Friday, March 29, 2024

HarbourCats golden during this “grand slam” year

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For Victoria sports fans, it simply does not get any better than this.

It may seem odd, but less than four weeks into the 2016 West Coast League (WCL) season, Victoria fans are already talking about the HarbourCats being playoff bound.

In the off-season, the WCL governors realigned the league into two divisions, and decided on a playoff design common in minor league baseball – the “split-season” format.  It means the season is divided into two parts, with each division winner of the first half of the season meeting the second-half winner in the first round of the playoffs.

With the HarbourCats off to a roaring 16-3 start in the 27-game first half, their “magic number” – a combination of future HarbourCats wins and the potential second-place finisher’s losses that guarantees them a playoff berth – is already at just 3.

And with the HarbourCats finishing up a Washington State swing with another games in Wenatchee tonight (Wednesday), followed by four straight home games, they could very well clinch their first-ever playoff appearance this weekend, or sooner.

This season has been touted as their “grand slam” year, their fourth year in the league. There is no doubt that it is shaping up to being their most successful season, on and off the field.  They are undefeated at home this season, and after overcoming some earlier less-than-ideal weather conditions for a few games, the crowds at Royal Athletic Park have responded to their current 15-game win streak, boosting their average home attendance to well over 2,000 per game this year.  And that’s with some of their biggest and most popular promotional game tie-ins still to come.

The four home games this week at Royal Athletic Park are:

THURSDAY, June 30th, 6:35pm game time vs. Kelowna Falcons – this is the first of three fireworks games this season, with a spectacular 17-minute show that follows the game’s last out.  The fireworks are courtesy of Castle Building Centres.

FRIDAY, July 1st, double-header, games at 1pm and again 30 minutes after the completion of the first game vs. Kelowna Falcons – the second game here is a make-up from a rain-out in Kelowna, so in that game, Victoria will bat first as the “away” team.  Just one admission price gets you one or both games.  An after-party for fans happens at the Yates Street Taphouse and gives the crowd an opportunity to meet and mingle with the HarbourCats front office staff, operations team, sponsors, and some of the players.  No cover charge, Yates Street Taphouse is at 759 Yates St., across from the Odeon Theatre.

Saturday, July 2nd, 6:35pm game time vs. Kelowna Falcons – fans are encouraged to bring socks to throw during the sock toss for Anawim House after the HarbourCats score their first run of the game.

TICKETS for all home games can be purchased at the HarbourCats office at 1814 Vancouver Street, near the park, or online at www.harbourcats.com.

 

 

 

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