Jordan Emick
There is a specific kind of magic that happens on a fastball diamond when a group of athletes decides that they simply refuse to be defeated. This past weekend, the St. George Aces showed that grit, heart, and an unbreakable team spirit are the true foundations of championship-caliber ball.
Heading into the 2026 U20 Eliminations, the challenge was clear: a grueling schedule of six high-stakes games in just three days. It is one thing to play; it is another thing entirely to compete at an elite level while battling physical exhaustion and the mental pressure of a win-or-go-home tournament.
Yet, when the pressure was at its peak, the Aces didn't just meet the moment—they owned it. Each inning served as a testament to the team’s determination. From the first pitch to the final out, the "will to win" was evident in every dive, every hard-earned walk, and every clutch defensive play. Even when the odds were stacked against them, the Aces leaned on one another, refusing to back down and continuing to fight until the very last frame.
By securing second place in a hard-fought weekend, the St. George Aces have punched their ticket to Nationals in Carp.
Walking onto the field in Carp to represent Ontario as Team ON2 is not just a badge of honor; it is a reflection of the months of sweat, early mornings, and collective sacrifice that this roster has put in. This team has proven that they belong among the best in the country, and they are ready to show the rest of Canada exactly what St. George grit looks like.
Not a lot has changed from the end of week one. The Predators (5-0) and Kings (3-0-2) are still undefeated. The Aces, with a league leading 33 runs for, split week three with a loss to the above-mentioned Predators and a win over the Selects. The Selects also split the week with that loss and a win over the Smoke. The Smoke (1-4) and the Diamond Jaxx (0-6) will continue to look to add some wins to their year, particularly on Tuesday night when they face each other.
The KFL season kicked off this week with 6 games played in primarily cold, rainy weather. 4-7 degrees was not the plan when the scheduled was drawn up but the diamonds are ready so we play ball.
The Predators (2-0) and Kings (1-0-1) made it through the week undefeated though the Kings almost chalked up a loss to the Selects (game of the week in my completely unbiased and objective opinion) but a 1-1 tie keep them from putting a one in the loss column.
Aces and Smoke split the week both going 1-1 while the Diamond Jaxx and Selects will go onto next week looking for their first win.
Meetings are happening, schedules are being created, player contracts are being signed (that last one may not be factual).
The 2026 season is around the corner. As usual, if you are interested in playing fastpitch-softball in 2026 but don't have a team, please fill our the form on the Want to Play? tab and get your name on the list of available Free Agents for the upcoming season.
The Kings are your 2025 KFL champions with their 3-game sweep of the Predators in the finals. With the Kings jumping out to a quick lead to start the game, as they did in the previous two wins, the Predators would continue to put runners on base but be unable to cash a run.
With that, the Kings walk away with their 5th championship in the last 7 years, including finals appearances in 8 of the last 9.
Congratulations to both teams on well-played games.
| Team | G | W | L | T | P | W% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kings | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0.636 |
| Predators | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 0.538 |
| Aces | 11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 0.545 |
| Selects | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 0.455 |
| Name | Team | HR |
|---|---|---|
| Shea Simmons | Aces | 3 |
| Colby Ricketts | Kings | 2 |
| Ian Bear | Predators | 2 |
| Liam Wood | Smoke | 2 |
| Luke Zettle | Smoke | 2 |
| President | Mack Smith |
| Vice President | Matt McLaren |
| Treasurer | Dwight Zinger |
| Director of League Relations | Joel Fleming |
| Director of Communications | Trevor Botting |
 Constitution |
| Blank Roster Form |