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By Keiran Gorsky
The Ottawa West Twins found themselves in a tough spot. Just three innings into the Little League Ontario majors provincial final in Timmins, they were trailing 6-0 against the Ancaster Diamondbacks. This wasn’t the first challenge they had faced.
Facing their long-time rivals East Nepean in the district finals, the Twins managed to claw back from a 4-0 deficit to earn their spot up north. After an impressive round robin sweep, it took them five innings to come back from being down 2-0 in their semi-final against the Windsor South Blue Bombers.
Though they were behind, assistant coach Geoff Nolan shared that the under-13 team didn’t let their spirits drop. It could be said that these young athletes had been building toward these intense moments of teamwork.
Nearly every player on the team grew up playing at this club – most had taken their first swings with maroon and white tees at just four years old. All of them had waited for May’s warmer weather to hit the diamond and all had made an eight-hour trek north with their parents just to be part of this experience.
While coaching staff couldn’t ease every worry, they didn’t need to do much. For each setback, there always seemed to be someone ready to rally from the dugout. When the Twins bounced back with five runs in the third inning and added two more in the fifth for a thrilling 7-6 win, Nolan felt it was expected.
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“These kids have been through these situations so many times now that they were really able to keep their cool,” said Nolan, who refers to the Nationals-bound Twins as a ‘Team of Destiny.’
Training for this tournament kicked off during winter, long before outdoor practices could begin. From January until May, players practiced hitting at Monarch Cricket and fielding at Bell Sensplex twice weekly.
“Really, all the hard work’s been done in the offseason,” Nolan explained. “Now it’s [about] putting those skills to use in games.”
With months of preparation behind them, every player on the Twins recorded at least one hit, an RBI and two runs throughout provincials while their pitchers boasted an outstanding 1.07 ERA.
Off-field activities kept things lively too; players enjoyed fishing trips, spontaneous parking lot barbecues and exciting games of manhunt through hotel hallways. Swimming was saved for after games only.
“We don’t swim before the games, but after the games, they were able to do that,” Nolan mentioned. The Ottawa West Twins Little League majors baseball team and their families made memories during their trip to Timmins by winning the Ontario title for 2026. Photo provided
Their victory secured a place for Major Twins at Canadian Little League Championships for the first time since 2023. The Twins kicked off competition in Glace Bay, NS with a solid start at 2-0 after wins against Trois-Rivières (Team Quebec) and Sydney Mines (Team Atlantic).
Plans for traveling to Nova Scotia began right after their triumph in Ontario. Little League Canada quickly arranged flights out east on Sunday morning. A member of coaching staff exchanged messages with local apparel shop Irving Rivers who produced Ontario shirts within less than a day.
Winning nationals would mean Ottawa West earns its first-ever spot at Little League World Series held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It’s hard for Nolan not to feel excited about it.
“I’m so excited; I feel like a little kid right now,” laughed Nolan as he prepares for his second national tournament alongside head coach Fern Lefebvre. “When you get a little bit older you realize that this is not an easy feat.”
Nolan has coached this group for about eight years now and feels immense pride watching them grow into passionate players who handle challenges maturely.
The memories they’re creating are priceless.” He emphasized “You know twenty years from now; they may not remember scores but will surely remember representing Ontario while making friends across provinces.”
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