Cole MacLaren of the Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders awaits a pitch in a New Brunswick Senior Baseball League game at Memorial Field in Charlottetown earlier this season. MacLaren recorded three hits to lead the Islanders offensively in a 14-7 loss to the visiting Fredericton Royals on Aug. 8. The Islanders concluded regular-season play in third place and will face the Royals in an upcoming best-of-seven semifinal series. Photo by Jason Simmonds /The GuardianArticle contentThe Charlottetown Islanders’ pursuit of a fourth New Brunswick Senior Baseball League title in a row is now a little bit more challenging.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Fredericton Royals outslugged the Islanders 14-7 in the final game of the 2026 regular season for both teams on Aug. 8. That result leaves the Islanders and Royals with identical 18-10 (won-lost) records. But the high-scoring win at Memorial Field in Charlottetown gave Fredericton a 4-3 edge in the head-to-head matchups and second place in the standings.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThat means the Royals will have home-field advantage in a best-of-seven semifinal series against the Islanders. The Chatham Ironmen (20-8) finished in first place, two games ahead of the Islanders and Royals.Article contentThe fourth-place Saint John Alpines (11-17) and fifth-place Moncton Mets (3-25) will meet in a best-of-three quarter-final series this week to determine Chatham’s opponent in the semifinals.Article contentThe semifinals are expected to start the last weekend in August. The Islanders, as defending NBSBL champions, and the Chatham Ironmen, who are the host team, will compete in the Baseball Canada national senior men’s championship in Miramichi, N.B., from Aug. 20 to 23.Article contentThe Islanders are the defending national champions after winning the 2025 title in Regina.Article contentBut one word that can be used to describe the Islanders in the months of July and August is inconsistency. After winning seven of their first eight games and going 12-4 in May and June, the Islanders are 6-6 in their last 12 games. During that stretch, the Islanders have lost their two games each against Fredericton and Chatham and those results had huge implications on the standings.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentQuick startArticle contentAgainst the Royals, the Islanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning but the Royals answered back quickly. Fredericton scored once in the top of the second inning and scored six times in the third to take a 7-3 lead.Article contentThe Islanders closed to within 7-6 after five innings, but Fredericton responded with a five-run sixth inning and added on two more in the seventh inning.Article contentThe Islanders, uncharacteristically, made three errors in the field that resulted in three unanswered runs.Article contentAdam Estey and Tyler Stewart each went 4-for-5 at the plate to lead Fredericton while Cole MacLaren (3-4, run scored, RBI) was Charlottetown’s top batter. Jack Kraft (1-3) hit a home run for Charlottetown.Article contentThomas Hoyt earned the pitching win in relief of starter Josh Dennis, who worked the first three innings. Hoyt went two frames before Jackson Wilson came on to record the final six outs.Article contentBrody McDonald was the pitcher of record for the Islanders. Tanner MacLean and Ben MacDougall also worked from the hill for Charlottetown.Article contentArticle contentJason Simmonds is a sports reporter at The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at jsimmonds@postmedia.com and followed on X @JpsportsJason.Article content
Charlottetown Islanders slide to third place in New Brunswick Senior Baseball League
