VICTORIA 9
WENATCHEE 4
Even the architects of the Victoria HarbourCats鈥� record-setting West Coast League 16-game baseball winning streak can scarcely believe it is happening.
鈥淎t 0-3 [to start the season], we didn鈥檛 think we had a chance to be [16-3],鈥� said Jim Swanson, the HarbourCats鈥� co-owner and managing partner.
But that鈥檚 what has transpired. The HarbourCats earned their Sweet Sixteen in a row Tuesday night with a 9-4 victory over the host Wenatchee AppleSox.
Victoria鈥檚 15th consecutive win on Monday in Wenatchee had eclipsed the former league record of 14, set by the 2011 AppleSox.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like we鈥檝e been steamrollering teams. Three of the games in the winning streak went to extra innings,鈥� Swanson said.
Swanson pointed to two things that built the streak: Coaching and roster depth. These are crucial the WCL, a league which allows U.S. collegiate NCAA players, many from the Pac-12, to play through the summer in a pro-style environment that includes, wood bats, everyday play and grinding bus travel.
鈥淭he teaching and energy level our coaching staff [led by head coach Graig Merritt] brings to the dugout is amazing,鈥� said Swanson. 鈥淧lus we have lots of depth this season. We can give players days off [WCL teams play pretty much every day in June and July] without taking a step back.鈥�
What鈥檚 most gratifying, said Swanson, is how the 鈥渃ommunity has followed us along.鈥�
Victoria, which led the WCL in attendance the past two seasons, is again in the lead this year with an average per-game draw of 2,096 over 12 home dates at Royal Athletic Park. The next closest are the Yakima Valley Pippins, who are averaging 1,451 fans over 10 home games.
鈥淲e have the largest market in the league and it would be very concerning to us if we didn鈥檛 lead the league in attendance,鈥� Swanson said. 鈥淏ut that said, this has obviously been a good run and our fans have been excited by it. It鈥檚 a great baseball market, regardless. Our fans know when to clap, when to cheer and when to heckle at all the right times.鈥�
Swanson, the main driver behind the HarbourCats operation, also pointed to the outfield fence at RAP. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have an empty spot [in terms of sponsor signage] on our fence,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hat community support has allowed us to do what we are doing. It includes allowing us a larger roster because of all the extra beds and meals our host billet families provide.鈥�
Fresno State鈥檚 Jake Stone had a three-RBI homer in the eighth inning to key Victoria鈥檚 offence on Tuesday. Jarron Silva, a promising freshman, headed to the UCLA Bruins in the fall, had a productive three trips to the plate for Victoria with two hits including a triple, a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored. Cody Snider had two hits including a double, two runs scored and an RBI in his two plate appearances. The HCats winning pitcher Jack Wolger went six complete innings, allowing three Wenatchee hits, three runs but only one earned, and two strikeouts and one walk. Blake Hannah of UC-Davis came on in relief.
