Instead of the HC on their ballcaps for HarboutCats, maybe the players need a big I denoting inconsistency.
The Victoria HarbourCats (10-11) go into their all-sa国际传媒 home sa国际传媒 Day derby against the Kelowna Falcons still searching for answers.
鈥淲e thought we had turned a corner, but then went on to not play well over the last six games,鈥� said head coach Brian McRae.
Victoria has lost its last two West Coast League three-game sets 2-1 to each of the Bellingham Bells and Walla Walla Sweets.
鈥淲e look good in spurts over four-five innings but we鈥檝e not played a consistent game over the last six,鈥� added McRae.
鈥淭here was been a frustrating lack of focus and attention to detail and we can鈥檛 have that. The low energy really bothers me because I鈥檓 not a low-energy guy.鈥�
Another I word also popped up: Identity. Or more to the point, the lack of it.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have an identity yet,鈥� said McRae.
鈥淎fter 21 games, we still don鈥檛 know what we are or who we are. That [identity] is what we need to get over the next few games. These are some of the things we鈥檝e addressed with the players. We鈥檝e challenged the guys to turn it around and have a good weekend and good run-in to the second half of the season. We need to play better. It鈥檚 imperative we have a good weekend against Kelowna.鈥�
A part of the issue has been the HarbourCats鈥� relative youth.
鈥淲e鈥檙e probably the youngest team in the league,鈥� noted McRae.
鈥淲e started four high school guys [incoming NCAA fall freshman] in the last game in Walla Walla. I鈥檓 not going to experiment as much now that I know some things.鈥�
Long-term season help is on the way as four HarbourCats-signed players who were competing in the 2018 College World Series in Omaha, two from Oregon State and two from Mississippi State, will be in town next week and ready to go.
鈥淭hat will make a big difference for the second half of the season,鈥� said McRae.
The series against streaking Kelowna (12-9) won鈥檛 be easy as the Falcons are on a roll and comes to the Island on a six-game winning streak in a stretch in which they have won nine of their last 11 games.
The series begins tonight at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. More than 5,000 fans are expected for Fireworks Night on Saturday, which will be followed by the annual sa国际传媒 Day matin茅e on Sunday.
