The Markham Pioneers were at home for game 2 of the first round, best-of-three Greater Toronto Baseball League playoffs against the East York Bulldogs.
Brad Binns got the start going 7 1/3 solid inning before giving way to Alex Bruce.

The third and deciding game of the series takes place Wednesday August 26 at Milliken Mills Park.

The Markham Pioneers began their first round, best-of-three Greater Toronto Baseball League playoffs on a positive note with a 10-3 win over the host East York Bulldogs Monday.
Trailing 1-0, the Pioneers rallied in their half of the second inning and erupted with four runs.
With momentum in their favour, the Pioneers' bats remained hot as they added a pair of runs in the fifth inning and five in the seventh to put the game on ice.
Alex Bruce led the onslaught with three hits, including a home run and four RBIs. John Bell collected two hits, including a home run, while Jeff Fox and Jesse Dynes also had a pair of hits apiece. Colin Maybee and Mike Lloyd each had one hit.
Steve Horsley pitched five innings and struck out 10 batters to earn the win.
Bruce picked up the save going two innings.

The Pioneers have a week off due to diamond time issues and continue their playoff series Aug. 24 at Milliken Park at 7:30 p.m.

by Michael Hayakawa

Mark Petrou collected three hits while Jeff Fox and Drew Roberts each contributed two hits and Colin Maybee had one hit and three RBIs to propel the Markham Pioneers to a 10-2 pasting of the Leaside Leafs in Greater Toronto Baseball League action in Leaside Thursday.
Facing a team that were finalists at the recent provincial eliminations, the Pioneers began their assault by in the third inning by scoring a pair of runs and followed that with one in the fourth, two in the fifth and five in the sixth.
Jesse Dynes, Reg Sarne and Mecky Paradys also stroked out one hit apiece for the Pioneers.
Paul Hadfield pitched five strong innings and struck out six batters for the win. Mike Lee pitched two innings of relief.

by Michael Hayakawa

The Pioneers started out strong in their opening round game of the annual Hap Walters Tournament in St. Catherines, jumping out to a three run lead thanks to a lead off single by Thomas Biskup, a run scoring double by Mark Petrou, a single from Alex Bruce, and a sac fly by Jesse Dynesl. But the long lay off between innings might have had an effect on starter Mark Cheeseman, as he surrendered three runs in the top of the second. That score would remain until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Pioneers added a couple of insurance runs. Alex Bruce would come on in the seventh to close the game, the Rangers would get one run back in the top of the seventh but then the comeback ended on a pop up to shortstop Jason Graham. Up next was a familiar foe in the Whitby Canadians.

The Pioneers started off hot in another game, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead courtesy of a 2 run home run to centre from first baseman Jesse Dynes. The benefit of the early lead was Pioneers starter Kyle Lawrence (the Pioneers rookie was making his first start of the season). Kyle was in command for the first three innings as the only base runners allowed were as a result of a couple of errors. In the top of the fourth the Pioneers added to their lead when Steve Anderson hit a towering home run to centre field, to put the Pioneers up 3-0. But the Canadians came right back scoring 3 runs on four hits and a walk, Pioneers starter Kyle Lawrence was relieved by Daryl Noble with runners on first & third. Daryl dug deep and got a big strikeout ending the rally and sending the game tied into the fifth inning. The Pioneers offense then proceeded to stall for the next three innings, fortunately Daryl Noble pitched 2 more shutout innings before being relieved by Alex Bruce who closed out the 7th inning and sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth inning Mecky Paradys led off with a walk and later came in to score the go ahead run. The one run was all that was needed as Alex Bruce closed out the game leaving runners on first and second. Next up was another big game against the Oshawa Royals.

