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Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats win game one in thrilling fashion

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The historic Serauxmen Stadium was rocking tonight for the first game of the playoffs (Photo: Justin P. Morash) 

August 10, 2024

For immediate release

NANAIMO, B.C. – It was a special atmosphere at Serauxmen Stadium for game one of the first-round series where the Victoria HarbourCats sent their fans home happy with a 4-2 walk-off win against the Wenatchee AppleSox.

Todd Haney turned to his All-Star pitcher Carson Cormier (TCU) to start the opener and the big right-hander did not disappoint. Cormier, who was named HarbourCats Pitcher-of-the-Year on Wednesday, struck out the first six batters of the game. After four innings and 74 pitches his night was done, striking out eight AppleSox giving up zero runs and two hits.

Wenatchee starter Garrett Ahern matched Cormier’s excellence early, striking out four batters over two scoreless innings to begin the game. The first run of the ballgame came in the bottom of the third inning when Jake Vrlak (Miami-Ohio) scored on a Gunner Antillon (Bowling Green) RBI groundout, giving the Cats a 1-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Carson Cormier’s eight strikeouts was a season-high (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Flynn Ridley took over for Cormier in the fifth inning and the junior from Ottawa University continued his late-season dominance. Ridley pitched three scoreless innings of relief giving up three hits and striking out two. Ridley’s most important pitch came in the top of the sixth inducing a groundball for an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play when the Sox were threatening with runners on the corners.

Michael Crossland (UC San Diego) led off the bottom of the sixth with a double but Ahern looked to be escaping the threat retiring the next two Cats. After fouling off four pitches, Kamana Nahaku (University of Hawaii) smashed a ball through a hole in the infield for a single scoring Crossland and doubling Victoria’s lead, making it 2-0.

Jack Finn (Illinois State) began the eighth on the mound for the Cats but walked one and hit another and was replaced by Haldon Craig (Doane University). Craig, making just his second HarbourCats appearance, was blowing his low-mid 90’s fastball by batters recording two strikeouts in the inning. He was one strike away from stranding the runners, but Jake Larson hit a single past the diving Cam Schneider (Fresno State), scoring two runs tying the game at 2-2 and silencing the home crowd.

The AppleSox loaded the bases against Craig in the ninth but the flamethrowing right-hander struck out Evan Cloyd to give his teammates the chance to walk it off in the bottom half.

Flynn Ridley has thrown 14-1/3 shutout innings in a row (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

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After a walk and two strikeouts, the stage was set for Kerim Orucevic (UC San Diego) to be a hero. The lefty took the first pitch he saw and hit it over the fence in right field winning the game for the HarbourCats.

It’s not the first time this season Orucevic has come up with a clutch hit late with his only other long ball in 2024 being a two-out ninth- inning game-tying home run in Ridgefield back in July.

Over 1000 fans were in attendance with many making the drive up to Nanaimo to support their team, proving once again that Victoria has the best fans in the West Coast League.

The HarbourCats are one win away from advancing to the next round and that game is Sunday at 6:35 PM in Wenatchee.

Victoria HarbourCats 2025 Season Tickets are now available! If you have been loving HarbourCats baseball, lock in your existing seats, or purchase new seats by our Early Bird Deadline of September 30th to secure seats at 2024 pricing. Stop in at the office or contact Christian by email at Chris@harbourcats.com for details.

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls bring back all-star starter Mattix

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One of the best pitchers in the West Coast League is returning to The Nest.

All-star Adison Mattix will be back for a third season with the Nanaimo NightOwls. The right-hander from Everett CC made a team-high 10 starts in 2024 and was the only player from the NWAC college baseball conference to be named to the WCL all-star game, where he helped the North Division to victory.

 

The happiest person with this news is legendary NightOwls pitching coach Gorm Heimueller — and Heimueller’s presence on the staff of new head coach Cody Andreychuk is a major reason Mattix will be spending a third summer with the program in Nanaimo.

Mattix, a power right-hander at 6-4/200, was 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41.1 innings in 2024. He gave up just 30 hits and two doubles. He was a reliever, making nine appearances, in 2023, striking out 15 batters in 16 innings.

 

The highlight start in 2024 was an 11-strikeout effort over six innings in a 8-1 home win vs. Kamloops on June 25, that made him the league leader in strikeouts at that point. He gave up three hits and no walks or runs.

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Local players and returning talent set for 2025 NightOwls duty

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Five names, all familiar to local baseball fans.

Head Coach Cody Andreychuk, a local product entering his first year at the helm of the Nanaimo NightOwls, is pleased to announce the signing of five players for the 2025 duty. Three are returnees from the 2024 squad, two are Mid-Island Pirates graduates.

 

All five players are at the junior college level, with previous announcements featuring mostly NCAA D1 scholarship athletes.

Nonomiya, from Japan but whose mom is Pakistani, recently was the starting pitcher and hit a home run for Pakistan to win the final of the Arabic region tournament. In the summer of 2024, he made seven appearances as a pitcher — three of those as the starter.

 

Florence, as a graduating high school player, saw action in 25 games last summer and drove in seven runs, playing strong defence. Known for his big arm from the left side of the infield, and an instinctual baserunner, he was an offensive catalyst in high school and has carried that to Scottsdale.

 

Carmichael, a Swiss Army Knife for the NightOwls in 2024, is being used primarily as a right-handed reliever at ELAC this season, but can still play nearly every position and run the bases, providing a hard-throwing bullpen option for pitching coach Gorm Heimueller, and giving Andreychuk the ability to make moves in the last half of the game. Carmichael has the nickname ‘Cowboy’ because he has competed in junior NFR events — and is a real glue guy with teammates. Carmichael made five pitching appearances in 2024, and batted .195 with a couple of doubles and three stolen bases in limited action.

 

Cathers spent time with the Canadian national junior team and the power hitting outfielder has made a good first impression at Cloud County.

 

Laukkanen, whose brother Josh was on the inaugural NightOwls team in 2022, was with the NightOwls for a few days in 2024 prior to setting foot on a college campus. Lucas left the team to stay at a lower level with less competition for playing time. Lucas has plans on being starting shortstop this spring at Cloud County.

 

Both Cathers and Laukkanen played in the Futures Showcase put on by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

 

Season tickets and 10pks are available now by emailing GM Tina Cornett, tina@nanaimonightowls.com, and tickets and merchandise make great Christmas gifts — nanaimonightowls.com to find the Team Shop.

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Victoria HarbourCats – VISL, HarbourCats, NightOwls enter strategic partnership

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2024

VICTORIA, B.C. — 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 (VISL), 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.

“The atmosphere at HarbourCats and NightOwls games showcase the top fan engagement on the Island, a true gathering point in our communities,” said VISL Executive Director Vince Greco.

“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.”

Watch for VISL events to recognize the work of the HarbourCats and NightOwls, and feature baseball games to celebrate the success of the VISL.

For more information on the VISL and their programs and offerings, please visit their website HERE.

The HarbourCats 2025 schedule has now been announced!  DETAILS HERE

Single-game tickets and 10-game flex pack voucher renewals are NOT YET AVAILABLE, but will be once the ticketing system is set up for the 2025 season.  We will announce this when ready!

Season tickets and 10- game flex packs ARE available for sale by dropping in to the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or calling 778-265-0327.

Existing Season Ticket holders are encouraged, if they have not already done so, to renew their seats as soon as possible so as to lock in their seats for what is going to be another great season of HarbourCats Baseball.

 

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