Two returning players from Nanaimo, including Gus Wilson (above) and one from Victoria, secured for 2020 WCL season

VICTORIA, B.C. — The Victoria HarbourCats put a lot of effort into building the right team culture for players to train, develop and perform — and part of that is bringing good people, and locals, back for multiple seasons.

The HarbourCats are proud to announce today that two Nanaimo products, infielder Gus Wilson and pitcher Josh Laukkanen, will return for their second season, along with right-handed pitcher Zach Swanson, from Victoria.

Josh Laukkanen, who was a key contributor to the HarbourCats 2019 playoff series win over Wenatchee, will return for the 2020 season (Photo by Christian J. Stewart)

Wilson joined the team for the stretch run in 2019 and was a key contributor to the late surge that saw the team go 21-6 in the second half and reach the WCL final. Laukkanen’s work on the mound helped the HarbourCats hold off the Wenatchee AppleSox in the first round, while Swanson pitched in five games, starting three, including the first game of the WCL final.

Wilson, who is a junior at the University of Science and Arts Oklahoma, hit a combined .282 in 14 regular season and playoff games, hitting one home run and driving in seven runs while being a real pest on the basepaths. Laukkanen, a sophomore at Cloud County Community College, was 1-0 with a 4.97 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched, his best outing coming in Game 2 of the North Division series when he fanned five in 3.2 innings of relief of a 7-2 Victoria win.

Victoria native Zach Swanson will return to the HarbourCats for the 2020 season, his second full season with the team  (Photo by Christian J. Stewart)

Swanson, 19, is a sophomore at San Diego Christian (NAIA), and a product of the Victoria Eagles program, pitched in five games in 2019, including non-league action, earning two wins. In combined league/playoffs, he fanned 14 batters in 10 innings of work. His wins were against Seattle City (non-league) and Port Angeles (final regular season game). Swanson, a former team batboy, is the nephew of team president Ken Swanson, and the son of co-owners Jim and Lori Swanson.

“It’s fun for us to work with young men like these, who really are excited to put on a HarbourCats cap,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner/GM. “We have an outstanding coaching staff led by Todd Haney and Curtis Pelletier, and these players are all hungry to learn and perform under their leadership. They know this is a place, an environment, where they will have every tool needed to get better. It makes for a strong culture that has helped us be a contending team year-in and year-out since 2015 — we’ve been .500 or better for five summers in a row, and been in the playoffs three of the last four seasons.”

2020 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE
If you would like to be part of the exciting 2020 HarbourCats season, consider a season ticket membership.  27 league games plus all exhibition and non-league games (that amounted to 33 games in 2019) can be yours at a substantial savings over walk-up prices.  And book by October 1, 2019 to lock in 2019 pricing (for renewals) and receive 2020 playoff tickets for free (again in 2019 that amounted to three games worth of free baseball). Season ticket holders also receive other perks like 10% off coupons for merchandise, extra “bring a friend” ticket vouchers, and other food and beverage promotional items as part of their package.

Seats are currently available in all sections in 2020, including the NEW Right Field Reserved area, which is the reserved seating area of Section 6 down the first baseline.

General  Admission  – $350
Right Field Reserved (Section 6) – $400 (NEW FOR 2020!)
Premium Reserved (Sections  7-9 and 11-12) – $450
Grandstand Reserved (Section 10 Rows E-N) – $500
Campbell Real Estate Club (Section 10 Rows A-D) – $650
Diamond Club (Field Level) – $725 (Limited Availability)

Don’t want to commit to specific seats, or all of our games?  Ask us about our new Season Ticket Flex-Pack Voucher Option!  The utmost in flexibility that allows you to use all your game tickets in any way you choose!

Call the office at 778-265-0327 or drop in at 1814 Vancouver Street to book your seats today!

BOOK before October 1st and receive 2020 Playoff tickets for FREE!, plus (for new members) receive a special Season Ticket Holder gift!

2020 CORPORATE PARNERSHIPS
Looking for a way to get your brand or product in front of 80,000-100,000 people?  Then consider a partnership opportunity with the HarbourCats.  From a simple ad in our 2020 Game Program to a more robust marketing and partnership program that includes park signage, tickets, or in-game contests, we can tailor any package to your needs.

Download our 2020 Partnership Brochure here then contact the office at 778-265-0327 or e-mail chris@harbourcats.com or john@harbourcats.com for more details.

OFFICE HOURS
During the off-season, the main office will be open (officially) Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM.  Staff may be away from the office during these hours, or in on other days and other times, so please feel free to call the office first at 778-265-0327 before popping by.