The Nanaimo NightOwls are giving up their nest to the displaced Victoria HarbourCats for a West Coast League first round playoff game on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 6:35 p.m. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

displaced

‘It’s not a perfect scenario:’ Victoria HarbourCats forced to play key home playoff game in Nanaimo

Aug 10, 2024 | 6:25 AM

NANAIMO — While it’s not the home field advantage a south Island West Coast League baseball team was hoping for, the Victoria HarbourCats will try to claw out a victory at historic Seraxumen Stadium.

Punted from Royal Athletic Park by the City of Victoria in preparation for a B.C Lions Canadian Football League regular season game on Aug. 31, the HarbourCats were forced to secure an alternate home venue should they qualify for the WCL playoffs.

The City of Nanaimo and NightOwls organization threw the Cats a lifeline well in advance of Victoria locking up the final WCL North Division playoff spot, earning a best-of-three first round encounter with the Washington state-based Wenatchee Applesox.

Game one of the series takes place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Seraxumen Stadium at 6:35 p.m.

“It’s not a perfect scenario obviously for our sponsors, season ticket holders and even our team and host families and all of the factors that go into it, but we certainly are excited,” Jim Swanson, managing partner for the HarbourCats and NightOwls told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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Game two of the series happens in Wenatchee Wash, as would a third and decisive game three if necessary.

The Victoria HarbourCats won’t have the benefit of playing in front of their hometown fans at Royal Athletic Park. (Victoria HarbourCats)

The game is free to attend for both HarbourCats and NightOwls season ticket holders and corporate sponsors.

Tickets for the game are available online and at the Seraraxumen Stadium ticketing booth located beyond the centre field fence.

Despite not playing such an important game in front of their home fans, Swanson believes HarbourCats and NightOwls supporters will converge to back the Cats.

He said the WCL playoffs offer a noticeably amplified intensity.

“We’re really excited to be able to show that level of baseball that’ll happen in the playoffs because obviously playoffs in any sport just ramps things up and people get more excited, and the play picks up, the pace picks up.”

Despite being in post-season contention until the last week of the season, the Nanaimo NightOwls yielded the final North Division playoff position to Victoria.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes