Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Team Black prevails in Game 1 of Golden Tide Intersquad World Series
Above: Team Black’s Zeke Holt celebrates scoring one of six runs in the second inning against Team Gold Wednesday.
Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
October 28, 2021, Victoria, BC – Team Black jumped out to an early 6-0 lead but then had to hang on for an exciting 14-13 win over Team Gold in Game 1 of the Victoria Golden Tide Inter-squad Wold Series on Wednesday afternoon at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria.
Team Black shortstop Brandon Green puts the tag on Team Gold baserunner Tyler Burton during this first inning rundown on Wednesday.
The World Series, the first for the inaugural year of Golden Tide baseball, pits Team Gold (coached by Ethan Fox) against Team Black (coached by Kyle Orr) in a best of three series. The winning team not only gets bragging rights, but will be awarded with a night in the Wilson’s Transportation Group suite at a Victoria Royals game.
Team Gold’s Brody Alexandre had two hits, a walk and two runs scored in the loss to Team Black Wednesday.
The Series is being played under some unique rules, designed to speed up game play and keep the games exciting, as due to other events scheduled in the evenings at the stadium, games have to be completed by 6:30pm.
As such, pitchers are required to pitch within 10 seconds and teams have to hustle on and off the field between innings. Any delays or infractions will warrant a warning from Head Coach Curtis Pelletier and if a team is notified a second time, a run is granted to their opponents.
Team Black left-handed slugger Ryan Deagle had two singles, a double a walk and two RBI to lead the Team Black offence Wednesday.
Batters are also not allowed to call time outs, or a strike will be called, catchers have pinch runners at all times and in all the even numbered innings, teams begin the inning with a runner on second base.
While there were a few warnings in Wednesday’s game, there were no penalty runs awarded under the rules, however the runner at second in the even innings had a dramatic impact on the game, with seven of those eight runners ultimately scoring.
Team Gold’s Daniel Sawchyn, here celebrating a score, would have three hits and two RBI to pace the Team Gold offence.
This aspect came into effect immediately Wednesday, as Team Black would jump on Gold starter Brady Wilson for six runs in the top of the second inning, thanks to five five consecutive base hits, one of which, by high schooler Ryan Deagle, scored Alex Mclauchlan, the special runner, with the first run of the game.
Team Black’s Brett Paterson would be credited with the win in relief on Wednesday.
Team Gold would get one of those runs back in the second, when special runner Brody Alexandre scored despite a 1-2-3 inning and then they would jump into a brief 7-6 lead in the third, when they finally got to Black starter Ethan Dean for six runs on the strength of six hits.
A three-run fourth inning, keyed by an RBI single from Jaxson Cordle, would put Team Black back in front 9-6 and they would extend that lead to 14-9 heading to the bottom of the eighth (the agreed upon final inning due to curfew).
Team Black’s Jaxson Cordle slides safely into second base ahead of the throw to Team Gold second baseman Myles Wall.
Team Gold would not go down without a fight however and after a pair of walks and singles from Parker Harris, Daniel Sawchyn and Alexandre, they had closed the gap to 14-13 with the tying run sitting on second base. Reliever Haldon Craig would not be fazed however and struck out Jordan Bond to end the game and preserve the crucial game one win.
Team Gold’s Will Podmoroff hustles to third base during action Wednesday against Team Black.
For Team Black at the plate, Parksville Royal product Deagle had a great night, slashing two singles, a double, two RBI and scoring twice. Zeke Holt also had a three hit night with two runs scored, while Cordle, Ryan Whelan and Witt Nevins all had RBI base hits.
On the hill, Dean was picked up with some solid middle-inning relief by Brett Paterson, who gets credit for the win, going three innings and surrendering two runs on one hit and two walks. Nate Major pitched the seventh and part of the eighth innings and Craig would get the save.
Team Gold’s Jayden Puri would provide four innings of solid relief in Wednesday’s game.
For Team Gold, Sawchyn would lead the offence with three hits, two RBI and a run scored, while Alexandre would chip in with two hits a walk and two runs scored. Tyler Burton was his usual instigator in the leadoff spot, with a single, walking three times and scoring twice, while Victoria Eagle product Ryder Green would single, walk and score three times in the losing effort.
