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Victoria HarbourCats – Three returnees highlight first HarbourCats players signed for 2023 season

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(Above): Returning middle-infielder Hudson Shupe highlights a list of four players signed for the HarbourCats 2023 season.

November 3, 2022

VICTORIA, B.C. — Loyalty matters — and loyal fans of the Victoria HarbourCats will be happy with the first signed players for the 2023 West Coast League season.

Versatile infielder Hudson Shupe, catcher Russell Young, local pitcher/infielder Ryder Green and stocky lefty Jake Finkelstein, the only new player of the bunch, will be part of Head Coach Todd Haney’s attack when WCL baseball returns to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in June — with the potential home opener on Friday, June 2.

“Hudson and Russell were warriors for us last year, and it’s great to have them back and establish the culture we value in Victoria,” said Haney, who will lead the coaching staff for a third season, a HarbourCats longevity record. “Ryder came on and helped us late this last season, and Jake is the kind of southpaw that eats valuable innings in a competitive league like the WCL.”

Russell Young hitting his first career WCL home run in 2022 (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

Shupe, a middle infielder from West Richland, Washington and Seattle University was solid for the HarbourCats from start to finish in 2022, appearing in 38 regular season games and both playoff games and hitting a respectable .270 on the regular season. He also showed his versatility on the mound, pitching 13.1 innings and amassing an ERA of 4.05.

Productive and durable, Young, from Surrey and a Langley Blaze product, and with the HarbourCats from start to finish in 2023, hit .290 with two home runs (including a dramatic, game-winning, bottom of the eighth inning grand slam against Yakima last July 17) and 20 runs driven in over 29 regular season games.  He then went 5-7 in the two playoff games. Young is a former national junior team catcher who started his college career at Gonzaga, moved to Johnson County CC, and is now playing for Chris Pritchett at UBC.

Finkelstein is a 6-0/190 left-handed pitching product of Richmond, BC who moved from Spokane Falls CC to Montana State this fall, and has two years of summer experience with the Sylvan Lake Gulls of the Western Canada Baseball League, where in 2022 he had a 2-0 record and struck out 21 batters in 17 innings of work.

Green, a former HarbourCats batboy now with the Victoria Golden Tide (CCBC), joined the ‘Cats after completing his high school season with the Victoria Eagles. He appeared in non-league games, but also saw four innings in league action and was eligible for playoffs. He picked up a save in a win at Port Angeles. Green can play infield, outfield, and even catch — adding to his value.

Ryder Green, playing here this past fall for the Victoria Golden Tide, will be a useful utility player for the ‘Cats in 2023 (Photo Christian J. Stewart)

2023 Season Tickets
Season ticket renewals and new season ticket sales are now underway for 2023, the HarbourCats 10th season!  Lock in the best seats in the house by the end of November prior to single-game tickets going on sale. Contact chris@harbourcats.com or call the office at 778-265-0327 for details or to renew your existing seats!

2023 Flex-Packs
2023 10-Game and Season Ticket Equivalent Flex Pack vouchers are also now on sale! These can be purchased at the office in-person or by phone and can also be ordered on-line via The Cat Shop at https://victoria-harbourcats-official.myshopify.com/products/10-game-flex-pack-general-admission

2023 Single Game Tickets
The 2023 West Coast League schedule is currently in draft mode and a final schedule is anticipated in the next week or two. As such, we anticipate that single-game ticket sales for 2023 will be available in person and on-line in early December.

Stay tuned to all of our social media for updates and details as they become available.

Web: www.harbourcats.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harbourcats
Facebook Fan Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/harbourcats
Twitter: https://twitter.com/harbourcats
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harbourcats

 

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Summer Collegiate

The Bars Fall Short In The Series Finale

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NANAIMO, BC — It seemed to be Arrowsmith day at Serauxmen Stadium as the Nanaimo Bars lost the series finale 10-3 against the Wenatchee AppleSox. “Walk this way” for seven combined walks from the pitching staff.

It was not a good day for starting pitcher Moosa Nonomiya who just went 1.1 innings and gave up four runs.

Nanaimo was down four runs after the 1st inning and were never able to get back in the game. Despite a couple of good rallies in the 3rd and 4th innings the NightOwls were only able to muster one run in each.

There were a couple of bright spots on the offensive side of the ball for the Nanaimo NightOwls. 3rd basemen Drew Gianni, who was making his debut, went three for five with a run. He should provide a solid bat going forward.

Brady Morse, the native of Daville Kentucky, also had a decent day at the plate going two for four with and RBI and a run. Talan Zenk also went two for four and added a Stolen Base and RBI.

Tickets Here

There will be a quick day off Monday before the NightOwls host their island rivals, the Victoria HarbourCats, on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 10th and 11th, before heading back out on a 7-game road trip.

Tuesday is CrackerJack night, and also Italian night at the Ballpark. Our very own Pitcher Vinny Bruno will be cooking up his own special recipe! Make sure to get out to Serauxmen Stadium and cheer on your Nanaimo NightOwls.



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Victoria HarbourCats – Cats beat Lefties 6-1 to win series

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Tanner Beltowski reached base four times this afternoon (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

June 8, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats are back over .500, improving to 5-4 on the season with a 6-1 win against the Port Angeles Lefties on the first Family Fun Sunday of the season.

