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Victoria HarbourCats – Victoria Fire Local 730 and HarbourCats, Golden Tide baseball teams team up for summer show of support

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February 3, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VICTORIA, BC — Teamwork is needed in fighting fires, as it is on a baseball diamond.

It’s also needed in the community — and that’s why the Victoria Firefighters Association Local 730 of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the West Coast League’s Victoria HarbourCats, along with the collegiate Victoria Golden Tide of the CCBC, are teaming up for a meaningful symbolic partnership that will run through the 2025 season.

“With the recent devastation we are seeing in Los Angeles, and the wildfires that have decimated areas on our side of the border — I think of Jasper this past summer, among others — it’s important for us all to show support for those who do the dangerous work of keeping us safe,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats. “We are open supporters of all first responders and military in our area, the people who take the risk to serve our communities.

“Victoria firefighters are true heroes in our community, and deserve our thanks, respect and recognition.”

The IAFF membership across North America includes more than 350,000 who put themselves in harm’s way to save lives and property — the very definition of teamwork.

This summer, HarbourCats players will wear Victoria Firefighter Union hats during batting practice and workouts, and will choose selected games to take them into action. The Golden Tide will do the same this spring with college home games in the CCBC.

The hats will be produced locally by HarbourCats merchandise and apparel partner Passion Sports, located in downtown Victoria on Government Street, working with General Manager Dylan Marsden and owner Greg Wallis.

“Our people truly appreciate the support we get from so many people in the community, and the HarbourCats have been strong partners for so many,” said Union president Jeremy Wilson. “We will be proud to see our logo on the field with both the HarbourCats and Golden Tide.”

The fires in LA have been a stark reminder to all how important it is to do all we can to be ready for anything — the devastation of such a populated area has stunned everyone.

The Golden Tide start their season in late March, while 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 three “Showcase” events through the HarbourCats new and one-and-only ticketing partner SHOWPASS at harbourcats.com/tickets.

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

ATTENTION 2024 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS:  If you have not already done so, please renew your seats for 2025 so that they can be locked into the new ticketing system.  Season Tickets will be sent to all members electronically this season on April 1, 2025, perhaps sooner.  Any seats not renewed by that time will be released and placed back into the system. Contact Christian at the office at 778-265-0327 to renew.

For more information, contact:

Christian Stewart, GM, Victoria HarbourCats
chris@harbourcats.com

Jeremy Wilson, President, Victoria Firefighters Union
presidentlocal730@gmail.com

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Dudes Claim Game Two 9-5

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Victoria, B.C. – The Cats and Dudes faced off again on Wednesday evening, with Redmond taking a 9-5 victory this time.

It was the Dudes’ turn to strike first tonight. Victoria starting pitcher Carson Ackermann (Tacoma) got two outs in the top of the first before watching a ball sail over the left field fence for the first run of the ballgame. The top of the Cats lineup was quick to answer with a leadoff double by Hayden Woodson (USC), a stolen base, and a Logan Shepherd (Mercer) sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run in the bottom of the first inning.

BOX SCORE

Redmond came close to taking back the lead in the top of the second, but the go-ahead run was gunned down at the plate on a laser beam from Rohne Klein (San Jose State) in left field. Although the Dudes were kept scoreless, Ackermann’s command noticeably wavered in his second inning of work, inspiring a pitching change for the Cats.

Pierce Stone (Regis) appeared on the mound in the top of the third. After a couple of Cats errors led to a go-ahead run for the Dudes, Stone held strong and left the rubber with the Cats down 2-1. The sidewinder returned for the fourth and let another run slip by, but a bizarre Redmond baserunning gaffe somehow resulted in a double-rundown to end the frame.

Photo by JPM Photography

Proven clutch performer Matt Westley (George Mason) drew the score back to even in the bottom of the fourth. Following a couple of stolen bases to create an RISP opportunity, the third baseman sizzled a ball through the infield to tie the game at three.

Hunter Daniels (Phoenix) took control of the mound to kick off the fifth inning, and was immediately greeted by a solo homer to put Redmond back in the lead. The freshman had a shaky inning, walking two batters in a row, but managed to end the frame without surrendering another run. Daniels ran into more trouble in the form of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, walking in three runs to widen the Dudes’ lead to 7-3.

Finn Vlahovic (Collegiate Cats) made his HarbourCats debut in the top of the seventh, working quickly to complete a clean inning. That solid frame paved the way for a Jax Heid (Southeast Oklahoma State) solo blast in the bottom of the seventh to chip away at the lead.

The Cats looked dangerous in the bottom of the eighth, finding themselves with runners on second and third with no outs. Victoria’s offence only scraped together one run on the opportunity though, scoring on a groundout to second base.

