News

Baseball Australia has confirmed the locations for Little League National Championship Events for a three-year cycle between 2027-2029.

The four national championship events will continue to serve as entry to some of the most prestigious youth sporting tournaments in the world, with each Australian champion earning direct entry to their respective World Series event in the United States.

Little League Baseball is one of the world’s largest and most participated youth sports programs, involving millions of players across more than 80 countries and regions each year.

For Australian teams, the opportunity to represent their community and country on the international stage remains one of the sport’s most unique experiences.

The successful host clubs were selected following an extensive application process, with Baseball Australia receiving numerous expressions of interest and formal submissions from clubs and associations across the country. The next hosting application process will open in 2028.

The three-year hosting cycle provides certainty for local organisers and allows host clubs, associations, and state bodies to strategically plan, invest, and enhance their events over time.

The championships are spread across four different states and four different clubs during the cycle, showing off the strength of grassroots and community baseball.

The venues are:
– Senior League Championships: Glenelg Tigers and Adelaide Angels (SA)
– Junior League Championships: Pine Hills Lightning (QLD)
– Intermediate League Championships: Knox Falcons (VIC)
– Little League Championships: Blacktown International Sports Park (NSW)

Ryde Red stayed composed in an intense Gold Medal Game on Monday afternoon in Sydney.

Watch the highlights and read the recap with all the stats below.

DAY 6 RESULTS – MONDAY 8 JUNE

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Gold Medal

– Ryde Red 9 def Central Firebirds 3 | Replay |

Ryde win the Championship and advance to the Little League World Series 

Consolation Games

– Bronze Medal: Adelaide Marlins 5 def Eastern Phantoms 1

– Canberra 13 def NT Buffaloes 4
– Brisbane North 10 def Melbourne Athletic s0
– Brisbane Metro 5 def Cronulla Black 4
– Ryde Black 3 def Melbourne Rangers 0

RECAPS

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GOLD MEDAL | Ryde Red hold their nerve to book Williamsport berth

Ryde Red are heading to Williamsport.

In front of a packed grandstand at Blacktown International Sportspark, Ryde Red defeated Central Firebirds 9-3 in Monday’s Australian Little League Championship Gold Medal Game, securing Australia’s place at the 2026 Little League World Series in Pennsylvania this August.

Watch the Replay: Ryde Red 9 def Central Firebirds 3

The scoreline tells part of the story. The composure shown by Ryde Red tells the rest.

It was a different environment than a typical baseball game these 10-12 year olds would be used to.

A 10-minute pre-game ceremony saw every player individually introduced to the crowd. Music echoed throughout the stadium. A live anthem singer delivered the national anthem. Nearly 1,000 spectators packed the venue, including dozens of fellow Little Leaguers who spent the afternoon chanting and cheering from the grandstands.

With a trip to the most famous tournament in youth baseball on the line, the pressure was immense.

Ryde’s response was calm, cool and collected.

The Firebirds threatened immediately in the top of the first. Ashton Fisher, Flynn Kalin and Jacob Krawec all collected hits as Central loaded the bases with one out against Ryde starter Hikaru Kaneko.

The right-hander never blinked.

Kaneko induced an infield fly before winning a tense nine-pitch battle for strike three to escape the inning unscathed.

It proved to be one of the defining moments of the championship game.

Moments later, Ryde struck.

Riley Fury opened the scoring with an RBI triple before Kaneko helped his own cause with a run-scoring single. Jasper Pearse delivered the biggest blow of the inning, lining a two-run double with the bases loaded as Ryde surged to a 5-0 advantage.

It was a composed response to one of the most emotionally challenging innings of the tournament.

Defence became the story in the second when Cormac Dillon produced an unassisted double play to erase another Firebirds threat.

Central Firebirds showed their guts and refused to go away.

Flynn Kalin delivered a clutch two-run triple in the third inning to cut the deficit to 5-2, before another run crossed on a wild pitch in the fourth.

Suddenly the Firebirds had life.

The momentum had shifted but Ryde never panicked.

With two runners aboard and two outs in the third, manager Paul Jones turned to Edin Becirevic out of the bullpen.

The reliever delivered one of the gutsiest outings of the championship. Becirevic worked 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and one run while not issuing a single walk.
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The championship was effectively sealed in the fifth inning.

Ryde loaded the bases before Kaneko dropped a soft liner into centre field to score two runs and collect his second and third RBI of the afternoon. Frederick Loats followed with an RBI single as Ryde scored four times in the inning to stretch the lead to 9-3.

The Firebirds mounted one final challenge in the sixth, placing two runners aboard with one out.

Becirevic remained calm.

Two routine fly balls later, gloves were in the air and Ryde Red were celebrating a trip to Williamsport.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” manager Paul Jones said. “The last couple games our bats really lit up. We kept the pressure on, we got base runners on, our pitchers did the job. It was unbelievable.”

For the players, the reality of what they had achieved was still sinking in.

“I was very stressed and very nervous, but I’m happy to be going to Williamsport,” Kobe Bosman said after recording the final out – something his cousin did just five years prior.

The victory caps a perfect championship run for Ryde Red and sends them to the Little League World Series, where they will represent Australia on one of the biggest stages in youth sport. It’s the first time a Ryde team has advanced to the marquee Little League series event.

