PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 29, 2017

VICTORIA, B.C. – Long-time Victoria baseball fans likely remember the iconic logo adorned by the Victoria Mussels from 1978-80.

The HarbourCats, and Popeye’s Supplements Victoria, are bringing back the Muscles — er, Mussels.

As the HarbourCats enter their fifth season in 2017, the first Victoria-based baseball team to play a fifth season since the Victoria Athletics/Tyees who played in the Western International League from 1946-54, the West Coast League club will tip their cap to their baseball predecessors in B.C.’s capital city.

The Mussels took the field at Royal Athletic Park for three seasons, playing in the Northwest League (Short-season), enjoying their best two seasons with finishes of 41-31 in 1979 and 42-28 during their final season in 1980.

Popeye’s Supplements has partnered with the HarbourCats to present a pair of Mussels nights at Royal Athletic Park.

“There is great history to baseball in this town, and the best name of all time here might just be the Victoria Mussels — it was an automatic one to remember as we celebrate the great baseball history of this city,” said Jim Swanson, the managing partner of the HarbourCats.

The HarbourCats will don baby blue jerseys with the familiar Mussels logo on Tuesday, July 11 vs. the Yakima Valley Pippins and again on Wednesday, July 26 against the Kelowna Falcons. Both games will be 6:35pm starts. The HarbourCats will also wear the Mussels jerseys on the road in Walla Walla as part of a Sweets throwback day.

Popeye’s Supplements Victoria will be at the game, giving out tshirts & hats and $10 off coupons to the first 150 fans to visit the Popeyes booth

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The HarbourCats have concluded their signings, inking a pair of left-handed bats from UNC-Wilmington (NCAA Div. 1; CAA)

OF Riley Zayicek, UNC-Wilmington, Freshman, Mooresville, NC, 6-1/215

INF Cole Weiss, UNC-Wilmington, Freshman, Winston-Salem, NC, 6-2/190

Riley Zayicek has displayed his power with the bat in his freshman season at UNC-Wilmington (NCAA Div. 1; CAA), hitting five home runs and driving in 13 runs in 38 games, 20 starts.

Cole Weiss has played in 32 games, 16 starts as a freshman this spring at UNC-Wilmington, batting .203 with nine RBIs. He was an all-conference player as a high school senior.

Both players come highly recommended from first-year HarbourCats head coach Brian McRae.

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

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

12-INNING GAME AT RAP

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 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.

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 FOR SEASON TICKETS, some individual games available

$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.

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)