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Victoria HarbourCats – Zack Downey Day 2: Golden Tide Remain Undefeated

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4 years ago

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Tide play 2-0 Victoria Eagles Saturday morning to decide top seed in tournament

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

September 10, 2021, Victoria, BC – After Day 2 of the Zack Downey Memorial Baseball Tournament at Layritz Park in Victoria, both the Victoria Eagles and the Victoria Golden Tide remain undefeated with perfect 2-0 records after winning their round robin games Friday.

The teams will now face each other Saturday morning at 9:30 am in a game that will decide the top seed for the tournament heading into Sunday’s semi-final games.

The Golden Tide’s Brandon Green had a triple, two singles, a walk, RBI and run scored to lead the Tide offence to their 8-1 win (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The Eagles began the day with a tidy 5-1 win over the Parksville Royals, getting a jump early as a two-RBI triple from Jai Berezowski in the first inning gave them an early lead. They would add two more runs in the third and another in the fourth to put the game away.

Damian Cataldo led the way with a walk, base hit and two runs scored to pace the offence, while Oliver Mabee had an RBI and a run scored. Quin Valley and Noah Couch scored the other runs for the Eagles.

Nick Lee got the start for the Golden Tide against Saskatchewan (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Jacob Thompson got the start for the Eagles and he was solid through four innings. Wyatt MacDonald also saw work in relief.

The Golden Tide kept their record clean with an 8-1 win over the visiting Saskatchewan Grizzlies High Performance team.

Brandon Green was the sparkplug for the Tide, with a pair of singles, a triple, walk, RBI and two runs scored. Chase Thomson also had a pair of hits, an RBI and run scored, while Andrew Baxter walked twice, reached on an error and scored.

Tide shortstop Brandon Green shadows a Saskatchewan baserunner (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The Tide opened the scoring in the second, taking advantage of an error and then an RBI double from Jackson Cordle that the Grizzly outfielder lost in the sun. Cordle then scored on an RBI single from Green.

The Tide’s Colton O’Brien slides safely into second during the game against the Grizzlies (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

They would add two more in the third on RBI singles from Thomson and Colton O’Brien, and then put the game away with three more in the fourth and another in the fifth.

Chase Thomson (right) is congratulated by Brandon Green left) after scoring in the third inning Saturday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Nick Lee got the start on the hill for the Tide and after a shaky first inning, he re-grouped to strikeout three of the last four batters he faced in his two innings of work. Tristian Seitz and Brett Patterson also pitched two innings of relief each for the Tide.

Tide reliever Tristan Seitz delivers a pitch against Saskatchewan (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

In other games Friday, the Parksville Royals (1-1) handed the Mid-Island Pirates their second loss of the tournament, winning 2-0, while the Victoria Mariners 0-2) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Saskatchewan Grizzlies (1-1) in the final game of the day.

The Tide’s Chase Thomson had a pair of hits against Saskatchewan (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

On Saturday, the Eagles and Golden Tide game starts the day off at 9:30am. Saskatchewan then plays Parksville at 12 Noon and the Mariners will play the Mid-Island Pirates at 2:30 pm. Then at 5:00 pm, the 5th place finishing team will play the 6th place finishing game in the consolation game of the tournament.

Golden Tide reliever Brett Patterson delivers a pitch against Saskatchewan (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

On Sunday, 2nd place seed will play the 3rd place seed in the first semi-final at 10:00 am, while the 1st place seed will match up against the 4th place seed at 12:30 pm. The winners of those games will meet in the final scheduled for 3:00 pm.

The Tide’s Dexter Stoiber makes a nice catch of a sinking line drive late in Saturday’s game against Saskatchewan (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

All photos from the Zack Downey Tournament by photographer Christian J. Stewart will eventually be posted following the tournament at https://christianjstewart.zenfolio.com/f925315517

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Summer Collegiate

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

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4 days ago

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May 13, 2025

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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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