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WCL Victoria HabourCats

Pippins Pop HarbourCats in Yakima

July 9, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Victoria HabourCats News Release


The second half of this road trip is not going the way the first half did.

The Victoria HarbourCats, who were riding a seven-game winning streak after two series against the Kitsap BlueJackets -- one home, one road -- have not had the same results since arriving in Yakima, home of the expansion Yakima Valley Pippins.

Tuesday saw an 8-1 HarbourCats loss to the East Division-leading Pippins, a game played in front of 1,125 in intense upper-90s heat that saw some sloppy play from the defence contribute to the setback. Both teams made two errors, but the timing of one play by the HarbourCats defence told the tale, with the ball being thrown around following a throwing error.

Alex Garcia, a high school grad who will go to UC-Santa Barbara in the fall, got the call on the hill and had his roughest outing of the season, lasting three innings -- he gave up four walks, five hits, and three earned runs. Angel Delgado had a rough inning, allowing four hits and three runs, but only one was earned after a miscue put him in a bind.

Ryan Keller, who hadn't pitched since June 24, came on and threw three innings, surrendering four hits and two runs. Lefty Carson Schneider, throwing for the first time since July 1, pitched a perfect eighth inning.

The HarbourCats were outhit 13-7 and struck out eight times, compared to four Ks for Yakima batters. Bryce Greager was 2-3 and Jake Lesinski was 2-2 as part of a revamped lineup that saw Gabe Clark, Alex DeGoti and Nathan Lukes given a night off. Only one Yakima starter was held hitless.

The HarbourCats will play one more game in Yakima, on Wednesday, and the starting pitcher is not yet determined. Victoria is 12-14 and on a two-game losing streak, and combined with Bellingham's 12th-straight win on Tuesday, the HarbourCats are 8.5 games out of first in the West Division. The focus will be on the wild card spot in the playoff hunt, as four teams (three division winners, and best record of non-division winners) advance.

On Thursday, the HarbourCats are home to the Medford (Oregon) Rogues, on a big day at Sports Traders Diamond at Royal Athletic Park. It's Peninsula Co-op World Record Pitch day, starting at 8:30am and going right through to gametime, with everyone in Victoria invited to come and throw a ceremonial first pitch. Cooper, the Peninsula Co-op mascot, will throw the final first pitch, while the first pitch of the morning will be thrown by Danny The Intern from Kool-FM. Special coupons for game tickets and Peninsula Co-op products will be given out, and all those who throw a pitch before 3pm will be entered to win a $200 gas card -- come down on your coffee break, on lunch break, throw a pitch, and PITCH IN!



West Coast League Stories from July 9, 2014


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