If you put the word 鈥減ro鈥� in front of it, Victoria sports fans have a history of responding. They did for the Victoria Capitals and Seals in baseball and Salmon Kings in hockey.
The only thing that can match that is if it鈥檚 acknowledged that what they are watching is the very top level of the amateur game 鈥� such as the Victoria Royals in the Western Hockey League.
That is the brand the Victoria HarbourCats are selling 鈥� top U.S. collegiate NCAA players in summer baseball 鈥� and Island fans seem to be buying in, if the franchise鈥檚 opening series in the West Coast League was any indication.
The HarbourCats ended their first week of WCL play not only undefeated at 3-0 but also easily leading the league in attendance with an 1,883 average. Following Friday night鈥檚 games, the next closest were the Walla Walla Sweets with 1,352.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always nervous when you start, but that was a fantastic first week,鈥� said HarbourCats owner John McLean of Vancouver, a keen sports enthusiast, who says of his civilian career that he is only 鈥渁n accidental banker.鈥�
鈥淲e had three great turnouts in the stands. And the on-field product that [Victoria field manager] Dennis Rogers has put together has been very good. I鈥檓 looking forward to getting the full team here, which should take our team to yet another level.鈥� (Eleven of the HarbourCats are involved in, or recently eliminated from, the NCAA championship tournament and yet to arrive.)
Yet the total of 11 errors over the three Victoria-Kelowna games does show these are only collegians who are not yet pros. And the players look smaller and less bulked-out than did the pro Seals players. But with the likes of 20-year-old Nick Pivetta, HarbourCats pitcher and Victoria product who went 136th overall Friday to the Washington Nationals in the MLB draft, the WCL unapologetically answers that it is all about helping develop future pro prospects. The league can point to an alumni list that includes Orioles slugger Chris Davis, Astros pitcher Bud Norris and Red Sox fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to bolster its case.
The Island response to the WCL appears promising, but the HarbourCats need to be wary that opening week does not a season make.
鈥淟ook, we鈥檙e only three games in,鈥� McLean said. 鈥淎nd Victoria should be drawing well because we鈥檙e the biggest market in the league and should be able to draw higher crowds.鈥�
The HarbourCats meet the Medford Rogues of Oregon in a three-game set beginning Tuesday at Royal Athletic Park.
