The BCPBL's senior Pirates won the BC U18 provincials over North Fraser and will now advance to the nationals in Fort McMurray. (Mid Island Pirates)

By Dan Marshall

Provincial Champs

Mid Island Pirates capture U18 provincial baseball title

Aug 4, 2022 | 9:09 AM

NANAIMO — The Mid Island Pirates are the U18 baseball champions of BC after a series win over the North Fraser Nationals.

Mid Island went the distance in the best of three final, winning 3-1 in Game 1, dropping a 5-1 decision in Game 2 and recording a 4-0 victory in the decisive third game.

Coach Larsen Bauck said it was an important step in the development of his players.

“The goal is to win the PBL every year and that didn’t happen, but to come back and go through the qualifier for provincials and ultimately win it is definitely a plus.”

Winning the provincial championship earns the Pirates a trip to the Baseball Canada National U18 Championship in Fort McMurray beginning Aug. 18.

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Bauck said the national tournament features some elite talent particularly with the top academy level teams from Ontario and Quebec.

“It’ll be a tough tournament with good competition so we’re pretty excited about that.”

The win comes on the heels of seven Pirates players and coach Brandon Dornan winning a gold medal at the BC Summer Games in Prince George.

Max Poirier, Flynn Shugar, Sisaye Patterson, Reed Sutton, Eli Pakosz, Joe Madill and Lachlan Barnard helped the Vancouver Island Zone 6 team win the championship.

Bauck believes these top level events and the experience gained in this past BCPBL season will set the team up for even more success in 2023.

“We’ll be poised to play .600 to .650 baseball. The players got a ton of innings and learned what it’s like to compete in the premier league. As the season went on we got better and more competitive so there was progression there. The guys are now more prepared for what’s to come.”

The baseball schedule will remain busy for the Mid Island players in the coming months.

There will be a short break after the nationals and then fall ball will start up on Sept. 5 and continue through Oct. 16.

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