FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2023

VICTORIA, B.C. — The group of the Victoria HarbourCats of the WCL, that oversees the Victoria Golden Tide collegiate baseball team, is excited to announce the formal installation of Ethan Fox as Head Coach, and Troy Birtwistle as Associate Head Coach, of the Golden Tide effective immediately.

Fox and Birtwistle, along with three assistant coaches, stepped up this past season to lead the Golden Tide to the Canadian Colleges Baseball Conference final in only the second season for the Golden Tide. Under their leadership, the Golden Tide played a role in eliminating top seeds Prairie Baseball Academy and Okanagan College on their way to the final, coming within one run in the championship game against the University of Calgary.

Assistants Chris Vlaj, Colton O’Brien and Mike Musselwhite also return. Previous coach Curtis Pelletier is no longer part of the organization, which includes the HarbourCats, Golden Tide, and Edwards Family Training Centre.

“Ethan and Troy are trustworthy, honest and respectful people and bring a lot of experience to the positions, and we’re excited to bring back all three assistants,” said Jim Swanson, Managing Partner of the group that leads the Golden Tide and the Victoria HarbourCats, along with the Nanaimo NightOwls. “Troy and Ethan stepped up at a crucial time to fill an unexpected void and got the job done, and the players respect their commitment, integrity and character — which you have to have to lead a program like this for the long-term.”

Fox is a former college and HarbourCats player who is now Bullpen Coach for the HarbourCats, working with former college and semi-pro pitcher Birtwistle, who is First Base Coach with the HarbourCats.

Three assistant coaches will also remain with the Golden Tide, providing continuity to this emerging powerhouse program. Vlaj, O’Brien and Musselwhite are former players at the PBL/high school level, with O’Brien and Musselwhite seeing college time with the Golden Tide in the program’s first season. Vlaj was at Okanagan College for two seasons.

Recruiting is under way for the 2023-24 Golden Tide season — those interested can apply here, https://goldentidebaseball.com/play-for-the-tide/

For more information on the Victoria Golden Tide collegiate program, visit goldentidebaseball.com