Team Black’s Zeke Holt would make a valiant effort to catch this foul pop-up in Wednesday’s game.
On the mound, Wilson would pitch through the fourth, taking the loss. Jayden Puri would take over in relief, finishing the game and giving up five runs on five hits and three walks in his four innings of work.
Game two in the series was scheduled for 4:00 pm on Thursday afternoon, but has now been cancelled because of extreme rain and weather. It will now be played Friday at 4:00 pm. Game three then (if needed), would likely then be held Sunday afternoon, with a time to be determined.
Tam Gold’s Jordan Bond slides safely into second, ahead of the throw to Team Black second baseman Austin Gurney.
The Golden Tide will also be in action on Saturday for their last formal game of the fall season, when they take on the Ontario Giants at 3:00 pm at Wilson’s Group Stadium in a single nine-inning game. Tickets are available at the gate. That game will be preceded by a game at 12 noon between the HarbourCats Players Development Club and the Giants U16 club. That game is included with the ticket for the Tide game at 3:00pm.
Team Black catcher Andrew Baxter puts the tag on Team Gold’s Jordan Bond on this play at the plate Wednesday.
Victoria, B.C. – As the sun sets on an unforgettable 2026 HarbourCats season, it’s time to look back on the highlights and special moments of another great summer! From franchise records to the epic highs and lows of summer ball, the 2026 season was one to remember.
This season was abuzz from the very beginning, with the excitement of hosting the 2026 Showpass West Coast League All-Star Festival presented by Canadian Club looming on the horizon. The high expectations for the All-Star festivities as well as the announcement of former Toronto Blue Jay Kevin Pillar participating in the Home Run Derby brought an electric energy to Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park all season long.
Todd Haney returned for another year as head coach of the Cats, joined by Carson Myers, Zach Swanson, Troy Birtwistle, Angelo Loomis, Steve Sinclair, and Darius Opdam Bak to complete a well-rounded coaching staff.
After beginning the season on the road in Portland, the HarbourCats returned to Victoria for six straight games in front of the home crowd and picked up their first series win of the season with a 6-2 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks on June 4. In addition to being an important series decider, June 4 was the first Mayfair Optometric School Spirit Day this summer! The Cats clinched the series win in front of over 3,000 staff and students from schools across Greater Victoria. Another highlight of the opening homestand was the first of our ever-popular fireworks nights, which drew a crowd of nearly 3,000 fans.
As the HarbourCats battled their way through a month of June in which they held an even record of 11-11, certain standouts on the offensive side were beginning to emerge. UBC infielder and first-year HarbourCat David Krahn held a batting average of .353 with 30 hits and 17 RBI in the first full month of the season while crushing six home runs. Fellow infielder Matt Westley had a red-hot June as well, clipping along at a league-leading .374 average with 34 hits. Westley’s summer would unfortunately come to and end soon after this impressive stretch, with an injury sustained while hitting a homer against the Bend Elks cutting his time in Victoria short. Nevertheless, the George Mason product’s season batting average of .356 would remain the second-highest in the WCL until the end of the regular season.
While Victoria showed off a handful of stars at the plate, the real power spot of the team was on the mound. A lethal starting rotation all around was highlighted by Erik Rico and Jeremiah Arnett, a pair of right-handers who would not only both be named All-Stars, but also break the HarbourCats single-season strikeout record. Arnett’s 66 K’s on the season and Rico’s 64 put them at first and second respectively on the WCL leaderboard this year.
As mid-July rolled around in an already exciting season, the biggest event of the summer arrived. The 2026 Showpass West Coast League All-Star Festival presented by Canadian Club brought firepower from across the West Coast League to Victoria for an unforgettable showcase of talent.
The long-anticipated Home Run Derby took place on July 14, with the MLB Home Run Derby X rules bringing an exciting new challenge to the event. After a hard-fought competition, the Team HarbourCats squad comprised of Logan Shepherd, Michael Rodda, and Kevin Pillar won the day, with Shepherd delivering the winner homer to seal the deal.
The 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game took place the very next evening, putting the best talent in the WCL on display in a head-to-head matchup. Three Victoria HarbourCats appeared in the All-Star Game, with Erik Rico named as the starting pitcher for the North Division. Jeremiah Arnett would later enter the game in relief, and David Krahn played the entirety of the contest as an infielder.
