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Victoria HarbourCats – Tide Sweep Away Thunderbirds in Sunday Doubleheader

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Above: Victoria’s Brandon Green is safe at second as the throw escapes UBC second baseman Brett Zazuluk.

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

October 17, 2021, Victoria, BC – The Victoria Golden Tide were not daunted at all by facing the top college baseball program in the country, as they defeated the UBC Thunderbirds in both games of a doubleheader Sunday at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria by identical 9-1 scores.

Tide game one starting pitcher Owen Luchies delivers a pitch during the game with UBC Sunday.

The weatherman cooperated on the day, keeping the rain at bay, and it was Golden Tide pitchers in game one who kept the UBC hitters at bay with Victoria Eagle product Owen Luchies getting the start and giving up a run to UBC in the first, but then settling down to keep them off the board in the second and third.

Victoria’s Brandon Green slides safely into third base ahead of the tag by UBC third baseman Jordan Gamble on this play in game two Sunday.

Cameron Dunn would then take over in relief and shine, giving up just a pair of singles in his four innings of work, with Jacob Popydynec pitching the final two innings, with just a walk, to close out the 9-1 win.

Golden Tide pitchers would get all the offensive support they would need when the Tide put up a four-run third inning, the highlight of which was a Zeke Holt two-run home run over the right field fence.

Zeke Holt had a two-run home run to key a four run third inning in the Tide’s 9-1 win over UBC in game one Sunday.

Also contributing in the 12-hit attack were Dom Biello with a walk, double and run scored, Brendan Morrison with a pair of singles and a run scored and Alex McLauchlan with a pair of runs scored.

Golden Tide third baseman Alex McLauchlan makes a nice play on a ground ball in game two against UBC on Sunday.

In game two, the Thunder would jump into a 1-0 lead thanks to a second inning lead-off home run from Tyler Sharples, but that would be their only run to cross the plate, as once again Golden Tide pitching ruled the day.

UBC’s Tyler Sharples is all smiles after his second inning home run in game two Sunday.

Starter Brady Wilson would follow-up his outstanding three-hit performance last week against Calgary at the CCBC Fall Championship by giving up just one more hit to the Thunderbirds and keeping them off the board the rest of the way in his four full innings of work.

UBC shortstop Daniel Gonzoloz awaits the throw as Tide baserunner Alex McLauchlan slides in safely to second.

Relievers Jackson Belanger (two innings), Haldon Craig (two innings) and Triston Seitz (one inning) would shut the door the rest of the way, with a single against Belanger and one against Seitz in the ninth being the only other UBC hits of the game.

Tide second baseman Myles Wall puts the tag on UBC baserunner Trevor Tong on this play at second during game two Sunday.

Offensively, the Tide once again blew things open in the third inning, this time scoring five runs, with the big blows being a two-RBI triple from Brody Alexandre and an RBI single from Parker Harris.

The Tide would score two more on a two-RBI single from Alex McLauchlan in the fourth and add another two in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Jordan Bond arrives safely at first as the ball skips away from UBC first baseman Sean Coventry.

Other offensive notables in the game included Zeke Holt, with another strong game, notching a pair of double and two walks, and Jaxson Cordle, with a single and a double.

Victoria’s Jaxson Cordle starts on his way to first during action with UBC on Sunday. Cordle would have a base hit in game two.

The Tide now get ready for another pair of double headers next weekend as on Saturday the VI College Prep Mariners come to town and on Sunday, the BCPBL Parksville Royals pay a visit. Both days have first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm. Tickets are $5.00 and $10.00 and will be available at the gates.

Victoria’s Ryan Deagle beats out the throw to UBC first baseman Sean Coventry on this play in game one Sunday.

TIDAL WAVES: The two wins Sunday mark the first time this fall season that the Tide have swept a doubleheader; The Tide lineup Sunday was supplemented by five members of the Victoria Eagles BCPBL squad that finished second in this year’s provincials, including game one starter Owen Luchies, Ryder Green, Jai Berezowski, Kai Gray, and Dom Biello. Parksville Royals product Ryan Deagle also played in both games today.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Nanaimo Hands Cats 8-3 Loss to Tie Series

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Victoria, B.C. – The NightOwls rolled into town and squashed the HarbourCats on a warm Wednesday night, tying the series and forcing an 8-3 loss on Victoria.

Nanaimo opened the scoring early in the second game of the series, getting a couple of men on in the first inning and cashing in a run on a single up the middle to take control of the game. The visitors tacked on a couple more in their next trip to the plate, taking advantage of an eastward wind for a two-run homer to make it 3-0 in the second inning. It was the first long ball surrendered all season by Hudson Lance (Coastal Carolina), and the first multi-run effort against the right-hander as well.

BOX SCORE

Retaliation came off the bat of Max Bernal (Fresno Pacific) in the bottom of the second, who fired a double straight into the gap and scored a runner from first to cut into Nanaimo’s lead. The NightOwls, however, got them right back. A ground ball caromed off two Cats in the bottom of the third inning, giving a Nanaimo baserunner time to find his way home to restore the three-run gap.

Hudson Lance worked his way through 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs on ten hits with four strikeouts. (Photo by JPM Photography)

The NightOwls rocked their second long ball of the game to lead off the top of the fifth, followed by a base hit into centre field to push their lead to 7-1 at the midway point of the ballgame. This would spell the end of Hudson Lance’s start, as the Cats tagged in Easton Reimers (North Dakota State) to finish off the inning.

