07/27/2026
Good luck to Ethan and the rest of the Midwest U15 AAA team!
Midwest 15U AAA Closes Regular Season, Sets Sights on Provincials
The regular season may be over, but the Midwest 15U AAA baseball team’s biggest challenge still lies ahead.
After battling through one of the toughest schedules in Manitoba AAA baseball, Midwest finished the regular season with a 6-16 record and now turns its full attention to the Provincial Championships. While the standings don’t always reflect the effort and growth shown throughout the summer, the season produced several impressive individual performances and highlighted the depth that developed across the roster.
Offensively, Midwest was led by Liam Chandler, who put together one of the best personal seasons of his baseball career. Chandler finished with a remarkable .515 batting average, collecting 35 hits, 10 doubles, 7 home runs, and 30 RBIs. His ability to hit for both average and power made him one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup.
Midwest received strong offensive support from throughout the entire lineup. Everett Hamm-Yandeau had an outstanding all-around season, batting .396 with 19 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 16 RBIs. Brooks Hockin finished with an impressive .343 batting average, collecting 23 hits, 3 doubles, and 3 triples, while Lucas Smith added a strong .318 average, 21 hits, and 14 RBIs to the lineup.
The consistency continued with Jayden Ford, the team’s starting catcher, who was a steady presence behind the plate while also producing offensively. Ford hit .312, collecting 24 hits, 7 doubles, 1 triple, and 11 RBIs. His leadership in handling the pitching staff and his production in the middle of the lineup made him a valuable contributor throughout the season. Lukas Johnston rounded out another productive season with a .300 batting average, 21 hits, 3 doubles, and 9 RBIs, giving Midwest quality production throughout the heart of the order.
The lineup’s depth was evident all season. Luke Mitchell recorded 16 hits, including 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 5 RBIs. Blake Vandaele contributed 15 hits and 5 RBIs, Maddux Johnston added 11 hits, 1 double, and 7 RBIs, while Zak Morrison chipped in with 10 hits and 6 RBIs.
Additional contributions came from every part of the roster. Felix Carefoot collected 7 hits, 1 double, and 9 RBIs. AJ Tycoles finished with 7 hits and 3 RBIs, Ethan Duncan added 4 hits, 1 double, and 4 RBIs, while Arthur DeCastro recorded 3 hits, 1 double, and 2 RBIs.
On the mound, Lucas Smith carried much of the workload, leading the team with 44 innings pitched over 10 appearances while posting a 4.23 ERA. Everett Hamm-Yandeau also gave Midwest quality innings, finishing with an impressive 2.86 ERA across 14 innings in five appearances, providing the team with another dependable arm throughout the season.
Although several players posted strength in individual numbers, it is an outstanding team effort in which the regular season also demonstrated the balance of the Midwest roster. Different players stepped up throughout the summer, whether it was with a timely hit, a key RBI, or an important pitching performance. That balanced effort helped the team continue to improve against some of the strongest competition in the province. Couldn’t be prouder watching the growth and improvements of this Midwest team.
Now, the focus shifts to the 15U AAA Provincial Championships, where every team begins with a clean slate. Midwest will be looking to carry the momentum of its individual successes into team success as it competes for a provincial title. With strong leadership, dependable pitching, timely hitting, and contributions throughout the entire lineup, the team believes its best baseball is still ahead as it prepares for the season’s biggest stage.
