Summer Collegiate

Waters Goes Deep Again, NightOwls Solid in Win Over Kelowna

Published

9 months ago

July 9, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — The Nanaimo NightOwls are developing the ability to hammer on the gas pedal, but make no mistake it’s Wylie Waters controlling the steering wheel.

The second-year NightOwls infielder hit his second three-run home run in as many nights, leading Nanaimo to an 11-5 home-field victory over the visiting Kelowna Falcons, a game played Tuesday night at historic Serauxmen Stadium.

Waters cleared the wall in left field yet again as part of a seven-run fourth inning that put the NightOwls in the driver’s seat on a night with absolutely perfect baseball weather.

The crowd of 1,325 on hand, many excited for a chance to win Taylor Swift concert tickets at the games this week, with the draw on Wednesday during the series finale, also witnessed the first WCL home run by catcher Clark Springs.

Boxscore

Waters, a no-brainer all-star selection for the league’s showcase game next week, finished 3-4 with a double, his long ball, and four runs driven in, while fellow all-star Nevan Noonan was 2-4 with an RBI.

Waters has six home runs this season — he leads the WCL, and has set the team single-season home run record. He’s the franchise leader in career bombs with eight.

Waters is hitting .330, and Michael Easter now has a .341 average following his 1-4 night, the hit a double. Mitchell Middlemiss was 2-5 with an RBI as six different NightOwls drove in runs. The teams both had 10 hits and committed two errors.

Standings

Jake Fleury, the first arm out of the bullpen, earned the win with four outs and no runs scored, giving up one hit and striking out one. Starter Caden Pearlman went three and two-thirds scoreless innings, giving up two hits, three walks, and fanning three.

Lawson Minshew, Fareed Ahmed, Kai Hanasaki and Grant Jakobson also worked in relief.

NightOwls TV WCL Pixellot

The NightOwls are now 15-16 on the season and tied for a playoff spot, and tied for the North Division lead for the second half with Kamloops and Wenatchee.

The NightOwls had a comfortable 10-0 lead after two runs in the third, seven in the fourth, and one more in the fifth. Kelowna scored two each in the sixth and seventh to show a bit of life, but it wasn’t enough.

The series concludes Wednesday in one of the most-anticipated promotional dates in NightOwls history when tickets to the game will earn an entry into the draw for the hugely-coveted Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert tickets, with her show slated for Vancouver in December. Concert tickets are selling for more than $5,000, and main sponsor Maxxam Insurance has made it possible for Nanaimo baseball fans to have a chance to win two tickets.

Wednesday will be the last chance to enter — and also the night of the draw.

Tickets are available online, at the gate, or get general admission vouchers at all Save On Foods locations in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Parksville. The NightOwls are expecting more strong crowds after setting a franchise record on Monday, July 1 with 3,127 in attendance for the Canada Day Classic doubleheader and fireworks show.

Tickets

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – Middle infield combo, power corner infielders added by HarbourCats

Published

6 days ago

March 24, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

Above: Infielder Jake Butler from George Mason University should be a key cog in the middle infield for the HarbourCats in 2025.

March 24, 2025

For Immediate Release

VICTORIA — It’s always a bonus to find a double-play combo from the same school, especially one as strong as George Mason University (GMU).

The Victoria HarbourCats are excited to add middle infielders Owen Clyne, who starts at short, and Jake Butler, his usual counterpart at second but also able to play third, from GMU — the school that provided star catcher Connor Dykstra, who signed in July with the Seattle Mariners.

“This group we are announcing today, we will be counting on them to lead key parts of our team this summer,” said HarbourCats GM Christian Stewart.

“Butler and Clyne are impressing everyone this spring, and JC Allen from UC San Diego is off to a strong start as well. Our offense just got even stronger with these four signings, and you know (head coach) Todd Haney will get the most out of them.”

Announced as signed today, by Coach Haney:

IF Owen Clyne, George Mason, L/R, 6-2/185, Wichita, KS
IF Jake Butler, George Mason, R/R, 5-11/185. Towson, MD
IF JC Allen, UC San Diego, R/R, 6-4/210, Irvine, CA
IF/OF Curtis McKay, Niagara, R/R, 6-3/205, Dorchester, ON

Clyne, batting .363, has 28 RBIs in 24 games so far this season, with three home runs, nine extra-base hits and more walks than strikeouts. Butler has 35 runs driven in and is batting .326 with a .457 on-base clip in 20 games.

