HarbourCats push win streak to four with series opener win against Sweets

Former Victoria Eagle Kai Gray (above) had a pair of hits and three-RBI in Monday’s HarbourCats win.

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart

June 5, 2023, Victoria, BC – Victoria’s own Kai Gray had a triple, single and three RBI to pace the Victoria HarbourCats to a 8-3 win over the Walla Walla Sweets in West Coast League baseball action Monday night at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria.

The win pushes the HarbourCats season opening win streak to four games, a franchise record for wins at the start of the year, while Walla Walla drops to 0-4, having been swept by the NightOwls in Nanaimo over the weekend.

Gray gave the ‘Cats a 3-1 lead with a two-RBI single in the second and then after Walla Walla tied the game 3-3 with runs in each of the fourth and fifth, added an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth to give the ‘Cats a 4-3 lead they never looked back from.

HarbourCats starter Benny Roebuck (Kent State) went four innings Monday, working himself out of some trouble spots to leave the game with a 3-2 lead.

A run in the sixth and three more in the bottom of the eighth, courtesy in part of a two-RBI single from Jack Johnson, sealed the deal. Johnson’s hit capped off a three-hit, two-RBI night for the Baylor sophomore. He also scored three runs.

Dawson Hurford gets the win in relief of Benny Roebuck, while Brett Harvey closed out the final two innings. Walla Walla starter Heitaro Hayashi took the loss.

Kevin Shea scurries around the base paths en route to scoring one of his three runs on the evening.

The HarbourCats and Sweets are right back in action Tuesday night, a 6:35 pm start, on $10.00 Tuesdays, where all General Admission and Premium Reserve seats are just ten bucks!  Then on Wednesday, at 11AM it is the annual School Spirit game, sponsored by Mayfair Optometric Clinic. Note all reserved seating is sold out for Wednesday and General Admission seating is standing room only, or down in the right-field soccer grandstand.

Tickets for all games are available through the HarbourCats one and only ticketing partner, Select Your Tickets, at harbourcats.com/tickets.


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