PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 23, 2017

VICTORIA, B.C. – Summer finally arrived in Victoria, just in time for the recent Victoria Day Long Weekend. Accordingly, the HarbourCats are pleased to announce pre-season events to kick off summer as the club makes its final preparations for it’s fifth season of West Coast League baseball.

After such a long winter, the HarbourCats can’t wait to step onto the grass at Royal Athletic Park. With this in mind, head coach Brian McRae has scheduled a 12-inning game a week from tonight on Tuesday, May 30. First pitch will be thrown at 6:35pm at RAP.

The game will be an exhibition contest against the top men’s baseball players in the Victoria area. The opposition squad will feature players who will compete in the Baseball Canada Men’s Championship presented by Yates Street Taphouse, in Victoria this August. A collection of former HarbourCats players will also suit up.

The game will be the first game action for coach McRae’s team prior to their season opener in Port Angeles on Thursday, June 1. The 12-inning format of the exhibition game will allow the entire team to see game action.

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With just nine days remaining until the HarbourCats open the 2017 West Coast League season in Port Angeles next Thursday, and less than two weeks until Opening Night in Victoria on June 5, head coach Brian McRae has signed three local players to 10-day contracts.

RHP Ethan Skuija, University of British Columbia, Freshman, Victoria, BC, 6-3/200

C Tyson Abbott, Prairie Baseball Academy, Victoria, BC, 6-2/195

Ethan Skuija is a Victoria right-hander who made six appearances for the HarbourCats last season. In eight innings pitched, he allowed eight hits and five walks while recording 11 strikeouts.

Tyson Abbott is another Victoria product who backstopped the Prairie Baseball Academy to their seventh consecutive CCBC Championship this spring as a freshman. Abbott batted .309 with two doubles, a triple and two home runs while driving in 18 runs.

Both players will provide depth in the early going for the HarbourCats while a number of full-season players are still competing in playoffs off their collegiate seasons.

View the HarbourCats roster– http://harbourcats.com/team_categories/2017/

The HarbourCats will be at Max Furniture this evening, Tuesday, May 23, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm for the team’s pre season mixer. Drop in and mingle with other fans, members of the HarbourCats front office and sponsors, and get the scoop on the upcoming #SeasonV.

The event will feature light refreshments with door prizes, a showcase of 2017 team merchandise, and exclusive ticket offers.

The HarbourCats open the 2017 WCL season on June 1 on the road against the WCL’s newest team, the Port Angeles Lefties. Their home opener at Royal Athletic Park is June 5 when the Wenatchee AppleSox visit Victoria.

Single game tickets are available at the HarbourCats office and online: https://t.co/8fTF63alFb

 2017 SEASON TICKETS

More than 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 (Fees and taxes included) options are as follows—

CAMPBELL REAL ESTATE CLUB SEATS (Padded & served. First two rows of Grandstand.) SOLD OUT

$589.50

DIAMOND CLUB SEATS (Added in 2016)

$589.50 (SOLD OUT)

MAIN GRANDSTAND (Section 10, covered)

$426.75

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

$405.75

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

$300.75

*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.

HOMEWARD BOUND PET FOOD DELIVERY – OFFER EXTENDED

 Any purchase of a HarbourCats season ticket or 10-pack during the month of May will include a free bag of dog or cat food from Homeward Bound Pet Food Delivery.

10-packs include 10 un-dated vouchers to be redeemed for game tickets (pending availability) in any combination.

Visit http://www.homewardboundpetfood.com and Homeward Bound Pet Food Delivery Victoria on Facebook.

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 is located at 1814 Vancouver Street, 778-265-0327.

May office hours:

MONDAY-FRIDAY – 9:00am – 5:30pm

SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Closed (Except by appointment)