Jack Seward was brilliant Friday, throwing 5 innings of 4-hit, shut-out baseball, with six strikeouts as the Cats beat Bellingham 6-4 (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

June 30, 2023

Victoria, BC – Starting pitcher Jack Seward went five quality, shut-out innings, giving up just 4 hits, while striking out six, while Tyler Davis had four hits and three RBI to lead the Victoria HarbourCats to a 6-4 win over the Bellingham Bells in West Coast League action Friday night at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.

To honor the first anniversary of the BMO Shooting, the VicPD K9 unit was on hand for a demo on Friday (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The win, in front of over 4,000 fans who enjoyed a post-game Canada Day fireworks show following the game, moves the HarbourCats record to 17-8 and keeps them in the hunt for the first half North Division title with now 17-5 Bellingham, and Wenatchee, also 17-5 after a win Friday night over Edmonton.

Victoria had a 6-0 lead after six innings, before the Bells made it interesting with three runs in the seventh, thanks to a three-run home run from Andrew Valdez, and another run in the eighth.

Nick Dumesnil had a hit and two runs scored in the HarbourCats win over Bellingham (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

Dallas Macias, with two hits and a walk and a run scored and Nick Dumesnil, with a hit and two runs scored, also helped pace the Victoria attack.

Seward, with his quality start, gets credit with the win, while Davis Franklin earned the save.  Bellingham starter Ryan Beitel, is tagged with the loss.

Nick Dumesnil hangs on to the bag after sliding under the tag of Bellingham second baseman Anthony Kodama (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)

The Bells and HarbourCats continue their crucial three-game set with a pair of back to back matinees, first with a Canada Day Matinee at 1:05pm and the Sunday with or regular 1:05 pm matinee.  Tickets for both games are widely available and can be purchased on-line at http://harbourcats.com/tickets.

Dallas Macias had two hits a walk and a run scored in the win over Bellingham (Photo: Christian J. Stewart)