Southwest
Boerne, TX
Record: 15-2
Miles from South Williamsport: 1,712
Road so Far:
W 3-2 v Medina Valley
W 27-0 v Harper
W 15-0 v Fredericksburg
W 8-0 v Medina Valley(District title)
W 10-0 v Uvalde
W 6-0 v Eagle Pass American
W 10-2 v Bulverde Navy
W 11-1 v Bulverde Navy(Section title)
W 13-12 v Oil Belt
L 9-7 v Lubbock Western
W 13-2 v Oil Belt
W 6-4 v Lubbock Western
W 3-0 v Lubbock Western(TX West title)
L 10-3 v Lamar
W 10-0 v Clinton(MS)
W 3-2 v Lamar
W 4-1 v Ascension Parish(LA)(SW title)
Outscore opponents: 152-45; 8.9-2.6 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .387/1.95
Players to Watch: Merritt Cude – .538, 24RBI, 6HR—19IP, 2ER, 32K; Preston Baird – 17RBI, 5HR; Boone Blalock – 18IP, 36K; Walker Yost – .500; Carson “Viper” Patrick – .500, 12RBI; Case Greco – 16.2IP, 2ER, 20K; Kase Yarbrough–12RBI–9.0IP, 2H, 0ER, 18K
Boerne Little League is no stranger to success. This is a league that is just two years removed from an appearance in the United States championship game, and now new leaders have emerged to keep the winning tradition going. With all the Southwest region off the field madness behind us, we can fully turn our attention to what makes this team a top contender in Williamsport. Look no further than leadoff bat Kase Yarbrough, who took the first pitch of the Southwest title game to center for a triple, as part of a four run first inning. Chandler Schramek delivered a 2RBI hit down the left field line in that inning as well. Walker Yost and Carson “Viper” Patrick are each batting .500. Then you have the big bats like Merritt Cude with his .538 average and 6 home runs and Preston Baird has five long bombs of his own.
The Boerne pitching staff averages 9 strikeouts per game, making them quite formidable. Only two earned runs have scored against Cude. Case Greco has given up seven hits in nearly 17 innings of work, also charged with just two earned runs against him. Other top options include Kasen Martinez and Boone Blalock on a staff that has a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio and 1.95ERA overall.
After surrendering two runs in their district opener against Medina Valley, Boerne shutout its next five opponents by a combined 66-0, proving, once again, that everything is bigger in Texas. Case Greco walked that first game off with an RBI single. In the shutout streak, Baird homered four times and Greco added two. The next runs scored against Boerne came from Bulverde in sectionals, but Boerne swept them in two straight games by a combined score of 21-3. The team encountered some adversity in the Texas West openers, overcoming seven errors in a 13-12 victory over Oil Belt and finally losing their first game of the postseason 9-7 to Lubbock. Blalock’s RBI double walked off the Oil Belt game and a 3-run home run by Cude helped Boerne fight back in the defeat. Boerne claimed revenge against Lubbock, defeating them 6-4 in a game where Boerne batters walked three times with the bases loaded to force in early runs. In a decisive 3-0 victory to claim the Texas West title, Case Greco gave his squad 5.2 innings of three-hit ball with eight strikeouts. Another fast start helped the squad to a 3-2 win over Lamar in the regional, after falling to that same team 10-3 in the tournament opener. Blalock struck out 11 in that contest.
Now Boerne seeks one more piece of unfinished business—going for a United States and world crown. Their journey begins on Friday afternoon against either Phenix City(AL) or SoundView(WA).