Reimers locked in for a powerful performance, striking out six NightOwls in just three innings to keep the score from getting any further out of hand. Reimers was swapped out for Flynn Warren (Hawaii Pacific) in the eighth inning, who worked the final two innings for the Cats.

Matt Westley (George Mason) let fly an absolute laser over the fence for a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too little too late as Victoria fell short to Nanaimo by a score of 8-3.

WCL STANDINGS

The series comes to an end tomorrow night in Nanaimo, following which the HarbourCats will engage with the Bellingham Bells for a weekend series in Victoria.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Cats Nail Down 5-3 Win in Nanaimo

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Marcus Nolen’s homer in the second inning gave an early advantage to the HarbourCats. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Nanaimo, B.C. – Victoria kicked off the Island Rivalry series the right way on Tuesday night, claiming a 5-3 win over the Nanaimo NightOwls

The Cats made it a loud second inning in this one, slamming two monster moonshots to get on the board first. Marcus Nolen (Fresno State) shelled the parking lot for his second of the season, followed up by a blast to right field from Max Bernal (Fresno Pacific) to make it a three-run inning for the Cats.

BOX SCORE

That run support backed up a scoreless start from Landon Marchetti (San Jose State), who pitched three innings, gave up zero hits, and struck out four batters. Davis Lee (Calgary) was summoned for the bottom of the fourth, surrendering the first Nanaimo run of the evening before stranding two runners to end the inning. Victoria responded with another run in their next turn at the plate, bringing in a run on a sacrifice fly to restore a three-run lead.

Davis Lee took a seat after a strong two innings of work, giving way to Asher Clark (Northern Colorado) in the sixth. The right-hander loaded the bases but buckled down, generated some weak contact, and stranded the runners to keep the HarbourCats’ lead intact.

David Krahn is tied for the second-most hits in the West Coast League, adding three more in tonight’s ballgame. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Clark ran the bases full once again with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, inducing a change of personnel for the HarbourCats. Marcus Janovsky (UBC) took to the field, hitting a batter but stranding three runners to escape the inning clutching a 4-3 lead.

Victoria answered back in the next frame, beginning with a well-earned walk from Kade Davis (UTSA), who later came around to score on a base hit by Dryden Fuoco (Hill College). 5-3 Cats after eight innings..

It was Carson Ackermann’s turn to get in on the action in the bottom of the eighth. The Tacoma College hurler locked down the frame with two strikeouts to keep the score frozen. Pierce Stone (Regis) appeared on the bump to close it out and didn’t disappoint, filling up the zone and securing a quick three outs to seal the deal.

WCL STANDINGS

The series continues tomorrow, with the HarbourCats hosting the NightOwls in Victoria for an Island Rivalry game at 6:35 pm!

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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Victoria HarbourCats – Offence Erupts Early in 15-5 Win

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David Krahn’s two-homer ballgame led the way for an offensive clinic. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Port Angeles, WA – The HarbourCats closed out the Port Angeles series in style on a sunny Sunday afternoon, racking up 17 hits in a 15-5 victory.

David Krahn (UBC) took it upon himself to spark the offence early in this one, blasting a leadoff rocket to make it 1-0 Cats in the top of the first.

BOX SCORE

The Lefties responded quickly, dropping a perfectly placed line drive into left field to bring in the tying run in the bottom of the first. Port Angeles threatened with more runners in scoring position, but an unassisted double play by David Krahn kept the game even at one.

Cats outfielder Max Bernal (Fresno Pacific) knocked a double into the gap in the next inning to push Dryden Fuoco (Hill College) up to third base. David Krahn came in clutch once again in his second trip to the plate, driving in Fuoco to snatch the lead back for Victoria. The second-inning offence wouldn’t end there for the Cats, as Matt Westley (George Mason) and Brady Hewitt (Fresno State) both singled to widen the lead to 5-1 by the end of the frame.

Matt Westley was 2/4 this afternoon with a double and 3 RBI. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria didn’t let up after gaining the lead, putting some ducks on the pond in the top of the third inning for, you guessed it, David Krahn. The Langley, B.C. product pulverized his second homer of the game to further extend the lead to 8-1. The hits just kept coming in the third frame, and suddenly Victoria was up 12-1.

A bruised Lefties lineup managed to throw a counter-punch in the bottom of the third, uncorking two leadoff home runs to dead centre. A valiant effort, but the home side had a lot of work to do if they were to erase a 12-3 deficit.

The Cats kept their foot on the gas, loading the bases in the top of the fifth and bringing home a pair of runs on hits by Matt Westley and Brady Hewitt. Austin Lindsey (Hill College) came in to pitch for the bottom of the fifth, relieving Jeremiah Arnett (Rice) who allowed three runs on four hits over four innings.

Spencer Kratt (San Jose State) took over on the heels of two spotless no-hit innings from Lindsey, before Anson Stuckly (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) closed it out in the ninth with two strikeouts.

Port Angeles managed to scrape together a comeback attempt in the later innings, but Victoria’s mountainous lead stayed intact for a 15-5 win.

WCL STANDINGS

With the road trip complete, the Cats will come back to Victoria to take on the Nanaimo NightOwls at 6:30 pm on Tuesday night.

Single game tickets for all HarbourCats games and the 2026 West Coast League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby are now on sale at http://harbourcats.com/tickets. Season tickets, 12-pack and 32-pack game vouchers may also be bought online or by stopping by the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

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