Sometimes, even for super busy sports parents, things just work out really nicely.

That was the case recently for the parents of Nick and Chloé Paquette as the talented siblings both managed to find their way to Kitchener-Waterloo over the long weekend, site of the 2026 Ontario Summer Games.

Chloé was one of the 11 young women who represented the Sudbury Wild in girls flag football play, an event that was offered this year for the very first time. Understandably, the Wild were also playing their first ever games, making it through to the final four.

After posting a pair of victories, the locals dropped the semi-final 13-6 to the Ottawa Hawks (Hawks broke a 6-6 tie with 19 seconds to play) and were beaten 32-18 in the bronze medal battle.

Meanwhile, older brother Nick was part of Team North at the baseball diamonds, one of eight members of the Sudbury Voyageurs who cracked the roster that also included a quartet of players from both Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay.

Though he was certainly exposed to other sports in his youth, it's hard to deny where his heart takes him when push comes to shove. "Even when you're having a bad day, it's really fun to be out on the field with your friends," said Paquette.

"I just love the game of baseball."

A middle infielder who is feeling more at ease this year having shifted over from shortstop to second base, Paquette offers a little variety at the plate.

"I am mostly a contact hitter, maybe pull a few," he said. "Mostly a singles hitter, a few doubles down the line or in the gaps - and I walk a little bit too."

Much like the Sudbury Wild, Team North posted some mixed results, opening the tournament with a 13-11 win over Southern Counties Baseball Association, losing to both the Hamilton District Baseball Association (15-5) and the York Simcoe Baseball Association (15-4) and closing things off with a 10-8 win over the Niagara District Baseball Association (10-8).

And while it might not offer the same familiarity as home, there was still something special about sharing his Summer Games experience with a fellow athlete in the house. "You grow up with your sibling and all of a sudden, you're at the same tournament as her," said Paquette.

"Not the same dorm, not the same sport, but close enough."