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Victoria HabourCats

Well-Rounded Win for HarbourCats on Outlooks for Men Father's Day

June 21, 2015 - West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release


The Victoria HarbourCats punctuated a much-needed win with a slick double play -- the end to a day where a lot of Dads had an awful lot of fun.

In front of a crowd of 2,327 at Sports Traders Diamond at RAP on Sunday, the HarbourCats banged out eight hits, including clutch at-bats toward the end to create a gap, but most importantly got a quality start from Dominic Topoozian (Fresno State) en route to a 6-1 series-capping win over the Cowlitz Black Bears.

It was a great celebration indeed for the Outlooks for Men Father's Day Classic -- the first home Father's Day game in HarbourCats history, with the franchise now in its third season, and averaging a league-best 2,061 per game at the turnstiles, dating back to a WCL record 4,627 on opening night on June 5.

Topoozian pitched into the eighth inning, scattering six hits, striking out five and, most importantly issuing no free passes to first base -- an issue that has plagued the HarbourCats so far this season. Topoozian, a product of Clovis, CA, who will be a senior at Fresno State in the fall, is now 2-1 with a 1.63 ERA in five games/three starts.

He benefitted from a clutch two-run single, in a pro-approach at-bat, from shortstop Alex DeGoti in the seventh inning, helping turn a 1-1 game into a 4-1 Victoria lead.

Outfielder Kevin Collard, a premium pro prospect who came on as a pinch-hitter, was 2-2 with a run scored, while PJ Floyd was 2-4 with a run to improve his batting average to .292 on the season. Collard is hitting .439 and isn't even leading the team in average -- that spot is occupied by Michael Gretler of Oregon State, who is hitting .455 after going 1-3 with a run and a walk.

Gretler started a slick 5-4-3 double play to end the game -- the HarbourCats essentially had four shortstops on the field, providing premium infield defence. Only a fumble by DeGoti in the eighth inning kept the HarbourCats from posting a clean defensive game.

Jake Pries was 1-1 with a run and one driven in. Key for the HarbourCats, who had been prone to watching third strikes in the first 14 games, was the three Cowlitz pitchers, including starter and losing pitcher Seth Rayburn, failed to record a single strikeout. And with Topoozian and relievers Josh Mitchell and Matt Blais not passing out even one base on balls, the HarbourCats got the kind of pitching performance they sorely needed in avoiding their 10th loss of the season -- the record is 6-9 as the team takes a day off and prepares to go to Bremerton, WA, for three games against the division-rival Kitsap BlueJackets (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). The club heads out Tuesday morning on the trip.

The HarbourCats are next home on Friday, June 26, when the Wenatchee AppleSox arrive at Sports Traders Diamond at RAP to start a Friday-Saturday-Sunday series.

Tickets are available at www.harbourcats.com/tickets

PLAYER MOVES -- The team has officially released returning pitcher Preston Ryan of New Mexico, who said he was experiencing arm problems. Infielder Brady Rogers, who started the first 12 games, has requested his release to tend to academic issues in his hometown of Nanaimo. RHP Henry Omana, fresh off his appearance at the College World Series with Cal State Fullerton, will join the HarbourCats in Kitsap and bolster the staff.

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West Coast League Stories from June 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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