Pippins school ’Cats in series finale
The cacophonous sounds of more than 2,500 school children filled the North Park neighbourhood Thursday morning and early afternoon.
“We’re thrilled by the turnout. We’re a community team. This is what we do,” said Victoria HarbourCats GM Brad Norris Jones.
The HarbourCats, however, could not turn in a screeching performance to match the din in the stands as they went down 5-2 to the Yakima Valley Pippins in the West Coast League game at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park as both teams went to 3-3 in the young season.
“It was a fun atmosphere,” said Victoria outfielder Nick Plaia.
It could have been even better if the home side was able to provide more for the hometown schoolchildren to cheer for. Plaia did his part by going three-forfour at the plate with a double and a run scored. But the HarbourCats needed more of that.
“We’re struggling to bunch together hits at the moment,” said Victoria head coach Brian McRae, a 10-season former major-leaguer. “But that’s going to come.” It was only Plaia’s second game with the HarbourCats since arriving in town and already he is showing he’s a keeper.
His cousin, Trevor Plouffe, played infield for the Minnesota Twins from 2010 to 2016 and is now with the Philadelphia Phillies organization, and has also played for the USA national team. Plaia has the same pro route in mind.
“I want to be a pro athlete and this is a big year for me,” he said.
That’s because his school, Cal Baptist, is moving up to NCAA Div. 1 next season in the WAC as he looks ahead to his junior season, in which he will be eligible for the 2019 MLB draft.
At six-foot-three and with quickness, this guy seems to have all the tools. The anthropology major appeared in 50 games for Cal Baptist as a true freshman in 2017, starting 36 of them, and hit .291 with nine doubles and two homers, with three stolen bases while being named to the all-academic conference team. He was a scorching .333 this past season in 36 games, 22 as a starter.
“I’m a contact hitter, and I have speed, and can play solid defence,” said the native of Santa Clarita, California.
Plaia was facing his old team Thursday. He played for the Pippins in 2017, hitting .269 in 35 games with six stolen bases.
The HarbourCats have two exhibition games Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon against the B.C. senior champion Coquitlam Angels at Wilson’s Group Stadium, with the promotional highlight being a visit by former Toronto Blue Jays World Series-champion and twotime AL all-star third-baseman Kelly Gruber.
“These exhibitions come at just the right time for us and will allow us to work on some things,” said McRae.
“We will be a different team come Tuesday [when Victoria’s WCL season resumes in Kelowna against the Falcons].
DIAMOND DUST: There were 72 alumni or current WCL players selected in the just completed 2018 MLB draft, including 12 former HarbourCats: Nick Meyer in the sixth round to the Mets, Michael Gretler in the 10th round to the Pirates, Will McAffer in the 25th round to the Blue Jays, Kekai Rios in the 28th to the Brewers, Chase Lambert in the 31st round to the Pirates, Ryan Anderson in the 31st to the Rangers, Andrew Shaps in the 31st to the Dodgers, Owen Sharts in the 32nd round to the Rangers, Dylan Stowell in the 34th to the Twins, Chavez Fernander in the 35th to the Tigers, Cole Kreuter in the 36th to the Cardinals and David Wendzel in the 37th round to the Red Sox.