Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Pelletier named GM of HarbourCats

Published

3 years ago

November 17, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

November 16, 2021

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League announce today that Curtis Pelletier has been elevated to the position of General Manager, effective immediately.

Jim Swanson, the GM for most of the history of the Capital’s baseball team’s existence, and a part of the ownership group, remains in the role of Managing Partner, along with GM of the first year Nanaimo NightOwls, which will debut in the WCL in 2022.

Pelletier will no longer be in uniform for the HarbourCats, under third-year Head Coach Todd Haney, as he has since 2018, but Pelletier will continue to be GM/Head Coach of the Victoria Golden Tide of the CCBC, a team that just completed a successful first fall session and will resume play in March.

“I’m excited and driven in taking on this role, and I know there is much more potential we can realize,” said Pelletier, 40, a former college and pro player who also spent time with the National Junior team. “I know the WCL, I know the Victoria market, and I believe in the vision of Jim and the ownership group. We have a great team in the front office and together we can accomplish even more for this community.”

Pelletier has lived in Victoria most of his life, and has roots even deeper now as he and wife Lindsay welcomed twin girls a month ago.

Pelletier, an associate scout for the Miami Marlins, will oversee operations with the HarbourCats, working alongside Swanson, and with Assistant GM Christian Stewart, Marketing Director John Pollard, and Creative/Digital Director Chris Beveridge. The work includes many aspects such as gameday planning, marketing, supporting the coaching staff and players, coordinating travel logistics, and leading the talented front office.

The move allows Swanson to give even more attention to the foundational needs of the new team in Nanaimo, though he will remain actively involved with the HarbourCats operation.

“We are fortunate to have such dedicated, loyal people, who share the vision and drive to not just maintain, but to grow our ability to have a positive impact in the community,” said Swanson. “Curtis has been with us four years and has led many areas of growth for the HarbourCats — the WCL team, the Golden Tide, the youth components and now our indoor facility, the Edwards Family Training Centre, as well. Curtis gets things done, and is a selfless leader people are drawn to.”

The HarbourCats return to play, following two years of pandemic restrictions, on May 31 at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP, against the Port Angeles Lefties. The schedule has been announced, however single game tickets and 2020/2021 ticket exchanges will not be ready to go until the HarbourCats ticketing system is updated and ready to go. This is anticipated in another week or two.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are on sale. Contact chris@harbourcats.com or call the office at 778-265-0327 for details.

Source

Summer Collegiate

NightOwls bring back all-star starter Mattix

Published

2 days ago

December 4, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

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.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Local players and returning talent set for 2025 NightOwls duty

Published

1 week ago

November 27, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

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.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – VISL, HarbourCats, NightOwls enter strategic partnership

Published

2 weeks ago

November 22, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

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.

Source