Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Victoria HarbourCats promote Stewart to GM position

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2023

Dugout Wire Service

Monday, February 13, 2023

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – The steady hand and sharp focus of a well-known photographer is now at the helm of the Victoria HarbourCats.

As the team celebrates its 10th anniversary, the HarbourCats are proud to announce that Christian Stewart has been elevated into the role of General Manager, effective immediately.

Jim Swanson, who has been the GM since September, remains in the daily active role of Managing Partner, with Chris Beveridge the Creative/On-Line Director, and John Pollard as Marketing Director. Curtis Pelletier, GM for the 2022 rebound-from-pandemic season, remains vital with the organization in roles of marketing, our Player’s Club youth programs and indoor facility, and Head Coach of the winter/spring collegiate Victoria Golden Tide.

The HarbourCats are also excited to announce Dave Garton as Assistant GM/Gameday Operations, and Cindy Kent will add even more fan-friendly aspects with her role as Host Family and Logistics Director. Tyler Green bridges the coaches/players and front office, and roster details, as Director of Player Personnel.

All will report to Swanson, and work side-by-side with Stewart.

“Christian has always been a great asset to the organization, known by many for his great work with our ticketing process and group sales, as well as team photography, but thanks to a past near 25-year career in government, environmental work, communications and consulting, has a keen business mind and has helped keep the ship going in the right direction through some difficult periods with recent global events,” said Swanson, who arrived as GM of the HarbourCats himself in the fall of 2013. “Christian’s belief and dedication to the HarbourCats dates back to the days before the team played its first game, when he was one of the very first employees hired, and he fully understands the program, and is tremendous in his interactions with our great fans and partners.”

Stewart, who grew up in Illinois, Indiana and Ontario, represented the HarbourCats organization at the WCL GM meetings recently in Portland.

“I’m excited to take more of a leadership role, and I’m thankful to our ownership group for their unwavering support even through the years we weren’t able to play,” said Stewart, well known and respected in the Victoria sports community through both his photography and past involvement in minor baseball and hockey. “No one can question our collective resolve. We’ve all had ideas on how to keep growing what we can do in this region, not just with our games and events but through what we do in the community and supporting others as we move forward.”

“The HarbourCats are fortunate to have the most devoted and enthusiastic fans in the West Coast League and in my new role, I will ensure that we continue to do our best to exceed their expectations,” added Stewart. “I want to make sure that all fans have the best possible experience when they come to the park.”

Stewart will continue to focus on various community partnerships, event planning, gameday operations, ticketing strategies, and merchandising programs, along with his top-notch photography and media relations acumen.

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The HarbourCats celebrate their 10th Anniversary in 2023 and the season kicks off with the home opener against the Kamloops NorthPaws on Friday June 2, 2023. Single game tickets for that game and all 31 HarbourCats home games in 2023 are now on sale and can be purchased on-line through our one-and-only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at harbourcats.com/tickets. They can also be purchased at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street, or at the Select Your Tickets box office at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Fans can also call 778-265-0327 to order over the phone.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale. For details on all ticketing options, including our special $10.00 Tuesdays, Forces Fridays and Save-on-Food Vouchers, please visit harbourcats.com/ticketinfo.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Cats rally falls short, Hawks win series

Published

1 day ago

August 11, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 10, 2025

For immediate release

EDMONTON, A.B.– The Victoria HarbourCats rallied late, scoring five runs in the ninth inning, but fell just short of a comeback as the Edmonton Riverhawks won 8-7 to advance to the North Division Final, ending the Cats’ season.

The Riverhawks wasted no time this afternoon, scoring six runs in the opening frame. A wild pitch brought home the first run, which was followed by two more coming home when a ground ball snuck past Jack Johnson (Tulane U) at first base. RBI singles from Jaxon Fox and James Cote, along with an RBI groundout, gave the hosts a huge 6-0 lead early.

The Cats started to claw their way back in the fourth inning when Dillon Lopez (St. Mary’s) and Jake Butler (George Mason) singled and found themselves in scoring position with two outs. On an 0-2 count, Isaiah Afework (TAMU-CC) split the left side of the infield to drive home both baserunners, cutting the Hawks’ lead to 6-2.

Tyler Patrick (Fresno State) started for Victoria, and after the whirlwind first inning, he settled in and kept the Hawks at bay, completing six innings allowing just one hit from the second to sixth innings, striking out four Hawks.

BOX SCORE

Garrett Villa (Angelo State) replaced Patrick and was one pitch away from escaping the seventh inning unscathed, but gave up a two-run single to Shiryu Sato, increasing the hosts’ lead to 8-2. Villa pitched two innings, giving up those two runs while striking out three.

Hawks starter Myles Chamberlain, who got the win last Monday in Victoria, pitching six innings, was once again dominant tonight. He pitched into the ninth inning, but after surrendering three singles to load the bases, his night came to an end after 8-1/3 innings pitched.

Austin Egan was his replacement, but he hit the first two batters he faced, which brought home two runs for Victoria and cut the lead down to 8-4. Tristan Buehring (Whitman College) made it 8-5 on a sacrifice fly, which brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the form of Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii). He smacked a double down the left field line to score a pair and make it a one-run ballgame. Brandon Craven replaced Egan and hit the first batter he faced, bringing up Lopez with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first. The designated hitter flew out to right field to end the game as the Cats’ comeback came up just short.

