North Dufferin Baseball League - EST. 1930

Knights edge Baysox in Game 7 thriller to claim Strother Cup

League secretary Scott Anderson, second from left, presents the Strother Cup to Chris Rettie, Pete Kinghan, and Kurt Roy during a post-game presentation Sept. 27, 2025. (David Anderson photo)

The New Lowell Knights won the North Dufferin Baseball League championship Sept. 27, 2025. Pictured are, back row, from left: Zakery Hayward, Kurt Roy, coach Pete Kinghan, Steve Bowman, Sean Connor, Dale Lightheart, Nic Guthrie, Chris Rettie, Chris Esson, Jesse McIntyre. Front row, from left: Brandon Norrie, Brett Elliott, Tristan Cabral, Mack Morrish, Chris Greer, Nick Hodgson, Jake Nicholson, Tanner Zeggil, and Todd VanLieshout. (David Anderson photo)

September 28, 2025

The New Lowell Knights are North Dufferin Baseball League champions after edging the Owen Sound Baysox 5-4 in a dramatic Game 7 on Saturday, capping off a fiercely contested series.

Owen Sound, last year's league champions, came into the final with momentum, but the Knights proved resilient. The two teams were separated by just one point in the regular season standings and traded wins throughout the final series. Owen Sound took the first two games, New Lowell responded with two of their own, and each team claimed a victory last weekend to force the decisive seventh game.

After a scoreless first inning, New Lowell struck first, scoring twice in the second. Owen Sound answered with a run in the third, but the Knights extended their lead with three more runs in the fourth to go up 5-1.

The Baysox rallied in the sixth when Steve Barrett hit a three-run homer over the centre-field fence, narrowing the gap to one. Owen Sound threatened again in the seventh when Ryan Bartley laid down a bunt, but Ryan McNeill was tagged out at home trying to score the tying run. With two outs, Greg Slater stepped up but struck out, sealing the win for New Lowell.

Adam Shaver led the Baysox offence with three singles. McNeill and Kevin Zettler each added two, while Robert Doyle, Bryan Post, and Nick Van Wyck chipped in singles. Barrett's late-inning home run was a pivotal moment in the Baysox comeback attempt.

Chris Greer paced the Knights with a triple and a single. Tanner Zeggil and Jake Nicholson each had two singles, while Tristan Cabral and Steve Bowman added one apiece.

Owen Sound leaned on power throughout the series, hitting a total of nine home runs. New Lowell countered with small ball tactics - bunting and clutch hitting to move runners and manufacture runs.

Baysox starter Nate Kramer pitched five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking four, hitting one batter, and striking out two. Bartley pitched a clean sixth in relief.

Knights starter Brandon Norrie, who later was named playoff MVP, threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, walking two, and striking out three. Young pitcher Nic Guthrie closed out the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out one.

After the game, league secretary and convenor Scott Anderson praised both teams for a hard-fought series and thrilling finale. He presented the Strother Cup to Chris Rettie, Kurt Roy, and coach Pete Kinghan of the Knights.

Game 7 awaits as NDBL rivals trade blows

Kurt Roy of the New Lowell Knights slides into third base for a two-run triple before the ball reaches Adam Shaver of the Owen Sound Baysox during Game 6 of the North Dufferin Baseball League championship series on Sept. 21, 2025. (David Anderson Photo)

September 22, 2025

The North Dufferin Baseball League championship series remains deadlocked after the New Lowell Knights and Owen Sound Baysox traded wins over the weekend.

Owen Sound took Game 5 on Saturday in New Lowell with an 8-3 win and New Lowell responded with a 6-1 win in Owen Sound on Sunday forcing a deciding Game 7 this coming weekend.

The Knights held the Baysox scoreless through two innings in Game 5 and jumped out to a three-run lead in the first. But Owen Sound surged ahead in the third, scoring four runs off an Adam Shaver grand slam. The Baysox added two more in the fourth and one run each in the sixth and seventh innings to seal the win.

Shaver also added a single for Owen Sound. Robert Doyle contributed a home run and a double, while Ryan Bartley, Greg Slater, Steve Barrett, Bryan Post and Kevin Zettler each chipped in with singles.

