Connect with us

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – NightOwls take advantage of HarbourCats errors, win 7-4

Published

on

Manny and Juliana Ramirez threw out the ceremonial first pitch to their sons Manny Jr. and Lucas (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Nanaimo NightOwls win the first of nine games this season against the Victoria HarbourCats, coming from behind to win 7-4.

The HarbourCats jumped on NightOwls starter Nathan Buchan early, loading the bases in the second inning. It was a dropped third strike with two outs that brought the first run of the game home for the Cats.

After loading the bases again in the third inning, designated hitter Aric Anderson (Rice University) hit a rocket off the glove of the NightOwls first baseman to drive in two runs, making it 3-0.

BOX SCORE

HarbourCats pitcher Ryne Palmer joins the pregame challenger baseball action (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

HarbourCats right-hander Shea Lake (Hawaii Pacific) was in control early. He retired the first 10 batters to start the game before getting into trouble in the fourth. Four straight hits followed and it was a tie ballgame 3-3. It was a similar story for Lake in his first outing of the season in Kelowna, where he pitched three scoreless innings before giving up three runs in the fourth. The native of Temecula, California finished today’s contest giving up three runs in four innings, striking out four.

Second-year HarbourCat Jake Finkelstein (Montana State) pitched two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

Brooks Brewster (Panola College) gave up a home run to the first batter he faced in the seventh, centre fielder Deshon Thomas, to give the Owls their first lead. Brewster bounced back to get out of the inning, striking out two.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

The lead did not last long as Camden Sos (TCU) extended his hit streak to six games with an RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh, tying up the game 4-4.

The NightOwls took advantage of a costly Tyrus Hall (Bossier Parrish) error to break the game wide open in the eighth inning. With two outs, what should have been an inning-ending play, Hall threw wide of his first baseman and allowed a run to score. The next pitch was a two-run single and the score was 7-4 Owls just like that.

Shea Lake started his second game of the season (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

HarbourCats 2023 Pitcher-of-the-Year Logan MacNiel made his season debut, striking out one batter. Kade Douglas (CSU Pueblo) pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two.

Ryan Inouye closed out the game for the NightOwls in the ninth to give his team the victory.

The series continues tomorrow night in Nanaimo before returning to Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park on Thursday, June 13. Thursday is Mayfair Optometric’s annual School Spirit Day which will see over 3000 students from over 20 local schools attend the game. The first pitch is at 11:00 AM. This game is sold out other than standing-room general admission tickets, which can still be purchased.

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce direct links to a DOWNLOADABLE SCHEDULE that will work on your iPhone or tablet, your Google calendar, or your Android device. Click HERE to access the calendars! Contact zach@harbourcats.com if you have any problems downloading the calendar to your device.

Source

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – West Coast League meetings to be held in Victoria

Published

on

October 6, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — The capital city of British Columbia will become the centre of the West Coast League (WCL) for two days in October.

The 2025 WCL Fall Meetings, featuring a gathering of team owners/directors, will be held in Victoria, October 20-21. This marks the first time the meetings, often staged near a major U.S. airport (Seattle or Portland) for travel and logistics reasons, have been held in Canada since the formation of the collegiate elite baseball league that evolved from a gathering in Kelowna in 2003, with the Kelowna Falcons as one of the founding members — and the lone Canadian entry until the HarbourCats were founded.

Five of the league’s 17 teams now are located in Canada — in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops and Edmonton. Kamloops, Nanaimo and Edmonton all started play in 2022.

The HarbourCats, who joined the WCL for the 2013 season and have watched as eight former players have advanced to the MLB level, will also welcome the league to Victoria in July of 2026 and 2027 when the organization plays host to the WCL All-Star Game festival for consecutive seasons, showcasing Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. The all-star game was held in Bellingham the last two summers.

“The inner harbour in fall will be a fantastic setting for these meetings, just as it will be for events around the WCL All-Star Game next July,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that operates both the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls.

Topics expected to be discussed are the finalization of the league’s 2026 schedule, WCL marketing initiatives, and ways to improve best practices around player, coach and umpire development — the keystone goal of the WCL.

“I’m incredibly excited to visit Victoria for our fall meetings,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “The city’s rich baseball history and beautiful scenery will provide the perfect backdrop for our teams to discuss the future of the League in one of my favorite WCL markets.”

Season ticket memberships and 12-game flex packs are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Lock in your season tickets today to get first right of refusal on your seats for the 2026 WCL All-Star game that will be played here in Victoria.

