Frankie Niemann (above left) and five other HarbourCats all played key roles in the North’s 14-1 win over the South in Tuesday night’s West Coast League All-Star game in Bend, Oregon (Photo: Christian . Stewart)

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

July 23, 2019, Bend, OR – The Victoria HarbourCats Parker Bramlett went 4 for 6 and teammate Jason Willow had a double and three RBIs, as the North defeated the South in decisive fashion, 14-1, Tuesday night in the 2019 West Coast League All-Star Game played in Bend, Oregon.

Victoria’s Parker Bramlett had four hits an RBI and a run scored in the North’s 14-1 win Tuesday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Bramlett and Willow were just two of the six HarbourCats who played in the game and who all made key contributions to the win, including notching eight of the 20 total hits for the North and scoring six of their 14 runs.

Pitcher Jack Hyde started the 2019 All-Star game for the North and came away with a scoreless first to get his team off and running (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Victoria’s Jack Hyde delivers a pitch at the 2019 West Coast League All-Star game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Willow started in left field for the North and he got the scoring started in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly and later had a two RBI double during the North’s nine-run second inning. He would also score a run before coming out of the game in the sixth inning.

A night after coming close to victory in the home run derby, Victoria’s Jason Willow had a double and three RBI in the 2019 WCL All-Star game (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Pitcher Jack Hyde started for the North and he had a very clean inning, giving up a hit and inducing a couple of ground outs to Bramlett, the starting shortstop, to come out of the inning unscathed.

Victoria’s Parker Bramlett (left) and Jason Willow (right) started at shortstop and leftfield respectively for the North on Tuesday night (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Nick Plaia, the starting right fielder, also got in on the second inning fun, reaching on an error that would also score Frankie Niemann from second base. Plaia would also walk and score in the 6th inning.

While Victoria’s Nick Plaia would not have a hit Tuesday, he would walk and reach on an error and score a pair of runs in the 14-1 North win (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Speaking of Niemann, he would get the start at catcher and did well to handle a pitching staff that only gave up three hits and one run over the first five innings of the game. He also contributed a hit and a walk and scored twice.

Victoria Catcher Frankie Niemann was solid behind the plate for the first five innings Tuesday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Bramlett looked to be heading for an MVP nod, going 4 for 4 with an RBI to start the game, but finished 4 for 6 on a solid night at the plate. He also made some key plays in the field to help his team out defensively, finishing the night with seven assists and being involved in two of the three double plays the North turned on the evening.

Victoria catcher Tyson Hays shares a comment with the home plate umpire after entering Tuesday’s game in the sixth inning (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Finally, Tyson Hays entered the game in the sixth, replacing Niemann behind the dish, and contributed immediately with a base hit in his very first at bat. He would also stroke a single in the ninth inning to finish two for two on the night.

Nick Plaia (left) is congratulated by Parker Bramlett (right) after scoring one of the North’s 14 runs Tuesday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The HarbourCats All-Stars will now enjoy another day in Bend before heading to Ridgefield, Washington where they will meet the rest of the team Thursday to begin a short, two-game road trip against the Raptors.

Tyson Hays strokes one of his two hits Tuesday evening (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The HarbourCats then return home SUNDAY to play a non-league game against the Burnaby Bulldogs at 1:00 pm and will then host the Cowlitz Black Bears for a three-game set starting Tuesday evening at Wilson’s Group Stadium.

GAME NOTES:  Game MVP went to Wenatchee’s Jack Machtolf, who went 4 for 5 with a double, walk, RBI and two runs scored.   Nine separate pitchers went for each team with the North’s Nick Proctor getting credit for the win and the South’s Gil Luna taking the loss.