Griffin Andreychuk hit upon the right analogy.
鈥淲e had the home run hitters and were kind of like the West Coast League Toronto Blue Jays,鈥� quipped the Victoria HarbourCats slugger.
Andreychuk had five and Kevin Collard seven to account for 12 of Victoria鈥檚 36 home runs that led the WCL during the 2015 season, which was the second most in league history behind the 44 the Walla Walla Sweets belted out in 2014.
Second-baseman Andreychuk, outfielders Collard and A.J. Alcantara and pitcher Dominic Topoozian were named Thursday to the 2015 WCL all-star second team.
Andreychuk, a product of the Nanaimo Pirates youth system, heads into his junior season with Seattle University of the Div. 1 Western Athletic Conference. And it鈥檚 a big one, considering the Islander is eligible for the 2016 MLB draft.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see what happens in the draft. Hopefully, things go my way. Playing pro ball has been my dream since I was little.鈥�
Andreychuk said he has enjoyed his two seasons with the HarbourCats, especially considering he got to perform again on the Island.
鈥淣ot many people get the opportunity to play in front of their family and friends,鈥� said the sports exercise major.
鈥淪ummer ball worked out great for me. You get to keep playing ball after the [NCAA] season and continue getting reps. And you can play freely, without the stresses of school, and focus on baseball.鈥�
Alcantara, from UC-Irvine, hit .330 with 21 RBIs. He has already committed to return to Victoria for the 2016 WCL season. But there are so many unknowns next year for Andreychuk, including the MLB draft, that he can鈥檛 make a commitment at this point to return as a rare third-year HarbourCat.
鈥淚f summer ball is in the cards, I would like to be back for sure,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut I have no idea, yet [what next year will bring]. I鈥檒l just let it roll.鈥�
Shortstop Hunter Villanueva of the Kelowna Falcons, who led the league in hitting at .378, was named 2015 WCL MVP.
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