Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats walk-off Riverhawks to sweep series

Published

1 year ago

August 2, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Tyrus Hall’s 12 game hit streak is the longest a HarbourCat has produced this season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

August 1, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – It wasn’t pretty, with ten combined errors between the two teams, but the Victoria HarbourCats walked off the Edmonton Riverhawks in the 11th inning to complete the sweep, winning 6-5.

The Cats and Hawks traded runs through the first few innings with Victoria on the board first with Cam Schneider (Fresno State) scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first inning.

The Riverhawks tied it up on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second before the Cats retook the lead in the bottom half when Gunner Antillon (Bowling Green) stole second drawing a throw, allowing Jake Vrlak (Miami-Ohio) to run home from third and score, making it 2-1 HarbourCats.

BOX SCORE

After Edmonton tied it up in the top of the third, Tyrus Hall (Bossier Parish) scored on a wild pitch to restore the lead. The shortstop extended his hit streak to 12 games with two hits.

Jake Finkelstein (Montana State) shut it down from there, pitching a season-high four innings and giving up one earned run on two hits while striking out three batters.

Jake Finkelstein has 28 strikeouts in 24 innings this season (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Victoria extended their lead to 5-2 in the fifth inning through an error which allowed two runs to score, one of six Riverhawks errors on the night.

WCL STANDINGS

Jacob Thompson (Minot State) was excellent in relief throwing three shutout innings striking out five while giving up just one hit.

Jalen Sami (Golden Tide) pitched a scoreless eighth inning but the Hawks did not go away quietly in the ninth. Royce Hale hit a solo home run to make it 5-3 then Kaden Zarowny hit an RBI double to cut the deficit to one. Flynn Ridley (Ottawa University) was one strike away from ending the game but Rex Watson found a hole up the middle driving home the tying run to force extra innings.

Ridley gave his team a chance to win pitching a strong 10th and 11th inning giving up zero runs while striking out three.

Debutant Ryan Deagle (Golden Tide), who pinch hit in the seventh inning, came to the plate in the 11th with the bases loaded and the chance to be a hero for his new team. He pulled through in an unconventional fashion, getting hit by a pitch to bring across the winning run.

Jake Vrlak reached base six times tonight (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

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It is now nine straight wins for the HarbourCats as they move closer to the North Division second-half leading Wenatchee AppleSox, sitting one game back. Tonight’s win could prove to be key for playoff implications as the Cats own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Riverhawks, having won five of nine games this season.

The HarbourCats head to Bellingham Friday for their last road series of the regular season. You can watch the games against the Bells at https://wcleague.watch.pixellot.tv/

The HarbourCats return home on Monday for the last three games of the season, opening a series against the defending WCL champion Corvallis Knights. Monday is the final fireworks night! All games are at 6:35 PM and you can get tickets at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Tuesday is Jersey off Our Backs Night and Wednesday is Fan Appreciation Night! You do not want to miss it!

REMINDER: If you have HarbourCats ticket vouchers of any kind, 10-game flex packs, or season ticket equivalent vouchers, all vouchers must be used for any of our remaining three home games. Should we make playoffs, vouchers are not eligible for any games no matter where they are played. You can exchange your vouchers in advance for game tickets at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Huge seventh inning powers Cats to win

Published

4 hours ago

August 3, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 2, 2025

For immediate release

PORT ANGELES, WA – The Victoria HarbourCats bounced back in a huge way Saturday night after a disappointing series opener, beating the Port Angeles Lefties 15-7.

The game was scoreless through the opening three innings as both starters were impressive early, with Lefties’ starter Kole Acker striking out six batters. Victoria got to the right-hander in the fourth inning when Isaiah Afework (TAMU-CC) grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 1-0.

BOX SCORE

The visitors increased their lead in the fifth when Garrett Brooks (St. Mary’s) drove home Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) with an RBI double. His college teammate Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) followed that up with an RBI single to push the score to 3-0.

Carson Burks (Hill College) has been a go-to pitcher for Todd Haney out of the bullpen, but tonight started just his second game of the campaign. The lefty produced a dominant performance, throwing a season-high five innings, giving up no runs on six hits, while striking out a pair.

He was replaced by Garrett Villa (Angelo State), who surrendered a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to Jack Edmunds to give Port Angeles their first run of the game, making it 3-1.

WCL STANDINGS

The HarbourCats blew the game wide open in the seventh scoring 11 runs in the frame, all with two outs. Jake Butler (George Mason) got things going with a two-run single that was followed up with back-to-back RBI singles from Afework and Dominic Biello (Golden Tide). The huge inning was highlighted by a Jack Johnson (Tulane U) three-run blast, his fifth home run of the season.

