Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Sweep Wenatchee! Advance to North Division Final
Victoria to host the Bellingham Bells in North Division Final at Wilson’s Group Stadium, Saturday night at 6:35pm
Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
August 10, 2023
Victoria, BC – A sixth inning triple from Marco Pirruccello, double from Hudson Shupe and two-run homer from Tripp Clark, were the HarbourCats first three hits of the game Wednesday night, leading to a 3-0 HarbourCats lead that they then rode to an eventual 4-2 win over the Wenatchee AppleSox in West Coast League playoff action at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria.
The win gives the HarbourCats a two-game sweep over the AppleSox in the best of three Divisional Series and now pits them against the Bellingham Bells – who also swept their series over Kelowna – in the ONE-GAME knockout North Division Final that will be held at Wilson’s Group Stadium at 6:35 pm on Saturday evening.
The winner of that game will advance to Monday’s WCL Championship game, also a one-game win or die affair, that still potentially could be played here in Victoria.
For that to happen, the HarbourCats obviously must win, but then hope that either Portland (who swept their two game Divisional Series over Ridgefield) or Cowlitz (who play a deciding game three against Corvallis in the Divisional series) emerge as the South Division Champions. If Corvallis should emerge, then the HarbourCats would travel south for that game Monday.
Tickets for Saturday’s North Division Final are now on sale and going fast. They can be purchased on-line HERE!
Note: Fans who have pre-purchased tickets for this game prior to teams and dates being decided, ad season ticket holders who were e-mailed their tickets vis mobile, should use HOME PLAYOFF GAME #2 for their ticket.
Tickets are also on sale for the potential West Coast League Championship game on Monday evening. These can also be purchased via Select Your Tickets HERE. If the HarbourCats should not advance, or if this game ends up being played in Corvallis, fans will have their accounts credited accordingly.
Tickets are also on sale in advance at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street. The office will be open all day Friday from 10AM to 5:30 PM, as well as Saturday 10AM to 5PM for this purpose. Tickets will also be on sale at the gate Saturday starting at 5:30 PM.
On Wednesday night, things were looking down for the HarbourCats as Wenatchee starter Andrew Monson held Victoria hitless through the first five innings of the game. He did start to tire a bit in the fifth and the decision was made to pull him and go to reliever Evan Canfield, who was greeted out of the pen by a lead-off triple from Pirruccello. Shupe then followed with an RBI-Double and after a circus catch off the bat of Tyler Davis by AppleSox left fielder Frankie Carney, Clark deposited a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence to put the ‘Cats up 3-0.
Meanwhile, the AppleSox were also having early trouble scoring as starter Davis Franklin was almost as good as Monson, holding the Sox to just three hits through the first five innings of play. Jake Finkelstein came on in relief in the sixth and was brilliant, throwing a three-up, three-down inning and then doing the same in the top of the seventh.
Davis Franklin delivers a pitch Wednesday night.
The ‘Cats would add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh thanks to an RBI single from Piruccello and that would be all the scoring until the AppleSox mounted a bit of the rally in the top of the ninth against HarbourCats reliever Skyler Manelski. That did not last long, as Brett Harvey came out of the pen to record the final two outs and get the save.
This will mark the first time the HarbourCats are advancing to a ONE GAME North Division Final. They have been in the best-of-three North Division finals three times previous to this, losing to Bellingham in 2016, defeating Kelowna in 2017 and defeating Wenatchee in 2019. In their only other playoff appearance, Victoria lost to Bellingham last season in the Divisional Playoffs.
NANAIMO, B.C. — It’s NightOwl time as the home stand gets off to a great start. A 3-1 win on Wednesday night in game two of the series against the Kelowna Falcons makes it back-to-back wins for Nanaimo. The pitching for the NightOwls was superb, combining for just one run and six hits.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
The Kelowna Falcons jumped out to a one-run lead in the second inning. That was all they got as starting pitcher Richtter Castillo shut the door and set the tone for the rest of the NightOwls pitchers. Nanaimo was able to scrape in a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. That was all they needed to move their record closer to .500% at 15-17. Nanaimo finished the night with three runs on nine hits, and both teams had zero errors, making for a well-fielded game.
https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=621651
Of course it was All-Star Talan Zenk with a multi hit game. He went two for four with two doubles and a run scored. Third basemen Tyler Arnold also had a two hit night and scored a run for the Nanaimo NightOwls.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
I mentioned it was a good night for the Nanaimo NightOwls pitchers, starting pitcher Richtter Castillo had a great game, going four strong innings. The left-handed senior from Maracay, Venezuela, finished the game giving up just one run on three hits while striking out three and only walking one. It paved the way for the rest of the pitching staff as newcomer Blake Hager came into the game in the fifth inning and threw two shutout innings with one hit and two strikeouts, he got the win for the NightOwls.
https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/
The great pitching continued as Jakin Rohne and Dalton Hanson came on and closed out the final three innings. They gave up just two combined hits and struck out three. Dalton Hanson got the save for the Nanaimo NightOwls. I spoke with head coach Cody Andreychuk after the game about the pitching staff.
