Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Memories of Bate, Budget, etc
VICTORIA — The ghosts of the not-so-distant past will be returning to the hallowed grounds of Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park this spring, bringing back memories of small-diamond excellence of yesteryear.
The Victoria HarbourCats and the HarbourCats Foundation are proud to announce the Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase will take place on May 31, featuring two teams with designs on making their way to major events — the Sooke Loggers to the Canadian championship, and the Lacey A’s to the ISC World Championship in Minnesota later this summer.
Famed teams like Bate Construction, Budget, Payless, Royals and Traveler’s Inn have not been forgotten in these parts, when world-class windmill-style softball was the talk of the town in summer and filled the seats of the stadium at the corner of Caledonia and Vancouver with regularity. Who can stifle a smile when the name Stuffy McInnis comes up?
“This is an exciting event for us to add, and to salute the history of fastpitch in Victoria — as a former fastball player myself, I’m excited to see these games,” said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the HarbourCats.
The Sooke Loggers and Lacey A’s will face off in the Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase, on Saturday, May 31 — a doubleheader starting at 4pm and played on the field that the HarbourCats now call home, developing players who move on to the Major League Baseball level (seven in total since 2013, that number growing to as many as 10 with the MLB season a month away).
Many members of the Sooke Loggers are in the mix for ongoing Team Canada duty, including catcher Blake Hunter.
“Many of us grew up watching or hearing the stories about the games and the legends that competed at RAP but most of us were too young to have had the opportunity to play here,” said Hunter.
“To be given the opportunity to play here and add to the rich history of our game at RAP is something we will all embrace.”
Tickets for the event are already available HERE. The field will be adjusted for the pitching rubber and 60-ft basepaths.
Reggie Underwood
Many of the great fastpitch players of the past will be invited to the game to be introduced to the crowd prior to the first game. The HarbourCats were proud to sponsor the induction of late fastball star Dennis Eckert into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in October.
Following the Emery Electric Fastpitch Showcase, the Sooke Loggers and Lacey A’s will continue the weekend series on Sunday, June 1, with a doubleheader at Hyacinth Park, starting at 10am.
The HarbourCats will be opening their WCL baseball season on the road that weekend, returning for the home opener on Friday, June 6, against the Port Angeles Lefties, with tickets for that already available HERE.
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Alan Choo has seen a lot of home runs in his life — hundreds from his father, and now a healthy number off his own bat in college.
The son of former MLB all-star outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, a Korean product who hit 218 long balls in his 16-season career, Alan himself has now established himself as a power hitter in the college ranks.
Choo, currently at Orange Coast College, is tied for third in home runs in the CCCAA with nine, including two in a game on Tuesday. He is a legitimate draft prospect for this coming July!!
“I’m so pumped to play for the NightOwls,” said Alan Choo, who turns 21 at the end of this week. “I’ve only heard great things about the organization and coaching staff and the players’ futures that go through the NightOwls. I’m super excited for the summer!”
Choo, a lefty hitter who plays first base and DH, is close friends with returning catcher Clark Springs, who is in D1 baseball at UT-Arlington. Choo, who was born in Phoenix Arizona, is a sophomore and checks in at 6’1” and 225 lbs.
“This is a big signing for us, adding a feared lefty power bat to hit in the middle of the order with returning all-stars Jacob Hayes and Talan Zenk,” said Head Coach Cody Andreychuk. “We will have big bats and depth on our roster, and we think Alan will be a leader for us so we can bring a championship to Nanaimo.”
Choo the senior was an outstanding Major League hitter, starting his big league time as a Seattle Mariner in 2005, then moving on to Cleveland, Cincinnati and Texas, where he played his final season in 2020. He received MVP votes in 2010 and 2013 and went to the all-star game in 2018, representing the Rangers. In seven of his seasons, he hit 20 or more home runs. He also stole 157 bases in his career, with three 20-20 seasons.
Shin-Soo Choo is still involved in the game after retirement, now as a scout.
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