Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

June 21, 2023

Victoria, BC – Michael Crossland had a four-hit night with a triple and four RBI to help lead the Victoria HarbourCats to a 11-4 win over the Edmonton Riverhawks in West Coast League action Wednesday night at Wilsons Group Stadium in Victoria.

FULL BOX SCORE

The win improves the HarbourCats record to 13-4 overall (10-1 at home) and keeps them in the hunt for the first-half North Division title, with Bellingham (11-3) and Wenatchee (12-4), who were also victorious Wednesday. The 13 wins is also the most by any team in the league to date.

It was National Indigenous Peoples Day on Wednesday and Residential School Survivor Eddy Charlie (left) was on hand with Kristin Spray of the Victoria Orange Shirt Day organization to participate in the pre-game festivities (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The game was knotted in a 2-2 tie until the bottom of the fifth inning when the ‘Cats pushed three across the plate thanks in part to Crossland’s two-RBI triple.  Victoria added four more in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away.

Also adding to the ‘Cats 15-hit attack was Tyler Davis with three, Hudson Shupe, Jack Johnson and Dallas Macias with a pair each and Marco Pirruccello and Lane Brewster with one each.

On the mound, Dawson Hurford (now 3-0) gets the win in relief of starter Levi Abbott, throwing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Jake Finkelstein, David Dressendorfer and Carson Latimer also made appearances on the hill.

For Edmonton, Tom Poole had a four-hit night with a walk, while Jonny McGill contributed three hits and two RBI to the losing cause. Reliever Tylor Hans took the loss, in relief of starter Riley Barrett.

Nick Dumesnil, wearing special orange socks in honor of National Indigenous Peoples Day, was held hitless against Edmonton Wednesday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The HarbourCats and Riverhawks close out their three game series on Thursday night with another 6:35 pm start. They then head to Bellingham for a huge first place showdown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, games that could be pivotal in deciding which of those two teams has a shot at the first half North Division title.

Tickets for the finale of the Edmonton series and all HarbourCats home games are available on-line at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.  They can also be bought in advance at the HarbourCats office at 1814 Vancouver Street, or at the stadium box office starting one hour before game time.