Once again the Pioneers offense would start off the game, but this time they were shut out in the top of the first. So Pioneers starter Steve Horsley did not have the same benefit as the previous two Pioneer starters which was starting the game off with the lead. The Royals responded by scoring one run in the bottom of the first without a hit. So the Pioneers had to fight back for the first time in the tournament. It took another inning, but the offense erupted in the 3rd & 4th innings scoring 7 runs, taking a 7 to 1 lead.  The offensive damage was done by: Jesse Dynes (2 hits & 3 RBI’s) & Drew Roberts (2 hits and 2 RBI’s).  Steve Horsley who had shut the Royals down since the first inning continued to do so until the sixth inning when the Royals got one run back. But the Pioneers scored another run to restore the six run lead thanks to an RBI single by Jesse Dynes (his fourth of the game). So all that was needed to move on in the tournament was three outs, in the bottom of the seventh. But two errors followed by some wildness by Steve Horsley and the Royals scored three runs, causing the Pioneers to turn to Steve Anderson to close out the game. Another Pioneer error left the tying run at the plate. Steve eventually got the last batter of the game, resulting in the Pioneers going 3-0 in round robin play and forced to wait & see who their semi-final opponent would be.

The semi-finals was all about pitching, unfortunately for the Pioneers Steve Anderson started the game but only lasted 2 batters before being taken out because of an injury. So Brad Binns was called upon to get control of the game for the Pioneers as the Stars had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. Brad got out of the first only giving up another run and leaving the bases loaded, but once again the Pioneers would have to fight back. Jesse Dynes started off the 2nd with a blast to left that almost left the yard but Jesse had to settle with a double. But the Pioneers could not knock in Jesse from 2nd, wasting a big chance to get on the board. In the top of the third, Thomas Biskup continued his hot hitting leading off with a double to left centre. He would eventually come around to score on a Stars error, then the Pioneers had first & third with 2 outs but could not get the big hit. Brad Binns pitched very well, getting out of trouble in the 4th & 5th innings before the Stars struck again in the bottom of the sixth. The Stars added 2 more runs via 2 singles, a walk, and a stolen base. That left the Pioneers a big mountain to climb against a Windsor pitcher that had only surrendered two hits through six innings. Jason Graham led off with a single to right, but that was all the Pioneers would get thus ending their run to the championship game. The Windsor Stars would go on to win the Hap Walters tournament against the home town St. Catherine’s Metros. The Pioneers next action will be Thursday July 23rd as they travel to Leaside to take on the Leafs.

The Leaside Leafs came to Milliken Friday night coming off a big win against Oshawa a day earlier.  When the game finally ended the Pioneers got their 4th win in a row with a 7 to 5 victory. Although the score would not indicate a very well pitched game, with both teams receiving very good pitching. On the mound for the start for the Pioneers was Orville Ivey, the staff veteran pitched two innings and gave up 2 unearned runs in the first. Steve Anderson took over from Orville to pitch three innings, giving up 3 runs over that time to earn the win. Jason Graham took over from Steve and pitched the final three innings recording the save. Offensively all the Pioneers needed was a six run outburst in the 3rd inning, which was hi-lighted by a bases clearing double by Jesse Dynes. Also helping out the offense was Mike “Pudge” Rodriguez as he added a run scoring single, also in the sixth. John Bell helped add some insurance in the 7th by leading off the inning with a double to right, he was replaced by pinch runner Brad Binns who later scored the Pioneers 7th run. The Pioneers now enjoy a mini vacation from baseball as they do not play until July 9th, when the Newmarket Hawks come into town. The Pioneers will be looking for a little revenge as the Hawks are only one of three teams to beat the Pioneers this season.

The East York Bulldogs came to Milliken on Friday to take on the Pioneers with hopes of handing the Pioneers their first loss at home. The Pioneers sent Steve Horsley to the mound to take on the Bulldogs.  The Dogs drew first blood in the top of the 2nd with a solo home run, but the Pioneers responded with 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, thanks to a couple of hits from Reggie Sarne and Jason Graham. The two run lead stood until the top of the 4th inning when the Bulldogs tied the game with a two run home run this time. That scored stood until the bottom of the sixth inning when John Bell hit a towering 3 run home run to right for his first of the year. The Bulldogs tried to mount a comeback off of Pioneers pitcher Mike Lee (who relieved Steve Horsley to start the sixth) but they fell one run short as Brad Binns came on to relieve Mike in the top of the eighth inning to finish out the game for the save. Offensively the Pioneers were led by John Bell (3 for 4 with a 3 run home run) and Jason Graham (3 for 4 with 2 singles & a double, with an RBI).

