Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Tide are Golden in opening game at Zack Downey Memorial
Above: The Tide’s Tyler Burton (12 left) is congratulated by Bryce Carroll (14 right) after scoring the first run in Golden Tide history (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart
September 9, 2021, Victoria, BC – Jordan Bond had a triple, single and two RBI in his only two at bats to help lead the Victoria Golden Tide to a 7-1 win over the Victoria Mariners Thursday afternoon in the opening game of the Zack Downey Memorial Tournament being held at Layritz Park in Victoria.
The Tide’s Jordan Bond would have an RBI-triple and RBI -single to lead the Golden Tide offence (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The win was the first in team history for the Golden Tide and Head Coach Curtis Pelletier, as Thursday’s game marked their first official game action in their inaugural fall season in the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC).
Tide third baseman Brandon Green made a couple of nice defensive plays early in Thursday’s game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The Tide would get the jump early on the Mariners, as their very first batter, Tyler Burton, stroked the team’s very first hit, then stole their very first base and eventually scored their very first run, on their very first RBI on a ground out from catcher Parker Harris.
Tyler Burton slides safely into second ahead of the throw to the Mariners Sam Shaw, earning the first stolen base in Golden Tide history (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The game remained close after that and following Bond’s triple and then an RBI single from Alden Holzwarth, both in the fourth inning, the Tide held a slim 3-1 lead.
Parker Harris would have the first RBI in Golden Tide team history with this swing in the first inning Thursday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
That would not last long as the Tide would put things away in the fifth inning, scoring four runs, thanks to a two-RBI triple from Davis Jack that scored Burton (single) and Austin Wall (walk), Bond’s RBI single and another RBI single from Holzwarth.
Ethan Dean would be the first starter in Golden Tide history, pitching two scoreless innings against the Mariners on Thursday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Tide pitchers were effective on the day, with Ethan Dean – the first starting pitcher in Tide history – Nate Major and Jacob Popadynec all pitching two innings each (games in the tournament are just six innings in length) and holding the Mariners to just three hits in total, two of which, a single and triple, came from Mariners’ lead off hitter Jaydon Malinowski.
The Mariner’s Jaydon Malinowski would have two of the three Mariner hits against the Tide, including this triple (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
Tide pitcher Nate Major delivers a pitch against the Mariners (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
They would also be helped out by some slick defence early from third baseman Brandon Green and solid middle defence later in the game from the Wall twins, Myles and Austin.
Alden Holzwarth would have a pair of RBI-singles in theTides’s 7-1 win over the Mariners (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The Tide are next in action on Friday at 2:30 pm when they take on the Saskatchewan Prep Academy. They then face the Victoria Eagles on Saturday at 9:30 am.
Middle infielders and twins Austin Wall (left) and Myles Wall (right) looked good against the Mariners on Thursday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The Tide’s Tristian Bolger would have a single and run scored in his Golden Tide debut (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
In other action at the Zack Downey Tournament on Thursday, the Victoria Eagles had clutch hits from Owen Luchies and Oliver Mabee and a brilliant pitching performance from Sam Jordan to defeat the Mid-Island Pirates 6-0.
The Tide’s Davis Jack heads to third with a triple in the fifth inning of Thursday’s game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
The Eagles will face the Parksville Royals in the first game of the day Friday, a 9:30 am start, while the Royals will hang around to play the Pirates at 12 Noon. The Tide and Saskatchewan game goes at 2:30 pm while the Mariners will then play Saskatchewan in the final game of the day at 5:00 pm.
Golden Tide pitcher Jacob Popadynec deliver’s a pitch late in Thursday’s game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
On Saturday, the Tide and Eagles kick things off at 9:00 am, followed by Saskatchewan against Parksville at 12 Noon. The Mariners will then play the Pirates at 2:30, with the consolation game (5th place vs 6th place) going at 5:00 pm.
Bryce Carroll scampers home with one of the Golden Tide runs, in front of a good number of fans that came out to watch the Tide’s debut game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
On Sunday, the semi-finals will go at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm, with the Championship game scheduled for 3:00 pm.
All game are at Layritz Park in Saanich.
Tide player Alden Holzwarth (38) gives his cleats an airing out following the Tide’s 7-1 win over the Victoria Mariners on Thursday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)
More images from the Golden Tide / Mariners game can eventually be found at https://christianjstewart.zenfolio.com/p321055318
Respected island businessman John Wilson has been named President of the company that oversees the successful collegiate baseball teams based in Victoria and Nanaimo.
Wilson, the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and whose family owns and operates the Wilson’s Group of Companies, has been part of the core ownership group of the Victoria HarbourCats since 2015, and the Nanaimo NightOwls since inception in 2020 (started play in 2022). The NightOwls, a rival to the HarbourCats on the field, play at historic Serauxmen Stadium.
Wilson takes the position from Ken Swanson, who remains on the board after a solid 10-year run as team president. The group also operates the Victoria Collegiate (CCBC) baseball program and the busy indoor facility on Cook St., the Edwards Family Training Centre.
“Ken has led the corporate structure well, and he’s deserving of a break,” said Wilson. “We have a strong and committed group of owners and staff and a refresh is good for us all, keeping these teams playing great baseball and positively impacting these amazing communities in a stable, creative manner. Ken literally leaves big shoes to fill.”