Zakery Hayward led the Knights with a double and two singles. Chris Greer hit a double, and Brandon Norrie, Jake Nicholson and Brett Elliott each added singles.

New Lowell starter Nick Hodgson pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits, walking one and striking out one. Chris Esson came on in relief, throwing 3 1/3 innings and giving up two runs on four hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.

Nate Kramer toed the rubber for Owen Sound, pitching a complete game. He allowed three runs on seven hits, walked four, hit one batter and struck out two.

In Game 6 on Sunday afternoon, the Knights took control early on some sloppy plays from the Baysox, scoring two runs in the first and four more in the second. A Kurt Roy triple drove in two of those runs, giving New Lowell a commanding lead. Owen Sound's lone run came on a right-field homer from Shaver - his second of the weekend.

Strong pitching from both sides kept the remainder of the game scoreless over five innings.

New Lowell's offence was led by Tanner Zeggil with four singles. Nicholson added three singles, Roy hit a triple, and Norrie, Elliott and Greer each had singles.

Slater had two singles for Owen Sound, while Doyle, Bartley and Post each added one, in addition to Shaver's home run.

Trevor Smith started on the bump for Owen Sound, pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. Bartley finished the game, giving up three hits, walking one and striking out four.

Norrie earned the complete-game win for New Lowell, allowing one run on six hits, hitting one batter and striking out three.

The final game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. in New Lowell, where one team will hoist the Strother Cup.

Knights, Baysox deadlocked in NDBL final

Tristan Cabral of the New Lowell Knights slides into home plate before the throw to Owen Sound Baysox catcher Travis Bennett during Game 3 of the North Dufferin Baseball League championship series on Sept.13, 2025. (David Anderson Photo)

September 15, 2025

The New Lowell Knights have tied the senior championship series in the North Dufferin Baseball League, winning Games 3 and 4 over the weekend against the Owen Sound Baysox.

Saturday's contest in New Lowell ended in a 5-4 victory, while Sunday's game in Owen Sound finished 4-2.

Clutch hits in the seventh inning of both games sealed the wins for the Knights in this tight, nail-biting series.

Game 3 began with both teams trading runs in the second inning. Owen Sound took a one-run lead in the third, but New Lowell responded with two runs to go ahead 3-2.

In the fifth, the Baysox regained the lead with back-to-back solo home runs from Bryan Post and Steve Barrett.

Entering the bottom of the seventh, the Knights rallied with key hits to tie the game and walked it off with a single from Brett Elliott.

Owen Sound's offence included hits from Ryan Bartley, Robert Doyle, Travis Bennett, a single and home run from Post, two singles and a homer from Barrett, and a double from Kevin Zettler.

For New Lowell, Josh Hanley hit a home run and a single, Kurt Roy and Tristan Cabral each had a double and a single, Brandon Norrie added a double, and Steve Bowman, Jake Nicholson and Elliott contributed singles.

Knights starter Nick Hodgson pitched three innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking two, hitting one batter and striking out one. Norrie took over for the final four innings, giving up two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out three.

Trevor Smith went the distance for the Baysox, pitching seven innings and giving up five runs on 10 hits, walking three, hitting one batter and striking out four.

In Game 4, the Knights struck first, scoring a run in both the first and third innings. Owen Sound tied the game in the third with a two-run homer from Barrett.

The game remained deadlocked until the top of the seventh, when Nicholson hit a bases-loaded double to drive in two runs. New Lowell then retired Owen Sound's top of the order in the bottom half to secure the win.

Norrie led the Knights at the plate with a double and two singles. Nicholson added a double and single, while teammates Tanner Zeggil, Roy and Bowman chipped in with singles.

Owen Sound was limited to four hits: two singles from Greg Slater, a single from Bartley and a home run from Zettler.

Bartley pitched all seven innings for the Baysox, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out seven.

Nic Guthrie had an efficient outing for New Lowell, pitching seven innings and giving up two runs on four hits, walking five and striking out four.

New Lowell will host Game 5 on Saturday at 1 p.m., with the series returning to Owen Sound for Game 6 on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the best-of-seven final.