The Lefties scored three runs in the bottom half which made it a 14-4 lead for the Cats. Villa allowed four runs over two innings of work.

Victoria added a 15th run in the ninth inning through Biello’s second RBI single of the night.

Jalen Sami pitched the eighth and ninth innings and gave up three runs in the final frame but was able to close out the 15-7 victory for the HarbourCats.

Brooks reached base five times tonight to increase his team-leading on-base percentage to .543.

The series finale is tomorrow at 1:35 PM as your projected starter Marcus Janovsky (UBC) and the Cats look to win their final road game of the regular season.

There are only three home dates left this season for the HarbourCats. Monday is a BC Day doubleheader starting at 4:05 PM, followed by FIREWORKS presented by Joan Wallace Driving School. Tuesday is Jersey off our Backs night, where the baby blues will be given away thanks to Odlum Brown. The regular season wraps up Wednesday on Fan Appreciation Night, sponsored by Passion Sports.

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VOUCHER REMINDER: If you have any remaining vouchers, don’t forget to redeem them as they are only eligible for the remaining regular-season games. You can do so at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any questions or need help exchanging your vouchers, call the HarbourCats office at (778) 265 0327.

The HarbourCats are heading back to the playoffs! Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park will host at least one playoff game during the August 8-10 weekend. Seeding is still to be determined, with the second-half North Division title up for grabs and five games to go! For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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Summer Collegiate

Jacob Hayes becomes HR King in win over Kamloops

Published

15 hours ago

August 2, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — First baseman and WCL all-star Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific) hit his team-record ninth home run Friday to lead the Nanaimo NightOwls to a solid 6-2 victory over the visiting Kamloops NorthPaws in front of a raucous crowd at Serauxmen Stadium.

Hayes blasted a two-run shot to left in the fifth inning giving the NightOwls crucial runs, and moving him past former NightOwls all-star Wylie Waters for the team’s top spot in the key power category.

Nanaimo starter Brennan Kettle needed just 63 pitches to get through five innings, surrendering just four hits and one unearned run. Blake Hager went 2.2 innings with two hits and no runs, and Carter Chard-Hill ended it with 1.1 innings of solid relief.

Hayes and Owen Wessel were both 2-4 and Ryder Florence continued his impressive second half with three runs scored.

The NightOwls are playing their final regular season home games this long weekend, with Kamloops at Serauxmen for games Saturday (6:35pm) and Sunday (1pm). Tickets are available online, at the gate, or General Admission vouchers through Save On Foods.

The NightOwls complete their fourth WCL regular season with a road series in Bellingham, August 4-5-6.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats bats go cold in loss to Lefties

Published

1 day ago

August 2, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 1, 2025

For immediate release

PORT ANGELES, WA – The Port Angeles Lefties snapped the Victoria HarbourCats’ four-game winning streak with a 5-1 win Friday night.

Shea Lake (West Texas A&M) started for the Cats and has been dominant in recent weeks, but struggled tonight. A double, a single, and a walk loaded the bases for Ty Thomas, who drove home the first run of the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the first.

The Lefties added two more runs in the second, including a Garrett Patterson RBI double to make it 3-0 early.

BOX SCORE

Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) extended his hit streak to 10 games with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning, his fourth of the campaign.

Taylor Kirk’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth restored the home team’s three-run advantage, making it 4-1.

Lake’s evening was done after four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out a pair.

WCL STANDINGS

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Jeremy Giesegh drove home a run on a single, extending the lead to 5-1.

That fourth inning Nahaku home run was the only hit of the game for the HarbourCats, as Lefties’ starter Takuma Sato threw a complete game one-hitter, striking out 12 batters and only walking one.

Dillon Dibrell (Rogers State) and Jacob Thompson (Minot State) both pitched two innings of relief for Victoria, striking out three batters each.

The Cats will be hoping for a better performance tomorrow night as the two teams are back in action at 6:35 PM. You can watch the game HERE.

The Victoria HarbourCats only have three remaining home dates this season, including a doubleheader followed by FIREWORKS on Monday, August 4, with game one starting at 4:05 PM. Tuesday is Jersey off our Backs night, and Wednesday is Fan Appreciation night! Buy tickets at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any remaining vouchers, don’t forget to redeem them. You can do so at harbourcats.com/tickets, and if you have any questions or need help exchanging your vouchers, call the HarbourCats office at (778) 265 0327.

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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