Even up against sa国际传媒-wide hoops Raptor-mania on Friday night, a decent crowd of 2,181 was on hand for the Victoria HarbourCats鈥� home opener at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
Returning veteran Nick Plaia struck out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Corvallis Knights hung on for a 2-1 victory over the HarbourCats.
The game followed an impressive opening ceremony. The West Coast League baseball patrons, many following the Raptors game on their phones, looked up long enough to see a Cyclone helicopter doing a fly past over the park as part of the festivities.
Both the HarbourCats and Knights probably wish they could have taken a Cyclone in from Washington state.
The HarbourCats arrived for their home opener earlier in the day after going 2-1 Tuesday through Thursday in Wenatchee against the AppleSox.
But that鈥檚 not as long as the Knights had to travel from Walla Walla on Thursday night. Not only that, the Corvallis players had to contemplate a 0-3 start against the Sweets on the long bus ride up from southeastern Washington state across the border and then ferry ride to the Island.
鈥淚 want to thank the Knights for taking that short trip up from Walla Walla,鈥� quipped HarbourCats GM Jim Swanson, as he took to the PA for the pre-game festivities, which included the flyover and also skydivers and police motorcycles.
鈥淭he travel in this league is tough,鈥� said HarbourCats slugger Frankie Niemann, who had another hit Friday after leading Victoria with five hits in the 8-5 victory Thursday night in Wenatchee.
鈥淏ut this is what you have to go through at the next level [minor-pro ball],鈥� said the catcher from Tulane University.
Players entering summer collegiate leagues like the WCL know the experience is a lot different than weekend-only play in NCAA university or college.
鈥淵ou need to have consistency over nearly 60 games [in just over two months],鈥� said Niemann, a six-foot native of Sanford, Florida.
Tulane is located in New Orleans, which is a world away from Victoria.
鈥淚t different, for sure,鈥� said Niemann, second-team all-star in the American Athletic Conference in his just-completed sophomore season.
鈥淔irst of all, nobody down there would be wearing long sleeves at a game in June like you see here.鈥�
On the mound Friday, Dillon Larsen from Virginia Tech had an outstanding start on the mound for Victoria in holding Corvallis scoreless with six strikeouts through four innings. Tanner Haney鈥檚 solo homer in the bottom of the fifth inning gave Victoria the lead before Corvallis rallied for the 2-1 lead they.
