HarbourCats pounce on Pippins

If the Victoria HarbourCats do make the West Coast League playoffs, they’ll look back on a cool Wednesday evening at Yakima Valley as the turning point to their late push.

Staring at a two-run deficit going to the top of the ninth inning and looking at falling six games back of the host Pippins in the race for the North Division’s final playoff spot, the HarbourCats’ bats awoke to the tune of six runs paving the way to a big 8-4 win over the Pippins.

The victory moved Victoria to within four games of Yakima as the chase for the North’s secondhalf title heats up. The two teams finish off their three-game set tonight at Yakima County Stadium before the HarbourCats head to Wenatchee on Friday to start a three-game set with the AppleSox.

Trailing 4-2 going to the ninth inning, the HarbourCats loaded the bases with none out and then went to work cashing in runs. Outfielder Dustin Miller, out of Cal St. Chico, had the key hit, a two-RBI double that gave Victoria a 5-4 lead. Jedd Fagg followed with another double and Ryan Ober chipped in an RBI single.

Tyler Yoshihara then came in for the bottom of the ninth to shut down the Pippins.

Avila College junior Gunnar Friend got the start for Victoria and went five innings. Aidan Goicovich, out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, pitched a scoreless eighth to pick up the win.