Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Walk-Off NorthPaws To Sweep Opening Series

Published

12 months ago

June 5, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Story by Micah Collins

June 4, 2023, Victoria, BC – Kevin Shea’s (above) two-RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Victoria HarbourCats an exciting 4-3 walk-off victory over the Kamloops NorthPaws in West Coast League action Sunday afternoon at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

FULL BOX SCORE

The win gave the HarbourCats the sweep over the NorthPaws to start the season 3-0 and send the close to 2,000 sun-baked fans home happy.

The NorthPaws started off strong, scoring two runs in the first inning off Victoria starter Davis Franklin. They would add another in the eighth to jump into a 3-0 lead , but the HarbourCats finally got things going, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth to decrease the NorthPaws lead to a one run game.

The ‘Cats had a chance to tie the game or even take the lead in the eighth, but a great snag of a hard-hit line drive by the NorthPaws’ first baseman Nathan Gray, robbed Victoria’s Ryan Magdic of a sure RBI double. Gray then stepped first to force out baserunner Russell Young, ending the inning with a double play.

HarbourCats pitcher Tucker Christensen struck out three straight NorthPaws batters in the top of the ninth to keep the HarbourCats within a run.

The Challenger Baseball folks took to the diamond pre-game Sunday, to enjoy a fun day at the park.

The ‘Cats started off the bottom of the ninth strong with a single by Kai Gray, and then Bradden Kesey reached on an error by the Kamloops third baseman. Hometown player Ty Hall then laid down a beautiful bunt single to load the bases and set the stage for Shea, who laced the first pitch he saw to left centre field, scoring the tying and winning runs and sending the HarbourCats on to the field to celebrate the series sweeping victory.

The HarbourCats will look to extend their win streak on Monday as the Walla Walla Sweets come to town for the first of a three-game set. Both Monday and Tuesday have a 6:35 PM start time, while the Wednesday game goes at 11:00 AM for our annual School Spirit Game with Mayfair Optometric. Tickets for all games available at the gate or at harbourcats.com/tickets.

At Monday’s game, be sure to arrive early as the Greater Victoria Mixed Slo Pitch Association will be holding a home run derby prior to the game!

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Summer Collegiate

Arm injuries in pro and college baseball — NightOwls make organizational statement

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Heimueller has served as a minor league pitching coach and coordinator for many MLB organizations, most recently with the Padres. He has World Series rings for his work with the Twins and Phillies.

With the NightOwls, Gorm has enjoyed working with them all — but especially strong-command pitchers such as Nathan Buchan, Garrett Goodall, Jake Fleury and Josh Laukkanen.

“Gorm loves to say he’s never seen a ground ball leave the park,” said Swanson.

“We see athletes on our team and others using max effort rather than prioritizing strikes — that makes for longer games, too, another focus in baseball. If someone can throw 97, with healthy actions and commanding the baseball, that’s great — but few can and let’s stop turning our backs on pitchers who can get people out with pitch location as the priority.

“There is too much focus on radar gun ratings, on spin rate readouts, and Gorm and our coaching staff will be developing and rewarding pitchers who locate pitches and get batters out.”

The NightOwls are excited about the player roster for the coming season, and the mix of pitchers on the roster — different styles, to create different looks and get the 27 outs required to win games.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – 2024 Season Ticket Pick-up Event

Published

2 days ago

May 17, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

WE ARE BACK! 2024 Season Tickets Available for Pick-Up

May 17, 2024

We are inviting all season ticket holders, host families, and fans to join us for our annual “MAX MIXER” Season Ticket Holder Pick Up Event on Tuesday, May 28th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at MAX FURNITURE at 3460 Quadra St. in Victoria.

WHAT: Season Ticket Pick-Up and Pre-Season Mixer
WHERE: MAX FURNITURE – 3460 Quadra St.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 28th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Come meet your fellow fans, grab your season tickets, and mingle with HarbourCats staff and Harvey the HarbourCat as we kickoff the 2024 season.

There will be ticket and merchandise deals offered exclusively at the event.

NO RSVP required but if you have any questions, please contact the HarbourCats office at 778-265-0327.

If you can’t make the event, you can pick up your tickets at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street. Open M-F 9AM to 5PM, and Saturdays 10AM to 4PM.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats unveil new home uniform for the 2024 season

Published

3 days ago

May 16, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Jai Berezowski and Jalen Sami show off new Expos-inspired uniform for the 2024 season

May 16, 2024

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Familiar colours for a familiar Coach, as the HarbourCats unveil new uniforms

Our tribute to Head Coach Todd Haney, the 2023 WCL Coach of the Year, and his dedication to our organization and the City of Victoria, will be on full display — the former Montreal Expos infielder, and our Pitching Coach Scott Anderson, who was in the Expos organization as a minor league pitcher, are the inspiration behind our new HOME WHITE uniforms, which we think our fans will love, made possible by our incredible partners at Save-On-Foods!

Save-On-Foods

“We’re not sure that even Head Coach Haney realizes how much of the very fabric of our team he has come to represent, and we hope this small gesture comes close to giving back what he’s given to our fans, players and staff over the years” – Managing Partner Jim Swanson

Fans will have their first chance to view the new uniforms at the HarbourCats home opener this season, as we play the Wenatchee Applesox on June 7th.

Tickets are already going fast, so get yours today at HarbourCats.com/Tickets

The HarbourCats open on the road May 31 in Kamloops, the start of back-to-back series in Kamloops and Kelowna, before returning for the June 7 home opener against Wenatchee. The HarbourCats will be on the road this summer in Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee, Ridgefield, Port Angeles, Bellingham, and six games in Nanaimo against the Island-rival NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Teams visiting Victoria this year are Wenatchee, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Kelowna, Edmonton (two series), Kamloops and Corvallis, along with non-league games against the Redmond Dudes, Dub Sea Fish Sticks, the SIBL All-Stars, and Victoria Mavericks All-Stars.

The regular season runs until August 7, with WCL playoffs running from August 10 to August 16.

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 through our one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, 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.

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