Victoria HarbourCats field-manager Dennis Rogers reflected on the nature of the summer collegiate baseball West Coast League, where players finish their NCAA, NAIA, CIS or junior college seasons and are suddenly thrown together as near strangers with their WCL teams.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 even know these players yet, and they鈥檙e celebrating with you,鈥� Rogers said.
And celebrate the HarbourCats did, spilling onto the diamond in wild jubilation with good reason late Thursday night at Royal Athletic Park, after rallying from a 9-1 deficit to edge the Medford Rogues 12-11 on a two-run, walk-off double by Dylan Lavelle in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Typical of the WCL, Detroit Tigers draft pick Lavelle had just arrived in town a few hours before the game, and the Everett Community College freshman made his HarbourCats debut in the most auspicious way possible.
鈥淚 played with a couple of these guys before in different ball leagues, and this team welcomed me with open arms,鈥� said the highly touted former Washington state high school standout.
Lavelle didn鈥檛 sign with Detroit and will re-enter the MLB draft next year in anticipation of being picked much higher than the 18th round in which the Tigers took him in 2012 because of a shoulder injury suffered in Grade 12.
鈥淸The HarbourCats seem like a group] that always feels like it can win the game,鈥� Lavelle said.
Victoria (5-1) now embarks on its first road trip, beginning a three-game set tonight in Kelowna against the winless Falcons (0-6) before playing three games in Bellingham beginning Tuesday against the Bells (5-3 heading into Friday evening鈥檚 game against the Wenatchee AppleSox).
鈥淚 like the road,鈥� said Victoria field boss Rogers.
鈥淚 use it as a way to tighten things up. You鈥檙e with the players 24 hours a day. It鈥檚 a more controlled environment.鈥�
