Pirates Open Sussex All Star Tournament Title Defense with Strong Win Over RiverDogs College Prep
KAMLOOPS, BC - In a confident opening to their Sussex All-Star Tournament title defense, the North Delta Pirates downed Kamloops RiverDogs College Prep 5–2 Friday morning, starting their round robin schedule on a high note. The victory was sweet for the Pirates, who also defeated Kamloops in last year’s semi-final on their way to hoisting the championship trophy.
Right out of the gate, the Pirates looked sharp and composed, striking first in the opening inning when Kesler Curtis delivered a sacrifice fly to put North Delta on the board. While Kamloops answered quickly with a Jacob Petrie RBI single in the top of the second to level the score, the Pirates regained the lead in the bottom half when Connor Wilson grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored a run.
They never looked back.
North Delta extended the lead to 4–1 in the third thanks to a clutch two-run double to right by Lucas Stebbings. The Pirates added another insurance run later, sealing a solid win over a tough RiverDogs squad known for its size and strength.
On the mound, Noah Grant got the start and the win for the Pirates, giving his team three strong innings and allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five. Cole James and Eliaz Murti came on in relief, preserving the lead and keeping Kamloops at bay. For the RiverDogs, Grady Johnson pitched three innings, giving up six hits and four runs—only two of them earned.
Offensively, the Pirates were balanced and productive, racking up 10 hits. Stebbings, Payton Harper, and Noah Saunders all collected two hits apiece, while Stebbings and Wilson each notched two RBIs. Defensively, the Pirates played relatively clean baseball, committing just one error and getting a steady presence from Curtis at the catching position, who led the team with seven defensive plays.
Petrie and Tristan Lindaas led the Kamloops bats with two hits each, while Petrie and Hayden Kohlman accounted for the team’s two RBIs.
While the Pirates are a smaller, community-based AAA program, their heart, discipline, and fundamental play continue to stand out against larger, academy-style teams. That resolve will be put to the test as they face two Alberta-based prep powerhouses—Webber Wildcats Prep and AHP Rustlers—later this evening and tomorrow morning.
Both Rustlers and Wildcats are part of well-funded, high-performance development programs designed to feed players into college and professional baseball systems. In contrast, the Pirates continue to punch above their weight, relying on grit, coaching, and team culture to compete.
One game into the tournament, they’ve already shown they’re not ready to hand over their Sussex crown without a fight.
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