Season tickets, 12-packs and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-4pm.

 

 

Source

Continue Reading

Summer Collegiate

All-Stars Hayes and Zenk returning to Owls in 2026

Published

on

NANAIMO, B.C. — They put on a show for fans at historic Serauxmen Stadium, and they got better as the summer went on.

Talan Zenk (Everett CC) and Jacob Hayes (Azusa Pacific), two West Coast League all-stars in 2025, are returning to the Nanaimo NightOwls next summer — the priority first signings by Head Coach Cody Andreychuk and GM Tina Cornett.

“These two players really enjoyed performing in front of WCL fans, and especially our great fans in Nanaimo,” said Andreychuk, the local product who will enter his second season as the NightOwls’ head coach. “They developed, and they got a chance to be leaders. We are proud of how they represented us at the all-star game and we are very happy they are eager to be in Nanaimo again. These are great young men who represent their schools and families so well.”

Zenk, who was the ultimate utility player by serving in both the infield and outfield, was a spark plug at the top of the order — he hit .289 with 10 stolen bases, four home runs, seven doubles and two triples. The 19-year-old from Brier, WA, had a .853 OPS.

Hayes is without a question the best power hitter the NightOwls have ever had in blue and gold, following up a 19-bomb spring at college by hitting 10 home runs (team record) in 49 WCL games, batting .250 with 44 hits, 30 walks and 39 runs driven in, all while playing nearly every game at first base. The 20-year-old from Anacortes, WA is entering his sophomore season at Azusa Pacific. He was the NightOwls player of the year in 2025.

SEASON TICKETS — The best seats can be secured now! Email tina@nanaimonightowls.com to lock in your 2026 NightOwls season tickets, with versatile fan-friendly flex options to see the best baseball on Vancouver Island. The NightOwls enter their fifth season in the WCL and have had a player selected in the MLB draft each of the last three seasons.

Source

Continue Reading

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Fall Indoor Youth Training Sessions Now Available!

Published

on

Sessions begin September 30th (softball) and October 4th (baseball). Register NOW!

The Victoria HarbourCats and the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) are now taking individual bookings for our Fall 2025 indoor training sessions for both baseball and softball.

The “Offseason Academy“, presented by The EFTC, is designed to keep athletes sharp, confident, and improving long after the final game of summer. Built for youth players who want to stay ahead of the competition, our Academy focuses not only on technical skill development but also on the physical conditioning that keeps athletes strong and game-ready.

With a lineup of specialized camps in areas such as hitting, analytics, and fastball skills, athletes can train with experienced coaches, benefit from professional-level technology like HitTrax, and build the habits that matter most during the offseason.

All sessions take place in the same professional training facility used by the HarbourCats and Victoria Golden Tide, giving players access to a proven environment for growth and performance.

2025 Fall Sessions Include:

Baseball, Advance Hitting Analytics, $159, Saturdays, 1:15-3:15, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-17
The Advanced HitTrax Analytics Hitting Camp is built for serious baseball athletes aged 12–17 who want to take a deeper dive into the analytics behind their swing. Led by Dexter Stoiber from the Victoria Golden Tide collegiate roster, this camp goes beyond basic mechanics to show players how to interpret advanced hitting data, identify areas for improvement, and make the small tweaks that translate into real results on the field. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, Foundations and Futures, $299, Saturdays, 9:00am- 1:00pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 8-11
Foundations & Futures” is a high-energy baseball camp for players aged 8–11. This camp delivers professional-grade instruction in a dynamic, fun environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and carry your skills into next season. REGISTER HERE

Baseball, High Performance Prep, $225, Saturdays, 3:30-6:30pm, October 4 thru November 22. Ages 12-15.
High Performance Prep” is designed for players aged 12–15 who are ready to refine their skills and maintain peak form after summer. This camp delivers advanced instruction in a focused, competitive environment. It’s time to Train With Your Claws Out and prepare for the season ahead. REGISTER HERE

Fastball / Softball, Offseason Advantage, $199, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5-7pm, September 30 thru October 29. Ages 12-17
The Softball / Fastball Skills Camp is built for athletes aged 12–17 who want to strengthen every part of their game during the offseason. With trusted instruction from Maddie Kumala, one of the most respected coaches and players in the fastball community, this camp provides parents with the peace of mind that their athlete is learning in a structured, professional, and supportive environment. REGISTER HERE

There are limited spaces in each camp so don’t delay. Register NOW!

Source

Continue Reading

Trending