UC SanDiego’s JC Allen is another player who should see plenty of playing time in the HarbourCats infield in 2025.

Allen is off to a huge start at the D1 level, after two years at Saddleback College, with six home runs and 24 RBIs in his first 22 games for UC SAN Diego. He hit 13 bombs in his second season at Saddleback. He can play either corner infield spot, or get his bat active in the DH role.

McKay, from Ontario, can play corner infield or outfield, is batting .303 with four home runs and an RBI per game (22 total) over 18 starts at Niagara.

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 – FINAL NOTICE! 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 MONDAY, March 31 will be released and placed back into the system. Contact Christian at the office at 778-265-0327 to renew.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – KidSport celebrating notable anniversary with HarbourCats in 2025

Published

2 weeks ago

March 18, 2025

Dugout Wire Service

March 18, 2025

For immediate release

VICTORIA, B.C. — Count ’em, 25 years of helping youth enjoy sports.

KidSport Greater Victoria is teaming up with the Victoria HarbourCats to celebrate an amazing 25 years of assisting kids in the pursuit of both participation and excellence in local sports, with planned events this summer at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

And, not the least of which is the June 19 KidSport Greater Victoria School Spirit Game, a Thursday matchup starting at 11am featuring the HarbourCats and island rival Nanaimo NightOwls, with many schools all but emptying to take in the action and helping celebrate this tremendous achievement for KidSport Greater Victoria.

“We can’t think of a better community organization to have involved with this, the KidSport School Spirit game,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the HarbourCats.

“This will be a season-long theme of celebration, of reminding our fans of the great work they do and have done for so long in Victoria. Each and every game, people will have an opportunity to show their support for KidSport Greater Victoria, including a few special events outside this School Spirit Game.”

This will be the second Thursday game in a row in the HarbourCats home schedule in 2025 which will be dedicated to kids — on June 12, the Mayfair Optometric School Spirit Game will take place, also an 11am start featuring the HarbourCats and NightOwls. KidSport Greater Victoria and Mayfair Optometric Clinic are aligned with community values and supporting youth, making this an ideal match to welcome a combined total of more than 5,000 school kids to the park.

“We are so grateful for the past and ongoing support the HarbourCats have offered KidSport, and very excited about the various ways our organizations will work together this year,” said Jill Shaw, Executive Director of KidSport Greater Victoria. “Demand for our support is at an all-time high. We are seeing more families than ever coming to us in need of help so their children can access organized sport. The HarbourCats June 19th School Spirit Game is a great opportunity both to raise awareness about the work we do, and to offer local kids great access to another fun and rewarding local sport experience – we are very happy to be involved!”

KidSport Greater Victoria will also be front and centre on Harvey’s Birthday Game on July 11 at Wilson’s Group Stadium, and will be involved in other special games that are still to be announced.

Supporting KidSport will be a constant theme of the HarbourCats in this 2025 West Coast League season. The HarbourCats encourage all who can to contribute to this great cause, which you can action by clicking this link (https://www.kidsportvictoria25.ca/).

KidSport Greater Victoria has seen tremendous growth over the last 25 years, with demand for their support increasing very steeply starting in 2023 in particular. KidSport Greater Victoria exists to help ensure all kids have opportunity to play; annually they cover the registration fees for well over 1400 local kids living in financial need, enabling them to take part in seasons of sport of their choice – including baseball! As the largest KidSport chapter in the province, we know that on just about every sports team in the region, there are children playing who are able to take part thanks to KidSport and the supporters and donors who make their work possible.

To order tickets as a school group for the June 19 KidSport Greater Victoria School Spirit Game, or the June 12 Mayfair Optometric Clinic School Spirit Game, contact GM Christian Stewart, chris@harbourcats.com — some seats are left, but not many!

For fans looking for tickets for these exciting games, and any other HarbourCats game in 2025, visit the HarbourCats ticketing site HERE.

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