Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Victoria HarbourCats promote Stewart to GM position

Published

1 year 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

Arm injuries in pro and college baseball — NightOwls make organizational statement

Published

8 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Heimueller has served as a minor league pitching coach and coordinator for many MLB organizations, most recently with the Padres. He has World Series rings for his work with the Twins and Phillies.

With the NightOwls, Gorm has enjoyed working with them all — but especially strong-command pitchers such as Nathan Buchan, Garrett Goodall, Jake Fleury and Josh Laukkanen.

“Gorm loves to say he’s never seen a ground ball leave the park,” said Swanson.

“We see athletes on our team and others using max effort rather than prioritizing strikes — that makes for longer games, too, another focus in baseball. If someone can throw 97, with healthy actions and commanding the baseball, that’s great — but few can and let’s stop turning our backs on pitchers who can get people out with pitch location as the priority.

“There is too much focus on radar gun ratings, on spin rate readouts, and Gorm and our coaching staff will be developing and rewarding pitchers who locate pitches and get batters out.”

The NightOwls are excited about the player roster for the coming season, and the mix of pitchers on the roster — different styles, to create different looks and get the 27 outs required to win games.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – 2024 Season Ticket Pick-up Event

Published

8 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

WE ARE BACK! 2024 Season Tickets Available for Pick-Up

May 17, 2024

We are inviting all season ticket holders, host families, and fans to join us for our annual “MAX MIXER” Season Ticket Holder Pick Up Event on Tuesday, May 28th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at MAX FURNITURE at 3460 Quadra St. in Victoria.

WHAT: Season Ticket Pick-Up and Pre-Season Mixer
WHERE: MAX FURNITURE – 3460 Quadra St.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 28th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Come meet your fellow fans, grab your season tickets, and mingle with HarbourCats staff and Harvey the HarbourCat as we kickoff the 2024 season.

There will be ticket and merchandise deals offered exclusively at the event.

NO RSVP required but if you have any questions, please contact the HarbourCats office at 778-265-0327.

If you can’t make the event, you can pick up your tickets at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street. Open M-F 9AM to 5PM, and Saturdays 10AM to 4PM.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – HarbourCats unveil new home uniform for the 2024 season

Published

1 day ago

May 16, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Jai Berezowski and Jalen Sami show off new Expos-inspired uniform for the 2024 season

May 16, 2024

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Familiar colours for a familiar Coach, as the HarbourCats unveil new uniforms

Our tribute to Head Coach Todd Haney, the 2023 WCL Coach of the Year, and his dedication to our organization and the City of Victoria, will be on full display — the former Montreal Expos infielder, and our Pitching Coach Scott Anderson, who was in the Expos organization as a minor league pitcher, are the inspiration behind our new HOME WHITE uniforms, which we think our fans will love, made possible by our incredible partners at Save-On-Foods!

Save-On-Foods

“We’re not sure that even Head Coach Haney realizes how much of the very fabric of our team he has come to represent, and we hope this small gesture comes close to giving back what he’s given to our fans, players and staff over the years” – Managing Partner Jim Swanson

Fans will have their first chance to view the new uniforms at the HarbourCats home opener this season, as we play the Wenatchee Applesox on June 7th.

Tickets are already going fast, so get yours today at HarbourCats.com/Tickets

The HarbourCats open on the road May 31 in Kamloops, the start of back-to-back series in Kamloops and Kelowna, before returning for the June 7 home opener against Wenatchee. The HarbourCats will be on the road this summer in Kamloops, Kelowna, Edmonton, Wenatchee, Ridgefield, Port Angeles, Bellingham, and six games in Nanaimo against the Island-rival NightOwls at Serauxmen Stadium. Teams visiting Victoria this year are Wenatchee, Nanaimo, Bellingham, Port Angeles, Kelowna, Edmonton (two series), Kamloops and Corvallis, along with non-league games against the Redmond Dudes, Dub Sea Fish Sticks, the SIBL All-Stars, and Victoria Mavericks All-Stars.

The regular season runs until August 7, with WCL playoffs running from August 10 to August 16.

Single game tickets are now available for the HarbourCats 2024 season including the home opener on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6:35pm against the Kamloops NorthPaws. These can be purchased online through our one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at www.harbourcats.com/tickets or at the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

Season tickets and 10-game flex packs are also now on sale via the HarbourCats office or by calling 778-265-0327.

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