The HarbourCats, which started play in 2013, will host the WCL All-Star Game in 2026 and 2027, showcasing the island’s immense love of baseball and the team that helped produce eight current MLB players including Nathan Lukes (Blue Jays), Nick Pivetta (Padres), Cade Smith (Guardians), Andrew Vaughn (Brewers) and Chase Meidroth (White Sox). The 2026 all-star festival will take place July 14-15 using Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park and sites around the South Island, with exciting details to come.
Wilson and Swanson lead a nine-member ownership group that includes Rich Harder, Helen Edwards, Mike Macdonell, Sean Finn, Vic Vendetti, John Schnaderbeck and Jim Swanson.
“No one knows the community like John, so we are all looking forward to what will be a flawless transition that will bring some new life to the organization,” said Ken Swanson.
The management structure remains the same — former GM Jim Swanson in the Managing Partner role, overseeing day-to-day operations, assisted by Adrian Somers (Business Operations and Marketing). In Victoria, Christian Stewart (General Manager) and John Pollard (Marketing Director) remain in place, while Tina Cornett continues her strong leadership in Nanaimo as General Manager, with Kent Malpass overseeing the concession.
The teams maintain wholly separate coaching staffs and recruiting processes — veteran Todd Haney, a five-year MLB player, as the sixth-year Head Coach in Victoria, and local product Cody Andreychuk, a collegiate program head coach at University of Pikeville, enters his second season in Nanaimo, assisted by pitching coach Gorman Heimueller, who has three World Series rings from his 50 years in the game.
Tickets are selling fast…get yours today. www.NanaimoNightOwls.com/ticketinfo
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Summer Collegiate
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
For immediate release
January 20, 2026
VICTORIA, BC — A former HarbourCats outfielder, a member of the record-breaking WCL team in 2016, knew he wanted to send players he now coaches to a great summer baseball factory.
Jarron Silva, then an outfielder from UCLA, really enjoyed his time in Victoria, on a team that won a record 40 games, including 19 in a row at one point.
Now as an assistant coach at San Jose State, he connected with veteran HarbourCats coach Todd Haney to secure development spots for two pitchers and two position players.
“Jarron was a spark plug for that 2016 team, and he remembers the fan support and atmosphere at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP — Victoria is a baseball city,” said Managing Partner Jim Swanson. “We are excited to see the pitchers signed, and to see the power in Rohne Klein and Ethan Nunez — they have the potential to represent Victoria when we host the WCL All-Star Game on July 15.”
Four Spartans and a versatile fielder from George Mason, Matthew Westley, have been signed by Coach Haney:
- RHP Landon Marchetti, San Jose State, 5-11/190, Brentwood, CA
- RHP Spencer Kratt, San Jose State, 6-0/210, Woodland Hills, CA
- IF Rohne Klein, San Jose State, 6-4/230, L/R, Renton, WA
- OF Ethan Nunez, San Jose State, 6-4/190, R/R, Chino Hills, CA
- IF/OF Matthew Westley, George Mason, 6-1/210, R/R, Manassas, VA
Marchetti, previously at UC San Diego, has nearly 30 games of college experience, including five starts, and used a lower lefty arm slot to register high strikeout numbers in high school. Kratt is a power righty who runs it up to 92, a transfer from LA Valley College.
Landon Marchetti delivers a pitch while playing for the UC San Diego in 2025.
Klein, a transfer to SJSU from Utah, is a developing power bat who also is noted for a strong arm — can play third, outfield or first. He’s an athlete, playing both quarterback and linebacker on his high school team.
Nunez is a transfer from Colorado Mesa, where he was the RMAC freshman of the year — and he will miss the spring as a redshirt to get an injury fully rehabbed, but will be good to go for summer. At Colorado Mesa, he hit .356 with 14 bombs.
The lone non-SJSU addition announced by Coach Haney is utility guy Westley, formerly of Virginia Tech and now at George Mason. He has two summers of experience in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League.
The Victoria HarbourCats will begin their 2026 West Coast League season in late May of 2026, with the home opener against the Edmonton Riverhawks scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Plenty of excitement is on board for 2026 including:
- Three fireworks nights (June 6, 30 and August 3)
- Two 11:00 AM School Spirit Games (June 4 and 18)
- Five Family Fun Sunday Matinees (June 7, 14, 28 July 19 and 26)
- $12 Tuesdays and Thursdays (June 16, July 2, 7, 9, 28 and 30)
Season ticket memberships, single-game tickets, 12-game flex packs (new for 2026!) and 2026 WCL All-Star Game ticket packages are now on sale for the HarbourCats 2026 season at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.
All ticket types and team merchandise are also available at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, Tuesday thru Friday, 10am-5pm.
John Wilson Named As New Team President
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
Victoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
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Summer Collegiate1 week agoVictoria HarbourCats – Four San Jose State stars slated to land in Victoria this summer
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Summer Collegiate2 days ago
John Wilson Named As New Team President
-
Summer Collegiate2 days ago
Victoria HarbourCats – John Wilson named president of island WCL teams, HarbourCats and NightOwls
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