Mitchell Now 7-0, 'Cats Sweep 'Jackets
Published on August 3, 2016 under West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release
BREMERTON, WA - The Victoria HarbourCats completed their eighth series sweep of the season with a 4-1 win on Wednesday evening at Gene Lobe Field, and lefthander Josh Mitchell (Pitt) became the franchise leader for wins in a single season.
The HarbourCats (37-13) entered Wednesday having clinched the best record in the West Coast League on Monday, and were looking to improve their franchise-record win total against a BlueJackets team (7-19/15-38) playing their final game of the season.
Tuesday's pitching matchup saw lefthander Josh Mitchell take the mound in his ninth and final start of the regular season looking to run his record to 7-0 and set a new HarbourCats' franchise record for wins in a single season.
Workhorse right-hander John Matros (Ouachita Baptist) countered for Kitsap, making his first start and 22nd appearance of the season.
Matros battled control issues in the first inning, issuing two walks and hitting a batter as the HarbourCats loaded the bases with one out. An error by second baseman Thomas McGarry (East Central) scored center fielder Austin Guibor (Fresno State) who had reached base on a leadoff walk, giving the HarbourCats the early lead. Matros was able to minimize the damage however, recording a strikeout and a groundout to minimize the damage to one run.
Victoria added on to their lead in the top of the third, scoring two runs on two hits to take a 3-0 lead. First it was second baseman Ryan Anderson (UC Davis) continued his impressive late season emergence, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and driving in his 12th run in that span, his 20 th overall, on a double that scored right fielder Ben Polshuk (Cal Poly) who had doubled to lead off the inning. Two batters later, first baseman PJ Floyd brought home Anderson on a groundout to second to extend the lead to three.
Matros last three innings for Kitsap, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Right-handed relievers Joey Angyus (Pacific University) and Garrett Smith (Tacoma CC) kept the BlueJackets close, combining for four scoreless innings of relief, scattering four hits and a walk with one strikeout, but the Kitsap offense was simply unable to gain any traction against Mitchell.
The second year HarbourCats' left-hander worked quickly, pitching six shutout innings on just five hits with six strikeouts, not walking a batter en route to his seventh victory of the season (7-0), giving him sole possession of the HarbourCats single-season wins lead.
Right-handers Austin Dondanville (Cal Poly) and Will McAffer (Central Arizona) each have six this summer with three games remaining in the regular season.
Right-hander Greg Casper (South Dakota State) struck out three in a scoreless seventh inning. After right-hander Holden Lyons (Oklahoma City) pitched a scoreless eighth, the BlueJackets were able to score their lone run of the game when Taylor Adams (Tacoma CC) singled in center fielder Justin Bundy (Northeast Texas CC) to make it 4-1.
Lyons would induce a fly out of the next hitter, Jordan Ackerman (Bluefield College) to end the game.
The win is the HarbourCats fourth straight, and improves their league-best overall record to 38-13 and keeps them tied for the second half lead in the north division at 15-9.
The loss is Kitsap's sixth straight as they finish the season 15-39, 7-20 in the second half.
The HarbourCats now return home to Victoria for a three-game weekend series against the Yakima Valley Pippins in the final regular season homestand at Royal Athletic Park. The Pippins lead the WCL South Division second half standings and currently own the league's second best record behind only the HarbourCats.
Right-hander Cameron Schneider (Cal Poly, 4-0) takes the ball for the HarbourCats in the opener against righty Gavin Velasquez (Cal St. Fullerton, 7-2) for the Pippins.
A full weekend at the ballpark will feature Jerseys Off Our Backs with Odlum Brown on Friday at 6:35pm, Wallace Driving School FIREWORKS on Saturday at 6:35pm, and Used.ca Game Day & Fan Appreciation Day with Maple Leaf Foods on Sunday at 1:00pm.
Additional promotions during the series will include Blast Off with Ticket Rocket on Saturday, while Sunday is Cadets Day with Albert Head Training Centre cadets singing the national anthems. On Sunday, there will be a free hot dog for every child in attendance as well as a hot dog eating contest with Maple Leaf Foods.
The HarbourCats will open the first round of the WCL playoffs on the road in Bellingham or Walla Walla next Tuesday, August 9. Game two will take place Wednesday, August 10 at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, presented by Wilson's Transportation. Game three would be played, if necessary, in Victoria on Thursday, August 11.
West Coast League Stories from August 3, 2016
- Mitchell Now 7-0, 'Cats Sweep 'Jackets - Victoria HabourCats
- WENATCHEE COMES FROM BEHIND, WINS GAME ONE AT WALLA WALLA - Wenatchee AppleSox
- WENATCHEE COMES FROM BEHIND, WINS GAME ONE AT WALLA WALLA - Wenatchee AppleSox
- Red-Hot Corvallis Hands GreyWolves Second Straight One-Run Loss - Gresham GreyWolves
- Sweets Blow Early Lead in Game One Loss to AppleSox - Walla Walla Sweets
- Bells Continue Playoff Push - Bellingham Bells
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