, 5-11/175
• IF Jordan Bond, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-0/185
• OF Daniel Sawchyn, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-0/170

Takacs, a product of the Victoria Eagles of the BC Premier Baseball League (PBL), had a 4.82 ERA and made four starts for the Hornets in 2021. Sacramento State teammate Walker, a lefty hitter who came through the Victoria Mariners PBL program, has appeared in 13 games over two spring seasons.

The Luchies brothers, Eric and Owen, are both from the Eagles PBL program and are making the big jump, one year apart, to the Lower Columbia program, a junior college in the NWAC. Both bring a power game and tremendous potential. Hurford, from Victoria but a product of the PBL’s Langley Blaze, has made 18 appearances, including 11 starts for the WNC Cougars.

Pitcher Owen Luchies throwing for the Golden Tide in exhibition play last fall (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Bond, Sawchyn, Craig and Popadynec are all local products (Bond and Popadynec from the Eagles, Craig from the AAA Capitals, and Sawchyn from the Mariners) who got their first college action this last fall with the Golden Tide, and will provide valuable depth — Bond and Sawchyn for their bat and defence, Popadynec and Craig off the mound.

Jordan Bond had a strong fall season with the Golden Tide (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Takacs is thrilled to have the chance to play summer collegiate baseball in his hometown. “It means the world to me… I wanted to play HarbourCats baseball all my life and finally, through all the pandemic problems, myself and a few others will get that opportunity. Victoria is a small baseball town but at the heart of it has some of the most dedicated individuals you’ll ever meet. Whenever I come home to train I know that I will have the right dudes around me to push me to get better every day. Without the people I met in Victoria I wouldn’t be the player or person I am today.”

The HarbourCats will begin their 2022 West Coast League campaign with their Home Opener on Tuesday May 31, 2022 at 6:35 pm against the Port Angeles Lefties, the first of 34 home games that will be played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Golden Tide pitcher Jacob Popadynec will be a nice left-handed option for the HarbourCats in 2022 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Season Tickets, 2022 single-game tickets, 10-game flex packs, gift cards and HarbourCats merchandise are now on sale at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or by calling 778-265-0327. Single-game tickets may also be purchased directly on-line at www.harbourcats.com/tickets.

Fans holding unused tickets or flex-pack vouchers from the cancelled 2020 and 2021 seasons may also now exchange these for tickets for any 2022 regular season game. This can be done at the HarbourCats office.

For more details and to keep up with the latest news on the 2022 season, please visit the HarbourCats website at www.harbourcats.com.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Bridges’ gem powers Cats to fifth straight win

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Cayden Munster’s fifth inning home run was the HarbourCats’ 21st as a team, which ranks third in the WCL (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

July 5, 2025

For immediate release

RIDGEFIELD, WA – The Victoria HarbourCats have been rolling in July and showed no signs of slowing down Saturday night, surrendering just one hit all game to the Ridgefield Raptors, cruising to a 6-0 win.

As the HarbourCats have done so often this season, they wasted no time getting on the board, scoring in the first inning through a Logan Shepherd (Mercer U) RBI single. That was the designated hitter’s 23rd RBI of the season, which leads the team.

From there, the story was all about Thomas Bridges (Northwestern U). The right-hander has been downright dominant this season, and tonight was no different, throwing a season-high six scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and striking out five. Once again, he walked zero batters and has only allowed one free pass all season in 26 innings of work. His 0.35 ERA ranks first in the WCL among qualified pitchers. He ranks sixth in the league with 29 strikeouts.

BOX SCORE

Cayden Munster (Fresno State) gave his starter some more run support with a no-doubt solo home run in the fifth inning to double the lead, making it 2-0.

Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) increased the lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly, which was just a few feet shy of a grand slam. An error by the Raptors catcher, Jake Harvey, on the following at-bat allowed Shepherd to score. Later in the inning, Munster drove in his second run of the night with a two-out RBI single to give the Cats a 5-0 lead.

WCL STANDINGS

Victoria took a 6-0 lead in the seventh inning courtesy of a JC Allen solo home run, his fifth of the season in just 11 games. The UC San Diego junior is now hitting .412 on the season and has a slugging percentage of .854.

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) made his eighth appearance of the season out of the bullpen and threw two scoreless innings, giving up no hits, walking one, and striking out a pair. Julian Orozco (Cal Baptist) pitched a three-up-three-down ninth inning to give the HarbourCats their fifth straight win.

WATCH AWAY GAMES HERE

After a day off on Friday, Hudson Shupe (Gonzaga) was back in the lineup and had two hits, extending his hit streak to nine games. He has multi-hit efforts in six of those contests.

The Cats sit atop the North Division second-half standings with a 5-0 record. They go for their second straight series sweep tomorrow at 1:05 PM.

The HarbourCats 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).

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The Losing Streak Continues For the NightOwls As They Fall 14-12 To The RiverHawks

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EDMONTON, A.B. — The NightOwls bats continue to pop, but they can’t seem to outscore their opponent as they fall 14-12 to the Edmonton RiverHawks on Friday Night. Despite two home runs from Jacob Hayes and one from catcher Nathan Davis, Nanaimo drops to 12-16 on the season.

