North Delta Pirates 18U AAA recognized by the BCMBA as team of the year for 2024!
Congratulations to players Brendan Grant, Carson Stoochnoff, Jared Goumans, Kyle Sallinen, Liam Jones, Lucas Stebbings, Nathan Strang, Noah Grant, Noah Saunders, Payton Harper, Riku Sakuta, Ryo Ikeda, Sammy Wong, Tomas Mancini, Tyler Bernabe, and Tyler Conway, and to coaches Paul Goumans, Jeff Stebbings, Shaun Jones, and Michael Stoochnoff for their extraordinary achievement!
NORTH DELTA, BC — February 1, 2025
Each year the BC Minor Baseball Association encourages nominations for a number of year-end awards. In 2024, the North Delta Pirates were nominated in the Team of the Year category and were asked to consider the following criteria in the team’s response:
Demonstrated high level of team skill and success
Demonstrated high level of team sportsmanship and respect to opposing teams, umpires and fans
Represented their association with dignity and class
Achieved their potential as a team and individuals
Supported their association and other divisions
A copy of the full nomination for the North Delta Pirates in the BCMBA’s Team of the Year category is below. Special thanks to the following individuals for providing letters of support for the nomination: Chris Adams, President of the NDBA; Brendan Grant, 2024 Player with the North Delta Pirates; Jeff Stebbings, 2024 Head Coach with the North Delta Pirates; Cheryl Devor, Player Parent with the 2024 North Delta Pirates; Sammy Wong, Player with the 2024 North Delta Pirates; Keanen Tregaskis, Member of the Harper Family, 2024 North Delta Pirates; Carson Stoochnoff, Player with the 2024 North Delta Pirates.
Association Name: North Delta Baseball Association (NDBA)
Team Name: North Delta Pirates
What division did this team play in this Season? 18U AAA
Team Coaches and Managers: Paul Goumans, Team Manager and Head Coach; Jeff Stebbings, Head Coach; Shaun Jones, Assistant Coach; Michael Stoochnoff, Assistant Coach
Team Roster: #2 – Sallinen, Kyle; #4 – Mancini, Tomas; #5 – Conway, Tyler; #6 – Ikeda, Ryo; #7 – Sakuta, Riku; #8 – Saunders, Noah; #9 – Goumans, Jared; #11 – Bernabe, Tyler; #13 – Stoochnoff, Carson; #14 – Harper, Payton; #16 – Strang, Nathan; #17 – Grant, Noah; #18 – Grant, Brendan; #22 – Jones, Liam; #27 – Stebbings, Lucas; #51 – Wong, Sammy
Season highlights:
In 2024, the North Delta Pirates 18U AAA baseball team launched its inaugural season with unprecedented success, marking a historic return to high-performance, midget-level baseball for the North Delta Baseball Association after more than 20 years.
Founded on principles of excellence, teamwork, and personal growth, the team thrived under the leadership of head coach and team manager Paul Goumans, head coach Jeff Stebbings, and assistant coaches Shaun Jones and Michael Stoochnoff.
An endeavour that began with a fall ball season in 2023 and a November-to-January winter training program, the Pirates soared through the 2024 spring and summer single season. The team, consisting of 16 talented young players — seven Grade 10s, two Grade 11s, and seven Grade 12s — achieved a remarkable record of 28-11-1. They showcased their prowess by securing third place in the BCMBA 18U AAA provincial tournament and capturing gold at the Sussex All-Star Tournament in Kamloops, which featured PBL and top college prep and AAA teams.
The Pirates' season was highlighted by their exceptional pitching and defence, including 10 shutout victories and three no-hitters, coupled with timely hitting. Their impressive performance was supported by the generous contributions of 10 community sponsors and the dedication of more than 700 volunteer assignments completed by families and parents. This community support allowed the team to significantly reduce player dues by half, making participation far more accessible than is typical for a high-performance team.
The team also saw a surge in community engagement, with more than 20 new members joining the fan club and extensive media coverage, including more than 70 stories and game recaps. The successful launch of the www.northdeltapirates.ca website and active social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) helped keep fans connected and informed. The gallery of professional images is credited to talented photographer, Seb Wong.
