Second Place and Just Getting Started: The Haldimand Bulls U11 Boys Are Off to a Great Start

The Haldimand Bulls U11 boys fastball team had never played a tournament game together before this weekend.

By Sunday afternoon they were standing on the podium at the Wilmot Spring Showcase as tournament runners-up, having just beaten four straight opponents from across the province to reach the championship final.

Not bad for a first outing.

A Weekend Worth Talking About

The Bulls are a team made up of players from across the Haldimand Erie Fastball League, coming together for the first time in 2026. Coach Mark Hartwick brought this group to Wilmot and they delivered from the opening inning.

The Bulls opened round robin with a 12-7 win over the East Zorra Outlaws. Then came a 12-5 loss to the Napanee Express, a team they would see again before the weekend was done. They closed out round robin play with a dominant 17-9 victory over Wilmot Minor Thunder to punch their ticket to the playoff round.

Four teams left. The Bulls were one of them.

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Taking Care of Business

In the quarterfinals the Bulls kept their foot on the gas, defeating Wilmot Major Thunder 15-7 and never letting the game feel close.

The semifinals brought PDP Lightning. The Bulls answered with a clean 12-5 victory and a performance that said everything about where this team was headed.

Three playoff games. Three wins. Haldimand was going to the final.

The Rematch

Napanee had beaten the Bulls 12-5 in round robin. Now they would meet again for the championship.

Haldimand came out swinging. The Bulls fought hard and made it a game, battling all the way to the final out. But Napanee held on for a 9-6 victory and took home the tournament title.

Second place. In their first tournament together. Against some of the best U11 fastball teams in the province.

That is not a disappointment. That is a foundation.

How They Did It

This Bulls team won games the right way. Aggressive base running kept defences honest all weekend. Solid defence kept the opposition in check. And the offence showed up from the first inning to the last.

On the mound, Easton Lenos and Brody Smelser threw with confidence and gave their team a chance to compete in every game. Behind the plate, Emmett Bassindale was steady throughout and anchored the defensive effort all weekend long.

From top to bottom this was a complete team performance. Coach Hartwick and his staff put these kids in a position to succeed and they delivered.

The Bigger Goal

The Wilmot Spring Showcase was never just about winning a tournament.

It was about building something. Getting reps together. Finding out who this group is when the pressure is on.

They found out.

The Bulls now have their sights set on the U11 OASA Provincial Championship in Cobourg this August. That is the goal. That is what this weekend was preparing them for.

"While the runner-up finish was a tremendous achievement, the team knows there is still work to be done," Hartwick said.

Haldimand, this group is just getting started. Keep an eye on them this summer.

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