Southeast
Phenix City, Alabama
Record: 8-0
Miles from South Williamsport: 903
W 10-0 v Northport
W 10-0 v Mountain Brook
W 8-0 v Coosa
W 9-3 v Coosa(state title)
W 8-5 v Lake Norman(NC)
W 5-2 v Nolensville(TN)
W 8-5 v Chaires-Capitola(FL)
W 4-0 v Nolensville(TN)(SE title)
Outscore opponents: 62-15; 7.8-1.9 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .344/1.50
Players to watch: Kinley Rasmus – .647, 0K—16IP, 3ER, 1BB, 22K; Easton Allen – .500—6.1IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 9K; Urijah Berklite – .500, 7RBI—8.1IP 4H, 0ER, 0BB 12K; Ryker Rasmus – 8.2IP, 3ER, 1BB, 6K
Phenix City emerged from one of the toughest regions the country had to offer this season. The Southeast also featured perennial power Nolensville, TN and a Chaires/Capitola squad from Florida that knocked off Lake Mary in their state title game. Not to mention other regional stalwarts like Columbus, GA and Irmo, SC. But Phenix City pushed through them all and defeated Nolensville twice along the way. The team from Alabama makes their first trip to South Williamsport since 1999, when the program reached the championship game against Osaka, Japan.
This isn’t a team that blows you away with eye-popping batting averages and huge numbers of home runs. This is, however, a team that has some incredible pitching and doesn’t make mistakes in the field. Kinley Rasmus threw a 59 pitch complete game in the state championship game against Coosa. Forty-eight of those pitches went for strikes. She struck out eight and walked none. She also got a big sixth inning going with an RBI hit to extend her squad’s lead to 6-3 in the eventual 9-3 victory. She also tossed two innings and struck out four in Phenix City’s Southeast regional opening victory and went 3/3 at the dish with 2RBI. She then got the start in the title game against Nolensville and struck out eight more as the rains came down, walking none and giving up just three hits. Urijah Berklite six of his seven postseason RBI in the regional tournament, coming up huge from the 3-hole in the lineup. He enters Williamsport having yet to allow an earned run on the mound and bolsters pitching depth that also includes Easton Allen. As a staff, Alabama pitching has walked five batters in 44 innings of work while striking out 58. Defensively, Phenix City has made only six errors over their eight games played, showcasing solid glovework.
Phenix City will be featured in the opening game of the U.S. bracket on Wednesday afternoon when they faceoff with SoundView, Washington.
Great Lakes
West Side(Hamilton, OH)
Record: 8-0
Miles from South Williamsport: 490
W 13-1 v Ironton National
W 16-0 v Olentangy
W 6-5 v Canfield
W 4-3 v Canfield(state title)
W 10-4 v Greater Bay(MI)
W 11-0 v Jasper National(IN)
W 11-4 v North Oldham(KY)
W 6-0 v North Oldham(KY)(Great Lakes title)
Outscore opponents: 77-17; 9.6-2.1 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .353/1.11
Players to Watch: Boone Treadway – 13.2IP, 6H, 0ER, 3BB, 23K; Josiah Infante – .500, 8RBI, 3HR; Xander Kinkade – .500, 8 RBI, 3HR—7.2IP, 5H, 1ER, 10K; Jack McAdams – 8RBI; Bryson Williams – 8.2IP, 6H, 1ER, 8K
West Side returns to South Williamsport for the first time since 2007 after being regional runners-up in 2025 and 2021. Josiah Infante and Xander Kinkade showed they’d be a threat from the first game, going back to back with solo home runs against Ironton National. In a rout of Olentangy, the team from Hamilton did not strike out a single time, showing off a lineup that makes constant contact. As a team, Hamilton strikes out less than four times per game. This is a lineup where the batting stats don’t immediately pop, but they do tell some stories. For example, Caiden Trent has two hits so far, but one of those is an enormous 2RBI double into right that allowed West Side to walk-off the state title 4-3 against Canfield.
This is a lineup that has repeatedly shown the ability to string hits together into big innings. Take the 10-4 regional opening win against Michigan—five straight batters recorded two-out hits in the third inning to go from a 2-2 ballgame to a 6-2 lead. It really came to a head against Indiana, when ten West Side batters reached in a row with two outs to plate ten runs in one inning. And it wasn’t a fluke—the boys from Ohio put together a nine run inning against Kentucky in the next game, culminating with a Kinkade 2-run blast. Six runs scored in the first inning against Kentucky again in the title game, as Finn Dykes added the finishing touches with a bases clearing triple.
