HarbourCats grab key win in series opener with Kelowna

Right-hander Levi Abbott (Lethbridge, Alta.) went four strong innings in the Victoria HarbourCats’ 5-0 win over Kelowna on Friday. Photo: Christian J. Stewart

July 28, 2023

By Christian J. Stewart

Victoria HarbourCats

Victoria, BC - Levi Abbott (Lethbridge, Alta.) went four strong innings, while Jack Johnson had a pair of walks and a two-RBI double to lead the Victoria HarbourCats to a 5-0 win over the Kelowna Falcons Friday night in West Coast League action at Wilson's Group Stadium in Victoria.

Victoria opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Davis and then opened that up to a 3-0 lead on an RBI double from Jesse Brown and an RBI single from Kieper Pate. A two-RBI double by Johnson in the bottom of the seventh added some insurance and gave the 'Cats all the runs they would need.

On the mound, Abbott went four strong innings striking out five and walking none. Ben Smedhammer, Brett Harvey and Dustin Davidson (Haida Gwaii, BC), making his WCL debut, all followed in scoreless relief.

The win moves the HarbourCats record to 31-14 overall and 12-6 in the second half and more importantly keeps them on pace with the Division leading Wenatchee AppleSox who had lost their last two games to Bellingham.

The HarbourCats and Falcons continue their series on Saturday night, the final fireworks night of the year, and then close out the series with a Sunday matinee, the final day game of the season at 1:05 p.m.