Victoria HarbourCats faithful again showed that only fairweather sports fans are dissuaded by showers. A total of 2,971 fans ignored glowering skies and coolish conditions for the 2018 season-opening West Coast League baseball game Friday night against the visiting Wenatchee AppleSox at Royal Athletic Park.
Throwing out the ceremonial opening pitch was 21-year-old Mount Douglas Secondary graduate Sheldon Mack, who was injured in the Las Vegas mass shooting in October. Mack received a tremendous ovation.
In another poignant touch, the HarbourCats wore caps honouring the victims in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in April in Saskatchewan. The caps were to be sold after the game for $100聽each, with all funds going to the Broncos鈥� recovery fund.
In an annual tradition, sky-divers emerged from the clouds to deliver the game ball. It was handed to HarbourCats pitcher Ethan Fox of Campbell River, making his second career home-opener start for the team.
The opening game introduced a slew of features, including a third-baseline party deck that protrudes well into foul-ball area. HarbourCats players will get used to it, but how visiting teams will react as the season progresses remains to be seen.
The HarbourCats face the AppleSox again Saturday night at 6:35.