Steve Anderson tossed five innings of shutout ball and fanned six batters while Darryl Noble and Alex Bruce provided stellar relief support to propel the Markham Pioneers to a 4-0 road win over the Martingrove White Sox in Greater Toronto Baseball League action Thursday.
The Pioneers scored three runs in the second inning and one in the third to account for their offensive output.
Jeff Fox had a hit and two RBIs while Steve Horsley and Jason Graham each collected a hit and one RBI. Bruce and Mark Petrou each had hit and scored one run. Jesse Dynes also had one hit.

Mark Cheeseman tossed a two-hitter through seven innings and struck out five batters while Mecky Paradys and Alex Bruce each drove in a run in the third inning to propel the Markham Pioneers to their first victory of the season over the first-place Oshawa Royals with a 2-1 decision in Greater Toronto Baseball League action at Milliken Park Tuesday.
Cheeseman carried a perfect game through 5 2/3 innings before surrendering his first hit in the seventh.
Bruce relieved Cheeseman in the eighth inning and recorded the save.
The victory improved the Pioneers’ record to 8-3-2 and atoned for a 10-3 loss they suffered at the hands of the Royals last Friday in Oshawa. In that game, Jesse Dynes, Thomas Biskup, Bruce and Jeff Fox each had one hit.

The semi-finals was a see saw battle between the Rangers & Pioneers, that ended in the eighth inning.  Going into the bottom of the seventh inning the Pioneers had a slim one run lead that was erased when the Rangers scored after a lead off double. That lead to another extra inning game for the Pioneers this year (this one would not end in a tie though), it also gave Reggie Sarne another chance for a game winning RBI. Thomas Biskup led off the top of the eighth with a single followed by a one out single by Jason Graham (3rd hit of the game), and Mike “Pudge” Rodriguez got hit by a pitch loading the bases. Reggie Sarne was called upon to pinch hit but this time Reggie did not win the game with his bat. Reggie worked the count to 3-2 and then with his eagle eye took ball four to force in the go ahead run. After that the Rangers got the next two batters out, bringing them to bat in the bottom of the eighth. With Jason Graham on the hill looking to close out the game, the Rangers led off the inning with a single and the runner promptly stole 2nd. Jason retired the next hitter but the base runner advanced to third on a fielder’s choice. On the next pitch the ball got away from Pioneers catcher Mike Rodriguez and the Rangers runner broke for home, fortunately the ball did not stray too far from home as Pudge retrieved the ball and threw to Jason Graham covering home to get the runner before he crossed the plate. Pitching wise the quartet of Mark Cheeseman, Daryl Noble, Alex Bruce, and Jason Graham held the Rangers to three runs over eight innings. Offensively the Pioneers were led by Jesse Dynes & Jason Graham both with three hits each. The Pioneers would now have to wait to see who they would play in the finals, Oshawa ended up beating Leaside to set up an Oshawa vs. Markham final.

A changing of the guard took place in 2008, seeing Mike Rodriguez officially take over the reigns as Markham’s starting catcher. Rodriguez seized the opportunity and never looked back showing a new-found confidence at the plate while continuing to build on his blocking prowess behind the dish. Raising his batting average by over a full point from last season, Rodriguez tied for the team lead in batting average at .368 and showed a consistency not seen before in this, his fourth season in Pioneer green. In doing so, Rodriguez set personal marks in hits, runs, RBI, doubles, triples and multi-hit games. Garnering respect throughout the league as the seasons mount, this co-winner of the “Most Improved Player of the Year” award will be looked upon to maintain his form of 2008 and hopes to continue his progression into the leagues top defensive catcher.