COOPERSTOWN, NY – July 13, 2025 — The Ottawa Nepean Canadians made a powerful statement this past weekend, going on a dominant run to capture the championship at the 2025 Cooperstown Backyard Baseball Classic. Despite a narrow loss in the opener, the Canadians rebounded with five straight wins — including three consecutive shutouts on championship Sunday — to take home the title.

Tournament Recap

The weekend began with a tightly contested opener against the Smithtown Bulls Red, where ONC dropped a 7–6 decision in the late innings. But the Canadians responded in resounding fashion, stringing together blowout wins and defensive masterclasses to finish with a 4–1 record and hoist the championship trophy.

Game 1: Smithtown Bulls 7, Canadians 6

The Canadians came out strong, led by Braeden Taggart, who went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Dylan Mulder and Isaac Manashe also added key hits, while Eli Ellis reached base three times.

Despite building a 6–3 lead midway through the game, the Bulls stormed back with a three-run homer in the fourth to complete the comeback. ONC’s pitching staff battled hard, including relief innings from Elliot Cunningham, but late miscues proved costly.

Game 2: Canadians 12, Thundering Goldens 0

The Canadians bounced back in a big way, exploding for 12 runs on 12 hits in just three innings. Nathan Chapman, Elliot Cunningham, and Terrence Lema each had multi-hit games, while Isaac Manashe pitched two scoreless innings and struck out two.

Offensively, Wylie Johnston, Adrian Belmonte, and Cormac Anderson all contributed RBIs, and the team ran wild on the bases with aggressive play and smart reads.

Game 3: Canadians 1, Canucks 0

In a rare matchup between organizational siblings, the Canadians squared off against the Ottawa Nepean Canucks — a junior squad in the ONC development pipeline. What unfolded was nothing short of a pitching masterpiece on both sides.

Nathan Chapman delivered a dominant performance, tossing a complete-game no-hitter with 14 strikeouts over six innings. His command and poise under pressure kept the Canucks off balance all morning. On the other side, Tyler Leclair matched him pitch for pitch, holding ONC to just three hits while striking out nine.

The game’s only run came in the second inning, when Lyle Waugh singled and later scored on a defensive miscue. While the Canadians advanced, both teams earned praise for their composure and execution in a tightly contested, hard-fought battle.

Game 4: Canadians 12, Oneonta Yellow Jackets 0

With momentum building, ONC returned to their high-octane offense, putting up 12 runs against Oneonta. Declan Greffe and Eli Ellis each had multi-hit games, while Dylan Mulder launched a home run deep to left.

On the mound, Isaac Manashe and Cooper Kelly combined for a five-inning no-hitter. Manashe was nearly untouchable, racking up 10 strikeouts in four innings of work. The Canadians’ defense was sharp, clean, and efficient — a hallmark of their Sunday performance.

Game 5 (Semifinal): Canadians 10, TBD 0

ONC kept their foot on the gas in the semifinal round, putting up 10 unanswered runs. Elliot Cunningham and Cormac Anderson provided key hits, while Lyle Waugh reached base twice and scored twice.

Braeden Taggart started on the mound and pitched three scoreless innings, striking out six. Cooper Kelly came in to close things out with another clean frame as the Canadians advanced to the final with their second straight shutout.

Championship Game: Canadians 10, Cooperstown Baseball 0

The final game was the perfect exclamation point on a dominant weekend. The Canadians blanked Cooperstown Baseball 10–0 behind another electric outing from Dylan Mulder, who hit his second home run of the day and contributed two hits and three RBIs.

On the mound, Taggart and Kelly combined once again to keep Cooperstown hitless through four innings, and the defense backed them up with crisp play and no errors. Every player contributed in some way as ONC clinched the title with a third consecutive shutout and a +47 run differential over the final five games.

Standout Performances

• Nathan Chapman: Complete-game no-hitter vs. Canucks, 14 strikeouts
• Dylan Mulder: 2 HRs on Championship Sunday, dominant at the plate
• Isaac Manashe: 10 K performance vs. Oneonta; multiple multi-hit games
• Braeden Taggart: Consistent offensive spark, key pitching in semis
• Elliot Cunningham & Cooper Kelly: Lockdown relief appearances
• Eli Ellis & Declan Greffe: Reliable infield play and top-of-lineup production