PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 13, 2017

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria HarbourCats have fortified their infield and pitching staff for the upcoming West Coast League season, with the addition of four players from Baylor University (NCAA Div. 1; Big 12).

Baylor currently boasts a 14-2 record, having begun the season a school-best 10-0. They were ranked #15 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and #24 by Baseball America in the March 6 NCAA Div. 1 national rankings.

Coming to Victoria will be Bears infielders Davis Wendzel and Tucker Johnson, as well as right-handed pitchers Luke Boyd and Ian McEachern.

INF Davis Wendzel, Baylor University, Freshman, San Clemente, CA, 6/185

 INF Tucker Johnson, Baylor University, Junior, China Spring, TX, 5-11/190

 RHP Luke Boyd, Baylor University, Freshman, Ojai, CA, 6-2/180

 RHP Ian McEachern, Baylor University, Freshman, Bradenton, FL, 6-4/210

Davis Wendzel is an exciting young player who is contributing as a freshman. Wendzel has earned playing time at both corner infield positions and has seen time in the outfield early in the season. At the plate, Wendzel is hitting .242 in 12 games with seven RBIs.

Wendzel was a three-year letterwinner JSerra Catholic High School in California, and was a Rawlings/Perfect Game Honorable Mention All American in 2016.

Tucker Johnson is an infielder in his first season at Baylor following an outstanding two-year junior college career. Johnson totaled 11 home runs and 92 RBIs in his two years at McLennan Junior College, hitting .326 and .347. He led McLennan to the JUCO World Series as a freshman in 2015, and hit two home runs in the World Series.

Johnson has played in three games this spring, collecting three hits in four at bats including two doubles, driving in four runs.

Luke Boyd is a very promising young pitcher who is competing for innings as a freshman at Baylor. He has made three appearances so far, one start, working to a 1-0 record with four strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched.

Boyd recorded 99 strikeouts in 56 innings in his senior year of high school with eight complete games.

Ian McEachern is a strong young right-hander in his freshman year with the Bears. An imposing physical presence on the mound, McEachern was a 2016 Rawlings/Perfect Game Honourable Mention All American and pitched in the 2015 Perfect Game Showcase.

The HarbourCats open the 2017 season on the road, June 1, in the inaugural game for the Port Angeles Lefties. Victoria’s home opener is set for Monday, June 5, a 6:35pm first pitch against the Wenatchee AppleSox.

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:

Final sessions: March 25 – 26

Saturday, March 25 runs from 3:00pm until 5:00pm, and Sunday, March 26 will run from 6:00pm until 8:00pm.

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

MARCH 10-PACK DEAL

 Throughout the month of August, a purchase of a 2017 HarbourCats 10-pack comes with a 2-for-1 Mount Washington ski bus pass, to be used in 2017.

A HarbourCats 10-pack includes 10 undated vouchers to be redeemed for game tickets during the 2017 regular season in any combination.

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.

March office hours are:

MONDAY-FRIDAY – 10:00am – 4:00pm

SATURDAY-SUNDAY – Closed (Except by appointment)