As the season concluded, the Pirates celebrated the achievements of their graduating players: Brendan Grant, Carson Stoochnoff, Jared Goumans, Kyle Sallinen, Riku Sakuta, Sammy Wong, and Tyler Bernabe. These young men are set to pursue diverse interests in fields like aircraft engineering, business administration, and the humanities at post-secondary institutions such as the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University, BCIT, and Douglas College, while balancing work and personal passions.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, the Pirates are eager to build on their inaugural successes. Preparation for the new season began with a 2024 fall ball program. The team will also offer an invitation-only winter training program leading into the spring. Under the continued leadership of Stebbings and Jones, along with new coaching additions to be announced, the Pirates will continue to foster a “team-first” mentality and further develop their players both on and off the field.
Special thanks are extended to Goumans for his foundational work in establishing the team and his commitment to continue to assist the coaches and organization in the coming season. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the North Delta Baseball Association executive team, parent families, and community sponsors for their incredible support with deep appreciation offered to Doors Galore, Stonemarks, Southridge Building Supplies, and the TGL Group of Chartered Professional Accountants for their substantial support, which has significantly enhanced the opportunities available to young athletes in the community.
Why do you feel that the BCMBA should consider your nomination for Team of the year?
The 2024 North Delta Pirates baseball team has shown exceptional performance, growth, and community impact in its inaugural season, making them a standout candidate for the BC Minor Baseball Association’s 2024 Team of the Year award. In just one year, this newly-formed team not only exceeded expectations with a .700 win percentage and a semi-final finish at the Provincial Championships, but also achieved a remarkable victory at the Sussex All-Star Tournament in Kamloops, defeating top teams like AAA Provincial Champion Penticton and College Prep teams from Cloverdale and Kamloops. Beyond their on-field success, the North Delta Pirates fostered a culture of excellence, teamwork, and personal development, both for the athletes and the surrounding community. With a core of players who have grown up in the North Delta Baseball system, the team became a beacon of local pride, drawing support from parents, businesses, and neighboring communities. The Pirates' commitment to mentorship is evident as recent graduates are actively involved in coaching younger teams, ensuring a legacy of growth and community engagement. The team's strong leadership, led by North Delta Pirates coaches and staff, has instilled not only athletic skills but valuable life lessons in resilience, discipline, and leadership, which have had a lasting impact on the players' personal and academic journeys. For their outstanding achievements, dedication to player development, and their profound influence on the community, we believe that the North Delta Pirates are truly deserving of BCMBA’s 2024 Team of the Year award. With this nomination we have provided seven supporting letters of reference from past players, parents, community members, coaches and the North Delta Baseball Association president.
Supporting References:
Supporting reference 1: Chris Adams, President, North Delta Baseball Association
Hi there,
My name is Chris Adams. I have served as president of North Delta Baseball since 2020 and I have served on the board since 2014.
In 2024, our 18UAAA North Delta Pirates baseball team truly had an inaugural season that vastly exceeded expectations in all areas. Right from the first session in Fall Ball, all the way to the semi-finals of the Provincials the following summer, their player development, team building, branding, community engagement and on field performance was nothing short of spectacular for a new team competing at a level at which North Delta has not competed for many, many years.
As many of the players from the 2024 North Delta Pirates 18U AAA team started in T-ball right here at home in North Delta, the mentorship to our younger divisions has been a greatly added benefit to our community and has fostered more interest in youth trying out baseball this upcoming season. Recent graduates of the team are even helping run our 15U Winter Training program to further continue to give back to the club and our community.
I hope you will strongly consider the 18UAAA North Delta Pirates of the North Delta Baseball Association (NDBA) for this year’s BCMBA Team of the Year Award.
Sincerely,
Chris Adams
President - North Delta Baseball
Supporting reference 2: Brendan Grant, 2024 Player with the North Delta Pirates
Dear BCMBA Review Committee for 2024 BC Minor Team of the Year,
It is my belief that there is no group of players, parents or coaches more deserving of the BC Minor Team of the Year award than that of the North Delta Pirates. As a player on the 18U AAA team, I can attest that the establishment and emergence of the North Delta Pirates and the community that they were a part of was a breath of fresh air for a great number of North Delta Baseball families.
Principles of excellence, teamwork, and personal growth were instilled in the player group throughout the year by Pirates coaching staff, as well as a “get tough” mentality that drove the team to many hard-fought victories even though we were a brand new team competing in a high-performance AAA division that the NDBA had not offered in the past.
