Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Shwing Batter Group welcomes Somers to management team, promotes Cornett in Nanaimo

Published

10 months ago

July 18, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

July 18, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA and NANAIMO, B.C. — The company that oversees the two Vancouver Island teams in the West Coast League is excited to announce a key addition and some organizational changes — intended to strengthen the growth of baseball in the Nanaimo and Victoria markets.

Jim Swanson, the Managing Partner of Shwing Batter Investment Group, which owns the Nanaimo NightOwls and Victoria HarbourCats, is pleased to welcome ADRIAN SOMERS as Vice-President, Operations and Business, to support continued efforts and growth of the brands on the island.

At the same time, TINA CORNETT is being promoted to General Manager of the third-season Nanaimo NightOwls, a position Swanson has held since the team’s unveiling in March of 2020, and debut season of 2022. Cornett, a well-known baseball executive on the Island with leadership positions for more than a decade with provincial bodies, has more than proven her value in leading operations at historic Serauxmen Stadium and in the Nanaimo market.

Christian Stewart, a WCL veteran, remains as General Manager of the Victoria HarbourCats, overseeing the flagship operation that continues to set standards for family entertainment in BC’s capital city.

Chris Beveridge has seen his area grow — Creative Director, Online and Social Media for the company, and now also General Manager of the Edwards Family Training Centre.

Experienced media executive John Pollard continues as Marketing Director for the HarbourCats and NightOwls, while Kent Malpass continues as Concessions Director for the NightOwls, working closely with Tina Cornett.

“This is an exciting time, to grow our group and be set up for a busy off-season for both teams and ensure 2025 brings our best seasons yet,” said Swanson, who has led the HarbourCats since 2013. “We have strong people leading operations in both markets, with potential for growth, and adding Adrian provides further leadership and support.

“Tina has done a tremendous job of leading so much of the foundational start of the NightOwls in Nanaimo and is committed to growing that program in the community. I’m not sure where we would be without her efforts getting the NightOwls in the air since before the first pitch in 2022.”

Somers started in a corporate marketing role with the HarbourCats and NightOwls in March, also supporting the Edwards Family Training Centre (EFTC) and behind-the-scenes work with the Victoria Golden Tide (CCBC). The former president of the Victoria Mariners organization in the BC Premier Baseball League is a serial entrepreneur from the cutting-edge medical technology space. Adrian brings a deep customer focus, with the ability to quantify “what’s next” to the organization’s marketing and sponsorship campaigns, choosing to innovate rather than replicate.

“The foundation in both Victoria and Nanaimo is outstanding, but the potential for the future is endless with the core HarbourCats and NightOwls, the indoor facility, the Golden Tide, and our growing digital platforms,” said Somers, known to his friends as an ardent Red Sox and Packers fan. “The product on and off the field has been strong for years, that allows us to focus on growth opportunities for each of the four business units. That is why I am excited to join the management team.”

Somers can be reached at adrian@harbourcats.com or adrian@nanaimonightowls.com

For any media enquiries, contact Jim Swanson at 250-889-5204

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats to honour outgoing VicPD Chief Del Manak on July 30

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — He’s been our police chief for nearly 10 years, and at the end of August he’ll ride off into well-deserved retirement.

Before that, on July 30, the Victoria HarbourCats will give people a chance to say thank you with Salute to Del Manak & VicPDNight, with the Kamloops NorthPaws in town for a game at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

“Chief Manak — who doesn’t simply call him Del? — has become a friend to so many through his leadership, and he deserves a rousing thank you from us all,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats.

“We have had a strong partnership borne of a similar view of how to build this great community and make it better. Del has done a tremendous job.”

Manak was born and raised in Victoria and is in his 35th year of policing. He trained at the FBI National Academy Program and graduated from the Dalhousie University Police Leadership Program, and has a Master of Arts from Simon Fraser University in terrorism, risk and security studies.

He’s been appointed Member of the Order of Merit of police forces and had that advanced to Officer of the Order of Merit in 2024. He has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, the Police Exemplary Service medal, and this year the King Charles III Coronation medal.

“About the only thing we can fault him on — the New York Islanders, really, he cheers for them?” questioned Swanson.

Chief Manak will throw out the first pitch after having an opportunity to speak to fans and thank them for the support that has been so key in his success in leading VicPD.

Members of VicPD officers and staff will be on hand to show appreciation to their retiring boss and share their expertise with the crowd, including GVERT, Integrated Canine Service (ICS) and more.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. 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.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com. Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided. More details HERE

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Yamaguchi leads group of top hitters coming to Victoria

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 26, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Victoria HarbourCats, under veteran Head Coach Todd Haney, have been known for their exciting speed game, setting WCL stolen base and run records.

