Skip to content

Last week for HarbourCats name-the-mascot contest, full roster named

You can put your money on Harry, but don't count out Hariette
98911vicnewsHarbourCat
Seymour the Seal

You can put your money on Harry, but don’t count out Hariette.

Suggestions are pouring in for the Victoria HarbourCats’ soon-to-be-born mascot. The Name the Mascot contest is on until Feb. 24 and the top three picks will get some mighty ticket prizes. The grand prize winner receives two season tickets ($550 value), with two runner up prizes consisting of one 10-game reserved flex pack ($99 each).

The expansion team’s mascot is still in the “womb,” so to speak, and though most assume its a boy, the gender is not necessarily defined, said HarbourCats general manager Holly Jones.

“Submissions are still pouring so we’re almost starting to it narrow down but there’s still a week and a half to go.

“By default, people are assuming he’s a boy, judging by the submissions, but we’ll have to figure it out.”

Holly Jr., for example, isn’t out of the running.

“That might be a bit confusing. I have brown eyes, he (she) does not,” said Jones.

New for this contest is that the winner’s name will be released, whereas the person(s) who came up with the HarbourCats name went undisclosed. The background story to support the name is also a big factor in who will win, Jones said.

Visit the HarbourCats’ website to make a name submission. The mascot is on order and will be introduced by name within a month of the contest’s closing. The West Coast League baseball season opens June 5 at Royal Athletic Park.

HarbourCats name full roster

The HarbourCats released the remaining 21 names of its 32 player squad in early February.

"We are extremely excited about the high caliber of players that coaches Dennis Rogers and Bob Miller have assembled," said general manager Holly Jones.

Seven of the players have been drafted by Major League Baseball teams, including previously announced Connor Baits (UCSB), Casey Schroeder (Kentucky), Brandon Smith (Grand Canyon) and David Schuknecht (Riverside), as well as newly released names catcher Alex Real (New Mexico), infielder David Olmeda-Bererra (Cal State Fullerton), and infielder Jack Graham (Youngstown State).

The HarbourCats also signed three Victoria natives; Austin Russell, Nick Pivetta and Connor Russell.

Twelve players ranked in the Baseball America and NCAA 2013 Pre-Season Top 25: This includes Nick Pivetta and Alex Real (New Mexico), Ryan Keller (San Diego), Bryan Conant, Joe Navilhon, David Olmeda-Bererra and Timmy Richards (Cal State Fullerton), Casey Schroeder and Zach Storm (Kentucky), Anthony Hermelyn and Justin Burba (Oklahoma) and Brett Urabe (UCLA).

Pitchers

Ryan Keller - A 6'3" 210 lb. right-handed pitcher, Keller is a native of Castaic, California and is a sophomore at the University of San Diego.

Matt Cooper - From Marysville, Washington, the 6’0” 180 lb. right-handed throwing Matt Cooper is currently a junior at the University of Hawaii.

Art Vidrio - Orange Lutheran High School in Alta Loma, California, the 5’11” 196 lb Vidrio is a left-handed pitcher in his freshman season at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Dillon Tate - A right-handed pitcher from Claremont, California, the 6'2" 185 lb. Tate is in his freshman season at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Robby Nesovic - The 6’4” 190 lb. native of El Cajon, California and graduate of Grossmount High School is a right-handed pitcher who is in his feshman season at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Scott Kuzminsky - A Junior at the University of Hawaii, the 6'2" 200 lb. right-handed throwing Kuzminsky is a native of Puyallup, Washington and spent the past two seasons pitching for Bellevue College.

Bryan Conant - A 6'5" 220 lb. left-handed pitcher from Alta Loma, California, Conant is a freshman at Cal State Fullerton.

Joe Navilhon - A 6'0" 190 lb. right-handed pitcher, Navilhon is a native of Antioch, California and is in his freshman season at Cal State Fullerton.

Logan Lombana - A 6'2" 200 lb. native of Newark, California, Lombana is a right-handed pitcher who is in his freshman season at Cal State Unversity Long Beach.

Andrew Nelson - A 6'3" 195 lb. right-handed pitcher that hails from Omaha, Nebraska, Nelson is in his sophomore season at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California.

Kevin Behnke - A 6'1" 175 lb. right-handed pitcher from Mesa, Arizona, Behnke is in his Junior season at Grand Canyon University In Phoenix.

Catchers

Alex Real - A 6'0" 215 lb. catcher, from Anthem, Arizona, Real was a previous draft pick in the 48th round by the Atlanta Braves and is currently in his sophomore season at the University of New Mexico.

Infielders

David Olmedo-Barerra - The 6'1" 170 lb. Olmedo-Barerra hails from La Canada, California and is a freshman at Cal State Fullerton University.  Olmedo-Barerra was recently selected by the Oakland A's in the 40th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.

Jack Graham - A 5'10" 180 lb. middle infielder from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, Graham is a previous 50th round selection of the Chicago White Sox who is presently in his sophomore season at Youngstown State University in Ohio.

John Schuknecht - A 6'0" 205 lb. infielder, John Schuknecht, a native of Palm Desert, CA is in his freshman season at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Schuknecht joins his brother, HarbourCats catcher David Schuknecht on the 2013 roster.

Alex DeGoti - The 5'10" 185 lb. DeGoti is from Miami, Florida and is a freshman at California State University Long Beach.

Timmy Richards - The 6'0" 180 lb. Richards is from Long Beach, California and will graduate from Woodrow Wilson High School in 2013.  He will attend Cal State Fullerton in the fall.

Zach Storm - The 6'0" 195 lb. Storm hails from London, Kentucky and is a freshman at the University of Kentucky.

Outfielders

Justin Burba - A 5'10" 185 lb. outfielder from Wichita, Kansas, Burba is a freshman at the University of Oklahoma.

Kyle Moses - A 6'0" 180 lb. outfielder from Tracy, California, Moses is in his sophomore season at Sacramento State University in California.

Jordan Ellis - The 6'0" 175 lb. Ellis is a native of Garden Grove, California and is currently a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.