The two teams went back and forth all game, and the NightOwls had a late lead in the eighth inning but couldn’t hold on, and the RiverHawks were able to get a late lead. Nanaimo has a chance at redemption tomorrow at Re/Max Field as the two teams are back at it at 7:05 MST. That’s 6:05 our time in Nanaimo, and the game can be streamed on the link below.

https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=622688

Leading the way at the plate was first baseman Jacob Hayes, who went yard twice on the night for his fifth and sixth Home Runs on the season for the NightOwls. Catcher Nathan Davis also went deep for his first home run of the year. Jacob Hayes spoke on his recent hot streak.

“This game has a lot of ups and downs, so making adjustments is crucial. I definitely have felt more confident at the plate. I think using a whole field approach at the dish has given me that. Cody has been talking a lot about that recently, and just trusting him with his advice has also allowed me to feel freer up at bat.”

Asher De Leo came in relief for the Nanaimo Night Owls and was the only pitcher not to allow a hit or run in this very offensive game against the Edmonton RiverHawks. Starting pitcher Aidan Boice had three strikeouts in his five innings pitched and didn’t factor into the decision on the night.

https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

I spoke to the manager of the Nanaimo NightOwls, Cody Andreychuk after the game about the play of Jacob Hayes and how they could balance the pitching and hitting, “Hayes has been on a tear in the last little bit there’s a lot to like about how he drives the ball out of the ballpark , Talan Zenk has also been swinging a hot bat . As far as the balance between pitching and hitting the pitchers won us the series against Edmonton earlier in the year we are going through a rough patch and I’m confident they will respond and bounce back.”

The Losing Streak Continues For the NightOwls As They Fall 14-12 To The RiverHawks

Talan Zenk went one for three with a single, walk and RBI, and three runs as he was also hit by a pitch. Nathan Davis had a great stat line going three for four with three RBI, a HR, two singles, three runs, a walk, and a stolen base. Shortstop Andrew Nykoluk also had a nice day at the plate with two hits, an RBI and a walk.

http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets

The series continues on Saturday and Sunday July 5th, and 6th in Edmonton against the RiverHawks. Note the start times as Saturday is a 6:05 first pitch PST and Sunday is an afternoon affair that goes at 12:05 PST.

Then the team will have a well deserved day off after 10 straight days of games. The NightOwls return home with a three game series against the Kelowna Falcons in a mid week matchup. That starts Tuesday July 8th at 6:35pm and continues Wednesday and Thursday at the same time. Make sure to follow us on social media for the latest NightOwls news and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark!

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Victoria HarbourCats – Cats crush Raptors in 20-5 rout

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July 4, 2025

For immediate release

RIDGEFIELD, WA – On the Fourth of July, the Victoria HarbourCats scored four times as many runs as the Ridgefield Raptors, winning the series opener 20-5.

The fun started in the top of the third inning when the HarbourCats brought 13 batters to the plate and put up nine runs in the frame. Xander “Boogie” McAfee (Texas Arlington) opened up the scoring with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Boogie also had an RBI double later in the inning.

Logan Shepherd (Mercer U) and Dillon Lopez (St Mary’s) drove in one run each with singles, while Tanner Beltowski (Westmont) and Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) each hit two-run singles in the inning. Garrett Brooks (St Mary’s) drove in his first run of the season with a double.

BOX SCORE

The Victoria offence was relentless this afternoon as they put up five more runs in the fourth inning to extend their advantage to 14-0. Shepherd’s RBI single was followed by a Jack Johnson (Baylor) sacrifice fly. Boogie McAfee then hit his second RBI double of the game, and Beltowski smacked a triple to the wall to score another run.

Johnson has reached base in all 24 games he has played this season.

Shea Lake (West Texas A&M) started the game for Victoria and was fantastic through his first four innings of work, surrendering just two hits. He retired the first two batters in the fifth but then pitched into trouble. After the next two Raptors reached base, Taylor Takata hit an RBI single to get the home team on the board. Andrew Estrella then hit a three-run home run to the opposite field to make it 14-4 and put an end to Lake’s outing.

WCL STANDINGS

Marcus Janovsky (UBC) pitched the next 2-1/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits while striking out a pair.

If you thought that complacency would become an issue for the HarbourCats’ offence after 14 runs, you would be sorely mistaken. The visitors tacked on another five runs in the seventh inning through a two-run single by Johnson and a three-run home run from Ross.

Ross had four hits, five RBIs, and scored three runs.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Shepherd drove in his third run of the game in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 20-5. The designated hitter, along with McAfee and Lopez, recorded three hits in the game. Beltowski drove in four runs and had two hits, increasing his season average to .342. The shortstop has two or more hits in five of his last seven games.

Dustin Davidson (Brookhaven) completed the final two innings, facing the minimum, giving up just one hit.

Thomas Bridges (Northwestern U) is the projected HarbourCats starter for game two tomorrow against the Raptors at 6:35 PM. The right-hander will enter the game with a 0.45 ERA in 20 innings of work this season.

The HarbourCats 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.

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.

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

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