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August 28, 2008 - The Markham Pioneers fielded a second-place finish in the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior championships in Oshawa after advancing to the finals and falling 4-2 to the Thornhill Reds. Matt Wagner collected two hits and scored two runs for the Pioneers while Jeff Fox also had two hits. Paul Hadfield, Mark Petrou, Steve Horsley and Reg Sarne also had one hit. Mike Lee took the loss with Ben Kelly pitching in relief.
Playing the weekend tournament minus the services of first baseman Jesse Dynes and pitcher Mark Cheeseman, who were with the Oshawa Royals at the national championships, the Pioneers got off to a good start by defeating Port Hope 5-4 in extra innings. Alex Bruce picked up the win after working two innings in relief of Kelly, who pitched six innings. Reg Sarne collected hits and three RBIs for the Pioneers, while Petrou had two hits and an RBI. Fox, Bruce, Steve Horsley, John Bell and Matt Wagner each had a hit.
Facing the Reds in their second game, the Pioneers overcame a 6-2 deficit in the fifth inning by scoring eight runs en route to an 11-6 victory. Bruce and Sarne led the Pioneer offence with two hits and three RBIs apiece. Matt Wagner also contributed two hits and two RBIs while scoring three runs. Mike Rodriguez also had two hits and one RBI. Horsley pitched the first five innings to earn the win. Lee pitched two solid innings of relief.
Despite suffering their first loss of the tournament to Whitby 7-0, the Pioneers faced the Canadians for a second time in the semifinals and prevailed 5-4 to advance to the final. The Pioneers set the tone by jumping out to a 5-0 lead and hung on in the bottom of the seventh as the Canadians scored four runs to make it interesting. Sarne ignited the offence with two hits and two RBIs while Paul Hadfield and Kelly each had two hits and one RBI. Horsley also had two hits while John Bell and Wagner each had one. Wagner also got the win with Lee earning the save.
by Mike Hayakawa
August 14, 2008 - The Markham Pioneers ended their Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior season on a winning note after edging Kendal 3-2. With the score tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Ben Kelly reached first on an infield error and took second base on a passed ball. Mike Lee, who came into pinch hit for Mike Lloyd, stroked a double to drive in Kelly with the game-winning run. Alex Bruce got the victory in relief of starter Paul Hadfield, who held Kendal scoreless through seven innings. The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Kelly hit a sacrifice fly that scored Matt Wagner who reached first base with a single, stole second and advanced to third on an infield hit by Reg Sarne. After Kendal rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning, the Pioneers regained their advantage in their half of the frame when John Bell drew a bases loaded walk. Kendal, however, scored a run in their half of the ninth to tie the game at 2-2 and set the stage for the Pioneers’ final at bat. The win, coupled with a 2-1 road victory last Sunday over Kendal, enabled the Pioneers to conclude the regular season with a 16-6 mark.
The Pioneers’ next games are the EOBA league championships Aug. 22-24 in Whitby and Oshawa.
by Mike Hayakawa
 July 27, 2008 - The Markham Pioneers split a pair of games against the Ajax Spartans in Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior action Sunday. The Pioneers lost the first game 4-1. Jeff Fox, Shelby Nelson, Matt Wagner and Reg Sarne each had one hit for the Pioneers. Mark Cheeseman was the starting pitcher for the Pioneers and took the loss. In the second game, the Pioneers required extra innings before emerging with a 14-6 win. Trailing 6-2 entering the sixth inning, the Pioneers’ bats came to life as they scored four times to tie the game. That seemed to give the Pioneers the momentum they needed as they erupted for eight runs in the ninth inning to put the game away. Fox led the Pioneers’ offence with four hits, two runs and one RBI, Mark Petrou contributed three hits, two runs and three RBIs while Steve Anderson also had three hits, two runs and one RBI. Steve Horsley collected two hits, scored two runs and had one RBI while Mike Rodriguez also had two hits, three runs and one RBI. Jesse Dynes, Alex Bruce and Sarne each had one hit. Anderson picked up the win in relief. The split gives the Pioneers with a 14-5 record.
