Blue Jays great to be Honorary Coach for Saturday-Sunday games

VICTORIA, B.C. — He’s one of the best-known baseball players in Toronto Blue Jays history, and he’s coming to Victoria this weekend for HarbourCats fans.

Kelly Gruber, a star of the heydays of the Blue Jays, and a member of the 1992 World Series Team, will be at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park for games Saturday and Sunday. The HarbourCats will be hosting the Coquitlam Angels in a non-league, nationals-preview series, giving fans a taste of the Baseball Canada Men’s Championship (passes for the whole event, slated in August, are now on sale, at $75 per seat).

“Kelly is an icon, the flowing hair, the great arm from third, his combination of speed and power helping the Blue Jays reach those World Series years,” said Brad Norris-Jones, the GM of the HarbourCats.

“Fans can come and meet him, get an autograph, take pictures, and it adds to an already busy weekend that includes our Special Olympics game on Saturday, sponsored by Peninsula Co-op, and the Claire Eccles bobblehead giveaway on Sunday with Vancouver Island Construction Association.”

Saturday’s game is a 6:35pm start, while Sunday is a 1pm start. Gates open an hour prior to the game starting.

FEEL THE HEAT, COLUMBIA FUELS

Tuesday night, thanks to Columbia Fuels, it’s FREE BASEBALL — if you’ve never been to a game before, come to the park, and the honour system is in effect. Just tell box office staff that you’ve never been to a game and you get one general admission ticket for tonight’s game.

Columbia Fuels — Feel the Heat, for the NEVER BEEN TO A GAME BEFORE PROMOTION, inviting new fans to experience the HarbourCats game experience.

Gates open at 5:30pm for the 6:35 pm start. RHP Sam Brunnig of Embry-Riddle gets the start against the Yakima Valley Pippins, the first game of the series, with Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps starting things off by singing O’ Canada.

Tyler Hilton, a RHP from Mesa CC, will start Wednesday (6:35pm), with the 11am School Spirit Game on Thursday seeing LHP Ethan Fox take the mound.

MONK AUTOGRAPH ZONE

Thanks to Monk Office Supplies, every home game will now include the Monk Autograph Zone, located on the concourse down the right field side. Fans, and especially kids, can get signatures on items, including a special page in the souvenir program, by visiting the table, with selected players spending time pre-game interacting with HarbourCats fans.

About The Victoria HarbourCats

The HarbourCats are Victoria’s entry in the West Coast League (WCL), a summer, collegiate, wood bat baseball league, featuring the top college-age players from across North America and the world. One of the elite teams in the league, the HarbourCats won a record 40 games in 2016 and followed that up in 2017 as the WCL’s North Division Playoff Champions, coming one game short of their first ever WCL Championship. In 2018, their sixth season, the team will play a 54-game regular season schedule, with 27 of those games and eight additional non-league games, being played at Wilson’s Group Stadium at historic Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. Opening night is June 1, 2018 with games scheduled through mid-August. See harbourcats.com for more details.

2018 Tickets Now on Sale: Season Tickets, Ticket Packs, 10-Game Flex-Packs and Single Game tickets are now on sale for the 2018 season. Visit the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or call 778-265-0327 to order. Single game tickets can also be purchased on-line at harbourcats.ticketrocket.co

Office Hours: MONDAY-FRIDAY – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (9:00 am to 4:00 pm GAME DAYS).

SATURDAY – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

SUNDAY – Closed (Except by appointment) (9:00AM to 11:00 AM GAME DAYS).