The Riverhawks will face the winner of tonight’s game three between the Bellingham Bells and Wenatchee AppleSox with a place in the West Coast League Championship game on the line.

For the second season in a row, the Cats fell in the deciding game in the first round of the playoffs, after losing to the AppleSox in 2024.

Thank you to all the best fans in the WCL for their incredible support all season long. The countdown to opening day in 2026 is on, and Todd Haney’s team will be more determined than ever to go all the way.

2026 SEASON TICKETS – Season ticket renewals and sales are now on for the 2026 season! Existing season ticket holders can log in to their Showpass account and navigate to the Memberships link, where they can easily renew their seats online. Members can also drop in or call the office at 778-265-0327, and we can process the renewal for them. New Season Ticket buyers can click HERE to purchase seats for 2026!

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Palmer dominates as Cats force decider

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

August 9, 2025

For immediate release

EDMONTON, A.B.– A three-run second inning proved to be the difference as the Victoria HarbourCats forced a series decider tomorrow afternoon, by beating the Edmonton Riverhawks 3-1.

Peter Tassler (MSU Denver), making his first appearance of the playoffs, drove in two runs with a clutch single in the top of the second to give the visitors an early 2-0 lead. Tristan Buehring (Whitman College), who was moved up to the leadoff spot tonight, hit an RBI single to right field to plate Connor Ross (Cal Baptist) and increase his team’s lead to 3-0.

Ryne Palmer (Cal Baptist) got the start for the Cats and produced exactly the type of start Todd Haney’s team needed. The flame-throwing right-hander held the Hawks batters to no runs until the bottom of the fifth, when Kyle Yip drove in Shiryu Sato on a two-out RBI single to make it 3-1.

BOX SCORE

Palmer threw seven innings, a season-high, giving up just one run on five hits, while striking out three.

The Cats had opportunities to increase their lead, producing nine hits on the night, but couldn’t find that clutch hit to drive their baserunners home.

Austin Lindsey (Hill College) replaced Palmer in the eighth inning to face the heart of the Hawks’ lineup, and he gave up a lone single before getting out of the inning. The right-hander was back out for the save opportunity in the ninth inning and allowed the first two runners to reach, putting the tying run on first. With the pressure on, the Lufkin, Texas native struck out two and got Sato to fly out to right field to end the ballgame.

WCL PLAYOFF SCORES

This sets up a winner-takes-all game three tomorrow afternoon in Edmonton. First pitch is at 1:05 PM local time, and 12:05 PM PST in Victoria. You can watch the game on HCats.tv.

The winner will advance to the North Division Finals that will be played against the winner of the Wenatchee AppleSox vs Bellingham Bells series.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Hemmerling tosses gem, Hawks win game one

Published

4 days ago

August 8, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

The HarbourCats were held to just four hits tonight (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

August 8, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. – Fueled by a complete game from starter Reece Hemmerling, the Edmonton Riverhawks cruised to a 6-1 win over the Victoria HarbourCats in game one of this best-of-three divisional playoff series.

Shea Lake (West Texas A&M), who was recently named one of two HarbourCats Pitchers-of-the-Year, was on the bump for the Cats and started strongly in the first inning. However, in the top of the second, the Hawks’ batters went to work. Anthony Kodama and Stevie Waters both hit RBI singles on the first pitch they saw to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

BOX SCORE

Trent Lenihan hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning to make it 3-0. Cats left fielder Isaiah Afework (TAMU-CC) could not have come any closer to robbing that homer, as the ball went in and out of his glove as he jumped and reached over the fence.

Kamana Nahaku had two hits, including his fifth home run of 2025 (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Lake completed four innings, giving up three runs on six hits, while striking out three and walking a pair. Meanwhile, Hemmerling was inducing soft contact all game long with his wipeout slider. Early on, there was a stretch where he retired nine Cats in a row, all while keeping his pitch count down.

Dustin Davidson (Freed Hardeman) was first out of the bullpen for Victoria and gave up two singles to begin the fifth inning. A sacrifice bunt attempt was then fielded by Davidson, but his attempted throw to get the lead runner at third was off the mark, sailing past his third baseman and allowing a fourth run to cross the plate. A wild pitch from the big lefty allowed a fifth run to score, which was followed by a bases-loaded walk to Waters, giving the Hawks a 6-0 advantage. Ethan McNish-Heider (Niagara) replaced him and got out of the bases-loaded jam on one pitch, getting Shiryu Sato to ground into an inning-ending double play.

WCL PLAYOFF SCORES

Hemmerling continued to dominate for Edmonton, allowing just three hits through eight innings of work. Kamana Nahaku (Hawaii) crushed a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to break the shutout and give the home fans something to cheer about. That was all Hemmerling gave up as he went the distance, pitching a complete game for the first time this season.

Shea Lake has been a workhorse all summer, pitching a total of 37.2 innings after tonight’s outing (Photo: Justin P. Morash)

Marcus Janovsky (UBC) pitched the final 3-1/3 innings for Victoria, giving up no runs on one hit, while striking out five.

Game two is tomorrow night at RE/MAX Field in Edmonton. First pitch is 7:05 PM local time, 6:05 PM PST. Hard-throwing right-hander Ryne Palmer is your HarbourCats projected starter. You can watch the game HERE or on the Edmonton Riverhawks YouTube channel.

For more updates, be sure to follow @HarbourCats on all social channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

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