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Victoria HarbourCats – Pirates invade Victoria for pair against Golden Tide

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Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

October 16, 2021, Victoria, BC – The Victoria Golden Tide entertained the Mid-Island Pirates on a beautiful fall day Saturday afternoon, with the teams splitting a doubleheader at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Victoria’s Jaxson Cordle hustles to first against the Pirates on Saturday.

In game one, the Pirates would score four runs in each of the second and third innings and then four more in the sixth to cruise to an easy 14-3 win over the Golden Tide.

Victoria catcher Andrew Baxter readies himself for a pitch in game one against the Pirates Saturday.

Nick Robinson was solid on the mound for the Pirates, holding the Tide to just one run and one hit in his four innings of work.  He would be supported by an offence that had five different players that scored two runs each.

Mid-Island’s Nick Robinson was solid over four innings in the Pirates 14-3 win over Victoria Saturday in game one.

Austin Wall heads to first after getting a base hit in game one Saturday.

Witt Nevins would be the offensive catalyst for the Golden Tide, with a pair of singles and two runs scored. Daniel Sawchyn would also walk twice and score the other Victoria run.

Victoria’s Witt Nevins gets caught in no man’s land as he was tagged out on this play at third Saturday.

Thomas Plant would have a first inning base hit in game two Saturday.

In game two, Victoria would rebound, having their own four-run inning in the bottom of the third and going on to a 6-2 win. The big hit in the third was a RBI triple from Brody Alexandre, his second of three hits on the day.  He would also score twice.

Victoria’s Jackson Leatherman delivers a pitch against the Pirates in game one Saturday.

The Tide’s Brody Alexandre would have three hits, including an RBI triple, and score two runs in the 6-2 win against the Pirates in game two Saturday.

Daniel Sawchyn would also be a spark in the leadoff spot having a walk, single and pair of runs scored.

Wyatt Mohr-Royer got the start in game two and would give up a pair of Pirate runs in the second on two hits, but some solid shutout relief work from Jayden Puri and Ethan Dean over the final five innings would keep the Pirates off the board the rest of the way and preserve the Golden tide win.

Jayden Puri was perfect in his two innings of relief in game two Saturday.

Mid-Island side-armer Jackson Marriot delivers a pitch against the Golden Tide Saturday.

Next up for the Golden Tide are the UBC Thunderbirds, Canada’s top college baseball program, who weather permitting, will stroll into Victoira on Sunday for a pair of nine-inning games.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm. Tickets are $5.00 and $10.00 and are available at the gate.  The streaming broadcast is also available for purchase for $7.50 and can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3kafv83r

Tide third baseman Ryder Green makes a play Saturday.

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls bring back all-star starter Mattix

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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.

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Local players and returning talent set for 2025 NightOwls duty

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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.

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Victoria HarbourCats – VISL, HarbourCats, NightOwls enter strategic partnership

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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.

 

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