Mississippi State slugger Hunter Vansau鈥檚 two-run homer to centre field in the bottom of the sixth inning pulled Victoria to within 4-3. But a sharply-hit two-run single in the top of the ninth inning by Yakima鈥檚 Tora Otsuka, the son of former major-league pitcher Akinori Otsuka, pretty much extinguished Victoria hopes on this evening before 1,451 fans. The diminutive five-foot-nine outfielder from the University of San Diego had four hits on the night and eight in the three-game set.
鈥淭here is nothing to hang our heads about. We got beat by a good team,鈥� said Vansau.
鈥淭hey made good plays in the infield and denied us timely hitting.鈥�
Outfielder Andrew Shaps had another strong night at the plate for the HarbourCats, going 3-for-4.
Victoria starter Jack Owen, a WCL all-star game selection just out of Grade 12 and headed in the fall to the Auburn Tigers of the SEC as a freshman, went six innings and gave up six hits and four runs, two earned, and struck out seven with two walks, as he fell to 3-1.
Pippins starter Taylor Dollard was solid in moving to 4-0 with a six-hitter over 6 1/3 innings and three runs allowed and was backed up by some stellar relief pitching.
The HarbourCats are 20-17 overall and 6-4 in the second half of the season. The Pippins, who will host the 2017 WCL all-star game on Tuesday, are 16-17 and 3-3.
The HarbourCats meet the sa国际传媒 senior men鈥檚 champion Burnaby Bulldogs in non-league games Saturday and Sunday at Royal Athletic Park before the WCL all-star break Monday and Tuesday for the festivities in Yakima Valley.
The 鈥機ats head across to Bellingham for a three-game set starting next Wednesday before heading to Gresham, Oregon, for the same. That six-game road trip will likely decide Victoria鈥檚 fate as the HarbourCats need to win the second half of the season in the North Division in order to make the playoffs. They do not return to Royal Athletic for a league game until July 25 against the Kelowna Falcons. Victoria has only six league home games remaining as the days of summer start slipping away.