Pitching wise, Hamilton flexes its muscle. Boone Treadway worked efficiently in the region title game against Kentuky, needing only 62 throws to record a one-hitter with nine strikeouts. In limited time on the mound, Infante and Walker Osborne have also shown they will be weapons when called upon. In six innings of combined work, they have given up two runs and struck out 12. The team’s 1.11 ERA is the lowest of all ten American teams in Williamsport.
Mid-Atlantic
East Side(West Chester, PA)
Record: 16-1
Miles from South Williamsport: 167
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .366/1.88
W 4-1 v Avon Grove
W 9-2 v Kennett and Unionville
W 23-0 v West Side
W 7-0 v West Side(district title)
W 13-1 v Dillsburg
W 1-0 v Greencastle
W 7-0 v Dillsburg(section title)
W 2-1 v Hollidaysburg
L 6-4 v Blue Mountain
W 5-4 v West Point
W 9-3 v Hollidaysburg
W 10-0 v Newtown-Edgmont
W 8-2 v Blue Mountain
W 12-8 v Blue Mountain(state title)
W 8-1 v Naamans(DE)
W 10-0 v Capitol Hill(D.C.)
W 3-1 v Naamans(DE)(Mid-Atlantic title)
Outscore opponents: 135-30; 7.9-1.8 per game
Players to watch: Ryan Donnelly – .450, 10RBI, 3HR—32.1IP, 3ER, 6BB, 44K; Darren Molineux – .424, 11RBI, 2HR; Cole Warner – .515, 14RBI, 4HR—28.1IP 8BB 39K; Ryan Hennessey – .333, 16RBI—14.0IP, 19K;
The boys from East Side cruised through the Mid-Atlantic region, outscoring their opponents 21-2. In fact, if you take away a seven run inning by Blue Mountain in the Pennsylvania championship game, East Side has outscored its last eight opponents 65-11.
The team has hummed along with huge moments for multiple players. Darren Molineux saved the day with a 2-run shot against Hollidaysburg in the state tournament opener. Jack Cassidy hit his lone home run in the state title game, a grand slam that broke an 8-8 deadlock. He then took the mound to close the game out as the last available pitcher for the team. Even from the 12-spot in the order, Pat Corliss has had huge hits to turn the lineup over and may be one of the best 12-bats in the tournament with his seven RBI. Ryan Donnelly and Cole Warner make an excellent one-two punch, combining to strikeout 83 over 60+ innings. The team boasts six shutout victories, including a 10-0 elimination game rout of Pennsylvania power Newtown-Edgmont. This lineup may be one of the most well constructed in the tournament, as even the lowest averages in the lineup are still at or over .300. From one to twelve, opposing pitching and defenses will not get a break.
You can read and see much more about this East Side squad on our site and Instagram, as LSV Sports participated in broadcasts of the PA state tournament.
Northwest
SoundView(Tacoma, WA)
Record: 13-2
Miles from South Williamsport: 2,675
W 10-0 v Auburn
W 10-2 v Chinook
W 10-0 v South Hill
W 12-0 v South Hill(District title)
W 5-1 v West Seattle
L 3-0 v Gig Harbor
W 9-0 v Kirkland
W 11-0 v Lake Stevens
W 5-2 v Richland
W 5-0 v Gig Harbor
W 4-1 v Gig Harbor(state title)
W 5-3 v Bend North(OR)
L 9-3 v West Valley(ID)
W 8-2 v Bend North(OR)
W 8-5 v West Valley(ID)(Northwest title)
Outscore opponents: 105-28; 7-1.9 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .359/1.60
Players to Watch: Kasen Workman – .529, 7RBI, 2K—16.0IP, 30K; Frankie McCabe – .611, 9RBI, 2HR, 4K—23.1IP, 10H, 4ER, 52K; Paxton Hansen – 13RBI, 2HR—10.0IP, 2ER; Winston Weaver – 14RBI—24.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 41K
Just getting out of the district could have been a challenge for SoundView. After all, three of the last five Washington state champions have come from District 10 in Booney Lake and South Hill. But SoundView cruised through its district by a combined score of 42-2 and marched onward through the state and through San Bernardino to become the sixth straight Washington team to represent the Northwest at South Williamsport.