PLAYERS: Jayden Lee, Frederick Loats, Calum Lesser, Riley Fury, Nicholas Robson, Aaron Dare, Kobe Bosman, Hikaru Kaneko, Daniel Warwick, Cormac Dillon, Jasper Pearse. COACHES: Paul Jones (Manager), Ryan Fury, Andrew Ross. EO: Matt Pearse.

RYDE RED

Hits: D. Warwick (2), H. Kaneko (2), R. Fury, J. Lee, E. Becirevic, F. Loats, J. Pearse, C. Dillon

RBI: H. Kaneko (3), J. Pearse (2), J. Pearse (2), R. Fury (1), E. Becirevic (1), F. Loats (1)

Pitching:
– H. Kaneko — 2.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
– E. Becirevic (W) — 3.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS
Hits: K. Ogilvie (2), H. Welten (2), A. Fisher, F. Kalin, J. Krawec, B. Saban-Smithers, K. Aizlewood, V. Buckley
RBI: F. Kalin (2)

Pitching:
– C. Moffat (L) — 2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
– K. Aizlewood — 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO
– K. Ogilvie — 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

BRONZE MEDAL | Hunter Ung strikes out 13 as Marlins claim 5-1 bronze medal win over the Eastern Phantoms

Hunter Ung and the Adelaide Marlins needed just 68 minutes to defeat the Eastern Phantoms and win a bronze medal at the 2026 Australian Little League Championships.

Ung, the Marlins’ starter, pitched like he had somewhere to be. He allowed just four hits and a run over 6.0 innings, striking out an equal tournament-high 13 batters and walked none. Of the 74 pitches he threw, 59 were for strikes.

Darcy Brewis also had a solid start for the Phantoms. All five of his runs were unearned. He threw 5.0 innings, allowing seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

The Phantoms struck first off a fielder’s choice in the first.

Cameron Majewski tied the game at one on the bottom of the inning, and later took the lead off an error.

Hunter Ung and Connor Maidment both had RBI to push the Adelaide lead to 4-1 in the fifth. Cooper Kenny doubled in Adelaide’s fifth and final run in the fifth.

Congratulations to the Marlins on winning bronze!

ADELAIDE MARLINS

Hits: C. Majewski (2), C. Kenny (2), O. Patman, W. Cox, C. Maidment
RBI: H. Ung (1), C. Maidment (1), O. Patman (1), C. Kenny (1)

Pitching:
– H. Ung — 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: N. Rowland, D. Brewis, L. Kendall, A. Kelly
RBI: J. McCay (1)

Pitching:
– D. Brewis — 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO

CONSOLATION | Evan Grobler nearly perfect, sets new tournament high in strikeouts, in big Brisbane North win

Evan Grobler’s stat line is something to behold.

5.0 IP | 0 H| 0 BB | 0 R | 14 SO

It wasn’t quite perfect because the Athletics had a base runner off a dropped third strike and an error.

Still, an amazing effort in Brisbane North’s 10-0 win.

Grobler finishes the tournament with 27 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. He’s only 11 and eligible to return to next year.

Oh, he also hit an inside-the-park home run.

Meanwhile, Brisbane North scored in four of the five innings. Porter Cox and Averey Griffin each had two hits. Griffin drove in a pair.

BRISBANE NORTH

Hits: A. Griffin (2), P. Cox (2), H. Lokeni, E. Grobler, M. Fogg, C. Black, J. Young
RBI: A. Griffin (2), E. Grobler (2), H. Lokeni (1), P. Cox (1), T. Hession (1), A. Gaskell (1)

HR: E. Grobler

Pitching:
– E. Grobler — 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 14 SO

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits: None

Pitching:
– M. Keane — 2.0 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
– S-Q. Yang — 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO

CONSOLATION | Canberra score nine unanswered runs after breaking tie vs NT Buffaloes

The NT Buffaloes fought hard to rally and score three runs in the third to tie the game up at four.

Canberra responded instantly, scoring five in the fourth and four in the last to run away with a 13-4 win.

Eddie Tudor and Layton Kowert led the team with the bats and on the mound. They combined to allow just one hit between them. They both had two hits at the plate.

Kaylan Herath had a pair of RBI. It’s Canberra’s third win of the tournament.

CANBERRA RANGERS

Hits: E. Tunningley (2), L. Kowert (2), K. Herath, L. McIntyre, T. Tudor, T. Matavesi, D. Hurley
RBI: K. Herath (2), L. McIntyre (1), T. Tudor (1), L. Kowert (1), T. Jenkins (1)

Pitching:
– T. Tudor — 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 4 SO
– L. Kowert — 4.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

NT BUFFALOES

Hits: C. Brown (1)

Pitching:
– B. Derr — 3.1 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
–  W. George — 2.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO

CONSOLATION | Ryde Black shutout Melbourne Rangers in fast moving gam

Ryde Black needed just 66 minutes to shut down the Melbourne Rangers.

Haruki Sawa tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just six hits and no walks. He struck out three while trusting his defense behind him.

Liam Punch had a two-RBI double in the top of the third to put Ryde Black up 2-0. Ned Fernie led the way with two hits.

Archie Watt-Sinclair had two hits for the Rangers.

RYDE BLACK

Hits: N. Fernie (2), L. Punch, A. Post, H. Sawa, I. Choi, J. Melhem, K. Komine
RBI: L. Punch (2), M. Chamberlain (1)

Pitching:
– H. Sawa (W) — 6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

MELBOURNE RANGERS
Hits: A. Watt-Sinclair (2), H. Duncan, J. Sambell, E. Andrzejewski, H. Reenan

Pitching:
–  J. Sambell (L) — 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
–  A. Watt-Sinclair — 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

CONSOLATION | Brisbane Metro win it extra innings despite giving up four run lead

Despite seeing a four-run lead disappear, Brisbane Metro held off Cronulla Black by scoring a winning run in the final inning of a 5-4 consolation game.

