VICTORIA聽 5
KELOWNA聽 2
Baseball is the great American pastime. But the Victoria HarbourCats and Kelowna Falcons are turning it red and white, minus the blue, at Wilson鈥檚 Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
What could be more fitting on the sa国际传媒 Day weekend than a matchup between the two lone Canadian teams in the West Coast League? The HarbourCats and Falcons, however, are heading in opposite directions, with Victoria leading the North Division at 15-7 and the Kelowna Falcons bringing up the rear at 6-12.
The HarbourCats won their fifth consecutive game with a 5-2 victory over the Falcons on Saturday night before 2,285 fans.
鈥淚鈥檓 from Texas and this is my first time in sa国际传媒, and it鈥檚 so different, but I鈥檓 loving the experience,鈥� said Parker Bramlett, whose two hits and two RBIs keyed the HCats鈥� victory. 鈥淭he people are so welcoming.鈥�
Victoria also got an RBI single from Emilio Nogales, out of NCAA Fresno State.
The hit of the night, a soaring double that just failed to clear the centre-field fence, was delivered by HCats infielder Harrison Spohn in the eighth inning. Spohn was brought home by Chase Wehsener out of the Big 12 NCAA Baylor Bears, who returned to action from an ankle injury.
Starter Jack Hyde, from the University of San Diego, gave Victoria five strong innings with three hits and one run allowed with four strikeouts and one walk.
鈥淭his group will do what it takes to win,鈥� said Victoria head coach Todd Haney, whose five seasons in the MLB included a stint with the Montreal Expos.
鈥淭hey push and grind. They have meshed well and taken ownership and accountability.鈥�
The set concludes with the fireworks game tonight and sa国际传媒 Day matin茅e Monday.
Victoria remained one game ahead of the Bellingham Bells in the battle for the first-half North Division title, and the playoff berth that goes with it.
The first-half division championship will be decided in the three-game set next weekend between the HarbourCats and Bells at Royal Athletic Park.
