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

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2 years ago

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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

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats to salute local legend Cliff Lequesne on July 17

Published

4 days ago

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May 13, 2025

By

May 13, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, BC — His voice, is everywhere in Victoria, in terms of sports, the signature of his presence at games and events for more than 40 years.

The Victoria HarbourCats will salute local broadcasting legend Cliff Lequesne on July 17 — as he continues to go strong as the morning news and sports icon at The Q, while handling in-house “voice of God” duties for the Royals, Grizzlies and Shamrocks.

His legendary run started at CFAX in 1972, learning from the unforgettable Ken Dobson, and he moved to The Q in 1987. He’s handled sports duties with the Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, the historic fastball teams that once ruled RAP, and even the Victoria Cougars — no, not the ones that won the Stanley Cup in 1925 (how old was Cliff then?), but the WHL version including the legendary 1981 run to the Memorial Cup.

“Cliff really IS sports in Victoria in so many ways, a worthy inductee into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame this past fall,” said Jim Swanson, who oversees the HarbourCats and is also a member of the Hall of Fame board.

“He’s one of the most likeable guys in Victoria, and remembers details, maybe only Cleve Dheensaw of the Times Colonist is in his category for sports media in the city. A gentleman and we are proud to honour him.”

Cliff — and his famous Cliff’s Call — and battery mate Ed Bain can be heard mornings on The Q.

Lequesne will be on the mic for the Emery Electric Fastpitch Challenge on Saturday, May 31, helping recall events of the past and introduce some of the fastball legends of yesteryear before a doubleheader (4pm, 6pm) between the host Sooke Loggers and the Lacey A’s, the first return of fastball to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP in decades. The games are possible because of Emery Electric and the support of the HarbourCats Foundation.

Tickets for the Emery Electric Fastpitch Challenge and the Cliff Lequesne Salute on July 17 are available at harbourcats.com/tickets.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

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Victoria HarbourCats – Cat’s add local pitcher and “Big Papi” as a catcher

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5 days ago

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May 12, 2025

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Victoria native and former Victoria Eagle Oliver Mabee, above, pitching for Nebrasks-Omaha, joins the HarbourCats pitching staff for 2025 (Photo courtesy Nebraska-Omaha Athletics).

May 12, 2025

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Oliver Mabee always wanted to be a Victoria HarbourCat, and the former Victoria Eagles pitcher will get his chance.

Mabee, a local product, is completing his junior collegiate year so this is his last shot at playing at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico catcher Enrico Carrion doesn’t want to be called Kiki or Enrico — the hard swinging right-handed bat wants to be known as “Big Papi” by HarbourCats fans.

The two players are part of five players announced today by Head Coach Todd Haney:

  • RHP Hudson Lance, Coastal Carolina, 5-10/180, R/R, Trinity, NC
  • RHP Robert Sanford, Paris JC, 6-1/195, R/R, Carrollton, TX
  • LHP Dillon Dibrell, Central Oklahoma, 6-0/190, L/L, Piedmont, OK
  • RHP Oliver Mabee, Nebraska-Omaha, 6-6/215, R/R, Victoria
  • C Enrico ‘Big Papi’ Carrion, University of Hawaii, 5-11/195, R/R, Puerto Rico

“We are always thrilled to add proven arms to our pitching staff” said Coach Haney. “We expect significant contributions from each of the pitchers announced today and  Big Papi is a young, high energy catcher from Puerto Rico that we are excited to work with this summer.”

Mabee is an Oak Bay grad who was a two-way collegiate baseball player at Trinidad State, now focusing on his mound work at Nebraska-Omaha. He has a 6.66 ERA in 15 appearances with UNO, striking out 26 batters in 25.2 innings. He played for Kamloops in the WCL last summer as an outfielder and hit .231 with five RBIs in 18 games for the NorthPaws.

Carrion will be a freshman at the University of Hawaii in fall, with a powerful bat and already developed strong defensive skills.

Lance, who did a lot of winning as a pitcher and with his high school program, has made five appearances as a freshman at a top college in Coastal Carolina.

Sanford is 2-2 with a save in 15 appearances at Paris (TX) Junior College in a very strong conference.

Dibrell, who played for Port Angeles in the WCL in 2022, has five strikeouts in three innings so far with Central Oklahoma, making the full transition from infielder to pitcher.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

 

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Victoria HarbourCats – Lake returns to the ocean, one of six pitchers signed by HarbourCats

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2 weeks ago

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May 6, 2025

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Returning HarbourCat Shea Lake highlights six pitchers signed by the ‘Cats in preparation for the 2025 season  (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

For immediate release

May 6, 2025

VICTORIA, B.C. — It’s a second season in Victoria for right-hander Shea Lake — he liked it so much in 2024, he had to say yes to a return engagement.

The former Hawaii Pacific University pitcher, now at West Texas A&M where he was a redshirt this spring, returns to Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP for the 2025 season to work with pitching coach Scott Anderson.

“I am thrilled Shea, along with 10 returning pitchers will lead our pitching staff this summer,” said Anderson, in his third season under Head Coach Todd Haney. “The pitchers announced today are a great mix of proven college pitchers. They are excited to continue developing with our tremendous staff of pitching coaches and fired up to bring a championship to Victoria,” added Head Coach Todd Haney.

Lake had a 4.40 ERA last summer in five appearances, allowing just 10 hits in 16.1 innings pitched.

Announced to the roster today by Haney:

  • RHP John Ondus, Niagara, 6-2/215, R/R, Gowanda, NY
  • RHP Ethan McNish-Heider, Niagara, 6-4/215, R/R, El Cajon, CA
  • RHP Logan Salomon, Nevada-Reno, 6-5/230, R/R, Chandler, AZ
  • RHP Tyler Patrick, Fresno State, 6-1/215, R/R, Fresno, CA
  • RHP Shea Lake, West Texas A&M, 6-3/190, R/R, Temecula, CA
  • LHP/OF Tristin Thomas, West Texas A&M, 5-8/140, L/L, Carlsbad, NM

Lake is at West Texas A&M with Tristin Thomas, a redshirt freshman who is hitting .429 this season with one home run, while also throwing 12 innings off the mound.

In Ondrus and McNish-Heider, the HarbourCats get a pair of big right-handers who project as power pitchers at the college level — both are roughly a strikeout per inning, and are expected to provide proven experience in the bullpen.

Salomon is a large specimen at 6-5/230, and has had an impressive season — 31 innings pitched, and one five-inning relief outing in which he fanned nine batters, and another relief stint with seven strikeouts. He is 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA and one save.

Patrick, a high school star catcher and pitcher, is finishing his freshman season and is focusing on mound work. He’s thrown 25.1 innings with just eight walks, and has a 3.55 ERA.

The HarbourCats open their 2025 home schedule on Friday, June 6, with the Port Angeles Lefties visiting Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Season Tickets, 10 and 32-Game Flex Passes and Single Game Tickets are now on sale for all 33 home games and four “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

Tickets and merchandise can also be purchased in person at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or by calling 778-265-0327.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! The HarbourCats are in need to host families for the 2025 season! If you would love to host a collegiate level athlete for three months this summer and become an integral part of the HarbourCats family, please contact Host Family Coordinator Cindy Kent at hostfamily@harbourcats.com.  Compensation, grocery stipend and season tickets provided.  More details HERE

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