SoundView features another lineup with a strong bottom of the order, making every bat a dangerous one. In the opening two games of districts, Quinn Herchold racked up three quick RBI to move himself up the lineup for a bit. Then we turn our attention to the top of the order and Kasen Workman, who cleared the bases with a double against South Hill. Paxton Hansen added a 2-run home run in that first meeting. Frankie McCabe knocked a grand slam out in their second meeting, a 12-0 rout, while Winston Weaver, the RBI leader for this team, chased in three runs. After losing a game in states to Gig Harbor, the team responded with a 9-0 rout of Kirkland. In that game, the bottom third of the lineup went 4/8 with 3RBI. SoundView then posted its fifth shutout of the postseason, rocking Lake Stevens 11-0. Hansen socked a 3-run home run to open the scoring in that game and Smith Huteson brought in three more on two hits. Weaver had another big game against Richland, with a 3-run home run and RBI hit.
The team exacted revenge in back to back games against Gig Harbor to win the state title, and it was in regionals where the players’ combined efforts continued to shine.
In the opening victory over Oregon, McCabe and Weaver combined to strikeout 12 batters. SoundView rallied in the final two innings from down 3-0 to take the victory. After falling to Idaho 9-3, the team again rallied from potential elimination and got by Oregon 8-2. Weaver pitched four innings of one-run ball and Tyler Landry closed out the final two frames allowing only a hit and pair of walks. McCabe got the start in the title game against Idaho and struck out ten while his team jumped ahead 6-0 after two innings.
This is an aggressive team at the plate, and they do strike out at a high clip, but they know how to rally after defeat and they know how to jump out quickly on teams. If they get out to an early lead at Williamsport, watch for this lineup to look like a machine, as any given day, any one of them can be the hero. SoundView is a battle tested squad and will begin play at South Williamsport against Alabama on Wednesday afternoon.
New England
Bridgewater Joe Lazaro LL(Bridgewater, MA)
Record: 13-2
Miles from South Williamsport: 404
W 7-4 v Middleboro
W 13-2 v Barnstable
W 10-9 v Plymouth(7)
W 4-3 v Middleboro(District title)
W 10-8 v Taunton East
L 14-2 v Hingham
W 8-3 v Shrewsbury
W 3-0 v Hingham(Section title)
W 15-14 v Pittsfield(7)
L 5-2 v Parkway
W 6-0 v Pittsfield
W 11-0 v Parkway(State title)
W 7-0 v Gray/New Gloucester(ME)
W 11-1 v Camels Hump(VT)
W 8-0 v Gray/New Gloucester(ME)(New England title)
Outscore opponents: 117-63; 7.8-4.2 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .378/2.11
Players to Watch: Dominik Mombeleur – .677, 26RBI, 8HR—33.0IP 3ER, 20BB, 69K; Luke Schaltz-20.0IP, 5ER, 15K; Jude DiSimone-.607, 13RBI; Callan Goodwin-12RBI; Anthony Sullivan-11RBI, 2HR
Bridgewater Joe Lazaro Little League may have battled through some of the closest games of any team to reach Williamsport this season. Consider that their district opener and title game came against Middleboro, the New England champion program of 2022.
Let’s go ahead and address him now. The Dominator. If you’ve taken any time so far to check in on the regional tourmaments, you’ve already got some familiarity with Dominik Mombeleur, one of the best bats and pitchers in the country, hands down. He’s struck out 69 in 33 innings and only given up three earned runs. With the stick, he’s smacked eight homers and knocked in 26 runs. Not surprisingly, he’s also earned himself ten free passes.
Back to some of those big games. In the district opener, Mombeleur hit his first postseason home run and knocked in another on a double as Bridgewater built a 7-0 lead early and hung on through a late Middleboro rally. Callan Goodwin brought home two runs in that contest, as well. Goodwin then accounted for the walk off winner against Plymouth with a seventh inning RBI single to right that gave Bridgewater a 10-9 victory. That game also saw Anthony Sullivan go 3/3 with a 3-run home run, putting his team up 9-4 at the time.
