Ems season ends with three straight one-run losses in NWLCS

from Jacob Archer, Eugene Emeralds, Tyler Zickel, Vancouver Canadians, and staff reports

The Eugene Emeralds fell to the Vancouver Canadians by a final score of 9-8 in 12 innings, ending the Ems’ 2026 season in what the Canadians are ranking as “one of the greatest games in franchise history.”

With the victory, the C’s swept the first-half and second-half champion Ems in the Northwest League Championship Series 3-0 and clinched their sixth NWL crown since 2000.

Playing at home, the Emeralds led 2-1 after three innings, 7-4 at the end of eight, and after retiring two Canadians in the top of the ninth, were just one out away from forcing Game 4.

But Maple, Ontario native David Calabrese tied the game with a two-out two-run homer to dead center, and the game went into extra innings.

After trading runs in the 10th, the C’s Ryan Sprock singled home the placed runner on the first pitch of the 12th.

The Ems hoped to answer in their half of the 12th after a sacrifice bunt moved the tying run to third. But Jack Eshleman (W, 2-0) shut down the Ems with back-to-back strikeouts.

With the win, the Canadians claimed their second Northwest League title of the High-A era and sixth since the Blue Jays affiliation began in 2011.

All three games were decided by just one run and were truly coin-flip games. The only problem was the Ems called heads all three games and it landed tails in three straight nights.

The C’s took the first two games of the series at Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium. With Game 1 tied 7-7, Jaxson West and JoJo Parker singled to start the eighth and moved to second and third on an error. A Ryan Sprock sacrifice fly brought home West, and Bradley Wilson shut down the Ems with two strikeouts in the ninth for the save. 

In Game 2, the C’s walked off with a sacrifice fly to deep right field from Gable Mitchell in the bottom of the tenth.

While it wasn’t the way the Emeralds wanted their season to come to a close, it was a great season for the team as they won both the first half and the second half to end the year with a 79-52 record.

The season is always a marathon and a sprint wrapped up into one chaotic season. Eugene started the year erasing a 6-0 deficit against the Hillsboro Hops April 3 before Gavin Kilen crushed a two-run walk-off home run.

The regular season ended in similar fashion, erasing a 6-0 deficit on September 3rd against the Hops with a seven-run eighth inning.

The one constant during that 131 game stretch? The fans—each and every night at PK Park. The Ems ended the year averaging over 2,140 fans per night here during the regular season, making it five consecutive seasons with over 2,000 fans per night at PK Park dating back to 2022.

The fans brought the energy tonight with 4,111 fans, the most in attendance at any game this season. They brought the energy from the first pitch to the final out and we know that they’ll be back in full force at this time next season.

It officially is the offseason now for the Emeralds front office, and they’ll take a little bit of time off before getting prepped and ready for another great season in 2027 right here at PK Park. Spring training will be here in the blink of an eye, and before you know it it will be opening night at home on April 6 against these very same Vancouver Canadians.

2027 season ticket inquiries are available online at: https://www.milb.com/eugene/tickets/2027ticketinquires or by phone at 541-342-5367. We’ll see you in 2027!

The Eugene Emeralds are the High-A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants. The Eugene Emeralds are dedicated to providing the best in family entertainment and creating a fun, safe environment for everyone to enjoy watching a baseball game.

For more information, see www.EmeraldsBaseball.com or call the Emeralds front office at 541-342-5367.