With more than half the team facing live pitching for the very first time in a game situation (younger baseball players will face pitching machines in games to start), the Sudbury U10 Jr Voyageurs had to be happy with the results of three very competitive pre-season games in Sault Ste Marie recently.

A pair of one-run losses on Saturday (8-7; 10-9) and a two-run loss the next day (13-11) spoke to the overall competitiveness of a local crew that were facing an opponent who boast a roster with a majority of players one year older than the Sudbury reps.

Getting a chance to cut their teeth on the mound for the Voyageurs over the weekend were the likes of Jacob Roy (3 IP; more than 50% strikes), Ava Wicklander (one scoreless inning) and Brady Ceaser (4 IP on Sunday - kept team in game).

At the plate, Sudbury highlights included Reid Pitre and Jack Stone (a couple of hits each) with Nate Didone and Daviy Dale doing likewise on Sunday, the latter registering an inside-the-park home run in her first at-bat of the day.

Defensively speaking, Caleb Seguin showed signs of things to come, turning a handful of nice plays in the field.

"It was a weekend that had many positives," noted head coach Carter McDavid. "The kids grew individually, as players, but also as a team."

The Jr Voyageurs are in North Bay for a pair of pre-season games this Sunday before testing themselves in a tournament format in Startford the following weekend.

Rounding out the Sudbury roster are Jack Mussen, Meric Whissell, Tyler Suomu, Rory McDavid and Isaac Mussen, as well as coaches Brian Ceaser, Mike Stone, Mike Pitre and Blake Didone.