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Victoria HarbourCats – Tide are Golden in opening game at Zack Downey Memorial

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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

 

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Two key returnees among three Canadians signed for 2024

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Green (above), Hall and former Canadian junior team star Chee-Aloy join Cats

September 20, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — The reloading of the 2023 North Division champion Victoria HarbourCats has started — not surprisingly, given the team’s history of finding local and Canadian talent — with three players who have maple leaf passports.

Returning infielders Brandon Green of the Victoria Golden Tide and Tyrus Hall of Bossier Parrish JC are joined by prized Illinois recruit Cameron Chee-Aloy of Toronto as the HarbourCats, who have posted just one sub-.500 record since 2014 and have made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, get ready for the 2024 campaign.

Hall, primarily a shortstop, is a Victoria product who came through the Eagles program, while Green, who can play any infield position, is in his third year with the Golden Tide, hailing from Olds, Alberta. Both played with the HarbourCats in 2023, part of the team that set a WCL record with 25 home wins in 27 home regular season games — 27-2 counting playoffs.

HarbourCats infielder Ty Hall will return to the HarbourCats in 2024 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

“Ty Hall has tremendous potential and a pro-level arm, with blazing speed — and we saw so much improvement with him under WCL coach of the year Todd Haney,” said Jim Swanson of the HarbourCats. “He will get better yet in college and being back with us next summer. And Brandon, he was one of the great stories of our season, unceremoniously dumped before the season by a summer team in another league in Alberta and given a chance to stay in Victoria at the WCL level, and all he did was earn the trust of Todd and the staff. He had the summer of his life, and he’s not done.”

Green became the first product of the third year Golden Tide program to have a notable impact on the WCL club, part of the mandate of the CCBC entry.

In 24 games, Green had two doubles, two home runs and drove in 10 runs, batting .222 and earning stretches of time at second base, with just one error. Hall got into 26 games, his speed of great value off the bench, and hit .250 with 13 stolen bases — caught just once. Hall was a featured part of a league record 150 stolen bases as a team.

Chee-Aloy (pictured right), a product of the Ontario Terriers, is best described as a plus-speed outfielder who plays the game hard, getting the most out of his 6-0/180 pound frame. The right-handed hitter with a right fielder’s arm had two stints with Team Canada, where he was teammates with Hall.

“We are exited to add Cameron to the 2024 team,” said Head Coach Todd Haney. “His speed will be an asset both offensively and defensively.”

The HarbourCats 2024 schedule in anticipated to be released in late October or early November 2023.  Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for news on that once it becomes available.

Season tickets are now on sale and can now be renewed for the 2024 season of HarbourCats baseball!  Lock in and renew your existing seats, or purchase new seats by October 31, 2023 to guarantee Early Bird Pricing at the 2023 rates:

  • General Admission – $375 ($385 after October 31)
  • Premium Reserved (Sections 6-9 and 11-12) – $475 ($495 after October 31)
  • Grandstand Reserved (Section 10 Rows E and up) – $525 ($550 after October 31)
  • Campbell Real Estate Club Seats (Section 10 Rows A-D) – $675 ($700 after October 31)
  • Diamond Club Field Level – $750 (WAIT LIST – CALL FOR AVAILABILITY) ($775 after October 31)

Season tickets offer the best per-game value per seat and come with the following benefits:

  • Includes all regular season WCL league home games, and all pre-season and exhibition games
  • Incudes FREE PLAYOFF TICKETS
  • Season ticket holders get first right of refusal to purchase tickets for other special events (eg. concerts)
  • Season-ticket holders do not pay additional Fireworks Game pricing
  • Service fees and all taxes included in above prices

Please call the office at 778-265-0327 or e-mail chris@harbourcats.com to renew, or to purchase new seats.

You can also stop into the office to take care of this at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.  We are open in the off-season Tuesday – Friday from 10AM to 5PM.

Cats merchandise is also on sale now at the office at The Cat Shop, or online at https://victoria-harbourcats-official.myshopify.com/

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Summer Collegiate

2023 Fan Experience Survey – Kamloops NorthPaws

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Photo by: Allen Douglas

The Kamloops NorthPaws wanted to thank our fans for another great season at Norbrock Stadium – THANK YOU ‘PAWS FANS!!!

The organization is looking to fans to share their experiences in order to make improvements for 2024. Fans who choose to include their email will be entered into a draw for a 2024 10-game flex plan, the winner will be contacted on October 6, 2023. All anonymous users will not be entered into the draw. The NorthPaws thank you for your reviews and support of our team, we look forward to improving our operations and welcoming you back to the ballpark in 2024!

You can complete the form below:

https://forms.gle/YBfFHvp6eDyRuoUR6

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Top player in 2023 returns for third season as a NightOwl

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Marsh the first NightOwls’ signing for 2024 WCL season

An original NightOwl is coming back for a third season at historic Serauxmen Stadium.
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Infielder Aaron Marsh of the UBC Thunderbirds, who shared the 2023 player of the year award with keystone partner Elijah Ickes, will be the key offensive piece that Head Coach Greg Frady will build his lineup around in the summer of 2024.
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The Nanaimo product, a former Pirate, has been the picture of consistency for the NightOwls for the team’s first two seasons in the West Coast League. In 2022, Marsh batted .309 and was among team leaders with 38 hits and 20 runs driven in, and followed that up in 2023 with 39 more hits, 24 RBIs, and batting .287 while playing both second and third. He hit two home runs both seasons.

“Aaron is a tough out, gives the team gritty at-bats and is so reliable on defence,” said Jim Swanson, GM of the NightOwls. “He brings so many intangibles to UBC and to the NightOwls, is a leader and you can tell he loves to play the game, and loves to play in front of our great crowds in Nanaimo, in front of people who watched him grow up in our city. He’s the ideal player to have as our first signing for the 2024 season.”

A left-handed hitter with extra-base power, a valuable asset with the exciting fence configuration at Serauxmen Stadium, the 5-10/185 Marsh has played 73 games as a NightOwl, so will be looking to become the first player to play in 100 games for Nanaimo’s young WCL franchise.
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“Recruiting is very much underway, between myself and the coaching staff, looking to build a team that can get us to the playoffs and be the first Canadian team to win the WCL title,” said Swanson. “Our 2023 team played everyone hard, one game below .500 — and known for being scrappy and playing the game the right way, with the right approach of effort and sportsmanship. We are building future pro players here, we are also building young men who will be successful in whatever they advance to in life. Aaron is definitely one of those people.”
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Season tickets are now on sale for the 2024 campaign — renewals and new fans, the best seats at the park available for as low as $400 for the season (roughly $12.50 per seat per game). Included in season tickets are gratis playoff tickets, with the NightOwls in the hunt for a post-season spot until the final week in both of the team’s initial seasons.
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“If you haven’t yet made it to a game — you’re missing out on a great spot and a special energy that only Serauxmen creates,” said Swanson.
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For information on season tickets, email tina@nanaimonightowls.com
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Team merchandise is also in hot demand, find the shop site at nanaimonightowls.com for a variety of offerings from hats to hoodies to shirts and miscellaneous items.

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