HarbourCats Beef up Roster with UCLA Players
February 24, 2016 - West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release
VICTORIA B.C. - The Victoria HarbourCats will feature a pair of players this summer in right-handed pitcher Kyle Mora and outfielder Jarron Silva, who are committed to the UCLA Bruins, one of the premier programs in college baseball. They along with right-handed pitcher Dalton Erb and outfielder Cody Snider from Chico State, headline the latest eight players signed to the club's 2016 roster.
RHP KYLE MORA, UCLA, (Freshman commit), Los Alamitos, CA, 6-2/170
OF JARRON SILVA, UCLA, (Freshman commit), Stockton, CA, 6/185
RHP DALTON ERB, Chico State, (Junior), North Torrence, CA, 6-8/250
OF CODY SNIDER, Chico State, (Junior), Coeur d'Alene, ID, 5-9/175
RHP CODY AHLGRIMM, Pacific, (Sophomore), Colorado Springs, CO, 6/180
RHP STEVE CHRISTEN, Big Bend CC, (Freshman commit), Kelso, WA, 6-1/195
RHP MILES BIGELOW, Big Bend CC, (Sophomore), Boise, ID, 6/180
LHP CREED SMITH, Chico HS, (Senior), Chico, CA, 5-11/170
Kyle Mora is a right-handed pitcher committed to UCLA for fall 2016. In addition to starring for Los Alamitos High School, Mora has pitched for the scout team of the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees, and plays for the So Cal Birds, a top California travel team. The native of Los Alamitos, CA is a prized recruit of UCLA head coach John Savage.
Jarron Silva is an outfielder committed to UCLA for this fall. He is currently a senior at St. Mary's High School in his hometown of Stockton, CA where he is a multi-talented offensive standout. He has played on the San Francisco Giants scout team, and is a career .366 hitter with 14 doubles, and nine triples while driving in 30 runs and scoring 58 at St Mary's.
The UCLA Bruins are perennially one of college baseball's top programs, winning the College World Series in 2013 and opening 2016 as a top-15 ranked team. They have formed a talent pipeline with the HarbourCats, after OF Jake Pries and IF Scott Jarvis played in Victoria in 2015.
Dalton Erb is a front of the rotation starter at Chico State University, an NCAA division 2 program. He began his college career at El Camino College, where he started 23 games across two seasons, posting 13 wins. Both years he was named a Second Team All-South Coast Conference player. As of February 23, Erb has a 2-1 record and a 2.95 ERA in 4 starts, surrendering just 15 hits with 18 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.
Cody Snider is an outfielder and a middle of the order bat at Chico State who began his college career at the University of San Francisco (NCAA Div. 1; West Coast Conference). Snider played two years with the USF Dons, seeing action in 37 games, with six starts and batting .170. Snider is having a strong start to his season, batting .381 with 3 doubles, a triple, and 8 RBIs as of February 23.
Cody Ahlgrimm is a top bullpen arm for Pacific University (NCAA Div. 3). He made 12 appearances out of the bullpen as a freshman, pitching to a 4.24 ERA and a 2-0 record, with a save and 17 strikeouts in 17 innings. He is expected to take on a key role at the back end of the bullpen this season, and is off to a strong start with a 2.57 ERA and a save in three appearances, allowing 7 hits to go with 7 strikeouts in 7 innings, as of February 23.
Steve Christen is in is senior year at Kelso High School and is a top starting pitcher and outfielder for the Highlanders and head coach Scot Meeker. Christen is committed to Big Bend Community College for the fall of 2016, where he will compete in the very competitive Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).
Miles Bigelow is a top-end starting pitcher at Big Bend Community College. Bigelow immediately became a key contributor the Big Bend pitching staff as a freshman in 2015, leading the Vikings in innings pitched with 66.2. He started a team-high 10 games posting a 6-3 record, allowing 67 hits with 38 strikeouts.
Creed Smith is currently a senior standout as a left-handed pitcher and outfielder at Chico High School. A multi-talented athlete, Smith pitches and plays centerfield for the baseball team, and is the starting quarterback for the football team. Smith played for the Toronto Blue Jays scout team in 2015 and played in the goodwill games in Australia. He was an All-State nominee as a junior. He is a eligible for the 2016 draft and is fielding college offers.
"Creed Smith is small in stature, but has an electric arm and loves to compete." Said HarbourCats head coach Graig Merritt. "Creed looks to be a key factor in the HarbourCat bullpen this summer and will be called upon late in ball games to get important outs."
More signings will be announced in the weeks leading up to the June 3 season-opening game in Walla Walla. The HarbourCats play their first regular season home game, the Drive for 5,000/Whiteout Game, on June 7 against the Wenatchee AppleSox.
Current roster for 2016 (42 players)
INFIELDERS (8)
*2B/SS Griffin Andreychuk, Seattle University
2B Rykker Tom, University of San Diego
1B/OF/LHP Matt Warkentin, University of San Francisco
IB/DH/Util Brayden Resch, North Dakota State
IF/SS Shawn Silva, Fresno State University
SS Cameron Cannon, Arizona
IF Dakota Dean, New Orleans
SS/3B Brad Pluschkell, UC Davis
OUTFIELDERS (7)
OF Matt Smith, Sacramento State
*OF AJ Alcantara, UC-Irvine
*OF/IF PJ Floyd, Sacramento State
OF Ryan Anderson, UC-Davis
OF Jake Stone, Fresno State University
OF Jarron Silva, UCLA
OF Cody Snider, Chico State University
CATCHER (4)
*C Nick Meyer, Cal Poly
C James Outman, Sacramento State
C Joe Prior, Fresno State University
C Chayce Ka'aua, Hawaii
PITCHERS (23)
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
RHP Mark Reese, Fresno State University
RHP Josh Burgmann, University of Washington
RHP Will McAffer, South Dakota State
RHP Casey Costello, Orange Coast College
RHP Calvin Faucher, UC Irvine
RHP Blake Hannah, UC Davis
RHP Ryan Steindorf, UC Davis
RHP Skyler Henderson, Vernon College
RHP Brendan Hornung, University of Hawaii
RHP Mason Hilty, Dixie State University
LHP Zach Cordova, Dixie State University
RHP Kyle Mora, UCLA
RHP Dalton Erb, Chico State University
RHP Cody Ahlgrimm, Pacific Univeristy
RHP Steve Christen, Big Bend CC
RHP Miles Bigelow, Big Bend CC
LHP Creed Smith, Chico HS
*-- Returning player
SEASON TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
The HarbourCats have seen an uptick in season ticket purchases, and as corporate partnerships are completed the selection of season ticket locations and single-game walkup options is getting less and less. "We recommend, especially with our affordable prices, that people come in and secure their seats - the sooner, the better," said Managing Partner Jim Swanson. "To buy a premium season ticket for the 2016 HarbourCats is less than the cost of travel, etc., to see one Mariners game in Seattle, and we work hard on all aspects of the program to keep our games affordable for everyone."
To buy season tickets, call the office (778-265-0327) or stop in at 101-1814 Vancouver Street.
OFFICE HOURS
With the off-season now upon us, the team's office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street will see reduced hours through the end of March.
MONDAY-FRIDAY - 9:30am-4:30pm
SATURDAY-SUNDAY - Closed (Except by appointment)
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West Coast League Stories from February 24, 2016
- HarbourCats Beef up Roster with UCLA Players - Victoria HabourCats
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