North Delta Pirates Keep Title Hopes Alive With Walk-Off Thriller, Set for Grueling Championship Sunday

MAPLE RIDGE, BC — July 26, 2025 - What a difference two days can make. After opening the provincial 18U AAA tournament with a deflating loss to the North Island Cubs, the North Delta Pirates were staring down early elimination. Now, after a dramatic walk-off win on Saturday against the Kamloops Riverdogs, the Pirates are not only still standing — they’re three wins away from a provincial championship.

Saturday’s 3-2 victory didn’t come easy. Locked in a tense pitcher’s duel, North Delta found itself down 2-1 entering the bottom of the seventh. With nerves of steel and the season on the line, the Pirates manufactured a pair of clutch runs — the first coming when Cole James scored on a fielder’s choice by Tyler Conway, and the second, the game-winner, when Lucas Stebbings scored on a sacrifice fly from Connor Wilson. The dugout erupted, and just like that, North Delta was moving on.

Wilson also picked up the win on the mound, throwing four strong innings in relief, allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out three. Wilson was the game MVP. Starter Kesler Curtis was equally effective, giving up just one unearned run over three innings and striking out three without issuing a walk. North Delta managed just two hits in the game - one by James and the other by Noah Grant - but they made them count, showing poise and patience in a pressure-packed contest.

The win created a three-way tie atop their pool between North Island, Cowichan Valley, and North Delta, each finishing round-robin play with 3-1 records. The tie was broken by calculating each team’s runs-against per defensive inning. North Island’s stingy pitching and defense earned them the top seed (0.3333) with North Delta barely behind, edging Cowichan Valley for second (0.3636 vs. 1.0769) and setting the stage for Sunday’s 8:00 a.m. tiebreaker rematch between the Pirates and the Mustangs.

It’s a fitting twist in what has been an unpredictable tournament, filled with upsets and razor-thin margins. Few would have predicted this path for the Pirates, who began the tournament with their backs against the wall. But a 6-3 win over Chilliwack and a dominant 10-0 win over then-undefeated Cowichan reignited their hopes, and Saturday’s walk-off sealed their status as one of the tournament’s most dangerous teams.

Over in the other pool, Tri City and Penticton finished with 3-1 records, and advanced. The Richmond City Chuckers — who dominated the regular season with a .833 winning percentage — were bounced from contention but played spoiler to Victoria’s hopes in a come-from-behind 9-7 victory, reinforcing the age-old truth of tournament baseball: anything can happen.

Now, North Delta faces a daunting challenge. To claim the provincial title, they’ll need to win three games on Sunday — starting with Cowichan at 8:00 a.m., followed by a semifinal clash with Tri City at 11:30 a.m., and, if they keep winning, a championship game at 4:00 p.m. against the winner of Penticton vs. North Island. It's a gauntlet, to be sure, but the Pirates are embracing the opportunity.

“We know it’s a tough road,” said a Pirates spokesperson, “but this team doesn’t shy away from challenges. They’ve battled every step of the way, and now they’ve earned a shot to play for something bigger.”

With momentum on their side, a pitching staff that’s stepped up in key moments, and a lineup led by standout and clutch performers, the Pirates are poised to make noise on championship day. If Saturday’s comeback is any indication, they won’t go quietly.

From opening-game heartbreak to the brink of provincial glory, the North Delta Pirates are writing one of the tournament’s most compelling stories. Now it’s up to them to finish it.

All games Sunday will be played at Hammond Field in Maple Ridge. We hope you’ll join us for what is shaping up to be an incredible day of baseball.

For more information about the North Delta Pirates, visit www.northdeltapirates.ca. Follow the team on Instagram (@northdeltapirates), Facebook, and Twitter (@piratesnd) for exclusive content and updates throughout the season.

To become a team sponsor or for media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:

Matt Grant
Director with the North Delta Pirates
northdeltapirates@gmail.com