HarbourCats Sign Five, Tickets Offer in Place
September 28, 2015 - West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release
VICTORIA, B.C. - A returning left-handed pitcher, a star with the University of Washington Huskies, a top Canadian recruit, a hard-throwing bullpen specialist and an outfielder with a booming bat make up the five latest signings for the Victoria HarbourCats for the 2016 West Coast League season.
The HarbourCats are excited to be bringing back lefty Nick Wojtysiak, who is attending Paradise Valley CC. The former Pepperdine hurler had the best ERA of any HarbourCats regular last year (2.49, 1-0 with a save), making 15 appearances with 20 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work. The native of Scottsdale, AZ, made it a priority in his career development to return to the program in Victoria.
"We couldn't be happier to have Nick back - he's the kind of person and player who defines a great program," said Jim Swanson, Vice-President and General Manager of the HarbourCats. "Nick's signing gives us seven returning players, including three pitchers, from 2015.
Actually, it could almost be eight returning players - OF Ryan Anderson of UC-Davis was slated to be a HarbourCat in 2015 but a knee injury halted those plans, so Anderson is excited to be joining the team next summer. Originally recruited as an infielder, Anderson's big bat and versatility has UC-Davis moving him to the outfield this year. The athletic 6-1/200 right-hand hitter from Pleasanton CA projects as a middle-of-the-order bat for the Aggies.
The five signed players announced today, bringing the total to 17, are:
3B Nyles Nygaard, University of Washington (Sophomore), from Torrance, CA
RHP James Kannenberg, University of San Francisco (Junior, transfer from Cuesta), from Littleton, CO
LHP Nick Wojtysiak, Paradise Valley CC (Sophomore), returning player, from Scottsdale, AZ
OF Ryan Anderson, UC-Davis (Redshirt Freshman), Pleasanton, CA
1B/C/OF Brayden Resch, North Dakota State (Sophomore), from Saskatoon, SK
Nyles Nygaard, 6-1/190 from Torrance, CA, might be the biggest signing in this group. The righty hitter started the final 11 games of his freshman season for the Huskies and is a plus defender with extra-base power. He won almost every award possible as a high school star for West Torrance.
"Nyles is that rare defender who can play all three infield spots if need be (3B, SS, 2B), and yet is also offensive," said UW Head Coach Lindsay Meggs. "While he profiles for us as a third baseman or a second baseman, wherever he settles in he will contribute immediately with the bat. Nyles has good feel at the plate for a young hitter, and as he continues to get stronger we think he has a chance to be an RBI machine. All that being said, the best thing about Nyles is that he's a grinder, and those types of kids fit in well around here."
James Kannenberg pitched for former HarbourCats Head Coach Bob Miller at Cuesta College, a JC-level, before transferring to USF. The 6-1 righty was 3-2 with seven saves and a 2.18 ERA last spring, with 331 strikeouts in 41 innings, and the HarbourCats certainly know what they're getting in a player who went to Cuesta. Miller used Kannenberg to close games, many of them started by ex-HarbourCats pitcher Alex FaGalde, and Kanneberg's save total was fourth in the CCCBCA.
A left-handed hitter who was recruited as a catcher but can play first base or outfield, Brayden Resch is a graduate of the Vauxhall Baseball Academy in Alberta, and has played in the Baseball Canada Cup. He is 6-2/200 and hit .260 with a home run, five doubles and 13 RBIs in 39 games/31 starts as a pure freshman. His left-handed bat is a valuable addition, and he's a teammate this year with RHP Alex Rogers of Nanaimo, who transferred to NDSU this fall.
"We continue to work on filling our roster and completing paperwork on a number of other players we're excited to announce, as we continue to work toward our goal of bringing a playoff berth and a championship to Victoria," said Swanson. "The excitement of last season, when we fell a day short of getting to the playoffs, was something people are still talking about."
Current roster for 2016 (17 players)
INFIELDERS (5)
*2B/SS Griffin Andreychuk, Seattle University
2B Rykker Tom, University of San Diego
1B/OF/LHP Matt Warkentin, University of San Francisco
3B Nyles Nygaard, University of Washington
IB/DH/Util Brayden Resch, North Dakota State
OUTFIELDERS (4)
OF Matt Smith, Sacramento State
*OF AJ Alcantara, UC-Irvine
*OF/IF PJ Floyd, Sacramento State
OF Ryan Anderson, UC-Davis
CATCHER (2)
*C Nick Meyer, Cal Poly
C James Outman, Sacramento State
PITCHERS (6)
RHP Colin Ashworth, Orange Coast College
*RHP Austin Dondanville, Cal Poly
RHP Kyle Peeler, Colorado State-Pueblo
*RHP Josh Walker, Orange Coast College
*LHP Nick Wojtysiak, Paradise Valley CC
RHP James Kannenberg, University of San Francisco
*-- Returning player
LET'S GO BLUE JAYS!! TICKETS FOR 2016, OFFERS
Season tickets and 10-packs for 2016 are for sale by calling the office (778-265-0327) or by stopping in at 101-1814 Vancouver Street. Unused tickets from 2015 act as discount coupons (limit one per customer, per transaction) and the HarbourCats have an exciting first-time corporate partner season ticket offer that is available for companies wanting to secure the best seats.
Pricing is at 2015 levels, and those deals will not be extended past the end of September (fiscal year end). The HarbourCats have surpassed the 100 mark on season ticket commitments for 2016, which means the Main Grandstand (Section 10) is filling up.
As well, we're putting our product where our mouth is - should the Toronto Blue Jays win the World Series this year, anyone who purchased a pair of SEASON TICKETS by Tuesday, Oct. 6 (start of the MLB playoffs) will get a refund of $50!
Who else believes and is backing the Blue Jays like we are?
HOT STOVE EVENT
The HarbourCats first HOTSTOVE event is set for Saturday, November 7, at the new Holiday Inn Express on Wale Road in Colwood, and tickets are $100 person to see Sportsnet analyst and World Series champion Gregg Zaun and Tom McNamara, the head of Amateur Scouting for the Mariners, speak that night. The early-bird price rises after October 6 to $125/ticket. Call the office, 778-265-0327, or get your tickets on-line through this link -- http://www.ticketrocket.co/event/details/83288/victoria-harbourcats-first-annual-hot-stove-event
OFFICE HOURS
With the off-season now upon us, the team's office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street will see reduced hours through August and September.
MONDAY - Closed
TUESDAY-FRIDAY - 9:30am-3:30pm
SATURDAY-SUNDAY -- Closed
West Coast League Stories from September 28, 2015
- HarbourCats Sign Five, Tickets Offer in Place - Victoria HabourCats
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