PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 16, 2016

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats have made three significant signings to their roster for the 2017 West Coast League season. The club has inked returning infielder Wyatt Young of Pepperdine University as well as left-handed pitchers AJ Block and James Mullins from Washington State University.

INF Wyatt Young, Pepperdine University, (Freshman commit), Honolulu, HI, 5-6/150

LHP AJ Block, Washington State University, (Freshman), Bellevue, WA, 6-5/185

LHP James Mullins, Washington State University, (Freshman), North Bend, WA, 6-1/185

Wyatt Young is a highly talented young infielder who began the 2016 WCL season with the HarbourCats on a 10-day contract.

Young played seven games last year in Victoria, hitting .250 (6-24) with a double, three RBIs and a stolen base. He provided excellent defense at a premium position, committing just one error in seven games at shortstop. Young was the youngest player in the WCL last season at 16 years old.

Wyatt will begin his freshman year with the Pepperdine Waves (NCAA Div. 1; WCC) at the conclusion of the 2017 WCL season, and will have an opportunity to step in and make an immediate impact.

AJ Block is an accomplished young lefthander with the Cougars of Washington State University (NCAA Div. 1; Pac-12).

The 6’5’’ Block was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 39^th round of the 2016 MLB draft following his senior year at Newport High School. He was also named a Perfect Game honorable mention All-American in 2016 in addition to being named to the Washington 4A All-State first team.

Block was selected in 2015 to play for the Seattle Mariners scout team and pitched in the WWBA World Championship.

James Mullins is another southpaw who Washington State has high hopes for in his freshman year.

Mullins played last summer with the Fort McMurray Giants of the Western Major Baseball League, prior to beginning his freshman year at Washington State. Mullins started seven games in Fort McMurray, going 4-2 with 27 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched.

The HarbourCats roster now stands at 22 players. View roster online here: http://harbourcats.com/team_categories/2017/

WINTER BASEBALL TRAINING

 The HarbourCats are offering a series of instructional youth baseball camps at the Westshore Training Academy (2950 Westshore Parkway, Victoria, BC).

HarbourCats personnel will conduct the camps including Jim Swanson (MLB scout), Troy Birtwistle (HarbourCats assistant coach), Andrew Wilson (HarbourCats assistant coach), Brad Norris-Jones (HarbourCats general manager) and other guest instructors.

 Dates:

January 14 – 15

January 28 – 29

February 11 – 12

February 25 – 26

March 11 – 12

March 25 – 26

Saturday sessions run from 3:00pm until 5:00pm, and Sunday sessions run from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

Registration for all 12 sessions costs $175 or $20 for single sessions.

A HarbourCats t-shirt and hat is included with registration.

Brad Norris-Jones will be conducting individual or group sessions on select weeknights (Monday to Thursday).

2017 SEASON TICKETS

Over 60,000 fans attended HarbourCats games in 2016 for an average of 2,239 fans per game, which led the West Coast League and ranked ninth in all of North America among summer-collegiate clubs.  Secure your favorite seat today for the 2017 season.

Seating location and pricing options are as follows—

DIAMOND CLUB SEATS (Field Level Box Seats in 2016)

$550 (SOLD OUT)

MAIN GRANDSTAND (Section 10, covered)

$395

PREMIUM SEATING (Sections 6-7-8-9-11-12, blue bucket seats)

$375

GENERAL ADMISSION (Silver bleachers, picnic areas, wheelchair seating, soccer grandstand)

$275

*All prices listed are base price, and do not include fees or GST.

Visit the HarbourCats office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or call (778)-265-0327 to purchase season tickets or for more information. You can also email brittany@harbourcats.com for further details, or go to the team website at harbourcats.com.

2017 SEATTLE VACATION

The HarbourCats are staging their second consecutive fan vacation to Seattle in 2017 to see the Blue Jays take on the Mariners.

The 2017 vacation takes place June 9-11, 2017 and will include:

• Travel on Wilson’s Transportation buses from to and from Victoria and Seattle. Ferry cost also included.
• Field level tickets for all three Blue Jays @ Mariners games at Safeco Field.
• Two nights at the Hilton Embassy Lynnwood.

Total cost is $798 per person (based on double occupancy). Different rates available for triple as well as single occupancy.

Registration for HarbourCats season ticket holders is $725 (based on double occupancy). The trip is not expected to interfere with the HarbourCats home schedule, as the team is expected to be on the road during this time.

To register, contact Carey Shelby at Flight Centre (1-866-299-5614) or carey.shelby@flightcentre.ca

OFFICE HOURS

The HarbourCats office (1814 Vancouver Street, 778-265-0327) is open and operating under off-season hours.

Off-season hours are as follows:

MONDAY-FRIDAY – 10:00am – 4:00pm

 SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Closed (Except by appointment)