Local catcher Jai Berezowski (Victoria Collegiate) made his pitching debut in the top of the ninth inning for the Cats. The backstop-turned-bullpen arm stunned with two straight strikeouts to shut down the Dudes.

Victoria tried and failed to get a rally going in the bottom of the ninth, sealing a 9-5 win for Redmond.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats finish off the exhibition series on Thursday morning for an 11:05 School Spirit Game!

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 Prevails in 17-7 Victory Over Redmond

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Hayden Woodson (USC) and many others crossed the plate for the Cats tonight. (Photo by JPM Photography)

Victoria, B.C. – The home team put on a show tonight in a decisive 17-7 defeat of the Redmond Dudes.

The HarbourCats were thankful for the invention of the batting helmet in the first inning. After loading the bases with one out in the opening frame, Redmond pitching walked two batters and plunked three in a row, inviting a parade of runners across the plate. The Cats were more than happy to trade ice packs for runs, taking an early 5-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Cats starter Asher Clark (Northern Colorado) looked much more controlled, but a line drive to right field drove in Redmond’s first run in the top of the second inning.

It was a full team effort tonight to take away the win. (Photo by JPM Photography)

The onslaught continued for the HarbourCats in their second wave at the plate. A couple of bases loaded walks and singles from Carter Eberhard (Cal Baptist) and Logan Shepherd (Mercer) vaulted the score to 11-1 by the time the dust settled on the second inning.

Redmond fought back once again in the very next inning on the watch of Tate Collins (Arkansas State). The Dudes wrangled two more runs by way of a double off the wall to right field, but still found themselves on the wrong end of an 11-3 ballgame.

The Dudes continued to chip away throughout the middle innings, but were fended off by Collins and Marcus Janovsky (UBC) for the most part. Janovsky in particular put on a reliable performance this evening, striking out three Dudes and giving up one hit in just under two innings of work.

Marcus Janovsky had one of his best outings of the season, tallying three strikeouts. (Photo by JPM Photography)

A seemingly routine single by Logan Shepherd turned into trouble for the Dudes when aggressive baserunning and an errant throw combined. Jax Heid blazed his way around to third base and managed to dash home, scoring lucky number 13 for the Cats.

Flynn Warren (Hawaii Pacific) was tapped in to pitch the seventh and eighth innings, conceding a couple of runs before handing the ball off to Anson Stuckly (Texas A&M Corpus Christi). Stuckly closed it out with a smooth ninth inning and the HarbourCats vacated the field with a 17-7 win.

WCL STANDINGS

The Cats and Dudes do battle twice more this week, once on Wednesday night at 6:35 pm and again on Thursday at 11:05 am for School Spirit Day!

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 – Kids Major Focus of WCL All-Star Game Festival

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Victoria baseball and softball organizations combine with HarbourCats and WCL to host largest baseball camp in city’s history. (Photo by Christian J Stewart)

Victoria, B.C. – Baseball is HOT right now in these parts, thanks to an unforgettable World Series run by the Toronto Blue Jays and record success for Canada at the World Baseball Classic, not to mention the amazing Canadian Little League tournament hosted by Layritz last July.

It’s also hot around here because of the continued success of the Victoria HarbourCats in the market, along with record registration numbers with many local organizations for this spring and summer.

Hosting the 2026 Showpass West Coast League All-Star Game Festival at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park gives all local baseball and softball organizations a chance to bond together and take that excitement to the next level with the largest baseball camp in the history of the city planned for parks in the area.

On Wednesday, July 15, from 9 am to noon, baseball organizations around South Vancouver Island will be hosting concurrent camps, just hours before the best of the West Coast League take to the field in the All-Star Game.

“This is a perfect opportunity to bring everyone to the fields, at the same time, and show the spirit of community and power of sport through the strong numbers involved in local baseball — and provide a development opportunity for young players,” said co-chair Dave Cockle, helping lead the youth baseball camps component for the WCL All-Star Game organizing committee. “The goal is to be fully inclusive, affordable, and have all of us in the baseball sphere working together. We think everyone will get behind this, and most already have.”

HarbourCats players and coaches will spread out to the various camp sites around the South Vancouver Island area — the usual Sooke-to-Sidney descriptive for blanket coverage. All ages can register through their catchment organization (see below).

Partnerships are in place to provide each camper a t-shirt, thanks to Victoria author, historian, and philanthropist Helen Edwards, and support also coming through A&W, and the guidance of the hard-working leadership of the provincial sport organization, Baseball BC. It is hoped all Little League, BC Minor and Softball BC organizations will take part in this meaningful and symbolic camps coalition.

The cost per camper will be $40, with all those proceeds staying with the host baseball/softball organization.

Organizations that have jumped on with excitement:

With more associations joining soon!

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) or visit https://harbourcats.com/wcl/

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