HarbourCats’ veterans bid adieu with a victory
VICTORIA 7 COWLITZ 3
Nate Pecota turned in a memorable farewell performance Thursday at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park.
The centre-fielder from Lee Summit, Montana, hit a home run and double to lead Victoria to a 7-3 victory as the HarbourCats swept their three-game West Coast League set against the Cowlitz Black Bears.
Pecota will have to leave the HarbourCats, due to school commitments, following the games tonight, Saturday and Sunday against the Bells in Bellingham.
That’s a common refrain in summer baseball leagues such as the WCL as players sometimes have to return early to their colleges and universities. Postsecondary fall academic terms in the U.S. begin in late August, much earlier than in Canada.
“This experience in Victoria, especially the repetitions I got here, will make me a better player as I prepare for my final season in university,” said Pecota, who hit .315 in 31 games for the HarbourCats, heading into his senior season at Cameron University in Oklahoma.
“This [Royal Athletic Park] has been a great stadium with a great atmosphere,” added the two-season HarbourCat, and son of Bill Pecota, who played in the MLB for the Braves, Mets and Royals.
Hometown product Jason Willow also will be leaving the HarbourCats, in his case immediately, to attend to school matters at UC-Santa Barbara, where he plays NCAA Div. 1 for the highly regarded Gauchos program.
The Lambrick Park Secondary graduate was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2017 draft. This is a big season upcoming for Willow as the Victoria Mariners product looks to re-enter the MLB draft in his junior season at UC-Santa Barbara.
“This was probably my last game ever at RAP,” said Willow, rather forlornly, about a park in which he grew up playing.
Willow is looking forward to his key NCAA season upcoming with the Gauchos but admits he will be thinking of his HarbourCats teammates this month.
“It’s bittersweet,” said the outfielder, who hit .313 with five home runs in 23 games with the HarbourCats. “Having to miss the playoffs sucks. But I know these guys and they will do just fine.”
As first-half North Division champions, the HarbourCats are guaranteed a playoff berth with the best-of-three division series scheduled for Aug. 13-15. The North and South division champions will meet in the best-of-three WCL final.
There will be other players leaving WCL clubs before the start of the playoffs, including more from the ’Cats, which is an issue that Victoria head coach Todd Haney said needs to be addressed by the league.
“The season lasts too long. There is no reason summer ball should go to Aug. 20 [the potential final game of the WCL playoffs] when guys have to get back to school.”
Meanwhile, Victoria (13-5 second half and 31-14 overall) got strong mound play Thursday from its two hurlers. Starter Dakota Hawkins went six full innings and gave up four hits and two runs. Derek Salata from Illinois State took the win in relief by allowing one hit and one run over three innings.
Matt Clayton added a home run and Chase Meidroth and Griffin Paxton two hits each offensively for the HarbourCats, who blew the game open with a six-run eighth inning to send the Black Bears to 9-9 and 19-26.
Victoria embarks on its shortest road trips of the season when it plays in Bellingham this weekend. Then following an off-day Monday, the ’Cats head over the Juan de Fuca Strait to begin a three-game set with the Port Angeles Lefties.