HarbourCats set for first-half North Division title showdown with Bellingham
The Victoria HarbourCats beat Kelowna 11-4 Wednesday to take the series and stay in the hunt for the first half North Division title. Photo: Christian J. Stewart
June 29, 2023
By Christian J. Stewart
Victoria HarbourCats
Victoria, B.C. - It is hard to believe, but the HarbourCats are nearly through the first half of their season, with three key games against the Bellingham Bells coming up at home this weekend, games that could be key in deciding who wins the first half West Coast League (WCL) North Division title, and along with that, the No. 1 seed in the North Division playoffs that would begin August 8.
As it stands, with Victoria's 11-4 and 11-3 wins over Kelowna this week, Bellingham and Victoria are now tied with 16 wins each, while the Wenatchee AppleSox are also in the mix with 15. The HarbourCats however, have had eight losses, to only four by Bellingham and five by Wenatchee. Plus, Bellingham and Wenatchee have one more series to play before the end of their first half, whereas the HarbourCats first half comes to an end with the three games against Bellingham.
So what does this all mean?
Well first, relative to Bellingham, the HarbourCats realistically need to sweep the Bells this weekend to finish with a 19-8 record and then hope that the Bells lose at least two more games - either to Edmonton tonight - and then one or two more to Kamloops in their three game set next week. If Victoria and Bellingham end up tied, it would come down to head-to-head records, which if Victoria sweeps, would be the same. The next tie-breaker then would be head-to-head run differential, which heading into the weekend, sits at 10-5 in favour of Bellingham.
As to Wenatchee, they swept Victoria earlier in the season, so hold the tie-breaker in that respect. Thus, the HarbourCats (and the Bells for that matter) have to hope that Wenatchee loses four of their next seven games, which include a game tonight against Port Angeles, a weekend series against Edmonton and three more next week against the Lefties in Port Angeles.
Whoever comes out of that mix, then knows their playoff spot is secured, while the other teams then try to vie for the second-half title, as well as two wildcard spots that are also available to the next two teams.
It may sound like a tough road for Victoria, but nevertheless, with playoff possibilities on the line, Canada Day Fireworks Friday and a Canada Day and Sunday matinee on the schedule, it is going to be a fabulous weekend of baseball at Wilson's Group Stadium.