It was scoreless until the fourth. Then, Axel Holmstrom, Toby Sheeran and Anderson Wild drove in runs to take a 4-0 lead.

Cronulla Black pieced together a great rally in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of walks and errors to tie the game at four.

Toby Sheeran then singled home a run in the top of the first extra inning.

Ari Holmstrom shut the door to win it 5-4.

It’s semi-final Sunday in Sydney.

Today two teams will book a spot in the 2026 Australian Little League Championship game where they will take their shot at winning it all and advancing to the Little League World Series.

Want to know how we got here? Here’s the recap story from the last day of Pool Play.

Catch up on today’s recaps, stats, highlights and results below.

Watch live on Baseball+ and follow on GameChanger.

DAY 5 SCHEDULE – SUNDAY 7 JUNE

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SEMI-FINALS, watch replays on Baseball+

– Ryde Red 4 def Adelaide Marlins 0

– Central Firebirds 9 def Eastern Phantoms 2

Ryde Red and Central Firebirds advance to Gold Medal Game at 1:30PM AEST on Baseball+.

CONSOLATION

– Brisbane North 11 def Northern Territory 0
– Canberra Rangers 7 def Melbourne Athletics 3
– Cronulla Black 10 def Ryde Black 0
– Melbourne Rangers 4 def Brisbane Metro 3 (Extras)

Live Scoring: GameChanger | Watch on Baseball+ 

MONDAY SCHEDULE: Click here.

SEMI FINAL RECAPS

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RYDE RED 4 def ADELAIDE MARLINS 0 | Aaron Dare tosses complete game, one-hit shutout to send Ryde to the final

Aaron Dare was nearly perfect. He had to be. There were only two hits combined across the entire game.

The Ryde starting pitcher threw all 6.0 innings, allowing just one hit with an equal tournament high 13 strikeouts.

It was an all-time performance that moves Ryde Red just one win away from going to the Little League World Series.

He was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Adelaide starter Cameron Majewski.

It was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Scrappy Warwick dropped in sacrifice fly. The eventual winning run slid into home, narrowly avoiding a tag and staging off an epic throwing attempt by the Adelaide centrefielder.

1-0.

Majewski didn’t concede a hit until the top of the fifth inning, when a bases-loaded single from Frederick Loats drove in an insurance run.

Ryde added two more runs to push the score to 4-0 thanks to errors.

Ryde will now play the winner of Eastern Phantoms and Central Firebirds in the Gold Medal Game on Monday afternoon.

Adelaide will play in the bronze.

RYDE RED

Hits (1): F. Loats
RBI: Loats, Warwick

Pitching:
– A. Dare: 6.0 IP, 0 ER 1 H, 0 BB, 13 S

ADELAIDE MARLINS

Hits (1): Hunter Ung
Pitching:
– C. Majewski: 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 9 SO
– M. Guo: 0.1 IP, 1 SO

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS 9 def EASTERN PHANTOMS 2 | FIREBIRDS SCORE EXPLODE OUT THE GATE, HOLD ON TO ADVANCE TO GOLD MEDAL GAME

The Central Firebirds piled on six runs in the bottom of the first inning and held on from there to book their spot in the Gold Medal Game.

Starting pitcher Jacob Krawec factored heavily into this one. He went the distance. More on him later.

Let’s talk about the absolute dream start for the Western Australians.

Krawec needed just nine pitches to retire their cross-state rivals in the top of the first inning. The offense used the momentum to catapult ahead.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, Declan Strain, Harrison Welton, and Vincent Buckley ripped off a string of three hits to drive in six runs and place the Firebirds firmly in control.

They added two more in the third, large in part to a triple to Kai Ogilvie.

The Phantoms dented the scoreboard in the fifth after starting the inning with three hits. Ollie Duck drove in one on a sacrifice fly and Mitch Renwick scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 8-2.

The Firebirds added an extra insurance run off a passed ball in the bottom of the fifth

Krawec remained steady on the mound. He tossed a complete 6.0 inning game, allowing five hits, two runs and no walks with 10 strikeouts.  Just 24 hours earlier, Krawec delivered the walk-off winning hit to send the Firebirds to the finals.

Kai Aizlewood and Harry Welton led the Firebirds with two hits apiece. Ashton Westwood and Lachlan Kendall had two hits for the Phantoms.

The Firebirds advance to Monday afternoon’s Gold Medal Game against Ryde Red. The Phantoms will play for bronze on Monday morning vs the Marlins.

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS

Hits: H. Welten (2), K. Aizlewood (2), A. Fisher, F. Kalin, K. Ogilvie, D. Strain, V. Buckley

RBI: B. Saban-Smith (2), D. Strain (2), H. Welten (2), K. Ogilvie, B. Price, V. Buckley

3B: A. Fisher, K. Ogilvie

Pitching:
– J. Krawec — 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: L. Kendall (2), A. Westwood (2), M. Renwick
RBI: O. Duck (1)

Pitching:
– N. Rowland — 1.0 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO
– A. Kelly — 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO

DAY 5 RECAPS – CONSOLATION

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BRISBANE NORTH 11 def NT BUFFALOES 0 | Averey Griffin homers twice in Brisbane North win

Averey Griffin had a day to remember.

