The Victoria HarbourCats began a critical West Coast League series in Washington state with a 7-3 loss Friday night against the AppleSox in Wenatchee.
The HarbourCats remain three games behind the North Division-leading Yakima Valley Pippins, also losers Friday, in the race for the second-half title, which carries with it a playoff berth.
The AppleSox, who scored all seven of their runs in the bottom of the third inning Friday, moved to within 21脷2 games of the Pippins.
The Bellingham Bells secured the first-half North Division title and first divisional playoff spot. If the Bells, who are only half a game behind Yakima Valley in the second half of the season, also win the second-half title, the team with the next best overall record to the Bells will get the second and final North Division playoff berth. That race would be close between Victoria, Yakima and Wenatchee, with every game now crucial.
Victoria鈥檚 three-game series in Wenatchee concludes tonight and Sunday. The HarbourCats close out the regular season with a three-game set against the Portland Pickles of the South Division beginning Monday at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