In a rematch with Middleboro, Luke Schaltz struck out four over the final two innings to hold on for a 4-3 victory. A 3-3 tie was broken in the fourth when Mombeleur went yard once again. Schaltz combined with Sullivan to strikeout a total of 13. In section 2 play, Bridgewater was mercy ruled in five innings by Hingham, but took second place in pool play and faced them again in the section championship game. This time, Cam Hutchinson and Mombeleur combined on a one-hitter with six strikeouts and overcame nine walks as part of a 3-0 win. Hingham loaded the bases in the first inning, but solid defense by Calvin McGough and Hutchinson wiped away the scoring chance. In the third inning, Mombeleur earned a huge strikeout to also leave the bases full.
Then came one of those wild Little League games, as Bridgewater got by Pittsfield 15-14in the opening round of states. Only four of Pittsfield’s runs were earned, thanks to nine walks, a hit by pitch and five Bridgewater errors. But they overcame it all and pulled out the win in seven innings. RJ Zackrison, Jude DiSimone and Goodwin strung together RBI hits in the extra frame. The bottom third of the order in JJ Gaff, Eamon Hynes and McGough went 4/8 with 5RBI.
Following a 5-2 loss to Pakrway, Mombeleur was called upon in an elimination game against Pittsfield. He threw a complete game two-hitter with seven strikeouts. DiSimone batted in three runs in the 6-0 win. Like other teams in this tournament, the squad then met Pakrway and exacted bigtime revenge, shutting them out in the state title game 11-0. Zackrison threw the complete game on 61 pitches, giving up six hits. Goodman and Mombeleur accounted for 3RBI each.
The team then ripped through the New England region by a combined score of 26-1. Mombeleur went yard for a 3-run shot against Maine and struck out 12. Luke Schaltz threw a one-hitter against Vermont and Mombeleur finished things off with 14 more Ks in the title game against Maine. And that was that.
Now the stage gets as big as it can, as Bridgewater opens up in LLWS play in primetime Wednesday night against Bayonne, NJ. The two teams were able to see each other play at Bristol.
Midwest
Davenport Northwest, IA
Record: 14-1
Miles from South Williamsport: 772
W 9-4 v North Scott
L 9-6 v Davenport Southeast
W 8-3 v North Scott
W 3-2 v Davenport Southeast
W 12-1 v Davenport Southeast(district title)
W 10-2 v Urbandale
W 12-0 v Ottumwa
W 10-7 v Le Mars
W 5-1 v Grandview
W 22-1 v Mahaska County
W 3-0 v Grandview(state title)
W 13-0 v Fargo(ND)
W 6-5 v Sioux Falls(SD)
W 11-6 v Daniel Boone(MO)
W 7-6 v Whitefish Bay(WI)(Midwest title)
Outscore opponents: 137-47; 9.1-3.1 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .343/1.68
Players to Watch: Cooper Thissen 23/37 29R 16RBI 6BB 2K 6HR–21.2IP 2H 0ER 6BB 55K; Anthony Johnson Jr 17/30 21R 16RBI 12BB 2K 6HR; Kannon Kane 19/37 19R 17RBI 5BB 3K 3HR–15.1IP 14H 4ER 5BB 20K; Caleb Erwin 15/37 11R 21RBI 4BB 5K HR
Talk about a top of the lineup with some pop in the bat. Davenport Northwest boasts one of the most powerful string of four batters you’ll see in central Pennsylvania this coming week. Copper Thissen, Anthony Johnson, Kannon Kane and Caleb Erwin have combined for 70RBI and 16 home runs in the All-Star season. The rest of the lineup has combined for 43. Cooper Thissen is one of those names you’ve already heard if you watched the regionals. His six postseason home runs and 55Ks over 21.2 innings pitched marks him as one of the best that will play at Lamade in 2026. Not a single earned run has scored against him yet. Kane offers a similar effort, with a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio over 15 innings thrown.