The Brisbane North slugger hit two homers – one over the fence and one inside the park – in an 11-0 win.

Griffin drove in five runs and his big fly is the only hit to clear the fence this week.

His inside-the-park homer was the swing that pushed the game to 11-0.

Brisbane North also dominated on the mound. 14 of their 15 outs were via the strikeout.

Porter Cox struck out 11 in 4.0 shutout innings, conceding just one hit. Evan Grobler struck out three in the win.

NT BUFFALOES

Hits: B. Derr

Pitching:
– C. Brown — 3.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 7 SO
– T. Brown — 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

BRISBANE NORTH

Hits: P. Cox, T. Lyall (2), A. Griffin (2), T. Hession, E. Grobler (2)
RBI: T. Lyall (2), A. Griffin (5), E. Grobler

Pitching:
– E. Grobler — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
– P. Cox — 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 SO

CANBERRA RANGERS 7 def MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 3 | Lincoln McIntyre strikes out 11 in Canberra’s second win

Lincoln McIntyre struck out 11 batters over 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and one unearned run.

It helped propel a steady Canberra offensive effort. They scored runs in four of five innings, including three in the second that helped erase a 2-0 deficit.

Tom Jenkins drove in a pair to lead all players, while Chase Hackett and Kaylan Harath drew three walks.

CANBERRA RANGERS

Hits: T. Tudor, H. Kerns, T. Jenkins, T. Matavesi, L. Kowert

RBI: H. Kerns, B. MacDonald, T. Jenkins (2)
Pitching:
– L. McIntyre — 4.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 SO
– B. MacDonald — 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits: S. Yang, L. Giles, L. Lidgett
RBI: L. Lidgett

Pitching:
– O. Allen — 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 SO
– A. Neill — 2.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 8 BB, 5 SO
– L. Giles — 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO

MELBOURNE RANGERS 4 def BRISBANE METRO 3 | Carter McGowan goes off as Rangers score extra-innings walk-off win

Brisbane Metro and Melbourne Rangers played out a thriller on Sunday afternoon. Archie Watt-Sinclair scored on a Carter McGowan ground ball to walk-it-off.

Moments earlier McGowan pitched a nervy top of the extra inning, keeping Metro scoreless despite inheriting a courtesy runner.

McGowan threw all 7.0 innings, allowing seven hits with no walks and three unearned runs.

Brisbane Metro opened the scoring in the top of the fourth thanks to a pair of errors. 2-0.

The Rangers scored three in the bottom of the fourth after Archie Griffiths doubled, scoring. one run, and Carter McGowan doubled in a pair.

Axel Holmstrom’s fielder’s choice tied the game at six in the top of the sixth to force extra innings.

MELBOURNE RANGERS

Hits: F. Fleiner (2), A. Griffiths, A. Watt-Sinclair, C. McGowan, P. Lane, B. McNamara
RBI: C. McGowan (3), A. Griffiths

Pitching:
– C. McGowan — 7.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO

BRISBANE METRO
Hits: K. McKenna (2), N. Akahoshi (2), A. Holmstrom, T. Sheeran, H. McMahon

Pitching:
– K. McKenna — 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
– N. Chang — 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
– A. Holmstrom — 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

CRONULLA BLACK 10 def RYDE BLACK 0 | Big fourth inning leads Cronulla Black to run-rule victory

Cronulla Black scored seven runs in the fourth inning to pull away in consolation play.

Ethan Wall doubled in one run, Alexi Fils-Aime cashed in another, and Owen Fowler doubled in a pair.

Flynn Donnelly threw 4.2 innings of shutout ball in his start, allowing two hits, one walk and struck out six. Leonardo Percey worked the final two outs with no trouble.

Xavier Dunn had three hits.

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits: X. Dunn (3), L. Percey (2), E. Wall (2), J. Smith, A. Fils-Aime, O. Fowler
RBI: E. Wall (3), L. Grant, J. Smith, A. Fils-Aime, O. Fowler

Pitching:
– F. Donnelly — 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
– L. Percey — 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

RYDE BLACK
Hits: L. Punch (2), J. Melhem

Pitching:
– L. Punch — 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
– L. Wolstenholme — 2.0 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
– A. Post — 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

The last day of Pool Play featured a rare scenario. No team started the day with a spot in the semi-finals locked in.

Only four had been mathematically eliminated leaving eight teams battling for four spots the semi-finals. Tiebreakers were at the top of minds of all managers, with potential three-way or four-way scenarios in play.

You can read about how the day unfolded below, with a note on a pre-game scenario in each blurb.

We saw multiple walk-offs in a crazy day. The semi-finals are now locked in.

This is, after all, your Newspaper Story. Each day we will publish results with a ‘newspaper style’ recap with stats, highlights and photos.

Watch live on Baseball+ and follow on GameChanger.

DAY 4 SCHEDULE – SATURDAY 6 JUNE

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– Pool A: Cronulla Black 2 def Brisbane North 1 (Extra Innings, Baseball+)
– Pool A: Central Firebirds 5 def Canberra Rangers 4 (Baseball+)
– Pool A: Ryde Red 8 def Melbourne Rangers 1 (Baseball+)

– Pool B: Eastern Phantoms 9 def Adelaide Marlins 6
– Pool B: Eastern Athletics 11 def Northern Territory Buffaloes 1
– Pool B: Brisbane Metro 6 def Ryde Black 3

Live Scoring: GameChanger | Watch on Baseball+ 

SEMI FINAL SCHEDULE –> CLICK HERE

FINAL STANDINGS

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Top Two teams advance to the semi-finals.

