'Cats Rout Pippins, Celestino's Scoreless Streak Reaches 16 Innings
Published on July 20, 2019 under West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release
VICTORIA - Four separate HarbourCats had two or more RBI at the dish, and Aaron Celestino extended his scoreless inning streak to 16, as the Victoria HarbourCats (8-3/26-12) defeated the the Yakima Valley Pippins 17-2 Friday evening in their first game on Vancouver Island in nearly 10 days.
Following a three city, seven-game road trip, the HarbourCats played their first game at Wilson's Group Stadium since July 10, and remembered the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team by welcoming Karen Doerksen and her family in a pregame ceremony. Doerksen's husband, Glen, was the driver of the Humboldt motor coach.
Aaron Celestino, making his first appearance on the mound since July 7, got the start tonight and showed why he has been an ace in the 'Cats rotation in 2019.
The righty out of Incarnate Word scattered nine hits over six innings, racking up eight strikeouts in the process, and extended his scoreless inning streak to 16. The last time Celestino gave up an earned run was in a start in Wenatchee back on June 25.
Celestino also got some help from his defence to continue his streak.
After Brady Hormel got Yakima's first hit of the night in the second, Tanner Parker lined a single into right but Plaia gunned down Hormel trying to go from first to third. The outfield assist was Plaia's fourth of the season, putting him one behind Bellingham's Jack Machtolf for the WCL lead.
In the home half of the second, the HarbourCats used a two-out rally to open the scoring. Emilio Nogales got the rally started with a double to the left field wall, and one batter later, the hero from the 19-inning game on Wednesday, Chase Meidroth singled home Nogales. Due up next in the order, Tanner Haney got his first RBI of the evening with another single that scored Meidroth and doubled the HarbourCats lead to two.
One inning later, it was a pair of recently named All-Stars that started another HarbourCat rally.
Three days after it was announced the HarbourCats will send six players to the All-Star game next week in Bend, two of those players started the next HarbourCats rally, as Jason Willow led off the third with a double, and Frankie Niemann smacked a single to put two men on for Victoria.
Kyle Harper then launched a sacrifice fly that scored Willow, and gave the Baylor Bear his 12th RBI in 11 games for Victoria this summer.
Nogales notched his second single of the game to lead off the fourth, and Tanner Haney brought home the Fresno State infielder with his second RBI base hit of the evening to make it a 4-0 lead.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Celestino was cruising until Yakima tried to muster some offence in the fifth.
The Pippins loaded the bases with two outs, however, Celestino avoided the inning unscathed by striking out Kyle Dean for his sixth strikeout of the game.
The HarbourCats added six insurance runs in the sixth, highlighted by a long ball from Nate Pecota, and scored six more times in the seventh to put the game well out of reach.
With the victory, the HarbourCats ended Yakima's win streak at three, and moved into sole possession of first place in the Second Half division standings. Victoria will go for the series victory over Yakima on a fireworks night tomorrow evening, first pitch is slated for 6:35p.m.
TICKETING NOTE FOR SATURDAY: We are close to being sold out of reserved tickets for the fireworks night, with select singles remaining in some sections and just over 30 tickets remaining in Section 6. Plenty of general admission seats still remain. Gates will open at 5PM Saturday! Call or drop in to the office after 9:00 AM Saturday or get your tickets on-line at: https://www.ticketrocket.co/event/details/108690/victoria-harbourcats-vs-yakima-valley-pippins .
Next HOME GAMES! Saturday 6:35 - FIREWORKS!, Sunday 1:00 PM
The Yakima Valley Pippins roll into town for our summer fireworks weekend. FIREWORKS on Saturday! Get your tickets now. Some sections already sold out, but plenty of seating remaining! Call 778-265-0327 to book seats or drop into the office at 1814 Vancouver Street (9:30-5:30). tickets also available on-line at https://www.ticketrocket.co/event/season/1
$10 ZIP LINE TICKETS ALL WEEKEND!
Tickets for the Wild Play ZIPLINE will be $10 ALL WEEKEND for the games Friday, Saturday and Sunday against Yakima! Pre-buy your tickets at the office, via the game links on-line, or get them at the box office on game day, or at the ZIPLINE concession during the game! Come try the newest and coolest feature at the park!
Four HarbourCats had two or more RBI and Aaron Celestino extended his scoreless inning streak to 16, as the HarbourCats defeated Yakima 17-2 Friday
West Coast League Stories from July 20, 2019
- Hawkins Propels HarbourCats to Series-Clinching Victory over Pippins - Victoria HabourCats
- Knights Topple Sweets, 9-2 - Walla Walla Sweets
- 'Cats Rout Pippins, Celestino's Scoreless Streak Reaches 16 Innings - Victoria HabourCats
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