Pirates Battle Lions in Tight Showdown Clash, Set Sights on Quarter-Final Push
The North Delta Pirates wrapped up round-robin play at the Ridge Meadows College Prep Spring Showdown on Saturday afternoon with a tightly contested 5–3 loss to the North Shore Lions College Prep program. In a game that remained competitive throughout, the Pirates once again showed they could match up with one of British Columbia’s established College Prep teams, battling until the final innings before narrowly falling short.
North Delta came out with strong energy early and opened the scoring in the first inning, taking advantage of early pressure to grab a 1–0 lead. The Lions answered in the second inning and gradually built a slim advantage, but the Pirates consistently responded and kept the game within reach through disciplined at-bats and steady pitching.
The Pirates delivered one of their strongest offensive sequences in the third inning, erasing a two-run deficit to tie the game at 3–3. Tyler Conway sparked the rally with a clutch double that scored Connal Grant before Noah Grant followed with a run-scoring single to even the score. Throughout the afternoon, North Delta continued to grind through at-bats and force the Lions’ pitchers to work deep into counts, collecting six walks as a team.
On the mound, Eliaz Murti continued his strong tournament play with another effective outing. The right-hander struck out five batters over two-and-two-thirds innings while allowing just two hits and no earned runs. Murti consistently attacked the strike zone and generated swings and misses, highlighted by an impressive number of swinging strikes during his outing. Jack Riley followed with more than four innings of steady relief work, helping keep the Pirates within striking distance into the later innings.
Defensively, North Delta continued to show moments of strong execution, including turning a double play against an aggressive Lions lineup. While a few small miscues proved costly in a close game, the Pirates remained composed and continued to compete hard against another quality College Prep opponent. Their ability to stay engaged and battle back repeatedly throughout the tournament continued to stand out.
Perhaps most importantly, the Pirates leave round-robin play having proven they belong in the conversation with some of the province’s top College Prep programs. After facing Ridge Meadows, Vancouver Island, and North Shore — three respected programs in BC baseball — North Delta consistently showed competitiveness, athleticism, and resilience throughout the weekend.
With a 1–2 record in pool play, the Pirates finish third in their group and now turn their focus toward Sunday’s quarter-final matchup. Their opponent will be determined later Saturday evening and could be any of the Tri City Thunder, the North Island Cubs, or the North Fraser Nationals. With their pitching staff fully available and valuable tournament experience now behind them, North Delta enters the playoff round ready for another opportunity to compete and advance.
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