The Cats wasted no time this afternoon, scoring three runs in the first inning. Curtis McKay (Niagara) walked with the bases loaded, bringing in the first run. McKay was the last batter Lefties starter Cade Stuart faced, being replaced by Levi Arnold after Stuart surrendered three walks and a hit. Isaiah Afework (Tacoma CC) ripped the second pitch he saw from Arnold into left field for a two-run single, giving Victoria a 3-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Enrico “Big Papi” Carrion (Hawaii) made his fourth appearance of the season, getting the start behind the plate, and he proved his inclusion right, driving in a run with an RBI single in the third inning, his first of two hits, to make it 4-0.

Julian Orozco (Cal Baptist) got the start for the HarbourCats and was lights out. The right-hander struck out six batters over four scoreless innings, giving up two hits.

Julian Orozco struck out five of the first six batters he faced (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

BUY TICKETS HERE

Oliver Mabee (Nebraska Omaha) made his second appearance of the season, throwing two innings, giving up no runs on no hits and striking out a pair.

Three Cats singles to lead off the sixth inning loaded the bases, which put the pressure on Lefties pitcher Brad Johnson, who inherited the runners. He hit Xander McAfee (Texas Arlington) and then threw a wild pitch, which brought home two more runs for the home team, making it 6-0.

WCL STANDINGS

Carson Burks (Hill College), Marcus Janovsky (UBC), and Dustin Davidson (Brookhaven) pitched an inning of relief each for the Cats. Port Angeles tacked on one run in the eighth, but it was no more than a consolation.

The HarbourCats have the day off tomorrow before opening a three-game set against the Nanaimo NightOwls. Tuesday and Wednesday are in Nanaimo, but Thursday, June 12, is Mayfair Optometric’s Annual School Spirit Game in Victoria. First pitch is 11:00 AM and is guaranteed to be an incredible atmosphere.

The HarbourCats had 11 hits for the second straight game (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

WATCH GAME HERE

Missed the game? Catch HarbourCats in 30 airing at 10:30 PM after every home game all season long on CHEK TV.

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.

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Crazy 8s: Another eigth inning rally gives NorthPaws the win in Kelowna

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The Kamloops NorthPaws defeated the Kelowna Falcons on Saturday night at Elks Stadium 7-6, securing the series victory. It was another back-and-forth ball game that saw the NorthPaws score three in the eighth inning and hold on to win their second one-run game of the season.

Following a scoreless first where the NorthPaws left two men on base, third baseman Kieran Gaffney got hit by a pitch to lead off. Left fielder Cade Palkowski drove Gaffney in with a triple to left center field. Second baseman Joey Marino made it a 2-0 game by driving in Palkowski with a sacrifice fly. Kamloops made it 3-0 in the third courtesy of designated hitter Matthew MacDonald. The Kamloops native hit the NorthPaws first home run of the season.

The Falcons responded in the bottom of the third with a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. A single to right field scored a pair, making it a one-run game. Two batters later, Kelowna tied the game on a sacrifice fly.

The top of the fifth saw NorthPaws shortstop Elijah Clayton hit the team’s second triple of the night to lead off. Two pitches later, Clayton would score the go-ahead run off a wild pitch.

The back-and-forth battle would swing in favour of the Falcons in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game off back-to-back hits. Later in the inning, a strange situation would unfold as Falcons second baseman Zach Wieder was on third base. Righty Dylan Dekker was on the mound for Kamloops and saw Wieder break for home. Dekker threw the ball home, and the tag was applied. Initially, the Umpire ruled Wieder out at the plate, but the call was overruled because the third base umpire called Dekker for a balk, tying the game.

In the top of the eighth, first baseman Kalen Applefield and catcher Brendan Burke both reached base with third baseman Kieran Gaffney at the plate. Gaffney would get a hold of a 0-2 pitch and drive it to the gap in left-center field, scoring two runs. Cade Palkowski was up next and drove Gaffney in for the second time, making it 7-5.

“He had a big hit last night as well, and to see him do it again tonight was awesome; seeing our guys fight all night long is a great sign for us,” said Head Coach Reily Jepson.

The game would come down to the wire in the bottom of the ninth as righty Keith Manby came into the game with Falcons on second and third with no one out. Manby gave up a sacrifice fly, making it a 7-6 game, but shut the door, recording the final two outs and securing the series victory.

“That was massive for us. Keith was nails tonight. He did a great job,” said Pitching Coach Jack Slominski.

Although the NorthPaws improved to 6-2 on the season, the offence has struggled at times. However, tonight, the team finally saw its first home run and triple of the season.

“That’s been missing from our game early on, so it was nice to see tonight; those runs ignited our offence,” said Jepson.

After a pair of challenging games in Bellingham, the team has rattled off three wins in a row, and with more home games on the horizon, Jepson is excited.

“It’s nice for the guys to be able to sleep in their own beds and establish routines; it’s tough to do that when you’re on the road,” said Jepson.

The Falcons and NorthPaws will face off once again on Sunday afternoon at Norbrock Stadium. The first pitch is set for 12:05 pm, and you can watch the game on West Coast League TV.

 

 

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