This summer, there looks to be more bash to complement that speed.

Haney, in his fifth season leading the HarbourCats, and sixth season with the organization overall, is proud to announce the signing of six more players for the summer of 2025 — five quality hitters and a key pitcher, the latter a Canadian in right-hander Logan Rumberg from George Mason who hails from Okotoks, Alberta.

Third baseman Sean Yamaguchi of Nevada-Reno is the biggest of the big bats added — this spring, the Hawaiian has been named Mountain West player of the week, and twice the Mountain West freshman of the week.

IF Sean Yamaguchi, Nevada-Reno, R/R, 5-9/205, Aiea, Hawaii
C Dillon Lopez, St. Mary’s, R/R, 5-11/200, San Antonio, TX
OF Garrett Brooks, St. Mary’s, L/L, 6-0/200, Spring Branch, TX
OF Bobby Filler, Niagara, R/R, 6-0/187, Philadelphia
OF Jacob Doyle, Nevada-Reno, R/R, 6-7/225, Sparks, NV
RHP Logan Rumberg, George Mason, R/R, 5-11/175, Okotoks, AB

The stocky, powerful Yamaguchi has 10 home runs and 33runs driven in, in his first 34 games played, a key part of the Wolf Pack offence. He’s batting .333.

Teammate Doyle is a rather large outfielder at 6-7, in his sophomore season — and has nine home runs as well, hitting .269 and fast for his size, stealing five bases. He had a 10-game hitting streak which included 10 RBIs and a .378 average.

Rumberg is a junior who has made 50 career appearances including 11 starts for George Mason in his career. He threw to former HarbourCats catcher Connor Dykstra at George Mason the previous two spring’s — Dykstra is now in single-A with the Seattle Mariners, playing for the Modesto Nuts.

Lopez is a catcher at St. Mary’s in Texas, hitting .330 with four home runs and 13 extra-base hits with 15 runs driven in. Teammate Brooks is an outfielder who is smashing the ball this spring, .351 with 10 bombs and 44 RBIs in 46 starts.

Filler is a freshman outfielder from Niagara whose hometown is Philadelphia. He’s a former Perfect Game player from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy before landing at Niagara.

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

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Chase makes eight! Meidroth recalled by Chicago

Published

3 weeks ago

April 11, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

For immediate release

April 11, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — In 10 seasons of play, it’s now eight Major League Baseball players produced — not too shabby.

The Victoria HarbourCats are proud to announce that the Chicago White Sox have recalled infielder Chase Meidroth, and he will make his MLB debut at second base tonight against the team that drafted him, the Boston Red Sox.

Meidroth was placed with the HarbourCats in 2019 by Head Coach Rich Hill, then at the University of San Diego (now at Hawaii), and starred for the Cats at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP under HarbourCats Head Coach Todd Haney, himself a former MLB player.

Meidroth joins Nick Pivetta (Philadelphia/Boston/San Diego), Andrew Vaughn (Chicago White Sox), Alex DeGoti (Houston), Nathan Lukes (Toronto), Cade Smith (Cleveland), Davis Wendzel (Texas) and Jack Neely (Chicago Cubs) as MLB players who have come through the Victoria program.

That Pivetta was the first HarbourCat in the majors was pure poetry — he threw the first pitch in HarbourCats history in 2013, and is a Victoria product and former PBL Victoria Eagles pitcher.

With Vaughn and Meidroth together, this will be the first time two HarbourCats have been on the same team at the MLB level — and they may even bat next to each other in the lineup over the coming days.

With the HarbourCats, Meidroth was a star defensively at shortstop, and was near impossible to keep off the bases — he hit a whopping .424, a .494 on-base percentage, with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 13 RBIs and eight stolen bases. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB draft after his junior season at USD.

Meidroth is just 23, with a whole career ahead of him. He’s considered an excellent contact hitter with MLB power potential, and had a big year at AAA in the Boston system last year before being a key part of a major trade between the two Sox teams. He’s hit 38 home runs across all levels, batting .304 with 54 stolen bases.

“Chase was tremendous for us — so strong at short, and an impact bat in helping that 2019 team reach the WCL final,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “We are so proud of him — and all our players who go pro, and of course the eight now who have made it to the MLB level.”

Vaughn is the top bat with the White Sox after being the third-overall MLB draft pick in 2019, fast-tracked to the MLB level. Smith, Wendzel (now at AAA in the Reds organization) and Neely made their MLB debuts in 2024, and Lukes, the 2014 HarbourCats player of the year, is fast becoming a regular in the outfield with the Blue Jays. DeGoti saw time with the Astros during the covid season and is now at AAA in the Rangers organization.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

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