As one of the seven, Grade 12 graduating players from the team, I can’t speak enough to value of the personal experience I had playing for the club, the pride I felt being a part of it, and the huge impact it has had on my life, including paving the way and providing the opportunity for me to pursue post-secondary study and athletics; first in September for Thompson Rivers University’s Wolfpack baseball program, and now in January with the Douglas College Royals. It has long been a dream and goal of mine to play at the collegiate level and the opportunity to play high-performance baseball within BC Minor and with a team in North Delta - the community within which I have grown up - was a key reason why I am able to continue playing the game I love at an even higher level now.
The Pirates instilled qualities in its members that extended well beyond those you might expect to see on the field, preparing us for challenges we were yet to encounter and pushing us to chase dreams in a variety of fields and at post-secondary institutions such as the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University, BCIT, and Douglas College. The Pirates, its coaching staff, and the community that backed it will forever have a special place in my heart and I maintain that no program merits the BC Minor Team of the Year award more.
Sincerely,
Brendan Grant
2024 Player, North Delta Pirates of the North Delta Baseball Association
Supporting reference 3: Jeff Stebbings, 2024 Head Coach with the North Delta Pirates
Dear BCMBA Nomination Review Committee,
I am proud to support a nomination of the North Delta Pirates for 2024 Team of the Year in recognition of their exceptional performance, dedication and success within their inaugural year. Over the past year, this team demonstrated outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship and gained strong community support.
Key Achievements:
Achievement 1: Winning the Sussex All-Star Tournament in Kamloops was a remarkable achievement for our team. This victory was highlighted by defeating the Provincial Champion Penticton 18U AAA team, as well as the Kamloops College Prep and Cloverdale College Prep teams. Notably, the two College Prep teams went on to rank as the top two teams in the College Prep league by the end of the year, making this accomplishment even more impressive.
Achievement 2: Making the 18U AAA Provincials and finishing in the top 4.
Achievement 3: Our pitching staff achieved an extraordinary feat this season by throwing ten shut-out victories and three no-hitters, a true testament to their dedication to the craft. This achievement also highlights the collective strength of our coaches, players, and team members, whose hard work and commitment played an integral role in making this milestone possible.
The Pirates exemplified the core values of North Delta Baseball by consistently delivering excellence, tackling challenges with creativity, and fostering a culture of mutual support to achieve remarkable outcomes. We were fortunate to have an incredibly supportive and positive parent group, as well as a core nucleus of players who have advanced through the levels of North Delta Baseball together over the years. This continuity has been instrumental in fostering a strong sense of team and community culture that we deeply value.
Our coaching philosophy centered on a "team-first" mentality. We believe it’s essential to shape young players into not only exceptional athletes, but also outstanding individuals, equipping them with the tools for success both on and off the field.
This team has set a benchmark for collaboration and culture, and I believe they truly deserve to be recognized as 2024 Team of the Year.
Thank you for considering this nomination.
Jeff Stebbings
Head Coach, North Delta Pirates of the North Delta Baseball Association
Supporting reference 4: Cheryl Devor, Player Parent with the 2024 North Delta Pirates
I am writing to shine a spotlight on an extraordinary youth baseball programme that just completed its first season in the Midget AAA division in BCMBA. This remarkable transformation of the North Delta Pirates was an idea of Manager Paul Goumans conceived back in 2022 to show there was a place for this level of baseball in our local region. What began as a group of young, uncertain players blossomed into a team that embodied the true spirit of sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth.
Coach Paul did more than teach these young athletes how to swing a bat or catch a fly ball. He and his coaching staff instilled values that extend far beyond the diamond. From day one, the team-first concept was emphasized. The importance of supporting one another, maintaining a positive attitude, and understanding that success is measured not just by wins and losses, but by personal improvement and character.
The North Delta Pirates started the season as individual players with varying skill levels, but quickly transformed into a cohesive unit. Players started to recognize their unique strengths and worked tirelessly to build their abilities.
What struck me most was the team's remarkable progress. In just one season, these young athletes showed tremendous improvement in their skills, their understanding of the game, and their ability to work together. More importantly, they learned valuable life lessons about perseverance, respect, and the joy of working towards a common goal.
The community has taken notice of this exceptional team. Parents, local businesses, and community members have rallied around the North Delta Pirates, inspired by their dedication and leadership. It's a testament to the profound impact committed coaches and community leaders can have on young lives.
At the conclusion of this remarkable first season, I want to publicly commend the North Delta Pirates team and their staff. They have not just played baseball; they have embodied the very best of youth sports – teaching our athletes that with hard work, support, and belief in oneself, anything is possible.
Cheryl Devor
Proud parent and fan.
