Estey: Coaticook takes season opener over Sherbrooke

May 13, 2026

Coaticook defeats Sherbrooke in LBMQ 2026 season opener ... Kirk Fryer collected three hits for Sherbrooke

By Dan Estey

CABC Admin

The Big Bill de Coaticook and Expos de Sherbrooke had the honour of kicking off the 2026 Ligue de Baseball majeur du Quebec regular season.

They kicked off a very busy opening weekend which saw all 11 LBMQ teams in action to open the season.

The visiting Sherbrooke Expos would get on the board first as they would plate a pair of runs to open the game at Stade Julien Morin in Coaticook. The Big Bill would come back with two of their own in the home half of the inning to tie the score. Each team scored in the third.

Coaticook took its first lead of the game in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs and for a 5-3 lead. A pesky Sherbrooke team answered in fifth with three runs to re-claim the lead. The Big Bill took the lead for good in the fifth as it would score four runs in that frame to tale a 9-6 lead. They would add an insurance run in the sixth to win this contest 10-6.

Simon Pierre-Soumis led the way offensively for the Big Bill, going 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and three RBIs. Jacob Carroll was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI while Xavier Langlois was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Julien Castagnier-Charlebois was also 2-for-4 with a pair of runs while Kyle Hazel doubled.

For the Expos, they were led by Kirk Fryer who was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Ismael Ballard was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while Samuel Rajotte was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Benjamin De Grandpre was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles while Philippe Dion was 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI.

On the mound, Coaticook used four different arms with Oscar Rodriguez drawing the start. He tossed four innings, allowing three runs — two earned — on 10 hits while striking out three. Yun Sinkeun started the fifth inning and permitted three runs — two earned — on no hits and a pair of walks without recording an out. Raul Rodriguez followed him, tossing an inning allowing no runs on two hits and striking out two in collecting the win.

Sora Sakashita would throw the last two innings, allowing no runs and one hit with two strikeouts.

For Sherbrooke, Keisuke Takikawa started and allowed five runs — two earned — on five hits. He walked one and struck out five in collecting a no decision. Cedric Caron followed and tossed one inning, allowing four runs on four hits while walking one and striking out one in taking the loss. Jose Lalancette tossed the final inning allowing one run (earned) on one hit while walking one and striking out two.