Entering the 52nd Lions CNE Peewee Baseball Tournament was a treat, but getting to and winning the championship was an unexpected surprise for Brian Harvey’s Markham Mariners.

Harvey wanted his band of 13-year-olds to get some experience ahead of this weekend’s Ontario Baseball Association AA playdowns by playing AAA calibre teams.

The Marinters knocked off Brampton 9-4 to win the championship.

And, it was historical for the Mariners.

“It’s definitely a great honour to win the tournament and to be the first Markham team to do it,” an elated Harvey said of his club’s feat.

His club’s run to the title boiled down to his players playing sound, fundamental ball, he added.

“Everything just came together at the right time. The kids played extremely well defensively and we got solid pitching and scratched out some runs. They played a solid game,” he said.

With the game screless after one inning, the Mariners engineered a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead in their half of the second.

After Brampton replied with a run in the bottom of the frame, the Mariners restored their two-run lead on a solo homer by catcher-first baseman Tarun Malik.

The Mariners then added some breathing room in the fifth inning when they exploded for four runs to take what appeared to be a commanding 7-1 advantage.

Brampton, however, made a run in the sixth when they scored three runs to cut their deficit to 7-4.

But the Mariners plated their two final runs in the seventh to round out the scoring.

Also wielding a hot bat for the Mariners was pitcher-catcher Alec Beneteau, who went four for four at the plate. Beneteau was also the winning pitcher and tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Malik was chosen the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The Mariners will have little time to dwell on their accomplishment as they will be going to Niagara Falls this weekend to compete in the OBA AA playdowns.

Harvey hopes his club can sustain their momentum.

“We’ve been pretty positive after the last two weeks of play. But we know the OBAs will be tough competition,” he said.

Other members on the Mariners that contributed to their tournament title run included: Peter Apostolopoulos, Mark Davidson, Anthony Duen, Christian Envidia, Hunter Greenough, Brett Harvey, Matthew Nishimura, Tyler Pickering, Ty Rombis and Danny Sutharman. Other coaches included: Mike Pickering, Wayne Nishimura and Mike Davidson. Team Administrator was Darshy Sutharman.