The Pioneers will be in Windsor this weekend to compete in the Ontario Baseball Association senior elimination tournament.
by Mike Hayakawa
July 23, 2008 - Jeff Fox collected two hits, including a key two-run single in the seventh inning to propel the Markham Pioneers to a 5-2 win over the defending Ontario Baseball Association and first-place Oshawa Royals in Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior action Wednesday at Milliken Park. The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on run-scoring singles from Mark Petrou and Jesse Dynes. After the Royals scored a run in the fourth inning and one in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2, the Pioneers responded with a pair of runs in the seventh, thanks to Fox’s two-run single, to take a 4-2 lead. The Pioneers added a run in the eighth inning to round out the scoring and snap a two-game losing streak. John Bell also collected two hits while Steve Anderson had a hit and one RBI. Matt Wagner, Steve Horsley and Mike Lloyd each had one hit. Ben Kelly worked the first five innings for the Pioneers before giving way to Paul Hadfield, who picked up the win. Alex Bruce worked the final 1 2/3 innings to earn the save.
by Mike Hayakawa
Pioneers Win Sixth Straight
 July 2, 2008 - Jesse Dynes collected three hits and drove in three runs while Steve Anderson had a hit and two RBIs to propel the Markham Pioneers to their sixth straight victory with a 6-4 decision over the Kendal Eagles in Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior action Wednesday at Milliken Park. Mecky Paradys contributed two hits and one RBI while Jeff Fox, Mark Petrou, Matt Wagner, Reg Sarne and Mike Koitsopoulos each had a hit. Mike Lloyd tossed the first five innings to earn the win. Orville Ivey followed with three innings of relief and Anderson worked the ninth to pick up the save. Collectively, the three pitchers surrendered just four hits.
by Mike Hayakawa
June 29, 2008 - The Markham Pioneers took both ends of their Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior doubleheader against the Peterborough Tigers Saturday at Milliken Park. In the first game, the Pioneers received a two-hit, seven-inning pitching effort from Mike Lee in a 2-1 decision. The Pioneers scored their first run in the second inning when centrefielder Matt Wagner drew a walk, stole second base and came home on a Reg Sarne single. Their second run came in the fifth inning when second baseman Jeff Fox drew a walk and advanced to third on a single from shortstop Steve Anderson. Fox then scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Bruce.
In the second game, a 5-4 win, the Pioneers scored a pair of runs in the first inning when Anderson and Steve Horsley reached base on singles followed by a walk to first baseman Jesse Dynes. Wagner drove in Anderson with a single and Horsley scored on an infield error. The Pioneers added a run in the second inning when Horsley doubled in Anderson, who reached first base with a single. The Tigers rallied in the third inning to tie the game 3-3 and took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning. But the Pioneers countered with a run in the sixth inning to tie the score and won it in the seventh inning when Horsley singled and after a one-out walk to John Bell, Wagner hit into a fielder’s choice to the Tigers’ pitcher. However, the pitcher threw the ball into the dirt at second base allowing Horsley, who was running hard, to score the game-winning run. Bruce won the game in relief of starter Paul Hadfield.
by Mike Hayakawa
June 25, 2008 - The Markham Pioneers got off to a slow start in their Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior game in Port Hope Wednesday. But it didn’t last long. Trailing 5-2 entering the fourth inning, the Pioneers came to life as they took to the lead and never looked back, cruising to a 19-7 win over the Flyers. Jesse Dynes led the Pioneers’ onslaught with three hits, including a home run and six RBIs. Steve Anderson had two round trippers, including a grand slam, and also drove in six runs. Jeff Fox collected three hits, scored four runs and drove in two runs while Mecky Paradys, Matt Wagner and Reg Sarne also had two hits apiece. Mike Lee contributed one hit. Ben Kelly earned the win, going seven innings and striking out five batters.
by Mike Hayakawa
June 18, 2008 - The Markham Pioneers received a stellar pitching effort from Paul Hadfield, Mike Lee and John Bell and timely infield defence that turned three double plays to defeat the visiting Port Hope Flyers 2-1 in Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior action Wednesday at Milliken Park. The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when leadoff hitter Jeff Fox doubled and later scored on a single by Jesse Dynes. The Pioneers padded their lead in the sixth inning when Steve Horsley singled in Dynes, who reached first base with a base hit and stole second. Port Hope scored its run in the eighth inning. Making his return to the Pioneers after a three-year absence due to a shoulder injury, Hadfield tossed the first three innings of shutout ball before giving way to Lee, who worked the next five innings to earn the win. Bell tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in a game that took just two hours to play.
