#SeasonVI Starts With Six at Home

See it online — http://harbourcats.com/calendar/

VICTORIA B.C. – A balanced schedule with strong weekend and daytime dates is being announced today by the Victoria HarbourCats, as the franchise enters its sixth season (#seasonVI) in the West Coast League – a schedule that sees the team playing at home each weekend in June, five straight Sunday afternoons at home, and holiday weekends, among other features.

The release of the schedule allows the team’s front-office staff to start setting up the popular 50-50 fundraising opportunities and solidify important promotional nights at Royal Athletic Park. It also allows Head Coach Brian McRae and his newly-named coaching staff of Troy Birtwistle, Todd Haney, Ian Sanderson and Jason Leone to begin planning workout dates and travel logistics.

The HarbourCats will again play out of the North Division, joining the Bellingham Bells, Kelowna Falcons, Port Angeles Lefties, Wenatchee AppleSox and Yakima Valley Pippins. The HarbourCats and Falcons are the lone Canadian teams in the WCL.

The South Division is comprised of the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, Cowlitz Black Bears, Walla Walla Sweets and the newest league addition, the Portland Pickles, who replace the Gresham Greywolves.

The HarbourCats will open the WCL regular season at home with a June 1-2-3 (Fri-Sat-Sun) series against Wenatchee, then take a day off and face the Yakima Valley Pippins at home June 5-6-7 (Tues-Wed-Thurs). The Thursday game, June 7, will be the annual SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME, dedicated to students, and will start at 11:35am.

The Coquitlam Angels, Team BC for the 2018 Baseball Canada Men’s Championship at RAP this coming August, will be at RAP for games on June 9-10 (Sat-Sun).

The first road series for the HarbourCats won’t require a border crossing — a trip to Kelowna, June 12-13-14 (Tues-Wed-Thurs). That’s followed by a home series against the JDF Straight-rival Port Angeles Lefties, June 15-16-17 (Fri-Sat-Sun), the final day being the annual Coca-Cola Father’s Day home game.

At this time, 29 home games and 27 road games are confirmed, with an additional five home games nearing completion (May 30, July 5-6, and July 28-29). Without adding playoffs, that will give local baseball fans at least 34 home games, and 61 games overall in a 69-day span.

The HarbourCats continue to work closely with the North Park Neighbourhood Association and four FIREWORKS DATES have been put in place:

*-Saturday, June 2

*-Saturday, June 30 (Pre-Canada Day)

*-Friday, July 20

*-Monday, August 6 (B.C. Day long weekend)

“This is a schedule we think our fans will really like, in how spread out the home games are and how we’ll be able to make so many special events come to life,” said Jim Swanson, the Managing Partner of the HarbourCats. “Fundraising groups, corporate partners and season ticket holders are always eager to get the schedule so they can set aside the dates.”

Season tickets continue to be sold, and individual game tickets will go on sale by the end of the week, both at the team office (1814 Vancouver St) and on-line.

Other highlights include — The new Portland Pickles will be in Victoria for the final home series, August 6-8, which will include Shirt Off Our Backs Night and Fan Appreciation Night… the Kelowna Falcons are in Victoria for the Canada Day weekend… the 2017 WCL final rematch in Victoria with the Corvallis Knights is slated for July 18-20 at RAP, right after the all-star break July 16-17… The WCL all-star game will be played July 17 in Port Angeles, with two days of festivities around that… The only team the HarbourCats do not visit this year — the Portland Pickles. All WCL teams except the Cowlitz Black Bears will be in Victoria… The HarbourCats will wear the historic Victoria Mussels jerseys for two home games, dates to be determined.

The playoff structure remains the same, with two halves — winners of each half in each division advance to the WCL post-season

The team’s pocket schedule will be out shortly, and major promotional dates and activities will be announced in the new year. The schedule appears at http://harbourcats.com/calendar/, with an I-Calendar option to add it to your smart phone or tablet.

Most home games will continue to be 6:35pm starts, with Sundays and some special games being 1pm first pitch. The annual SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME will be an 11:35am start time on Thursday, June 7.

The WCL All-Star Game is set for July 16-17 at Port Angeles.

