Moncton Juniors capture NB title with decisive victory over Saint John.

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Mudcats earns right to represent New Brunswick at 2025 Canadian championships after blanking Alpines in fifth-and-deciding game of series.

The Moncton Metro Mudcats celebrate their New Brunswick Junior Baseball League title Wednesday night at Memorial Field in Saint John following a Game 5 win over the Saint John Dorion Sports Alpines. Photo by Randy O'Donnell/Telegraph-Journal

The Moncton Metro Junior Mudcats scored early and often, downing the Saint John Doiron Sports Junior Alpines 14-0 Wednesday night at Memorial Field in Saint John to capture the New Brunswick Junior Baseball League title.

Lucas Crossman tossed a complete game two-hitter, and designated hitter Jake Greene drove in five runs to power the Mudcats to victory in the deciding fifth game of the series at Memorial Field in front of a crowd of about 200. With the win, the Mudcats earned the right to represent the province at the 2025 Canadian junior championship tournament, tentatively scheduled for Dartmouth, N.S., next August.

“That was a great game five win, and we have the championship,” Greene said during team celebrations. “All the boys did everything they could, and our pitcher was a real dog out there tonight.”

Moncton got off to a fast start against Alpines starter Jake Cairns, scoring three runs in the first inning. The Mudcats added five more in the second inning, three on Greene’s home run to right field. They tacked on four more in the third and two more in the fifth, which sealed the victory in a game shortened due to the league’s 10-run differential rule.

“We had our backs to the wall coming into Saint John for the deciding game, and our guys responded,” said Moncton manager Jim House, whose team finished with a 15-14 record, good for second place during the regular season. “We knew the Alpines would be tough because they do not quit. They just work and work and work. I’m proud of how the guys battled and represented themselves throughout the series.”

Moncton earned its way into the championship series by beating the Fredericton Junior Royals in four games in a best-of-five semifinal. Saint John reached the final after a five-game series against the Chatham Junior Ironmen.
The Mudcats won the finals’ first two games before the Junior Alpines battled back to take the next two, forcing Wednesday’s deciding game.

Saint John went into the finals as the defending league champions. They also finished atop the 2024 league standings with a 17-11 record. Saint John represented the province at this year’s national under-22 championships, finishing fourth in Dartmouth. 

On Wednesday night, Jacob McCarthy stroked the Alpine’s two hits, both singles. Cairns pitched the first inning and a third. Alex Peacock went two-thirds of an inning, while Thomas Richardson finished the final three innings, striking out six.

“They got us tonight, but I am proud of our guys, the way they battled back to take the series to a fifth game,” Alpines manager David Pender said. “We had a great year, finishing first in the regular season, representing New Brunswick at the nationals.

“I take my hat off to Jim House and the Mudcats; they battled us hard for five games. They will represent the province very well at the nationals next year.”