by Mike Hayakawa
June 11, 2008 - The Markham Pioneers erupted for four runs in the fourth inning to break open a one-run game and cruised to an 8-3 win over the Whitby Canadians at the Rogers Centre. Alex Bruce led a balanced Pioneers’ offence with two singles, a double and an RBI while Reg Sarne had a single, double and three RBIs. Jeff Fox, Mark Petrou, Steve Anderson, Matt Wagner, Shelby Nelson, Mecky Paradys and Ben Kelly each contributed with hits. Steve Horsely got the start in the shortened seven inning match, striking out five batters in four innings while Orville Ivey pitched two innings to earn the win and Mark Cheeseman closed out the game with one.
Now 5-1 on the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior season, the Pioneers resume league play Wednesday June 18 at Milliken Mills Park against the Port Hope Flyers at 7:30 p.m.
The Markham Pioneers' four-game winning streak was snapped as the team fell 10-9 to the defending league champion Oshawa Royals. The Pioneers jumped out to a commanding 6-0 lead in the second inning. But the Royals whittled away at their deficit and seized an 8-6 lead by the fifth inning. The Pioneers replied with a pair of runs in the sixth to tie the game before the Royals added two more in their half of the eighth inning to regain the lead at 10-8. The Pioneers scored a run in the ninth and had runners on first and second base with no one out before stranding them when the game concluded. Mark Petrou paced the Pioneers' offence with four hits, including a pair of home runs and five RBIs. Alex Bruce and Matt Wagner each collected two hits while Mike Rodriguez had a double and two RBIs. Shelby Nelson scored two runs. Mike Lee took the loss in relief of starter Ben Kelly.
The loss came on the heels of a 6-1 road win Saturday against the Port Hope Flyers. Mark Cheeseman struck out five batters in five innings of scoreless ball to earn the win. Steve Horsley smashed a grand slam home run in the fifth inning to ignite the Pioneers' attack. Petrou and Nelson each hit triples while Steve Anderson had a double and one RBI and Chris Nichilo one hit and one RBI.
Now 4-1 on the Eastern Ontario Baseball Association senior season, the Pioneers play the Whitby Canadians Wednesday at the Rogers Centre in Toronto at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.
by Mike Hayakawa
 May 28, 2008 - After being rained out in their original Season Opener, the Markham Pioneers finally opened their 2008 Season with a 6-3 win over the Ajax Spartans at home. Trailing 2-0 after 3 innings, the Pioneers erupted for five runs in the 5th and never looked back. The Pioneers’ offence generated 14 hits with entrefielder Matt Wagner and catcher Michael Rodriguez each contributing 3. Newcomer infielder Brian Pacampara collected two hits and Steve Anderson added a double. Ben Kelly earned the win tossing four innings in relief of starter Mark Cheeseman, who also went four innings with Steve Anderson closing the door in the 9th to earn the save.
 The 2008 Markham Pioneers will be playing a regular season game on Wednesday, June 11 vs the Whitby Canadians at the Rogers Centre. The Pioneers would like to welcome anyone interested in attending this game. Admission is free and you are sure to see some great baseball. Details as to what gate to enter and any other valuble information will be posted closer to the date of the game. This is the second time that the Pioneers will be facing the Whitby Canadians in the Rogers Centre. The first being Opening Day in 2006 which resulted in a 3-2 loss.
The 2008 Markham Pioneers are set to open their campaign against the Kendal Eagles on May 21. The Pioneers have a strong contingent of returning players as well as a few new faces to add to the already lethal lineup. The Pioneers posted a 21-5 record in the 2007 Regular Season and will be looking to continue on with their winning ways. Scheduling highlights for the 2008 season include a game on Wednesday, June 11 vs the Whitby Canadians which will be played at the Rogers Centre. The Pioneers have also entered 2 tournaments throughout the course of the season. The Oshawa Royals Tournament taking place June 20-22 and the St. Catherines Tournament July 18-20. These tournaments will be used as vital preparation for the Elimination Tournament which is the Provincial Championships held in Windsor on August 1-4. As always the Pioneers goal is to win the Provincial title and go on to represent Ontario at the National Championships.
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