“Complete pitching staff [W] tonight, Richtter set the tonne and the rest of our arms did exactly what we needed them to do.” He would continue, ” Super proud of the pitching staff this entire series so far by filling the zone and attacking hitters. Great bounce back effort from our pitching staff after the Edmonton series.”
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Shortstop Andrew Nykoluk also got in the action with an RBI and two singles, out of Hawaii Pacific University, Andrew went two for three on the evening. Local product Easton Mould added an insurance run in with an RBI thanks to a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh and that’s all the NightOwls needed.
http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets
One more game against in the series on Thursday July, 10th, at 6:35 pm against the Kelowna Falcons. Then it’s a series against the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 11th, 12th and 13th. The Friday and Saturday games go at 6:35 pm while Sunday is our Family Fun Day with first pitch going at 1:05 pm. Remember kids, and adults who feel like kids can run the bases after the game!
We have a very special treat tomorrow for anyone who can’t make it out to the ballpark on our live stream. We are going around the world so make sure to tune in to NightOwls.tv or the West Coast League link above. This is going to be a special night for us so we hope you can make it out but if not you will be treated at home! Make sure to follow us on social media to see what we are up to tomorrow and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark so we can interact with your posts on social media! Go Owls Go!!
NANAIMO, B.C. — The Nanaimo NightOwls were very happy to be home at Serauxmen Stadium on Tuesday Night. Nanaimo improved its record to 14-17 on the season after a 9-4 win over the visiting Kelowna Falcons. Despite a slow start and the Falcons jumping out to a three-nothing lead, Nanaimo put two runs on the board in both the fourth and fifth innings before exploding for another four runs in the seventh.
Nanaimo would add one more run in the eighth, and some great pitching from the NightOwls would allow them to close out the game in front of a rowdy crowd of 529. The NightOwls finished off the day with nine runs on eight hits with one error. The Visiting Falcons had four runs on seven hits with three errors.
https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=621650
Starting pitcher Asher DeLeo struggled a bit with his control but was able to weather the storm and get out of the second inning. Asher finished the day with two strikeouts and had a no-decision. Nanaimo stranded 12 runners on base, and DeLeo was key in that, as things could have gotten out of control. It was fitting that Cole “Cowboy” Carmichael came out in relief on Country Night at the ballpark. He pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless ball, giving up just 2 hits.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs. Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Vinny “The Chef” Bruno was the winning pitcher on the evening for the NightOwls, going 1.2 innings and striking out four of the eight batters he faced, only giving up one hit and two walks. I spoke with him after the game about the game: “The whole staff really pitched well and the guys came up with the hits when it counted.” Short, sweet, and right to the point from a Senior from the University of Bridgeport.
Brennan Kettle and Carter Chad-Hill came in and closed out the final 3 innings for the Nightowls. Kettle went two innings and gave up no runs and no hits while striking out three and walking only one. Chad-Hill finished things off with one inning and a strikeout to end the game to the cheers of the Nanaimo fans.
https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/
It was All-Star selection day for the West Coast League and the NightOwls had two players who will be making the trip to Bellingham. IF/OF Talan Zenk was named to the team and went one for three on the day with a single, RBI, run, walk and a stolen base (His 6th of the season). Not to be outdone his All-Star Counter part Jacob Hayes had a blast of a day.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs. Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Jacob went two for three with a massive two run home-run, a single, a walk and two runs scored. Another reason why he is an All-Star was shown off tonight as he was able to pick some throws at first base. Catcher Brock Wirthgen went three for five with two singles and an RBI. He did spill jam everywhere but since he had a great game I’ll let him off the hook this time because he threw out a runner trying to steal second base.
Nanaimo NightOwls vs Kelowna Falcons (Photo Credit: Chad Frostad)
Centerfielder Andrew Ivy went one for three with a single and was hit by a pitch. He was also a monster on the base path as he swiped a bag and scored two runs for the Nanaimo NightOwls on Tuesday night. Tyler Arnold also reached base twice on the day with a double, scoring a run and getting hit by a pitch.
http://Nanaimonightowls.com/tickets
We go again on Wednesday and Thursday, July 9th and 10th, at 6:35 pm against the Kelowna Falcons. Then it’s a series against the Wenatchee AppleSox on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 11th, 12th and 13th. The Friday and Saturday games go at 6:35 pm while Sunday is our Family Fun Day with first pitch going at 1:05 pm. Remember kids, and adults who feel like kids can run the bases after the game!
Make sure to follow us on social media for the latest NightOwls news and use the hashtag #IlluminateTheDark so we can share your posts! We have some awesome promotions coming up so stay tuned for those
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