Above Photo: Victoria teammates celebrate catcher Russell Young (#13) and his first WCL round tripper (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

July 9, 2022, Victoria, BC ~ The Victoria HarbourCats used an eight run inning, highlighted by a three run homer from Russell Young, to defeat the Kamloops NorthPaws 10-2 Saturday Night at Wilson’s Group Stadium, levelling their three-game West Coast League series at a game each and setting up the rubber mach on Sunday. A statement game from the Victoria squad to say the least.

Boxscore

Andre Duplantier II got the ball on the mound for the Cats Saturday evening and impressed all 1507 attendees at Wilson’s Group Stadium with his five innings of two run and two hit ball while striking out six. Andre, who hails from Humble, Texas, just arrived on Wednesday afternoon after being with the University of Texas who were taking part in the NCAA College World Series. 

Andrew Duplantier II picks up 6 Ks in his first WCL appearance (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

It was a different story for the Kamloops starter Colby Ring who only lasted an inning and two thirds while surrendering six hits and six runs before being lifted in favour of Carter Harbut. Carter didn’t fare much better, allowing two runs on four hits in an inning and a third.

Jesse Brown points to where all Cats runners were headed Saturday evening (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

Victoria, who was in need of a serious spark, got just that with an electrifying eight run bottom of the second inning which included Russell Young’s first West Coast League home run, a three-run blast. The straw that broke the camel’s back however, was the horrifying error by the Kamloops shortstop Tommy Green who just blatantly dropped a pop fly easily in his tracks, allowing Grady Morgan to score. Victoria would add three more before the inning was up for a barn burner of an inning.

Russell Young hitting his first career WCL home run (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

Victoria padded their lead in the top of the third after Jesse Brown’s double sent Grady Morgan home and Roberto Gonzalez’s single then brought Brown around to score. Zack Beatty would hit his second solo home run in as many days for the NorthPaws in the top of the fourth to make it 10-2 Cats but that was as close as Kamloops would come.

Grady Morgan rounds third and heads home in the bottom of the third (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

Addison Sells was lights out coming from the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth going three innings without allowing a hit and walking two while striking out four. This was easily his best performance of the summer before passing the baton to Walker Bordovsky, who slammed the door shut on Kamloops to close out the ninth. 

Saturday was a huge step forward for the HarbourCats as they brought their hitting shoes to the park, with every starter registering at least one hit and one run. They will look to pick up where they left off tomorrow afternoon and take the rubber match of the series against the NorthPaws.

Roberto Gonzalez rallies the troops after his double scores a run in the bottom of the third (Photo: Christian J Stewart)

What’s Next?

Victoria will close out the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 pm before getting Monday off and then heading up the island for a three game set in Nanaimo. Tomorrow’s game against the NorthPaws will be a big one. It is Dodd’s Community day, Used.ca’s Paint the Park Purple and Harvey the HarbourCat’s birthday, all in one day! Make sure to get your tickets now at harbourcats.com/tickets.