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.

Source

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!

Source

June 10, 2025

For immediate release

NANAIMO, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls traded runs all game long until the hosts walked it off, winning the series opener 8-7.

The Cats got on the board first through a Logan Shepherd (Tacoma CC) opposite field two-run home run in the top of the first inning, his second of the season.

BOX SCORE

Andrew Carter (TCU) got the start for the visitors and was impressive through two innings of work. The Rancho Cucamonga, California native gave up zero runs on one hit while striking out four.

In the top of the third inning, Victoria doubled their advantage with another long ball. This time it was third basemen Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) with the two-run blast, giving his team a 4-0 lead.

WCL STANDINGS

The NightOwls cut that lead back down to two immediately in the bottom of the third when Andrew Ivy hit a two-run home run of his own.

The hosts blew this game wide open with a huge five-run inning in the fourth, giving Nanaimo a 7-4 lead. Nolan Bushko (ETBU) was charged with six runs over 1-1/3 innings in his third appearance of the season.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Jacob Silva (TCU) made his HarbourCats debut and made his mark, smacking a hard-hit ground ball through the first basemen, scoring a pair, cutting the Owls’ lead to one.

The Cats tied it up in the seventh when Shepherd lined a single up the third base line and aggressively took the turn to second, leading to an error and allowing Xander McAfee (Texas Arlington) to score.

Victoria’s bullpen was solid in the middle innings, allowing the offence to get them back into the game. Dillon Dibrell (Central Oklahoma), Jake Finkelstein (Georgia Gwinnett), and Jalen Sami combined for four shutout innings, with Dibrell going two and striking out five.

WATCH GAMES HERE

Jack Johnson (Baylor) was in scoring position in the top of the eighth with one out, but his teammates were unable to bring him home.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Easton Mould reached base on an error from Tanner Beltowski (Westmont College). Mould went first to third on a single by Drew Giannini and then scored the winning run on a Raoul Fabian Jr walk-off base hit.

The island rivals are back at it in Nanaimo on Wednesday at 6:35 PM. It is then a quick turnaround back to Victoria for Mayfair Optometric’s annual School Spirit Game on Thursday, June 12 at 11:00 AM.

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.

Source