Davenport Northwest makes its first trip to South Williamsport since back to back Midwest titles in 2004 and 2005. Right out of the gate, the squad had to handle rival Davenspourt Southeast, who made the trip to PA in 2022. After dispatching North Scott in the district opener, a game in which Kane went 3/3 with 2RBI, it was on to those rivals. Five errors, five walks and two HBPs gave Southeast the win and sent Northwest to the elimination bracket just two games into the all-star season. After defeating North Scott again, Northwest needed to beat Southeast twice to advance. The first game was a nailbiter. Johnson’s 2-run blast in the first inning was countered in the fourth with a pair of Southeast runs that tied the game. Thissen’s solo shot in the bottom of the fourth was the difference, as Thissen and Johnson each struck out the side in the final two innings to force the if-necessary game. That one was full steam ahead for Northwest. Kane hit a grand slam in the 12-1 rout and pitched three innings of four-hit ball. Caleb Erwin went 2/2 with 2RBI, as well.
The offense exploded in the state tournament, as Davenport NW went 5-0 through pool play. Against Ottumwa, that vaunted top four knocked in eight of twelve runs. Johnson and Thissen both went yard in a competitive 10-7 victory over Le Marsand Logan Chantos also chased home three runs. Against Grandview in a 5-1 pool win, Kane and Thissen combined to strikeout 15. The two teams matched up again in the state title and Thissen struck out 13 in a no-hitter. Johnson added a solo shot in the 3-0 win.
Thissen then took his talents to the Midwest region and struck out 11 against Fargo. Some run production came from the middle of the order, with Xavier Ludtke and Jaxon Rasso getting a 2RBI hit each to go with another home run for Johnson. Errors and walks plagued Davenport in their next game against Sioux Falls, but they again persevered for a one run win.
Then came one of the oddest regional championship games of the summer. It was a walk-fest for both sides as 24 combined free passes were issued in a 7-6 game that featured only eight hits. Nineteen of twenty-one outs recorded by Davenport came by the strikeout(13 by Thissen and six by Johnson). Johnson scored the game winner in the seventh inning on a passed ball after Kane had singled home Thissen for the tying score. The win denied Wisconsin its first ever trip to the World Series.
Now the test will be to see if these big bats can keep their strength in Williamsport. If they do, and the pitching holds strong, Davenport could make a deep run. They will get a stiff test to begin when they face California Thursday night.
Mountain
Paseo Verde Little League(Henderson, NV)
Record: 10-0
Miles from South Williamsport: 2,368
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .386/1.82
W 12-1 v Moapa Valley
W 8-5 v Henderson
W 3-0 v Boulder City
W 7-0 v Henderson(district title)
W 17-7 v Spring Valley
W 19-0 v Reno National
W 5-2 v Spring Valley(State title)
W 12-0 v Laramie(WY)
W 4-3 v Lone Peak(UT)
W 9-2 v Billings Big Sky(MT)(Mountain title)
Outscore opponents: 96-20; 9.6-2 per game
Players to Watch: Owen Guzman-.400, 5RBI, HR—13.0IP, 5H, 3ER, 11BB, 24K; Brooks McFarland-12RBI, HR—5.0IP, 2BB 10K; Payton Hinsen—18.0IP, 5ER, 5BB, 17K
Paseo Verde may have one of the most disciplined lineups in this tournament. The stat of the week is that this entire batting order struck out just five times in three regional games combined. They boast four shutouts in ten games played. This is also a program that has recent history in Williamsport, representing the Mountain region in 2024.
This is also a team that has only allowed 20 total runs, and seven of those came against Spring Valley in the state tournament. With a smaller sample size of games and true balance in the lineup, statistically, PVLL doesn’t standout on paper. But, all of the pieces are there. From a lineup that features high averages throughout, including the bottom third, to pitching that has consistently performed, allowing more than three runs just twice. The Paseo Verde pitching staff should be well rested, as Payton Hinsen has thrown the most innings(18).
