Although the lack of top-end pitching depth - undoubtedly combined with some nerves - hurt the Sudbury 14U Voyageurs during their opening weekend of play, it was also quickly apparent that their bats should be able to more than hold their own as the youngsters get adjusted to PBLO (Premier Baseball League of Ontario) play this summer.

Riding a very solid performance from game one starter Trent Peters (4IP - 3 runs - 3 hits - 3 strikeouts), the Voyageurs jumped all over the visiting Ontario Yankees out of the gate, scoring eight times in the bottom of the first inning and registering an 8-5 win.

Eight different players crossed the plate for Sudbury with Evan Ouimet smacking a double and a single and driving in two, with Brett Rienguette also racking up a pair of RBIs.

Unfortunately, that would stand as the only victory for the homeside, though game two could have gone either way as the Yankees rallied to topple the Sudbury side, 9-7, scoring seven times in the sixth inning to overcome a 3-2 deficit.

Pitchers Brett Rienguette, Nathan Omeljaniuk and Matteo Spadafora did a nice job of keeping things in check through the opening five innings, combining to strike out seven batters while limiting the Yanks to just four hits.

Evan Ouimet was again the top dog at the plate (3 hits - 2 runs - 2 RBIs) for the northern squad with Trent Peters and Brett Rienguette also slapping out two hits apiece.

The final two games were more of a struggle for the Voyageurs, beaten 18-2 and 18-6, with Owen Lamothe adding three hits to his weekend totals, the pitcher/infielder coming around to score on two of those hits.

Underager Olivier Seguin enjoyed a decent debut on the mound, giving up two hits and two walks while also fanning a pair of batsmen in not allowing a run over an inning and a third of work in relief.

The 14U Voyageurs are right back at it this weekend at home, battling the London Badgers in a quartet of games at the Terry Fox Sports Complex before heading south at the end of the month, meeting up with the Midwestern Ontario Bearcats on May 25th and 26th.