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Victoria HarbourCats – Local talent added to HarbourCats for 2023 season

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Victoria Golden Tide shortstop Brandon Green (5)  highlights list of six local players announced today for the HarbourCats 2023 roster. 

May 17, 2023

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The addition of local players who can contribute is a key part to contending as a West Coast League team and the latest confirmed signings by the Victoria HarbourCats is intended to do just that.

Three members of the CCBC’s Victoria Golden Tide, another from TRU in the CCBC, and two players developing stateside highlight the latest group, adding depth:

  • IF/RHP Brandon Green, Victoria Golden Tide CCBC (Sundre, Alta.)
  • RHP Darius Opdam Bak, Victoria Golden Tide CCBC (White Rock, BC)
  • RHP Tristan Bolger, Victoria Golden Tide CCBC (Victoria)
  • RHP Sam Jordan, TRU Wolfpack (Victoria)
  • OF Kai Gray, Trinidad State (Victoria)
  • OF Rei Kimura, College of Idaho (Victoria, international student from Japan)

Green is the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for the Tide, who have come on strong in the second half of the CCBC season, while Bolger, who saw some time with the HarbourCats in 2022, is showing promise as he transitions to full-time pitching duties under Head Coach Ethan Fox. Opdam Bak has earned opportunities as the Golden Tide closer in the second half of the season.

Golden Tide pitcher Tristan Bolger, a 2022 HarbourCat, returns in 2023 to provide support out of the bullpen (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Jordan is 5-1 in five starts with 36 strikeouts in 34 innings for TRU, graduating from the Victoria Eagles program. Kimura, a first-year player at College of Idaho, is a former Lambrick Park High School student who played PBL in Victoria, a Japanese exchange student who fell in love with the B.C. capital.

Gray, an ex-Eagle, is tearing it up at Trinidad State in Colorado, hitting .338 with 17 doubles and 11 home runs.

“We’re proud of the opportunities we’ve given to so many local players since 2013, and these guys add to others such as Ryder Green, Dawson Hurford, Owen Luchies and Ty Hall as island products who get to prove they can contribute for Todd Haney’s 2023 team,” said GM Christian Stewart.

SEE FULL 2023 (ANNOUNCED) ROSTER HERE

RHP Noah Takacs of Sacramento State, previously announced, won’t be joining the team due to an injury, and RHP/IF Brady Wilson of the Victoria Golden Tide has been released to play in the WCBL.

The HarbourCats celebrate their 10th Anniversary in 2023 and the season kicks off with the home opener against the Kamloops NorthPaws on Friday June 2, 2023.  Single game tickets for that game, all four fireworks nights, and the remainder of our 31 HarbourCats home games in 2023 are now on sale and can be purchased on-line through our one-and-only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at harbourcats.com/tickets.  They can also be purchased at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or at the Select Your Tickets box office at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.  Fans can also call 778-265-0327 to order over the phone.

2023 Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale.  For details on all ticketing options, including our special $10.00 Tuesdays, Forces Fridays and Save-on-Food Vouchers, please visit harbourcats.com/ticketinfo.

HOST FAMILIES!  The HarbourCats are in need of host families for 2023!  If you are interested, you can find more details HERE, or contact Cindy Kent, our Host Family Coordinator by e-mail at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.

 

 

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NorthPaws score nine unanswered run to stun the Apple Sox in extra innings

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The Kamloops NorthPaws were down 6-0 after the second inning and scored nine unanswered runs to defeat the Wenatchee Apple Sox 9-6 in game two on Wednesday night in extra innings. Kamloops would continue to chip away, scoring six runs between the eighth and tenth innings. Shortstop Drew Schmidt led the way offensively with four hits along with four RBIs.

On the mound, lefty Tyler Straily went five scoreless innings in relief, giving up just three hits and not walking a single batter. Rightys Keith Manby and Julio Garcia shut the door in the final four innings, securing the game two victory.

“The bullpen did a great job keeping us in the game. Offensively, we just stuck with it and put together great at-bats; it was cool to see,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson.

Kamloops sent JM Harduval out to start on the mound, and the righty had an effective 1-2-3 inning. The second inning was rocky; however, five hits and two walks gave the Apple Sox a 6-0 lead. Harduval was pulled, unable to record an out in the bottom of the second. Tyler Straily was the first out of the bullpen and recorded three outs to stop the bleeding before cruising to a brilliant five-inning performance.

“We needed innings out of someone in the bullpen tonight, and he was the guy for us tonight; he did a great job,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.

In the top of the third, the NorthPaws responded, starting with left fielder Connor Clark, who singled and reached third via an error in right field. Right fielder Jared Hall then singled, scoring Clark. In the fourth, catcher Brendan Burke, second baseman Elijah Clayton and Clarke all walked, loading the bases. Drew Schmidt was at the plate and doubled down the left field line, scoring Burke and Clayton, but Clark would be thrown out at home.

The game remained 6-3 for the Apple Sox as Straily went to work on the mound, keeping the NorthPaws within striking distance. In the eighth inning, Clark was back at the plate with Clayton on second and center fielder Ethan Kodama on first. Clark worked a walk to load the bases with one out bringing up fellow UT Tyler Patriot Drew Schmidt. The Northpaws shortstop once again delivered, sending a single into center field, scoring two more runs, making it a one-run game.

