What a weekend for fastpitch in Delta! Under the sun at Memorial Park, the 130th Annual Ladner May Days Invitational delivered a spectacular showcase of Lower Mainland Fastpitch League talent. From tight pitching duels on Friday night to a Sunday filled with offensive fireworks, the tournament had everything a fastpitch purist could ask for.
When the dust finally settled, it was the Steveston Canadians who hoisted the hardware, leaning on a relentless offense and elite pitching to navigate a stacked field.
Here is how the action unfolded from the opening pitch to the final out:
Pool Play & Early Action
The tournament kicked off in style under the Friday night lights with Red Pool and Blue Pool teams eager to set the tone.
- Friday Night Lights: The Richmond A’s wasted no time flexing their muscles, shutting out the Rays 7-0 behind a dominant pitching performance from Josh Anderson.
- Saturday Showdowns: Saturday brought a mix of nail-biters and masterclasses. The Canadians edged past the Rangers 5-4 in a thrilling back-and-forth affair, with Brad Miller earning the win. Meanwhile, the Ladner Masters put on a clinic against the A’s with a 4-0 shutout, powered by the arm of Sam Aldridge.
- Late Pool Movement: The Canadians kept rolling with a 6-4 victory over Connaught Lomas, while the Masters blanked the Rays 4-0. Connaught Lomas bounced back later in the day, taking down the Rangers 4-1 courtesy of a strong outing from Murray Margolis.
Sunday Results: The Field Narrows
Sunday morning saw teams fighting tooth and nail to secure their playoff positioning. The Rays picked up a crucial 2-0 shutout against Connaught Lomas behind J. Pipke, while the A’s put on a clinic against the Rangers with a 7-0 victory.
As the tournament crossed over into elimination play, the stakes peaked:
- The Canadians punched their ticket to the finals by overpowering the Masters 8-2, with Brad Miller continuing his stellar weekend on the rubber.
- The A’s booked their rematch with the Canadians by first shutting out the Rays 3-0, and then grinding out a gritty 3-1 win over the Masters, led by winning pitcher D. Strang.
The Finals: Yoshi Hikida Puts on a Masterclass
The championship game set up a classic LMFL heavyweight rematch: the undefeated Steveston Canadians versus the surging Richmond A’s.
While the pitching matchup of Brad Miller (WP) and Josh Anderson (LP) promised a tactical battle, it was the Canadians’ offense—and one historic individual performance—that stole the headline.
🏆 Final Score: Canadians 6, A’s 2
The Hero: Yoshi Hikida
Stat Line: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI
The Canadians’ Yoshi Hikida put on an absolute clinic at the dish. Hikida drove in five of the Canadians’ six runs by launching both a solo home run and a massive, definitive grand slam to blow the game open. Behind Hikida’s power and another rock-solid performance from Brad Miller on the mound, the Canadians cruised to a 6-2 victory to secure the 2026 Ladner May Days title.
Tournament Scoreboard Summary
| Day | Matchup | Winner | Pitcher Decisions |
| Fri | A’s 7, Rays 0 | A’s | WP: J. Anderson / LP: J. Pipke |
| Sat | Canadians 5, Rangers 4 | Canadians | WP: B. Miller / LP: R. D’entremont |
| Sat | Masters 4, A’s 0 | Masters | WP: S. Aldridge / LP: J. Anderson |
| Sat | Canadians 6, Connaught Lomas 4 | Canadians | WP: B. Miller / LP: S. Vandenkirkoff |
| Sat | Masters 4, Rays 0 | Masters | WP: M. Martinyk / LP: E. Willis |
| Sat | Connaught Lomas 4, Rangers 1 | Connaught Lomas | WP: M. Margolis / LP: S. Greenlay |
| Sun | Rays 2, Connaught Lomas 0 | Rays | WP: J. Pipke |
| Sun | A’s 7, Rangers 0 | A’s | WP: J. Anderson / LP: R. Dentremont |
| Sun | Canadians 8, Masters 2 | Canadians | WP: B. Miller / LP: S. Aldridge |
| Sun | A’s 3, Rays 0 | A’s | WP: J. Anderson / LP: E. Willis |
| Sun | A’s 3, Masters 1 | A’s | WP: D. Strang / LP: M. Martinyk |
| Finals | Canadians 6, A’s 2 | Canadians | WP: B. Miller / LP: J. Anderson |
Thank you to all the volunteers, fans, and grounds crews who made the 130th Ladner May Days Fastpitch Invitational an unforgettable weekend. League play resumes this week—see you at the diamonds!