Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Todd Haney named WCL Coach Of The Year

Published

1 year ago

August 18, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Coach Todd Haney had plenty to be smiling about in 2023, including a 38-15 overall record, a 25-2 record at home, a ton of new offensive records and a trip to the WCL Championship game. He has now been rewarded for all of that as the WCL Coach of the Year!

August 18, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — A record season for home wins, a North Division championship and a long list of records and league-leading offensive performances don’t happen without a great coaching staff— and a stellar head coach.

The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce that third-year Head Coach Todd Haney has been named the top coach in the Weat Coast League for 2023, a most deserving honor.

Haney, a five-year Major League player out of Texas, led the HarbourCats to a 38-15 record including a 25-2 home mark, a league record for home victories that may never be broken. The team then went 3-1 in playoffs, eliminating Wenatchee and Bellingham at home — moving the mark at Wilson’s Group Stadium to 27-2 — before falling just short of the WCL title due to a 5-0 loss in Corvallis in a single-game championship matchup.

“Todd checks all the boxes for us — he develops players, he communicates effectively, and he teaches players how to win in a pro-style atmosphere that prepares them for returning to school or moving to the next level,” said Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “And, he and his wife Kira love Victoria and represent the city, the organization and the league at the utmost level.

Todd Haney relaxing pre-game earlier this season, with the look of a coach that has a team, at that time,, with a 13-1 record at home (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

“I know Todd will be the first to deflect this onto the players, the ones who show dedication and commitment right to the end of the season and playoffs, and also to the front office — and he definitely has surrounded himself with outstanding coaches with Scott Anderson, Steve Sinclair, Troy Birtwistle, Jaxon Williams and Ethan Fox.”

Haney holds two of the top-10 best win totals in league history, posting 39 wins (54 game schedule) in 2019, his first year as head coach, and 38 in 2023 — and he has never missed the playoffs, getting to the postseason in 2022 after two years away because of the pandemic, with a 26-28 record that year and a combined 103-58 record overall in his three years at the helm.

“Todd is on a long-term contract with us and we are excited for next season, with his coaching approach and his recruiting network bringing in more exciting players for our fans to cheer for,” said Swanson. “I think I speak for everyone in our organization and our support base — Congrats, Todd, and Kira, well deserved.”

HeadCoach Todd Haney shares a chuckle as he prepares to submit the first line-up card of the 2023 season on June 2, 2023.

Season Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 season. Renew your seats or lock-in new seats by October 31, 2023 to take advantage of 2023 pricing. Contact Christian at 778-265-0327 or by e-mail at chris@harbourcats.com for details or to book.

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Summer Collegiate

VISL, and HarbourCats/NightOwls, enter strategic partnership

Published

5 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Different sports, but the same community ideals.

The Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls, of baseball’s West Coast League, and the Vancouver Island Soccer League, have entered into a strategic partnership intended to assist the entities in growing grassroots sports and improving facilities on Vancouver Island.

The VISL provides programming and championships on the Island and leads leagues which give the best soccer players an avenue to play the sport for life. Championships such as the Jackson Cup, with many finals played at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, serve as the crown jewel of the VISL.

More than 6,000 participants are involved with the VISL — sports fans, who will keep track of the Island’s top baseball programs, the HarbourCats and NightOwls, who combined to draw more than 100,000 spectators in 2024.

The baseball teams and VISL will jointly promote each others’ schedules, and provide opportunities for youth participation.

“Baseball fans are soccer fans, and soccer fans are baseball fans — it’s about supporting quality programs on the island and furthering awareness. Adding youth opportunities between the two will be the cherry on top.”

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – You’re Invited! Christmas Open House, November 28-29

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Please join us as we usher in the Holiday Season with our annual Christmas Open House!

When: Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29
Time: 12 Noon to 7 PM each day
Where: HarbourCats office 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Come by to say hello and enjoy some hot cider and other beverages and snacks and talk about our upcoming 2025 season!

Plenty of merchandise on hand for the HarbourCats fan on your Christmas list – all at 20% off for the month of November! Plus plenty of HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide items available on our special $10.00 clearance rack!

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs will also be available for sale and as a special BLACK FRIDAY bonus, we will throw in a free-gift with the purchase of any 10-pack or season ticket package.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Summer Collegiate

A top-end catcher and four arms to throw strikes to him make up the latest signings for the Nanaimo NightOwls.

Published

3 days ago

November 19, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Wirthgen has MLB bloodlines as the nephew of former MLB slugger and manager Phil Nevin, the first overall pick in the 1992 draft who played for six teams and hit 41 home runs for the Padres in 2001 as part of a 1,200-game career. A strong defensive catcher with power potential, Wirthgen played in the Alaska summer league in 2024.

Teper, also from D1 powerhouse Cal Baptist, is an aviation major who plans to fly planes once his days in pro baseball are over. The lefty will be counted on in key situations this summer, and made 11 appearances, including three starts, in the Alaska league in 2024.

Three players will arrive from the University of Pikeville, where they play for new NightOwls coach Cody Andreychuk — including returning lefty Richtter Castillo, a Venezuelan fan favorite who pitches with a lot of emotion and did strong work out of the bullpen for pitching coach Gorm Heimueller in 2024. Castillo was 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings.

Shaye McTavish, a Canadian addition from Lethbridge, has been a starter at UPike and in the Western Canada summer league. Schultz, another power arm from Lethbridge, has summer experience in the WCBL in Swift Current and is developing into a high leverage righty for Andreychuk.

Season tickets and 10packs are available for 2025 and information can be found by emailing GM Tina Cornett — tina@nanaimonightowls.com

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