2018 VICTORIA HARBOURCATS SCHEDULE

Exhibition game, Wednesday, May 30 at RAP, vs. Port Angeles Lefties

Exhibition game, Thursday, May 31, at Port Angeles Lefties

 HOME OPENING WEEKEND — June 1-2-3 (Fri-Sat-Sun), vs. Wenatchee

HOME, June 5-6-7 (Tues-Wed-Thurs), vs. Yakima Valley Pippins

HOME, June 9-10 (Sat-Sun), vs. Coquitlam Angels

Road, June 12-13-14 (Tues-Wed-Thurs), at Kelowna Falcons

HOME, June 15-16-17 (Fri-Sat-Sun), vs. Port Angeles Lefties

Road, June 18-19-20 (Mon-Tues-Wed), at Bend Elks

HOME, June 22-23-24 (Fri-Sat-Sun), vs. Bellingham Bells

Road, June 25-26-27 (Mon-Tues-Wed), at Walla Walla Sweets

HOME, June 29-20-July1 (Fri-Sat-Sun), vs. Kelowna Falcons

Road, July 2-3-4 (Mon-Tues-Wed), at Bellingham Bells (end of first half)

HOME, July 5-6 (Thurs-Fri), team TBA

Road, July 7-8-9 (Sat-Sun-Mon), at Corvallis Knights

HOME, July 10-11-12 (Tues-Wed-Thurs), vs. Bend Elks

Road, July 13-14-15 (Fri-Sat-Sun), at Cowlitz Black Bears

**July 16-17 — WCL All-star Game festivities, at Port Angeles

HOME, July 18-19-20 (Wed-Thurs-Fri), vs. Corvallis Knights

Road, July 21-22-23 (Sat-Sun-Mon), at Port Angeles Lefties

HOME, July 24-25-26 (Tues-Wed-Thurs), vs. Walla Walla Sweets

HOME, July 28-29 (Sat-Sun), team TBA

Road, July 31-Aug1-2 (Tues-Wed-Thurs), at Yakima Valley Pippins

Road, Aug 3-4-5 (Fri-Sat-Sun), at Wenatchee AppleSox

HOME, Aug 6-7-8 (Mon-Tues-Wed), vs. Portland Pickles

Playoffs — first round, Aug 9-11; WCL championship, Aug 13-17.

MILITARY MONTH, NOVEMBER

In November, we salute our troops, their service, thanks to Galaxy Motors and Wilson’s Group of Companies. With Remembrance Day now behind us, the HarbourCats are excited to announce that all military members and families are eligible for two-for-one 2018 season tickets this month – contact the team office for information, 1814 Vancouver St., 778-265-0327, or email brad@harbourcats.com

NEW MERCHANDISE IN

The HarbourCats are starting to stock the shelves for Christmas with some new hat, t-shirt and knick-knacks arriving recently. Decorative Christmas balls, team mugs, lanyards and other items are due to arrive. The new Island Proud t-shirts, along with some ladies styles, are in the shop now and for sale.

GREAT TEACHERS CONTEST

The HarbourCats continue to take nominations for the Great Teachers Contest, sponsored by Mayfair Optometric Clinic. The winner for October was Mr. Borich, who teaches a Grade 2 class at Eagle View Elementary, and his whole class will be our guests at the annual SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME on June7, a special 11:35am start time.

Each month until May, the HarbourCats will select a teacher, whose class will be guests of Mayfair Optometric Clinic at the team’s annual School Spirit Game – a day-game on June 7, slated for an 11:35am start.

To nominate a great teacher, email a submission to greatteachers@harbourcats.com

SEASON TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

The HarbourCats have seen an uptick in season ticket purchases, and as corporate partnerships are completed, the selection of season ticket locations and single-game walkup options is getting less and less. Seats in the Diamond Club, the two-year-old on-field section are sold out, but there remain available seats in the padded/served Campbell Real Estate Club Section, and in the Main Grandstand.

To buy season tickets, or to see the new merchandise coming in this fall, call the office (778-265-0327) or stop in at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.

OFFICE HOURS

With the off-season now upon us, the team’s office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street will see reduced hours through the end of November. Expanded hours will be announced for December as fans look to make tickets and merchandise a big part of their gift planning.

MONDAY-FRIDAY – Noon-6pm

SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Closed (Except by appointment)

Brad Norris-Jones (General Manager, Victoria HarbourCats) 250-888-2003

Jim Swanson (Managing Partner, Victoria HarbourCats) 778-265-0327