In the top of the ninth, Jared Hall led off with a single and advanced to second after first baseman Kieran Gaffney laid down a sacrifice bunt. Brendan Burke was next up, and he sent a single to right field, scoring Hall tying the game. The crowd couldn’t believe it.

Keith Manby took the mound for a third inning of work and retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts, sending the game to extra innings.
In the tenth, Clayton walked and stole second; Schmidt singled to right field and followed in Clayton’s footsteps, taking second base. Designated hitter Kalen Applefield was up next. He was hitless with a walk to that point, but he would deliver when it mattered most, sending a single to center field, scoring both runners, making it 8-6.

Jared Hall added another base hit and also stole second base. Kieran Gaffney poked a single through the right side, and Hall motored home, making it 9-6. A new right-handed pitcher from UT, Tyler Julio Garcia, was called upon for the save and delivered a 1-2-3 inning, stunning the Apple Sox.

The NorthPaws will have a chance to take the series on Thursday night before heading back home for their first three-game series at Norbrock Stadium.

 

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Victoria HarbourCats – Clyne’s big night leads Cats to blowout win

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June 11, 2025

For immediate release

NANAIMO, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats set season highs in hits and runs, beating the Nanaimo NightOwls 14-5, evening up the series.

For the second straight night, the Cats got on the board in the opening frame, this time through a Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) RBI infield single, making it 1-0. The NightOwls answered back right away in the bottom half when an Eli Watson double brought home two runs. The visitors then added a pair of their own in the top of the second to restore their one-run advantage. Owen Clyne (George Mason) hit an RBI single that was followed by a Jack Johnson (Baylor) sacrifice fly.

BOX SCORE

Robert Sanford (Paris JC) made his second start and third appearance of the season, going three innings, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out a pair.

The Cats added three more runs in the fourth inning, and it was the top of the order doing the damage once more. Clyne drove in two runs with a single and then came across to score on a Ross base hit.

WCL STANDINGS

In the fifth inning, Victoria tacked on five more runs to give them a resounding 11-2 lead. Clyne hit a two-run triple down the left field line, and Logan Shepherd (Tacoma CC) drove in a pair with a single. Clyne finished the night with four hits, two walks, five RBIs, and five runs scored.

Shepherd hit his third home run of the season and second in this series with a seventh-inning two-run blast, increasing the lead to 13-2. The sophomore is on a five-game hit streak with 10 hits and nine RBIs.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Ben Hewitt (Ottawa) threw back-to-back one-two-three innings in the fourth and fifth before Ethan McNish-Heider (Niagara) took over from there. He pitched 2-2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on one hit, but struggled with his control, walking five. Jacob Thompson (Minot State) wrapped up the game with 1-1/3 shutout innings.

Cayden Munster (Fresno State) made his Cats debut and went two for five, including an RBI single in the ninth. His Fresno State teammate Jett Ruby was also in the lineup for the first time this season and walked twice and scored a run. Jacob Silva (TCU) made his second straight start behind the plate and went three for five and drew a walk.

WATCH GAME HERE

The rubber match is tomorrow in Victoria at 11:00 AM. It is Mayfair Optometric’s annual School Spirit Game. Thousands of students will be in attendance to provide an incredible atmosphere. In last year’s game, the HarbourCats won on a walk-off single against the NightOwls.

Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats’ new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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Eight Claws > Seven Paws, OWLS WIN!

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NANAIMO, BC — What a fun day at Serauxmen Stadium for the 1142 in attendance to watch the Nanaimo NightOwls walk it off in style in the bottom of the 9th inning for a huge 8-7 win over the rival Victoria HarbourCats. After the HarbourCats jumped out to a four-nothing lead. The NightOwls stormed back in the third and fourth innings with 7 runs. Victoria would chip away and tie things up in the seventh inning.

That set us up for an exciting bottom of the 9th with the game tied at 7-7. Easton Mould was able to get on base thanks to an error from the HarbourCats, Drew Giannini was able to move him around the bases to third with a single before Raoul Fabian Jr. walked it off with a base hit to win it for the NightOwls.

On Cracker Jack and Italian night, the NightOwls were cooking on the field as they went off for 8 runs on 9 hits. The most important hit of the night was, of course, Fabian Jr., who went one for four with a walk, run, and stolen base.

Andrew Ivy brought the Nanaimo fans to their feet in the 3rd inning with a massive home run over the right field. Ivy had an impressive day going two for four with a HR, a single, a walk, and 2 RBI. He has started to gel out in centerfield since joining the team. Nanaimo product Easton Mould chipped in with 2 RBI and a run scored, while Nathan Davis, Alessandro Volpe, and Andre Nykoluk all chipped in with one RBI each.

Starting pitcher Aidan Boice went three innings, giving up four runs on six hits, but striking out four. The relievers did their job, giving up just 1 earned run on 2 hits to give the team a chance to win it late. Richtter Castillo was the winning pitcher for the Nanaimo NightOwls. He pitched 2 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts.

nanaimonightowls.com/tickets

The series continues Wednesday night against the Victoria HarbourCats before the series shifts back to Victoria for the last game of the series. Wednesday is NMBA Minor Sports Night at the ballpark, wear any minor sports jersey and score a FREE GIFT at the gate! It’s one way we can help encourage our future stars! First pitch goes at 6:35 so get there early!

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