Pool A (Runs allowed)

Ryde Red 4-1
Central Firebirds 4-1
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Cronulla Black 3-2
Melbourne Rangers 3-2
Brisbane North 1-4
Canberra Rangers 1-4

Pool B (Runs Allowed)

Eastern Phantoms 4-1*
Adelaide Marlins 4-1*
—
Brisbane Metro 3-2
Ryde Black 3-2
Melbourne Athletics 1-4
NT Buffaloes 0-5

RECAPS

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CRONULLA BLACK 2 def BRISBANE NORTH 1 | Cronulla keep playoff hopes alive with great Xavier Dunn pitching performances and Flynn Donnelly walk-off heroics

Pre Game Scenario: Cronulla Black must win to keep chances of finals alive.

Flynn Donnelly came through with a clutch 2-RBI single in extra innings to propel Cronulla Black to a much needed 2-1 win over Brisbane North to finish Pool Play.

Cronulla end up with a 3-2 record, and now will hope the Canberra Rangers defeat the Central Firebirds and Melbourne Rangers beat Ryde Red to end up in a four-way tie. Then, math goes to work.

They also needed to keep the runs low. Xavier Dunn insured that happened. The Cronulla starter fired off 5.2 shutout innings with 12 strikeouts.

Meanwhile, Harper Lokeni and Xavier Griffin kept Cronulla scoreless through six innings in a scoreless shutout bid. Griffin tossed five of those innings.

It was 0-0 after regulation.

Taylor Lyall singled home the go-ahead run in the top of extra innings before Donnelly shut them down and limited the damage to a single score.

Then, the dramatics.

The teams now turn their attention to the future results….

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits: X. Dunn, L. Grant, E. Wall, J. Smith, H. Castillo, O. Fowler, B. Saunders
RBI: F. Donnelly

Pitching:
– X. Dunn — 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 12 K
– F. Donnelly — 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

BRISBANE NORTH
Hits: H. Lokeni, P. Cox, T. Lyall, A. Gaskell
RBI: T. Lyall

Pitching:
– H. Lokeni — 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
– A. Griffin — 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 11 def NORTHERN TERRITORY 1 | Athletics pick up first win of tournament as Austin Neill and Evan Doganay hit inside the park homers

Pre Game Scenario: Both teams looking for first win of tournament

It was a close game until the Melbourne Athletics busted it open.

Up 4-1 in the fourth, the Athletics scored five runs to jump to a 9-1 lead. They sealed the deal with an Evan Doganay inside-the-park homer to end game via run rule.

Austin Neill hit a two-run inside-the-park homer in the five run fourth. Tristan Needham also had an RBI.

Yugo Takei was brilliant in his start. He struck out 11 in 5.0 innings, giving up one unearned runs and three hits.

Max Keane also had two hits.

Both teams advance to the consolation round.

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits: M. Keane 2, Y. Takei, E. Doganay 2, O. Allen, T. Needham, J. Buys, A. Neill, R. Tamura
RBI: M. Keane, E. Doganay 3, T. Wilkinson 2, A. Neill 2

Pitching:
– Y. Takei — 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K

NT BUFFALOES

Hits: H. Clifton, B. Derr, W. George
RBI: B. Derr

Pitching:
– H. Clifton — 3.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
– Z. Zahnen — 0.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

EASTERN PHANTOMS 9 def ADELAIDE MARLINS 6 | Phantoms withstand Marlins charge, keep finals hopes alive 

Pre Game Scenario: Adelaide win, they advance to semi-finals. Adelaide can also advance if they lose by five runs or less. Eastern Phantoms clinch with a win by 6+, or a win and a Ryde Black loss.

Needing a win to ensure they remained in the finals conversation, the Eastern Phantoms took down previously undefeated Adelaide Marlins to improve to 4-1.

It moves both teams to a share of the lead in Pool B with one game to play. If Brisbane Metro defeat Ryde (3-1), both Adelaide and Eastern Phantoms will advance on a 4-1 record.

If Ryde win, we go to a three-way tiebreaker where tournament administrators have some math to do.

The Phantoms woke feeling sharp. They scored in each of the first four innings to build an 8-1 lead. Lachlan Kendell looked solid on the mound, and picked up a key early inning RBI. Ashton Westwood also drove in a pair.

With runs allowed at a premium and a determining factor in a potential three-way tiebreaker, the Marlins needed to make a move.

Enter Will Cox. He stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and two outs down 8-1 in the bottom of the fourth. He ripped a bases clearing double to cut the margin four.

Eastern Phantoms added another before the Marlins scored a pair in the ninth to finish with a 9-6 scoreline.

Mandel Guo continued his strong tournament for the Marlins with two more hits.  Will Maidment and Mandel Guo threw an important 2.2 innings of relief for Adelaide.  They halted the Phantoms scoring momentum,  allowing just one unearned run.

Now teams await the result of Brisbane Metro and Ryde Black.

Post Game Scenario: Adelaide are in (runs allowed). Eastern Phantoms need Brisbane Metro to win to advance. 

