Estey: Chatham Ironmen win third national title

Corey Wood led Chatham offensively with three hits. Photo: Brian Richard

August 26, 2026

By Dan Estey

CABC

In 2019, the Chatham Ironmen rode a roller coaster of emotions all week as they captured the Canadian Men’s Championship over the Nova Scotia reps, the Dartmouth Dry.

In 2026, they were able to spin the trick at home as they defeated Team Quebec by a score of 3-0 in front a jam-packed crowd of about 4,000 people at Ironmen Field.

The Ironmen got that crowd into the game early as they were able to plate a pair of runs in the top of the first inning as they got to Quebec starter Felix Cote with RBI singles from Dmitri Shakotko and Jeff Watkin for an early 2-0 lead.

They added one in the sixth on another Watkin single.

A very potent Team Quebec offence was held to two hits on the day as they got singles from Leonardo Ochoa and Francis Lefebvre.

Offensively for Chatham, they were led by OF Corey Wood, who had a perfect game going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. C Jeff Watkin was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs while Shakotko was 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Second baseman Craig Oliver was also 1-for-3 with a triple wrapping up the Ironmen offence with a walk and a run.

For Team Quebec, 3B Leonardo Ochoa was 1-for-3 and OF Francis Lefebvre was 1-for-2 both players had a single each.

It was import pitcher Jay Miller who picked up the win. He went the distance allowing zero runs on two hits while walking four and striking out 12 while throwing his third complete game victory on the week.

LHP Felix Cote started and took the loss for Team Quebec, going three innings allowing two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out two. Reliver Alexis Hurens also went three innings allowing one run (unearned) on two hits while walking two and striking out two. Francois Lafreniere had a clean seventh inning for Team Quebec.

With the win, the Ironmen now have three national titles (1995, 2019 and 2026). They have won all of them at the friendly confines of Ironmen Field.

For Team Quebec, it has now won back-to-back silver medals after winning the National Title in 2023 in Red Deer, Alta. and 2024 in Tecumseh, Ont.

The 2027 edition of the Canadian Men’s Championships will now shift back out west as the Edmonton Cubs will host the event at beautiful RE/MAX Field on Aug. 26 to Aug. 29, 2027.