February 28, 2023

Official Victoria HarbourCats News Release

VICTORIA, B.C. -- Top arms from TCU, a pro prospect catcher from George Mason and three local players highlight the latest round of signings for the 2023 season of Victoria HarbourCats baseball.

"We always value securing local and Canadian players where they fit with their stage of development and the quality competition in the West Coast League," said general manager Christian Stewart. "Our fans also like seeing players return, and that's the case in these latest signings with Cooper Crompton, Noah Takacs and Dawson Hurford. I know the coaching staff is excited to see Connor Dykstra and Tyrus Hall, and the TCU guys coming north for the summer are premium arms."

The complete list of players joining the HarbourCats includes:

-Tyrus Hall, IF, school undecided, 6-2/190, Victoria, B.C.

-Connor Dykstra, C, George Mason University, 6-1/230, Chilliwack, B.C.

-Cooper Crompton, RHP, Iowa Western (committed to Oregon), 6-5/180, Langley, B.C.

-Kole Klecker, RHP, Texas Christian University (TCU), 6-2/205, Chandler, AZ

-Louis Rodriguez, RHP, Texas Christian University (TCU), 6-1/205, Long Beach, CA

-Noah Takacs, RHP, Sacramento State, 6-3/200, Victoria, B.C.

-Dawson Hurford, RHP, Southern Arkansas, 6-3/210, Victoria, B.C.

Hall is a Canadian national junior team product who played for the Victoria Eagles, and is known for his defence and strong arm. He is taking a gap year after high school and going to showcase events while working through his recruitment process, and will decide on a college program soon. Has primarily played as a shortstop.

Dykstra, a big man at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, found his name on the list of the top 50 NCAA Division 1 catchers due to his strong work behind the plate and his lethal right-hand bat. In 2022, he hit .444 with six home runs and 33 RBIs while also swiping four bases in the Atlantic10 Conference. Dykstra also got hit by pitch 21 times in 51 games played. He jumped to George Mason from Galveston College.

Crompton, currently in his second year at Iowa Western, where he is already 2-0 on the season, made five starts for the HarbourCats in 2022, amassing 24 2/3 innings and giving up just 20 hits while walking only seven and earned a WCL Pitcher of the Week award for his efforts. He is committed to the Oregon Ducks in the fall.

Rodriguez was a USA Baseball national team participant from the time he was 12, and was Orange County pitcher of the year as a senior in high school. He's 1-0 with a 3.37 ERA as a TCU freshman. Kole Klecker -- already makes the WCL's all-name team -- threw a complete game to help his high school win the Arizona state championship. Is 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and 11 strikeouts (and no walks) in 8 1/3 innings already as a freshman at TCU.

Takacs, a product of the Victoria Eagles, is a sophomore at Sacramento State, was 1-1 with a 5.01 ERA for the HarbourCats in six starts in 2022. He's now thrown more than 80 innings for Sac State, and is 3-3 over 16 starts.

Hurford, a Victoria Mariners product, threw in six games as a HarbourCat in 2022, with a record of 0-1 and 6.46 ERA. He's moved from Western Nebraska College to NCAA Division-2 University of Southern Arkansas, where he is used out of the bullpen.

The HarbourCats celebrate their 10th Anniversary in 2023 and the season kicks off with the home opener against the Kamloops NorthPaws on Friday June 2.