North Delta Pirates Take Two Against Kamloops RiverDogs in Dominant Doubleheader to Reclaim Top Spot in Standings
NORTH DELTA, BC - The North Delta Pirates delivered a powerful statement Sunday at Mackie Park, sweeping a doubleheader against the Kamloops RiverDogs by scores of 3-0 and 10-3 to improve their record to 22-4 on the season. The twin wins catapulted the Pirates back into first place in the highly competitive 17-team BC Minor Baseball circuit, edging ahead of Richmond (22-6) and North Island (21-5) in what promises to be a thrilling three-way race for the top spot as the regular season winds down.
Game 1 was a showcase of pitching dominance, led by ace right-hander Noah Grant. The Pirates’ starter was virtually untouchable, throwing a complete-game no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and just three walks in a 3-0 shutout win. Grant's masterclass on the mound was backed by timely fourth-inning offense, with RBI hits from Lucas Stebbings, Connor Wilson, and Grant himself. Dakota Simicak paced the North Delta bats with a 3-for-4 effort from the leadoff spot, while the defense turned a clean double play behind their starter.
Kamloops’ Zak Sanderson took the loss despite a solid outing, giving up three runs on six hits over 3.1 innings. The RiverDogs, who entered the weekend with a 13-8 record and sitting among the league’s top five teams, were stymied at the plate throughout the opener and could not find a way to crack Grant’s rhythm.
Game 2 saw a very different script, as the Pirates' exploded for seven runs in the first inning via five errors en route to a 10-3 victory. Cole James opened the floodgates with an RBI double, and a series of Kamloops defensive miscues compounded the damage as North Delta took full advantage. James, Kesler Curtis, and Eliaz Murti each collected two hits, while Curtis swiped two bases in a complete team effort. The Pirates played error-free baseball, with James also making an impact defensively with eight chances in the field.
After missing the last nine games, Liam Jones got the start on the hill and worked four innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four. Murti and Wilson closed the door in relief to seal the win. On the Kamloops side, Sanderson continued to lead by example offensively, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
The sweep marks a tough weekend for the RiverDogs, who also dropped two games to Vancouver and now find themselves sliding from top-five status into the middle of the pack with a 13-12 record. They’ll look to regroup quickly in their upcoming games.
Meanwhile, the Pirates continue their relentless push toward the regular-season title, riding elite pitching, strong team defense, and an opportunistic offense to stay a slight step ahead in the standings.
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.
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Matt Grant
Director with the North Delta Pirates
northdeltapirates@gmail.com
