In Waterdown, Ontario, from Friday, August 29th to Sunday, August 31st, the 2025 Ontario Baseball Association 13U Provincial Championships brought together some of the top young baseball talent from across the province. Competing alongside teams such as the Tyendinaga Athletics, West Mountain Cougars, Ingersol Ironbirds, St. Thomas Cardinals, Kanata Cubs, Brampton Royals, Innisfil Cardinals, Leaside Leafs, Markham Mariners, Sudbury Shamrocks, and the host Waterdown Wolves, the Soo Black Sox made their presence felt in a big way.
The Black Sox opened their tournament on Friday morning with a strong 8–4 win over the Innisfil Cardinals before rolling into an evening matchup against the Brampton Royals, where they came out on top with a convincing 9–2 victory. Saturday afternoon saw the Soo keep their momentum alive with a 9–5 win over the Leaside Leafs, followed by a dominant 16–9 performance against the St. Thomas Cardinals to close out round-robin play at a perfect 4–0.
On Sunday morning, the Soo met the Brampton Royals for a semi-final showdown. With another complete team effort, the Black Sox secured a 9–4 win to punch their ticket to the championship final. Facing the St Thomas Cardinals for the third time of the tournament, the Soo saved their best for last—capping off a perfect weekend with an 8–2 victory to claim the 2025 OBA 13U Provincial Championship gold medal.
Black Sox coach Steve McLeod told Saultsports that “Practicing three times a week since the beginning of May and playing over 30 games, predominantly on the road in tournaments, ensured the 13U Black Sox would be well prepared for the provincial championships. I think the turning point for us this season was going 0-3 in a London tournament in late July. We had quite a bit of early season success in exhibition games and tournaments up until that point, so it was a real eye opener for the boys. They realized that if they didn’t show up focused and ready to play each and every game, they’d be beaten. At provincials, our run production was consistent in each game. Defensively, we were solid in 5 of our 6 games but still managed a win. To win provincials with six wins and no losses is no easy task, but the boys deserve it. They played their hearts out, and they should be very proud of their accomplishment.”
“Every one of our players improved their baseball skills over the course of the season, and they each played a vital role and contributed to winning this provincial title,” added McLeod.
The championship run showcased the Black Sox’s depth, resilience, and balanced play on both sides of the ball, as they outscored opponents by a combined 59–26 over the weekend. With an undefeated record and a gold medal to bring home to Sault Ste. Marie, the Soo Black Sox proved themselves as one of the premier 13U teams in Ontario.
