Major Green Pioneers go to UCLL final
The Major Green Pioneers travelled to the Upper Canada Little League Championship tournament on July 13-15, at the Chesterville Ball Park. The surprise underdogs had a bye to the final after knocking off the first place and the third place teams but in the end they fell to the winning Winchester Sox. The team members are: front from left, Ryder Kelly, Terrence Mudde, Devon Honders and Quinn Barrie. Middle from left, Jude Pietersma, Mason Paradis, Parker Cole, Cam Shaver, Aiden Hutt, Hudson Urquhart, Cater O’Brien and Dorion Sheldrick. Back from left, coaches – Mike Hutt, Brian Shaver, Bobby Paradis and Mike Honders.        Moore photo

Jeff Moore
Record Staff
CHESTERVILLE — The Williamsburg Green Pioneers went from just making it into the A division to almost winning it at the Upper Canada Little League Championship this past weekend at the Chesterville Ball Park. The Pioneers went into the weekend after finishing in fourth place and knocked off two of the top three teams in the round robin and played the Winchester Sox in the Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Sox 16 Pioneers 5: After finishing fourth in the regular season just squeaking into the A division of the Upper Canada Little League, the Williamsburg Major Green Pioneers found themselves in the final for the Championship and for the first time being the home team after finishing first in the round robin.

The Sox jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the top of the first inning and the Pioneers loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but failed to score. The Pioneers were the only team to score in the second inning but only a single and trailed 4-1 heading into the third inning.

The Sox scored another four runs in the top of the third inning taking the wind out of the Pioneers’ sails. The Pioneers were unable to score in the third leaving a runner on third base but trailed 8-1.

The Sox scored four more runs in the top of the fourth taking a 12-1 lead. The Pioneers had no answer in the bottom of the fourth. Both teams scored four runs in the fifth inning but it was the Red Sox taking the 2018 Upper Canada Little League Championship.

Scoring the runs for the Pioneers were Terrence Mudde, Hudson Urquhart, Cam Shaver, Ryder Kelly and Mason Paradis.

Pioneers 9 Wildcats 4: In their third round-robin game of the Upper Canada Little League Championship on Sat., July 14, the Williamsburg Green Pioneers took on the Kemptville Green Wildcats in a battle of the green machines at the Chesterville Ball Park. The Pioneers went into the game with a 1-1 record and needed a win to either move into the final or battle it out in the semi-final on Sunday.

The Pioneers scored a single in the top of the first inning and held the Wildcats off the score sheet in the bottom of the first taking a 1-0 lead into the second inning. The Pioneers only got five batters to the dish in the top of the third allowing the Wildcats to score two runs in the bottom of the inning as they took the lead 2-1.

The Pioneers bats came to life in the top of the third inning scoring the maximum five runs and held the Wildcats to two runs in the bottom of the third, taking a 6-4 lead. The Pioneers scored three more runs in the top of the fourth and held the Wildcats at bay in the bottom of the inning taking the game 9-4.

With the win, the Pioneers qualified for the final with more runs than the Winchester Sox and the Wildcats. The Wildcats and Sox would have to play a semi-final game on Sunday morning while the Pioneers wait for the winner.

Scoring the runs for the Pioneers were Terrence Mudde, Mason Paradis and Jude Pietersma all scored twice and Carter O’ Brien, Quinn Barrie, and Cam Shaver scored singles.

Pitching for the Pioneers were Shaver in the first and second innings and Hudson Urquhart in the third and fourth.

Sox 6 Pioneers 1: In their second game of the Upper Canada Little League Championship tournament, the Green Pioneers took on the Winchester Sox on Sat., July 14, at the Chesterville Ball Park. The Green Pioneers were riding a high after knocking off their first place brothers, the White Pioneers 14-7 the previous night and look to secure a spot in the final or semi-final with a victory.

Neither team was able to score in the first inning but the Sox took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. There was no scoring in the third inning as well as a defensive battle ensued.

The Pioneers failed to get a runner on the bags in the top the fourth inning and the Sox took advantage scoring three in the bottom of the the fourth making it a 4-0 game. The Sox pitcher sat the next three Pioneer batters down in the top of the fifth inning but were unable to score in the bottom of the inning.

The Pioneers finally got on the board with a single in the top of the sixth inning but the Sox answered with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth taking the game by a score of 6-1. Scoring the run for the Pioneers was Devon Honders.

Pitching for the Pioneers were Cam Shaver in the first and second innings, Hudson Urquhart in the third and fourth and Carter O’Brien in the fifth and sixth.

Green Pioneers 14 White Pioneers 7: In the opening game of the Upper Canada Little League Championship tournament, the first place White Pioneers welcomed the fourth place Green Pioneers on Fri., July 13, at the Chesterville Ball Park. The Green Pioneers struck first scoring the maximum five runs in the top of the first inning but the White Pioneers were able to get three back in the bottom of the first.

The Green Pioneers added a pair of runs in the top of the second but three of the next four White Pioneers batters were struck out allowing the Green Pioneers to take a 7-3 lead.

The White Pioneers pitcher, Dawson Coleman struck two Green Pioneers batters out and left one stranded in the top of the third.

The White Sox scored four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game at seven. The Green Pioneers answered in the top of the fourth inning with three runs and held the White Pioneers off the score sheet as pitcher Carter O’Brien struck out two of four White Pioneers’ batters in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 10-7 lead.

The Green Pioneers scored four more runs in the top of the fifth inning taking a 14-7 lead into the White Pioneers last at bat. The White Pioneers got two runners on the bags but were unable to cash them as the Green Pioneers took the game 14-7.

Scoring the runs for the Green Pioneers were Terrence Mudde, Hudson Urquhart, Carter O’Brien and Parker Cole with two each, Ryder Kelly, Aiden Hutt, Devon Honders, Cam Shaver, Quinn Barrie and Jude Pietersma each scoring singles. Pitching for the Green Pioneers were Cam Shaver in the first inning, Hudson Urquhart in the second and third and Carter O’Brien in the fourth and fifth.

Scoring the runs for the White Pioneers were Alek Larocque, Dawson Coleman and Tyson Wilhelm scored twice and Mason Hummel scored the single. Pitching for the White Pioneers were Luke Byvelds for the first and second innings, Dawson Coleman in the third and fourth and Tyson Wilhelm in the fifth.