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HarbourCats coming back to Harbour City

The Victoria HarbourCats will take on an Island all-star team July 3 at Serauxmen Stadium
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The Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo Pirates all-stars meet in a 2015 game. The HarbourCats are returning to Nanaimo for an exhibition game July 3. (NEWS BULLETIN file)

Vancouver Island’s top-tier baseball team will make another visit to Nanaimo.

The Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League will take on an Island all-star team in an exhibition game July 3 at Serauxmen Stadium.

“This is a great chance to have the Island’s best level of baseball on display at our historic park, and we’re excited to have the HarbourCats back in Nanaimo,” said Jereme MacKinnon, event organizer, in a press release.

The Victoria team played exhibitions against Nanaimo Pirates all-star teams the past two summers, winning 10-9 in 2015 and falling 10-5 in 2016.

MacKinnon hopes West Coast League games will become more than just a once-a-year attraction one day. He’s submitted a letter of interest to the league, pitching the idea of an expansion franchise in Nanaimo.

“There’s nothing sports-wise that can draw something like this on a regular basis during the summer time,” he said. “We have a lot of winter sports that draw people out.”

MacKinnon said there are “a lot of steps to complete before that can become a reality,” such as lighting and other improvements at Serauxmen Stadium, and league approval.

“They like the idea of coming to Nanaimo and they support it,” he said.

GAME ON … The HarbourCats game will be played at 3 p.m. on July 3 at the stadium. Tickets cost $12.50 and are available at Kirby’s Source for Sports. For more information, please call MacKinnon at 250-739-3853 or e-mail nanaimowcl@gmail.com.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com