It might seem unusual to be talking about big baseball games in June.
But not in what is basically a two-month league through June and July, which in turn is divided into two parts.
The Victoria HarbourCats began a crucial six-game stretch of games, against West Coast League North Division rivals, with a six-run 10th inning in a 13-7 victory over the Falcons in Kelowna on Tuesday night.
The HarbourCats win was highlighted by a grand slam by 2015 San Francisco Giants draft-pick Nate Pecota, son of former Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves infielder Bill Pecota, in the top of the fourth inning that gave Victoria a 5-4 lead. Pecota, who is hitting a scorching .389 this season, finished his smashing night with three hits, six RBIs and four runs scored.
鈥淭hese next six games are big for us,鈥� said HarbourCats (4-3) head coach Brian McRae, about the three-game run against the Falcons (2-5), which is followed by three home dates on the Island beginning Friday against the Port Angeles Lefties (6-5).
鈥淣ot only are these games against division rivals, but after these next six games, the first half of the season is almost half over.鈥�
Indeed, 12 of Victoria鈥檚 27 first-half games will already have been played by the time the Lefties depart back across Juan de Fuca Strait on Sunday.
The first-half champion will play the second-half champion in the North Division playoff final in early August.
鈥淚 believe the teams who play the best this week 鈥� ourselves, Kelowna or Port Angeles 鈥� will have a good chance to win the first half of our division,鈥� said McRae.
Second-half champion Victoria beat first-half champion Kelowna in the 2017 North Division playoff championship last summer, making for an instant competition with several layers of meaning between the lone Canadian teams in the WCL.
鈥淲e have returning players who remember those tight regular season and playoff games against Kelowna last year, combined with this being the two Canadian teams the WCL, which makes for a great rivalry,鈥� said McRae.
Meanwhile, McRae made note of the 72 current or alumni WCL players selected last week in the 2018 MLB draft, including 13 from the HarbourCats.
鈥淭his league has talent,鈥� said McRae, himself a former 10-season MLB veteran.
鈥淔ans may not realize it, but this season they are watching four or five players in the WCL who could be in the major leagues in a couple of years.鈥�
