Reagan MacDonald鈥檚 steady pitching, backed by a home run by Griffin Paxton, powered the Victoria HarbourCats to an 11-2 West Coast League baseball victory over the Lefties on Wedneday night in Port Angeles.
The Victoria win put an end to the Lefties鈥� playoff hopes, as the Port Angeles loss and Wenatchee鈥檚 5-0 win over Ridgefield on Wednesday gave the AppleSox the other North Division playoff berth. The HarbourCats will open the 2019 post-season in Wenatchee on Aug. 13, with Game 2 slated for Royal Athletic Park on Aug. 14 and a third game, if necessary, also at Royal Athletic Park on Aug. 15.
On Wednesday, starter MacDonald spun a two-hitter with two runs allowed and 11 strikeouts and only two walks over five innings of work.
Paxton led the offence with three hits, five RBIs and two runs scored.
Gus Wilson added two hits and two runs scored and and Kyle Sherick three hits and two runs scored for the HarbourCats.
Wilson, Sherick and Harrison Spohn pounded out doubles each.
The HarbourCats (17-6 second half and 35-15 overall) won the North Division first-half title and playoff berth that goes with it.
The Lefties drop to 12-12 and can鈥檛 catch the red-hot AppleSox (17-6), who have won nine consecutive games.
The 鈥機ats are closing out the regular season with six-consecutive games against the Lefties. Victoria will look for the three-game sweep tonight in Port Angeles.
The marathon between the clubs concludes with three games at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park from Friday to Sunday.
The South Division opening-round playoff series will see the first-half division champs Corvallis Knights take on the Walla Walla Sweets.
The Sweets beat Kelowna 4-0 on Wednesday to secure the final playoff spot. They鈥檒l host the Knights for Game 1, before the series moves to Corvallis for Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3.