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: D. Brewis, L. Kendall, A. Westwood 2, H. Nicholls
RBI: L. Kendall 2, A. Westwood 2, H. Nicholls

Pitching:
– L. Kendall — 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
– D. Brewis — 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

ADELAIDE MARLINS

Hits: C. Roach, J. Robertson, M. Guo 2, C. Maidment, W. Cox, C. Kenny, B. Manning
RBI: O. Patman, C. Majewski, H. Ung, W. Cox 3

Pitching:
– C. Roach — 3.1 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
– W. Miles — 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
– M. Guo — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

BRISBANE METRO 6 def RYDE BLACK 3 | Brisbane Metro play spoiler,  Adelaide and Eastern Phantoms advance

Pre Game Scenario: Ryde Black win, they are in. Ryde Black lose, they finish fourth. 

Brisbane Metro came out firing. They scored four runs in the top of the first and held on late for a win that sealed Ryde Black’s fate.

Both Brisbane and Ryde finish with a 3-2 record and will play consolation finals. Nervous supporters of Eastern Phantoms and Adelaide Marlins can breathe easy – they’ll play finals.

Brisbane Metro took advantage of walks and errors in the first, punctuated by a Benji Robertson RBI.

Robertson had another RBI in the third thanks to a double that pushed the score to 5-1.

Ryde cut the lead to 5-3 in the fifth thanks to a Yokaze Otsuka base hit.

Otsuka put together a great relief effort Ryde Black. He threw 4.0 innings, allowing two hits and two runs to give his team a chance at a comeback.

Axel Holmstrom provided an insurance mark for Brisbane Metro with an RBI double in the fifth.

Lincoln Wood tossed a complete game for Brisbane Metro: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO.

BRISBANE METRO

Hits: N. Akahoshi, A. Holmstrom (2), B. Robertson (2)
RBI: A. Holmstrom, A. Wild, B. Robertson, T. Sheeran, H. McMahon

Pitching:
– L. Wood — 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO

RYDE BLACK
Hits: A. Post (2), Y. Otsuka, J. Melhem, L. Wolstenholme, I. Choi
RBI: Y. Otsuka, J. Melhem

Pitching:
– N. Fernie — 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
– Y. Otsuka — 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS 5 def CANBERRA RANGERS 4 | Jacob Krawec delivers walk-off hit to send Firebirds to final, completing four run comeback

Pre Game Scenario: Central Firebirds win, they are in the semi-finals. Central Firebirds lose, they go to a three-way tie and hope they win it on runs allowed. 

You can’t get much more dramatic.

Facing potential elimination, down 4-3 and down to their final out, Jacob Krawec ripped a double to the wall that score two runs and secured a walk-off win for the Central Firebirds.

The victory moves the Firebirds to a 4-1 record in Pool A and guarantees a spot in the finals. Had they lost, they very well could have been eliminated.

Canberra threw everything they had at the Western Australians. They built up a 4-0 lead.

Lincoln McIntyre’s RBI single put Canberra up 2-0 in the third. They took advantage of walks and errors to jump out to a 4-0 advantage in the fourth.

Lincoln McIntyre, Layton Kowert, and Chase Hackett provided a plucky effort on the mound for the kids from the Capital.

The Firebirds scored three in the bottom of the fourth.

Meanwhile, Ashton Fisher and Kai Aizlewood combined to throw 3.0 shutout relief innings to give the Firebirds a chance.

Then, the Krawec dramatics.

The Firebirds will play in the semi-finals in the Final Four of the tournament.

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS

Hits: A. Fisher, J. Krawec, B. Saban-Smithers, K. Ogilvie, H. Welten, A. Martinez
RBI: J. Krawec (2), A. Fisher

Pitching:
– F. Kalin — 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
– A. Fisher — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
– K. Aizlewood — 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

CANBERRA RANGERS

Hits: L. McIntyre (2), L. Kowert (2), H. Kerns, E. Tunningley, T. Jenkins
RBI: B. MacDonald, C. Hackett

Pitching:
– L. McIntyre — 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
– L. Kowert — 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
– C. Hackett — 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

RYDE RED | Ryde Red win their way through to a semi-final

Pre Game Scenario: Winner advances to the semi finals. 

In the final game of the group stage the scenario was quite simple: win and in for both of these teams.

Ryde Red came out flying.

They ripped 17 hits and scored in four different innings to lock up top spot and a place in the semi-finals. Riley Fury and Frederick Loats led the way with three hits a piece, while four players had two hits.

Fury opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the first. He and Aaron Dare combined for back-to-back hits in the third to move the score to 4-1. Jasper Pearse, Cormac Dillon and Kobe Bosman had RBI in the fifth inning to bring the scoreline beyond doubt to 8-1.

Daniel Warwick did his job on the mound. He threw 5.2 innings, allowing five hits with no walks, 7 strikeouts and one unearned run.

He also benefitted from some terrific defense.

Ryde Red advance to the semi-finals as Pool A #1 seed. They’ll play Adelaide Marlins tomorrow morning.

The schedule is below.

MELBOURNE RANGERS

Hits: F. Fleiner, A. Griffiths, L. Yule, F. McAleese, E. Andrzejewski
Runs: A. Griffiths

Pitching:
– P. Lane — 5.0 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
– A. Watt-Sinclair — 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

RYDE RED

Hits: D. Warwick, A. Dare (2), R. Fury (3), H. Kaneko (2), J. Lee, E. Becirevic, F. Loats (3), C. Dillon (2), K. Bosman (2)
RBI: A. Dare, R. Fury (2), H. Kaneko (2), J. Pearse, C. Dillon, K. Bosman

Pitching:
– D. Warwick — 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO
– R. Fury — 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

We are through three days of the Little League Championships Group Stage. Amazingly, no team has clinched a spot in the top two.