Supporting reference 5: Sammy Wong, Player with the 2024 North Delta Pirates
As a graduating player of the North Delta Pirates, I can confidently say that this team deserves consideration for the BC Minor Team of the Year award. From the very beginning, the North Delta Pirates instilled in me a sense of discipline and commitment to excellence that went far beyond just winning games. The coaching staff lead by Coach Paul was exceptional, not only teaching us the technical skills of baseball but also helping us develop our mental toughness, a team first concept and leadership qualities.
They pushed us to be better athletes and better people, always holding us accountable both on and off the field. What really stood out though, was the sense of community. The North Delta Pirates were more than just a team—we were a family. We had the support of our fans, our local businesses, and the entire North Delta community behind us, and that made all the difference. Looking back, I’m proud to have been a part of such a successful and well-rounded program, and I truly believe the North Delta Pirates have earned the recognition as BC Minor Team of the Year.
Sincerely,
Sammy Wong
2024 Player, North Delta Pirates of the North Delta Baseball Association
Supporting reference 6: Keanen Tregaskis, Member of the Harper Family, 2024 North Delta Pirates
The North Delta Pirates Midget AAA team was proposed to the NDBA in 2022 and became something the Association pursued beginning with fall ball in 2023. From the beginning, families knew that they were working hard to create a team that would not only compete in 2024 but come back for years to come.
The North Delta Pirates team was founded on the principles of excellence, teamwork, and personal growth - values that were repeatedly centered throughout the season. And with it, it is easily arguable that the Pirates became North Delta’s biggest community and minor sport success story of 2024.
A group of kids that had not all played together before, banded together and stormed their way through the regular season brandishing a .700 win percentage, continuing to grow as a team as the season progressed. The North Delta Pirates, a team that did not even exist in 2023, walked into Kamloops in 2024 and stole the gold medal from PBL and College Prep teams in the Sussex All-Star Tournament. They then capped off their remarkable story by achieving a semi-final spot in the provincial championships, ending a fantastic run.
Looking back at the inaugural season, this team exceeded expectations. Not only from their record, but because they showed communities across BC that a relatively small community like North Delta (population 61,500) could launch a local, competitive baseball team that could have success at the Midget AAA level. In comparison, 80% of the other communities represented in BCMBA 18U AAA division enjoy larger feeder populations that are often more than twice the size of North Delta.
The immediate success of the 2024 team has since allowed the team to stretch their arms out to neighbouring communities to welcome multiple kids from neighbouring jurisdictions like Surrey, Richmond and White Rock opportunities to participate in North Delta Pirates training programs at the discretion of their home associations.
Until 2024, North Delta had not had a Midget AAA team in over 25 years. When the 2024 North Delta Pirates joined the BCMBA 18U AAA program, they were the new-kid-on-the-block, but they have left the year as a decorated team ready to build a permanent home in the league.
Keanan Tregaskis
Brother of 2024 North Delta Pirates Player Payton Harper
Supporting reference 7: Carson Stoochnoff, Player with the 2024 North Delta Pirates
Throughout my graduating year of high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to play baseball with the North Delta Pirates. This opportunity helped me significantly in regard to my post-secondary education. Playing under coaches Paul Goumans and Jeff Stebbings helped teach me many important life lessons regarding resilience, adaptability, mental toughness, discipline, leadership, high pressure situations, and many more. All these skills that I have learned throughout my baseball journey with the North Delta Pirates have helped me succeed with my university life at UBC.
Not only does playing baseball under these coaches help you grow as an athlete but as an individual as well. Without baseball and these coaches, I believe that my pathway would be very different as they really molded me to be who I am. I was even able to connect my baseball experience during the UBC Sauder video application. Without baseball at North Delta I have difficulty believing my application would have gone as well as it did.
I hold high regards and respect for Coach Paul as well as the assistant coaches that really helped this team mesh together as their job is extremely important and difficult. It was a great experience, and the journey was very rewarding for me. I’m positive I speak for my fellow teammates when we look back and say we all lead the way for this programme to succeed in the future.
Thank You,
Carson Stoochnoff
Player, 2024 North Delta Pirates
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For more information about the North Delta Pirates and to view player and coach profiles, visit www.northdeltapirates.ca. Follow the team on Instagram (@northdeltapirates), Facebook (/northdeltapirates), and Twitter (@piratesnd) for exclusive content and updates throughout the season.
To become a team sponsor or for media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
Matt Grant
Director with the North Delta Pirates
northdeltapirates@gmail.com
