Aside from building toward head coach Graig Merritt鈥檚 goal of recording the West Coast League鈥檚 first 40-win season, there wasn鈥檛 much else on the line on Friday night as the Victoria HarbourCats were set to face the Cowlitz Black Bears in Longview, Washington.
A rainout scrubbed the second start of a three-game set at Story Field and the two teams will now play a doubleheader tonight at 6:35 p.m. Austin Dondanville (3-0) was set to take to the mound for the HarbourCats against Kevin Baker (2-1) today.
The two results are virtually meaningless, standings-wise, for the HarbourCats as they represent the final two games of the first half of the season for the 21-4 club, which clinched first place in the North Division long ago, thus securing the team鈥檚 first playoff appearance.
The second half for the HarbourCats will begin Saturday at home as Victoria welcomes the Bend Elks at 6:35 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park. The HarbourCats and Elks will also play games Sunday (1 p.m.) and Monday (6:35 p.m.)
Victoria took Game 1 of the series in Longview by a 9-3 score on Wednesday night and is now 4-0 against the Black Bears, having swept Cowlitz in the sa国际传媒 capital last month. Cowlitz is 0-1 in the second half and 12-16 overall as the Black Bears continue to struggle along in the South Division.
The Black Bears managed just four hits off Victoria pitching on Wednesday as the game turned in the seven-run sixth inning in which the hosts surrendered four walks (including two with the bases loaded), four hits and two stolen bases.
Following the series at home against Bend, the HarbourCats will hit the road for six games beginning Tuesday night in Gresham, Oregon.