Pool A and Pool B both have four teams battling for two spots, with multiple tiebreaker scenarios in play. Runs allowed and head-to-head will be at the top of every coach’s mind. Coaches will be all over the Little League Handbook tonight making sure they know all the tiebreaking procedures.

This is your Newspaper Story. Each day we will publish results with a ‘newspaper style’ recap with stats, highlights and photos. Scroll for standings.

Watch live on Baseball+ and follow on GameChanger.

Yesterday’s recap: click here. Original PDF Schedule: click here.

DAY 3 SCHEDULE – FRIDAY 5 JUNE

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– Pool A: Canberra Rangers 13 def Melbourne Rangers 3
– Pool A: Ryde Red 11 def Brisbane North 7
– Pool A: Cronulla Black 13 def Canberra Rangers 3
– Pool A: Central Firebirds 19 def Cronulla Black 2

– Pool B: Ryde Black 8 def Eastern Phantoms 0 (Baseball+)
– Pool B: Eastern Phantoms 21 def Melbourne Athletics 7
– Pool B: Brisbane Metro 18 def Northern Territory Buffaloes 3 (Baseball+)
– Pool B: Adelaide Marlins 4 def Melbourne Athletics 1

CLICK HERE FOR SATURDAY SCHEDULE

Live Scoring: GameChanger | Watch on Baseball+ 

CURRENT STANDINGS

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Top Two teams advance to the semi-finals.

Pool A (Runs allowed)

Ryde Red 3-1 (21)
Central Firebirds 3-1 (18)
Melbourne Rangers 2-2 (20)
Cronulla Black 2-2 (23)
Brisbane North 1-3
Canberra Rangers 1-3

Pool B (Runs Allowed)

Adelaide Marlins 4-0 (16)
Ryde Black 3-1 (10)
Eastern Phantoms 3-1 (22)
Brisbane Metro 2-2 (15)
Melbourne Athletics 0-4
NT Buffaloes 0-4

Tiebreakers:
1. Head-to-head
2. Runs Allowed Ratio

RECAPS

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BRISBANE METRO 18 def NT BUFFALOES 3 | Brisbane stay in finals contention with a convincing win

Brisbane Metro have improved to 2-2 with one game to play in Pool B. They’ll need to beat Ryde Black (currently 2-1) and get some help to navigate their way into the top two of the tournament.

They did their job today. Brisbane Metro scored 13 runs in the second inning to race away.

Lars Van Der Hook, Noah Akahoshi, Toby Sheeran, Hamish McMahon and Kai McKenna all had RBI base hits in the 13-run inning. In fact, Van Der Hook had two hits in the frame. He finished the day with four RBI to lead all players.

Akahoshi went 2-for-3 with an inside-the-park homer to help pace the offense.

Benji Robertson and Axel Holmstrong pitched for Brisbane Metro, each tallying three strikeouts.

Tobias Howell and Korey Sleigh had RBI base hits for the Buffaloes, who drop to 0-4.

Check out the stats below.

Brisbane Metro (2-2) next play Saturday at 11:15AM vs Ryde Black (2-1). The Buffaloes finish Pool Play against the Athletics (0-3) tomorrow morning.

BRISBANE METRO

Hits: Kai McKenna 2, Noah Akahoshi 2, Anderson Wild 2, Axel Holmstrom, Noah Chang 2, Hamish McMahon 2, Lincoln Wood, Lars Van Der Hoek 2

RBI: Lars Van Der Hoek 4, Noah Akahoshi 3, Noah Chang 2, Kai McKenna, Toby Sheeran, Hamish McMahon

HR: Noah Akahoshi

Pitching:
– Benji Robertson — 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
– Axel Holmstrom — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Hits: Tobias Howell, Korey Sleigh
RBI: Tobias Howell, Korey Sleigh

Pitching:
– Tobias Howell — 1.1 IP, 10 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
– Sam Follayttar — 1.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

CANBERRA RANGERS 13 def MELBOURNE RANGERS | Teddy Tudor helps lead Canberra to first victory, sending Pool A into wild scenarios

Teddy Tudor went 3-for-3 with a triple, double and two RBI. He also tossed 3.0 innings,  allowing two hits, two runs and struck out five.

He was a key part of a full team effort that sees Canberra pick up their first win of the tournament and improve to 1-2.

It creates some pretty crazy scenarios for Pool A. Every team has at least one win. No team has more than two. There’s 24 hours left of Pool Play.

Canberra’s offense was steady throughout the game. They scored four in the first, four in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth to win it on the run rule. Seven different Rangers had hits and eleven reached base.

Check out the stats below.

Canberra (1-2) will look to build on momentum later this afternoon vs Cronulla Black (1-2). The Melbourne Rangers (2-2) next play Ryde Red (2-1) in the final game of the minor rounds tomorrow afternoon.

All five teams are still mathematically alive for a top two spot.

