Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Tidal Wave Wipes Out Dinosaurs

Published

3 years ago

October 9, 2021

Dugout Wire Service

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.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HabourCats load up on pitching in preparation for 2024 season

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Preston Kelly in CCAA action for the Cal State-San Marcos Cougars (Photo: Greg Siller, Cal State-San Marcos)

May 13, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Local pitcher Jacob Thompson joins the HarbourCats for the 2024 season, along with four other college arms.

The HarbourCats are excited to announce the addition of five pitchers to their 2024 pitching staff, all joining the club for the first time.

Announced today:

RHP Jacob Thompson, Minot State University, 6-0/180, North Saanich, BC
RHP Preston Kelly, Cal State-San Marcos, 5-10/190, Eastvale, CA
RHP Jason Krakoski, Cal State-Fullerton, 6-3/180, Livermore, CA
LHP Payton Hawkinson, Cal State-Fullerton, 6-7/230, Turlock, CA
LHP Brandon Bertsch, University of Texas, 6-0/170, Dallas, TX

Thompson, a graduate of Lambrick Park Secondary, is a freshman at Minot State University. He has appeared in nine games for the Beavers in 2024, primarily as a reliever, and has given up one or less earned runs in seven of those appearances.

Kelly has posted a 3.96 ERA over 38.2 innings for Cal State-San Marcos during the 2024 season. The California native started the season on a tear as he did not allow an earned run until his 10th appearance. He has struck out 33 batters while limiting the walks to just eight over the course of the season so far. In 2023, Kelly finished with nine saves which was the second most in school history.

Krakoski is the first of two pitchers joining Victoria from Cal State-Fullerton. He has struck out 20 batters over 21.2 innings in 2024 and has limited the long ball by only giving up one home run all season. In high school, he captained his team to the NCS playoff semi-finals in back-to-back years. The freshman comes from a family of athletes as both his grandfather and uncle played professional football – his grandfather played for the Oakland Raiders from 1963-1966 and his uncle was a linebacker in the NFL for Washington in 1986.

Hawkinson (pictured right), another California native, is a big lefty standing at 6-7/230. The freshman has pitched in seven games this year for the Titans and has given up one or less earned runs in six of those appearances. In his junior year of high school he earned first-team all-conference and conference pitcher-of-the-year awards as he led his team to conference championship.

Bertsch is a freshman right-hander from Dallas. He starred in high school becoming just the second player in school history with more than 100 strikeouts in a season. He will add a lot of swing and miss potential to an already formidable HarbourCats pitching staff.

The HarbourCats are looking forward to seeing these young arms in action against West Coast League batters.

The HarbourCats open on the road May 31 in Kamloops, the start of back-to-back series in Kamloops and Kelowna, before returning for the June 7 home opener against Wenatchee. The HarbourCats will be on the road this summer in Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee, Ridgefield, Port Angeles, Bellingham, and six games in Nanaimo against the Island-rival NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Teams visiting Victoria this year are Wenatchee, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Kelowna, Edmonton (two series), Kamloops and Corvallis, along with non-league games against the Redmond Dudes, Dub Sea Fish Sticks, the SIBL All-Stars, and Victoria Mavericks All-Stars.

The regular season runs until August 7, with WCL playoffs running from August 10 to August 16.

Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online through our one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.

Source

Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Fresno State bats and two returning pitchers part of next six signed by HarbourCats

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

2023 pitcher Flynn Ridley will return to the HarbourCats for 2024, along with 2023 teammate Brett Harvey and four other new players announced today (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

May 4, 2024

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — On a strong pitching staff, Flynn Ridley and Brett Harvey were standouts for the 2023 Victoria HarbourCats.

The HarbourCats are excited to announce the return of the two right-handers, along with excitement at adding two quality hitters from a school that has long provided great players, Fresno State.

Ridley and Harvey, along with Sky Collins and Cam Schneider from Fresno State, highlight a new signing group that includes a huge right-hander from TCU in Carson Cormier, and a star catcher from Texas A&M in Kyle Micklus, a lefty hitter with power.

Announced today:

RHP Flynn Ridley, Ottawa (AZ), 6-4/200, Burnaby, BC
RHP Brett Harvey, Puget Sound, 6-2/190, Auburn, WA
C Kyle Micklus, West Texas A&M, 5-9/190, Waller, TX
OF Sky Collins, Fresno State, 6-1/180, Fresno, CA
IF/OF Cam Schneider, Fresno State, 6-3/190, Fresno, CA
RHP Carson Cormier, TCU, 6-5/225, Westford, MA

Harvey (pictured right) posted a combined 1.90 ERA over 15 regular season and playoff games for the ‘Cats in 2023, giving up 20 hits in 23.2 innings. Ridley started four games among his nine appearances and was 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA, striking out 28 in 24 innings. Take away his last start, and he was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA, limiting opposing hitters to a .132 average.

Micklus, an energy guy behind the dish, is hitting .421 with six homers for West Texas A&M, after starring at Lassen College in California. He’s also stolen 11 bases, adding 15 doubles and two triples, and will give the catching staff an older presence.

Collins and Schneider are both from Fresno, and bring size to the lineup. Schneider is hitting .273 as a freshman this season, while Collins joined the Bulldogs off a strong two years at Fresno City College, winning a gold glove and being named second team all-conference.

Cormier is big, 6-5 and 225. From just outside of Boston, the freshman has won numerous academic and leadership awards and was on the Dodgers scout team before landing at TCU as a top prospect who will get valuable innings in the summer with the HarbourCats.

The regular season runs until August 7, with WCL playoffs running from August 10 to August 16.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.