The Victoria HarbourCats came into the Walla Walla Sweets series knowing they would probably have to win out the rest of the season to have any chance of making the West Coast League playoffs.
That鈥檚 hugely unlikely, of course, but any follower of baseball can tell you that quirkier things have happened on bigger stages. Just ask the 1951 New York Giants, 1964 Cardinals, Bucky Dent and the 1978 Yankees and 1995 Mariners. Going the other way were the 1964 Phillies, 1978 Red Sox, 1995 Angels and 1969 Cubs.
So, who knows?
The HarbourCats defeated Walla Walla 6-4 Thursday night at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park to complete a 3-0 sweep of the Sweets. That was sweet salve for a HarbourCats team that limped in after being swept 3-0 across the strait by the Lefties in Port Angeles.
The key hit Thursday was delivered by infielder Rowdey Jordan, a member of the Mississippi State team that made it to the 2018 NCAA College World Series over the spring.
Jordan鈥檚 two-run homer 鈥� on a three-hit, two-run, four RBI night for him 鈥� proved the difference in the game. One of Jordan鈥檚 three hits was a double.
The HarbourCats also received stellar mound play from starter Landon Anderson, out of Cal State-Fullerton, who held the Sweets to three hits with three strikeouts and two walks over six complete innings before 1,601 fans under sunny skies.
Victoria is 9-9 in the second half of the WCL season and 23-22 overall, while the Sweets are 7-8 in the second half and 22-20 overall in the South Division.
The HarbourCats have the weekend off from league play, but a busy one nonetheless.
The HarbourCats will meet the Nanaimo Pirates tonight in the Harbour City. The Cats play the Mavericks League senior all-stars Saturday and Sunday, and a Cuban touring team Monday, all at Royal Athletic Park.