The road to Williamsport began back in districts with a dominant win over Moapa Valley. Maddox Bryan, Brooks McFarland and Logan Edwards combined to strikeout 11 opposing batters. Brooks and Maddox each produced 2RBI hits, helping the squad at the plate. The lineup remained balance in an 8-5 win over Henderson, as seven different players recorded an RBI. Owen Guzman and Hinsen each pitched three innings and combined for eight Ks. Hudson Cowley proved another excellent arm available to Nevada, as he struck out nine over 4.2 innings against Boulder City. Hinsen gave his team a complete game five-hitter with seven strikeouts in the district title against Henderson. Guzman and Jace Ward each launched solo shots in that one.
You might think that in their game against Spring Valley to open states, that Paseo was challenged a bit. However, before giving up seven runs late, they staked themselves to a 14-0 lead after three, narrowly missing the mercy rule. McFarland Bryan each contributed 3-run home runs. In a 19-0 drubbing of Reno National, ten players recorded RBI, including three from 12-hole batter Carsynn Meyer.
After claiming the Navda state title against Spring Valley, PVLL charged through the Mountain region. Wyoming managed only one hit against the combination of Theo Bingham, McFarland and Bryan, while the middle six of the order batted in at least a run each. Against Utah, Nevada faced adversity and came away with a 4-3 victory in seven innings. Hinsen scored on a wild pitch and Logan Edwards recorded the final strikeout of the game to lift Paseo Verde.
PVLL will begin play Thursday afternoon against Hamilton, OH.
Metro
Bayoone, NJ
Record: 13-0
Miles from South Williamsport: 190
W 5-0 v Roberto Clemente
W 5-1 v Seacaucus
W 12-6 v Hoboken
W 11-1 v Seacaucus(district title)
W 12-1 v Palisades Park/Leonia
W 12-0 v Rutherford
W 13-3 v Rutherford(section title)
W 12-1 v Nottingham
W 7-0 v Blackwood Kiwanis
W 9-3 v Blackwood Kiwanis(state title)
W 8-2 v Darien(CT)
W 12-2 v Port Washington(NY)
W 8-6 v Darien(CT)(Metro title)
Outscore opponents: 126-26; 9.7-2 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .390/1.43
Players to Watch: Mason Rincon–.714, 20RBI, 7HR—21.2IP, 2ER, 7BB, 43K; Gabriel Garcia Jr–.500, 7RBI; Chase Kumkowski–.500, 12RBI, HR—29.1IP, 14BB, 42K; Owen Feliz .516 20R 13RBI 6BB 4K 3HR
Bayonne is making its first trip to the Little League World Series after claiming the New Jersey and Metro titles in high-scoring fashion. This New Jersey team has scored double digits in seven of thirteen games and is bolstered by a very top-heavy lineup. Mason Rincon immediately draws eyeballs, with his .714 average and seven homers. But he is one of seven in this lineup who has hit the long ball and one of three that has done it multiple times. Jett Bridges and Owen Feliz join him as longball threats and RBI machines(16 and 13 respectively).
Bayonne does have a notably smaller pool of pitchers used so far this summer, at only four seeing time on the mound. Chase Kumkowski has been the anchor, joined by Rincon. Together, those two have thrown 76% of all innings for this staff. If this team loses early, it could be a challenge to manage pitching, but that is a problem this squad hasn’t had to face yet, remaining undefeated to this point.
Mason Rincon showed off his arm in the district opener, no-hitting Roberto Clemente and striking out 12. Chase Kumkowski had the big hit of Bayonne’s four total, a 2RBI single. Kumkowski then tossed a one-hitter and struck out seven against Seacaucus. Connor Oliva and Owen Feliz started to highlight the power in this lineup, each sending a 2-run home run over the fence. Rincon and Gabriel Garcia Jr. combined to K 11 in a shutout of Hoboken. In that game, Feliz, Bridges and Brayden Gaitan all hit the long ball, totaling 8RBI. With a district title on the line, it was back to Kumkowski on the mound and this time he struckout ten Seacaucus batters in a one-hit effort.
The team cruised through their three section games by a combined count of 37-4. At states, the three game scoring was 28-4. In the state title game against Blackwood, Bayonne mashed six home runs. The big numbers continued all the way through regionals. Darien, Connecticut opted to walk Rincon to load the bases in the fifth inning of the championship game, holding a 6-4 lead. Owen Feliz made them pay with a 2RBI game-tying double both Bridges and Kumkowski tacked on RBI hits for the 8-6 victory and berth at the LLWS.
