Cannons Walk It Off in Caledonia Classic Game 1 Instant Classic
The 2026 Triple A Caledonia Classic Grand Final opened with exactly the kind of game a championship series deserves. The Edinburgh Cannons edged the Edinburgh Diamond Devils 1-0 at Warriston in a tense, low-scoring pitchers' duel that came down to the final at-bat.
Neither offense could find its footing for six and two-thirds innings. Devils starter Nicholas Willoughby was nearly untouchable, working deep into the game and piling up 15 strikeouts to just one walk, allowing only a Peter Rowe double as an extra-base hit all afternoon. The Cannons matched him arm for arm. Rowe opened on the mound and worked two scoreless innings before handing off to Garret Stell, who was every bit as sharp, striking out the side in his first inning of relief and scattering the few Devils baserunners who reached.
The Devils' best chance came in the top of the seventh. A throwing error and a hit-by-pitch put two aboard, and a Miles Peterson single loaded the bases with only one out. Stell bore down, striking out Sammy Tuan and Rit Zbikowski to escape the jam and keep the game scoreless heading to the bottom half.
Edixso Barrios led off the seventh with a single, then reached second on an errant pick off attempt and swiped third. With the winning run just 90 feet away, Peter Rowe drew a walk and stole second. After notching his 15th strikeout of the day to secure the second out of the inning, Willoughby reached the 100 pitch limit, forcing the Devils to turn to their bullpen. With two outs and both runners in scoring position, a passed ball on a 1-0 pitch let Barrios race home from third, ending it.
Rowe was credited with the win and Willoughby took the loss in a game he pitched well enough to win. If anything, the result was a fitting summary of a season series that finished dead even at 2-2. There’s no question this was one of the best pitching performances for both teams all season, if not in Scottish Baseball history. That this duel kicked off the Caledonia Classic Grand Final made it all the more special.
The Devils now turn to Game 2, hosting on 27 September with their season on the line. The Cannons would be the home for a decisive Game 3, if needed, on 4 October.
Video of the game is coming soon, but live audio with commentary is available now.