COWLITZ 3
VICTORIA 2
The Victoria HarbourCats lost their second tight game in as many nights to the Cowlitz Black Bears in Kelso/Longview, Washington, dropping a 3-2 West Coast League decision on Tuesday.
But not to fret, the cavalry is on the way. Nine new players will be in the lineup when the Black Bears (3-5) and HarbourCats (4-7) renew their acquaintance Friday night at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria following tonight鈥檚 series closing game.
That is the nature of summer collegiate baseball.
鈥淲e are drawing in and out. Guys are finishing off academics or playing in the College World Series or getting over late-season injures [in the NCAA],鈥� said HarbourCats head coach Graig Merritt.
鈥淲e鈥檙e getting all our players in now and will have a full team by the end of the week. It will be a whole new team. We鈥檙e really excited because we鈥檝e been very short-handed on this road trip and our guys are playing a lot of games with minimal rest.鈥�
Merritt pointed to the yeoman service being provided by players such as Brady Rogers, a product of the Nanaimo Pirates of the sa国际传媒 Premier League.
鈥淧laying middle infield is really taxing physically and Brady has not had a rest,鈥� said Merritt.
Shortstop Alex DeGoti from Long Beach State, a WCL all-star during his previous two seasons with the HarbourCats, made his 2015 debut Monday with a hit and stolen base. On Tuesday he had a double and a run.
HarbourCats outfielder Kevin Collard, coming out of Grade 12 in Southern California to the University of San Diego, continued his standout early season for Victoria with two hits, an RBI and stolen base Tuesday.
But this team needs more.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taking OK at-bats but we鈥檙e not scoring enough runs,鈥� Merritt said.
Josh Walker took the loss for Victoria, giving up all three Cowlitz runs on four hits, four walks and four strikeouts in 32脷3 innings.