Bayonne will face Bridgewater, MA in primetime Wednesday night.
West
Sweetwater Valley(Bonita, CA)
Record: 15-1
Miles from South Williamsport: 2,609
W 11-2 v Chula Vista
W 7-1 v South Bay
W 7-2 v Park View
L 7-6 v Park View
W 6-0 v Park View(District title)
W 10-0 v Fletcher Hills
W 10-0 v Encanto
W 11-1 v Imperial(Section title)
W 2-0 v Golden Hill
W 6-0 v Goleta Valley South
W 2-1 v Encino
W 2-1 v Glendora American
W 9-0 v Encino(SoCal title)
W 16-4 v San Ramon Valley(CA)
W 6-0 v Kawaihau(HI)
W 11-3 v Kawaihau(HI)(West title)
Outscore opponents: 122-22; 7.6-1.4 per game
Team Batting Avg/Team ERA: .333/1.18
Players to Watch: Noah Kirk–.564, 19RBI, 1K, 5HR—40IP, 7ER, 9BB, 68K; Isaac Ramirez Aguirre—18RBI, 5HR—26.1IP, 31K; Grant Mielke—15RBI, 3HR; Leo Gonzales-14R, 9RBI, 3HR
Sweetwater Valley, located about ten miles southeast of San Diego, brings a lot of everything to the table. A lot of power, with 17 home runs. A lot of pitching, with a staff ERA of 1.18 and 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio. A lot of balance, as ten batters have at least 5RBI this summer. And a lot of discipline, committing only 11 errors in 16 games.
The road to Williamsport began way back in District 42 play against Chula Vista. Leo Gonzales and Jesus Cuadra went back-to-back, belly-to-belly with early home runs. Tempe Tran knocked in two more with a sharp hit into right, giving key insurance runs at the time. Ramirez Aguirre went the first 4.2 innings and gave up a couple of runs but struck out five. A third inning grand slap by Ramirez Aguirre kept the train rolling against South Bay. This was the first look at Noah Kirk, who struck out ten in a two-hitter. He would become a summer workhorse for Sweetwater. He went on to pitch a complete game against Park View, piling up 11 more Ks. The offense exploded for four home runs, culminating with Kirk’s 3-run shot in the fifth.
Park View then became the only tram to defeat Sweetwater to this point, pushing a run across in the seventh inning to force an if-game. In the decisive battle, Julian Sevilla got the start on the mound and threw a complete game shutout with 6Ks. He also batted in three runs, while Kirk added another home run to his totals.
Sweetwater Valley wrapped up its three sectional games in a total of 13 innings, winning three times by the mercy rule over Encanto, Fletcher Hills and Imperial. In the three games, the pitching staff allowed a total of six hits and the offense produced four more home runs.
Things got down to the nitty-gritty in states, with several close contests. The first was a 2-0 win over Golden Hill, in which Kirk threw another complete game with 12Ks. Asher Giglio delivered the only RBI hit of that game. Ramirez Aguirre kept the stellar pitching machine rolling along, throwing 5.1 innings of three-hit ball against Goleta Valley. Sebastian Pino got his game going, tacking on a 2RBI hit for added insurance late.
In the winners bracket semifinal, two first inning runs on Leo Gonzales’ home run stood up for a 2-1 win over Encino. Grant Meilke’s RBI hit against Glendora American gave Sweetwater a 1-0 lead that they also hung on to for a 2-1 win. Gonzales recorded two strikeouts after the leadoff Glendora batter reached on a hit by pitch. Noah Kirk helped ensure the Southern California title game had less drama, as he finished out 5.1 innings giving up only two hits and striking out seven.
Ramirez Aguirre took care of Hawai’i in the regional semifinal, throwing a one-hitter. He then put the finishing touches on the region with his exclamation point of a grand slam against the same team.
Sweetwater Valley begins their LLWS quest on Thursday night against Davenport Northwest, Iowa.
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