There is always a little more in it when Victoria plays Nanaimo. You sense it when the Grizzlies meet the Clippers in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League, the Shamrocks play the Timbermen in the Western Lacrosse Association, the Rebels tackle the Raiders in the sa国际传媒 Football Conference and the Camosun Chargers and VIU Mariners clash on the soccer fields and volleyball and basketball courts.
The newest entry to the rivalry begins Tuesday night when the Victoria HarbourCats begin a three-game baseball set against the expansion Nanaimo NightOwls at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
“This is an important part of what we envisioned when bringing the second team to the Island,” said Jim Swanson, managing partner of the group that owns both clubs.
“We believe we have two of the best ballparks anywhere and two hungry and engaged fan bases. This is going to be fun.”
The WCL features university NCAA players, most of them Americans, in summer ball. But even they get into the regional rivalries when they are with their summer-league teams.
“The players can feel it and are excited to be part of this rivalry,” said Swanson.
The NightOwls (3-3) outlasted the fellow-expansion Edmonton Riverhawks (1-5) in a 9-8 scorefest Sunday at Serauxmen Stadium to conclude the first home series in franchise history. The team had about 1,900 fans for its opener Friday night and 1,200 on Sunday in the wet weekend conditions.
“It’s a bit of a rowdier crowd in Nanaimo than in Victoria,” said Swanson.
“It’s different, but the fans are into it.”
The HarbourCats are 2-4 following a 9-2 loss Sunday in Kelowna against the Falcons (2-1).
Meanwhile, infielder Brooks Lee, part of the Corvallis Knights team that beat the HarbourCats in the 2019 WCL final, is ranked as the top overall player for the 2022 MLB draft next month. The Baltimore Orioles have the first pick. Catcher Adley Rutschman, also out of the Corvallis, was the top pick in the 2019 MLB draft by the Orioles. WCL alumni have been selected in the first round in each of the past five MLB drafts, although the players are listed under their university teams. The year’s opening-day MLB rosters included 33 WCL alumni.
