Victoria baseball fans are in for another treat this week.
While our local HarbourCats squad fell just one single win short of a post-season run this year, the baseball calendar is not yet complete for the season at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
This week will see the best men’s baseball teams from across the country arrive for the annual Baseball Canada Men’s Championship, hosted for a second straight, and final year by Victoria.
The bulk of the tournament games will be played at downtown’s Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP, including all games featuring the host Victoria team.
Fan favourites
The British Columbia representatives are the Coquitlam Angels this year. Top teams from Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia also participate.
“The caliber is very, very high. Fans will be impressed. Essentially these are all-star teams made up of the best active baseball players – period – in each represented province, including some former pro players”, says Jim Swanson, HarbourCats managing partner. The HarbourCats facilitate the hosting of the tournament, with all the organizing coordinated by a dedicated volunteer board, this year headed by tournament chair Dave Cockle.
The opening event is a home-run derby taking place this Wednesday night (August 22nd) at 6pm at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP. Not only will the best sluggers from each national championship team take part, but the showcase will also feature youth players from around Victoria launching long-balls in their own competitions. Entry for the home-run derby is only $5. Then the tournament gets underway on Thursday morning, and games run all day right through Sunday.
Feature games include Victoria taking to the field at 7 pm on Thursday, as well as 12 noon and 7 pm Friday, and 2 pm Saturday at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP.
“We’ve made the gate pricing very affordable. A tournament pass that gives fans access to every game (26 games) is only $75, and single games are as low as $8”, says Swanson. Playoff games that take place on Saturday and Sunday are just $10 admission. Full-day passes are also available.
The Victoria team roster includes three former professional players and eight former HarbourCats. A total of eighteen Vancouver Island players are expected to join the Victoria team. This year Jim Swanson will step in to coach the team, with the HarbourCats Troy Birtwistle joining him in the home-side dugout.
The full tournament game schedule can be found here.
More about the teams, the tournament, and tickets can be found on the HarbourCats website, here.
Baseball Canada Men’s Championship
- When: Aug 22-26 (see full schedule)
- Where: Wilson’s Group Stadium and Lambrick Park