These three ballplayers exemplified the qualities of an All-Star in every sense. Fresno State’s Erik Rico was an absolute nightmare for opposing pitchers this season with his aforementioned 64 strikeouts in just nine appearances across 2026, holding onto a 1.82 ERA through the end of the summer. Arnett was a lethal half of the Cats’ one-two punch on the mound, remaining cool as a cucumber no matter the situation and throwing more innings than any other pitcher in the West Coast League.
Finally, David Krahn performed at a superstar level all season. The Langley, B.C. native was as proficient as they come at getting on base, consistently occupying a leadoff spot for most of the season and boasting a .389 on-base percentage while leading the team in home runs. Alongside his offensive production, Krahn provided a crucial energy boost. His infectious enthusiasm and confidence all season long were appreciated by teammates, coaching staff, and fans alike.
As always, the fight for playoff position began to heat up coming out of the all-star break. The Cats put on a show in an explosive sweep of the Nanaimo NightOwls after the break, winning their sixth consecutive Island Cup in the process! After taking game one by a score of 5-2, Victoria lit up Nanaimo for 34 runs in the next two contests to finish off the series, scoring a season-high 18 in game three.
Another sweep against the Port Angeles Lefties at the end of July kept the postseason hopes alive for the HarbourCats, who were in the midst of a four-horse race for a playoff spot. Alas, the offence sputtered in a three-game loss streak to Bellingham, and Victoria fell tantalizingly short of the playoffs.
During the final home series of the season, three HarbourCats were honoured with the 2026 team awards. Jeremiah Arnett was an easy choice for Pitcher of the Year. The right-hander from Waco, Texas dominated on the mound for the Cats this year and was a critical piece of several wins throughout the season. Not only did he lead the league in strikeouts with 66, but he broke the single-season franchise record as well, surpassing the previous high of 62.
Speaking of record-breakers, 2026 HarbourCats Player of the Year David Krahn made history this summer as well. With nine home runs in his 42 games of action, Krahn became the new single-season record holder!
Finally, the Community Involvement Award went to relief pitcher and first-year HarbourCat Flynn Warren. All the way from Levin, New Zealand, Warren was a clutch member of the bullpen squad. The Hawaii Pacific arm made 11 appearances on the mound this year, highlighted by a four-inning scoreless outing to get the win and seal the sweep for Victoria.
Though the summer didn’t end on the highest of notes, the HarbourCats still put together a season to be proud of. Victoria’s showed proficiency at the plate consistently, finishing the season tied for fourth in the WCL in batting average and tied for second in home runs. The performance on the mound this year was also impressive, as the Cats led the West Coast League in strikeouts by a wide margin and allowing the second-least hits of any pitching staff. As is so often the case, the HarbourCats stood out with their trademark aggressive baserunning as Victoria’s 135 stolen bags in 52 games led the league.
With another HarbourCats season in the rear view mirror, we want to thank all of our incredible fans for bringing the energy and support to the ballpark this season. You are what makes HarbourCats baseball possible, and we’ll see you next summer at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park!
If you’re looking for more HarbourCats action, stay tuned to our website and socials! Season tickets as well as 12-game and 32-game flex packs will soon be available for the 2027 season, and we’re excited to see you at the park next year!
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats 2026 Year in Review
Victoria HarbourCats – Final Game of the Season Cancelled Due to Health Concerns
Victoria HarbourCats – SIBL All-Stars Win Exhibition Clash
-
Summer Collegiate7 days agoVictoria HarbourCats – Bells bust the ‘Cats in game one of crucial series
-
Summer Collegiate1 week ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Clinch Series Win Against Lefties
-
Summer Collegiate2 weeks ago
Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats Drop Series Opener to NorthPaws
-
Summer Collegiate2 weeks ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Paws Bounce Cats in Game Three
-
Summer Collegiate2 weeks ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Dominate NorthPaws 14-4
-
Summer Collegiate1 week ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Hold On in 6-5 Nail-Biter
-
Summer Collegiate4 days ago
Victoria HarbourCats – SIBL All-Stars Win Exhibition Clash
-
Summer Collegiate1 week ago
Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Send Lefties Packing with Series Sweep
You must be logged in to post a comment Login