Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Tidal Wave Wipes Out Dinosaurs
Golden Tide victorious in first game at CCBC Fall Championships
Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
October 8, 2021, Kelowna, BC – Brady Wilson pitched a complete-game three-hitter and four different player had multi-hit games, as the Victoria Golden Tide defeated the University of Calgary Dino’s 10-1 Friday evening in the first game for both teams at the Canadian College Baseball Conference Fall Championships at Elks Field in Kelowna.
Brady Wilson was stellar on the mound Friday, throwing a 7-innng complete game three-hitter against Calgary, striking out eight and walking just two.
Wilson was simply spectacular on the night, facing the minimum number of 12 batters through the first four innings. He did give up his first hit in the third inning, but then promptly picked the runner off first to keep that inning clean.
Brendan Morrison had three hits, including a three-RBI double to lead the Tide in their 10-1 win over Calgary on Friday.
The only other inning that Wilson allowed any base runners is when Calgary scored their only run in the fifth and again in the seventh when they loaded the bases, but could not score.
In the end, Wilson allowed the one Calgary run on just the three hits, while walking two and striking out eight.
The Tide’s Austin Gurney, who reached base four times Friday, is congratulated after scoring one of his two runs against Calgary.
Wilson got all the offensive support he would need when the Tide took advantage of a shaky Calgary starter Ethan Bromley, and exploded for five hits and five runs in the top of the second inning.
Bryce Carroll would get the Tide scoring started with an RBI on an infield single, and that would be followed by another run when Will Podmoroff reached on an error and then two more on an Alex MacLauchlan two-RBI single. Brady Alexandre would then cap the inning off with an infield single of his own.
Alex MacLauchlin would have a pair of hits, a walk and two RBI in the 10-1 win over Calgary on Friday.
The Tide would add four more runs in the top the fourth, the big blow being a bases loaded double by Brendan Morrison that would score three and put the game out of reach.
Tide shortstop Brandon Green makes a play against Calgary Friday.
Morrison would be the hitting star for the Tide on the night, finishing with three hits and three RBI to lead the 10-hit attack. MacLauchlan, Austin Gurney and Alexandre would also have two-hit evenings and score a pair of runs each, while Gurney also walked twice to reach base on all four of his plate appearances.
Brody Alexandre strokes one of his two hits against Calgary on Friday night. He would also finish with a pair of RBI and runs scored.
Next up for the Tide are the University of Fraser Valley Cascades, in a Saturday morning game at 9:00 am. The Tide and UFV played recently in Victoria in a lively series that saw the Cascades win game one and the second game end in a 5-5 tie.
The Tide’s Brandon Green slides safely into second ahead of the throw to Dino’s shortstop Marcus Coderre (26)
After that, the Tide face Thompson Rivers at 9:15 am Sunday and then hope to finish first or second in their pool and play in the semi-finals later that day.
In other CCBC action Friday, UFV defeated TRU 8-0, while Edmonton Collegiate defeated Vancouver Island 1-0. Okanagan College was leading the Prairie Baseball Academy 5-4 in the sixth inning of their game in progress at press time.
Tide catcher Bryce Carroll (left) congratulates pitcher Brady Wilson at the end of Friday’s 10-1 win over Calgary.
Nine from Victoria, including Golden Tide standouts, lined up for WCL season
January 6, 2022
For Immediate Release
VICTORIA, B.C. –– There’s a lot of baseball talent in the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
The Victoria HarbourCats are pleased to announce the first nine signings — yep, a full lineup, from Victoria — for the 2022 West Coast League season, and all have strong Victoria roots.
The players range from NCAA Division-1 players to those who showed their skills and work ethic with the Victoria Golden Tide, the new Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) team that plays out of Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.
Tide pitcher Haldon Craig will join the HarbourCats in 2022 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
“Developing local talent from the ground up has been my goal since I came on board with the HarbourCats in 2018,” said Curtis Pelletier, the team GM who was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for four years with the HarbourCats and is also the Head Coach of the Golden Tide. “The kids in the stands all hope to wear the HC one day and we’re making that a reality now. We have put together a phenomenal group of coaches to train the Golden Tide and Players Club athletes with the goal of signing them to the HarbourCats. Get used to seeing local players on the field here in the summer as there is some serious talent coming through our programs.”
Golden Tide’s Daniel Sawchyn, will bring speed to the HarbourCats outfield and base paths in 2022 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The nine players are:
• RHP Noah Takacs, Sacramento State, 6-3/200
• OF Josh Walker, Sacramento State, 6-1/175
• LHP/1B Eric Luchies, Lower Columbia College, 6-3/200
• RHP Owen Luchies, Lower Columbia College, 6-2/195
• RHP Dawson Hurford, Western Nebraska College, 6-3/195
• RHP Haldon Craig, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-3/215
• LHP Jacob Popadynec, Victoria Golden Tide, 5-11/175
• IF Jordan Bond, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-0/185
• OF Daniel Sawchyn, Victoria Golden Tide, 6-0/170
Takacs, a product of the Victoria Eagles of the BC Premier Baseball League (PBL), had a 4.82 ERA and made four starts for the Hornets in 2021. Sacramento State teammate Walker, a lefty hitter who came through the Victoria Mariners PBL program, has appeared in 13 games over two spring seasons.
The Luchies brothers, Eric and Owen, are both from the Eagles PBL program and are making the big jump, one year apart, to the Lower Columbia program, a junior college in the NWAC. Both bring a power game and tremendous potential. Hurford, from Victoria but a product of the PBL’s Langley Blaze, has made 18 appearances, including 11 starts for the WNC Cougars.
Pitcher Owen Luchies throwing for the Golden Tide in exhibition play last fall (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Bond, Sawchyn, Craig and Popadynec are all local products (Bond and Popadynec from the Eagles, Craig from the AAA Capitals, and Sawchyn from the Mariners) who got their first college action this last fall with the Golden Tide, and will provide valuable depth — Bond and Sawchyn for their bat and defence, Popadynec and Craig off the mound.
Jordan Bond had a strong fall season with the Golden Tide (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Takacs is thrilled to have the chance to play summer collegiate baseball in his hometown. “It means the world to me… I wanted to play HarbourCats baseball all my life and finally, through all the pandemic problems, myself and a few others will get that opportunity. Victoria is a small baseball town but at the heart of it has some of the most dedicated individuals you’ll ever meet. Whenever I come home to train I know that I will have the right dudes around me to push me to get better every day. Without the people I met in Victoria I wouldn’t be the player or person I am today.”
The HarbourCats will begin their 2022 West Coast League campaign with their Home Opener on Tuesday May 31, 2022 at 6:35 pm against the Port Angeles Lefties, the first of 34 home games that will be played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
Golden Tide pitcher Jacob Popadynec will be a nice left-handed option for the HarbourCats in 2022 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Season Tickets, 2022 single-game tickets, 10-game flex packs, gift cards and HarbourCats merchandise are now on sale at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or by calling 778-265-0327. Single-game tickets may also be purchased directly on-line at www.harbourcats.com/tickets.
Fans holding unused tickets or flex-pack vouchers from the cancelled 2020 and 2021 seasons may also now exchange these for tickets for any 2022 regular season game. This can be done at the HarbourCats office.
For more details and to keep up with the latest news on the 2022 season, please visit the HarbourCats website at www.harbourcats.com.
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