CANBERRA RANGERS

Hits: T. Tudor 3, B. MacDonald, L. McIntyre, H. Kerns, D. Hurley, K. Hayashi, T. Matavesi
RBI: T. Tudor 2, K. Hayashi

Pitching:
– T. Tudor: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
– C. Hackett: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

MELBOURNE RANGERS

Hits: A. Watt-Sinclair 2, P. Lane, C. McGowan
RBI: A. Watt-Sinclair, P. Lane

Pitching:
-F. Fleiner: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
– H. Reeman: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
– E. Andrzejewski: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

EASTERN PHANTOMS 21 def MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 7  | Flurry of runs brings Phantoms to perfect 3-0 record

The Eastern Phantoms scored a flurry of runs to bring themselves within striking distance of finals.

The scenario is this: if the Eastern Phantoms defeat Ryde Black, they will advance to the semi-finals at 4-0. They play at 1:30PM on Baseball+.

While the scoreline was flattering, the Phantoms had to do it the hard way. The Phantoms were down 4-1 after two innings before they rattled off 14 unanswered runs. They scored six in the third, eight in the fourth and six in the fifth.

12 different Phantoms had a hit and all players in the line-up reached base. Darcy Brewis went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI to pace the attack.

Jack McCay, Lachlan Kendall, Mitchell Renwick and Ashton Westwood each had a pair of base-hits.

Oscar Allen had two hits for the Athletics

The Phantoms improve to 3-0. The Athletics drop to 0-3.

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: D. Brewis 3, J. McCay 2, L. Kendall 2, M. Renwick 2, A. Westwood 2, N. Rowland, O. Duck, A. Kelly, C. Stingers, H. Nicholls, O. A

RBI: N. Rowland 3, D. Brewis 3, M. Renwick 2, A. Westwood 2, J. McCay, L. Kendall, O. Duck, A. Kelly, H. Nicholls

Pitching:
– N. Rowland: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
– J. McCay: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
– A. Westwood: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits: O. Allen 2, N. Singline, L. Giles, T. Needham

RBI: O. Allen 2, N. Singline

Pitching:
– O. Allen: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
– N. Singline: 1.1 IP, 11 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
– T. Needham: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 2 K

ADELAIDE MARLINS 4 def MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 1 | Hamish Lee tosses tournament high 13 strikeouts as Marlins improve to 4-0

Hamish Lee delivered the best pitching performance of the tournament so far.

The 11-year-old left-hander threw 5.2 shutout innings, allowing just two hits, two walks and posted 2026 tournament high 13 strikeouts.

He needed to be every bit as great as he was. The Athletics Luca Lidgett was also excellent.

Adelaide scored four runs in the top of the first and Lidgett took over from there. He finished with 5.0 innings pitched,  allowing just three earned runs with five hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts.

A sequence of back-to-back-to-back hits from Jack Robertson, Oscar Patman and Cameron Majewski spurred on a four run first inning for the Marlins and Lee took over from there.

The Athletics pressured in the last, scoring a run and loading the bases before Will Miles struck out the final batter.

The Marlins are now 4-0. They turn their attention to the upcoming Eastern Phantoms (3-0) vs Ryde Black (2-1) game. If the Phantoms win, the Marlins are through. If Ryde Black win, the Marlins will likely need to defeat the Phantoms tomorrow to reach the semi finals. In event of a three-way tie, runs allowed may come into factor.

ADELAIDE MARLINS

Hits: O. Patman 2, C. Roach, J. Robertson, C. Majewski
RBI: J. Robertson, O. Patman, C. Majewski, M. Guo

Pitching:
– H. Lee: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 13 K
– W. Miles: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS
Hits: L. Lidgett, O. Allen, S. Yang, T. Wilkinson, T. Needham
RBI: O. Allen

Pitching:
– L. Lidgett: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS 19 def CRONULLA BLACK 2 | Firebirds first to three wins in Pool A after overpowering Cronulla

The Firebirds stormed out of the gate for five runs in the fifth, and finished with 10 runs in the last.

The win puts Central Firebirds in first place in Pool A and a win away from securing a semi-finals spot.

Ashton Fisher led the way with three hits. and three RBI. Beau Price, Kai Ogilvie and Harrison Welton all had three RBI.

As a team, the Firebirds combined for 11 hits and 12 walks. Everybody in the line-up reached base at least once.

Declan Strain went the distance, going 4.0 innings. with four hits,  two runs, two walks and six strikeouts.

The Firebirds (3-1) move to first place in Pool A. They play Canberra Rangers (1-2) tomorrow to wrap up Pool Play. If they win that, they are through to the finals.

Cronulla Black (1-2) play Canberra Rangers (1-2) in a must-win game this afternoon.

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits: L. Grant 2, E. Wall, H. Castillo
RBI: E. Wall, J. Smith

Pitching:
– L. Percey: 1.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
– E. Wall: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
– C. Wooden: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 7 BB, 1 K
– B. Saunders: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS

Hits: A. Fisher 3, F. Kalin 2, B. Price 2, K. Ogilvie, K. Aizlewood, H. Welten, V. Buckley
RBI: A. Fisher 3, F. Kalin, B. Price 3, K. Ogilvie 3, H. Welten 3, C. Moffat, V. Buckley

Pitching:
–  D. Strain: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

RYDE BLACK vs EASTERN PHANTOMS | Ryde Black take home must-win game to send Pool A to the final day thanks to shutout effort from Koji Komine

The pre-game scenario was simple. Eastern Phantoms win? They’re in with Adelaide and Ryde Black would be eliminated. Ryde Black win? They bring Pool B to the final day.

Ryde score six runs in the first two innings and never looked back. 8-0 your final.

Koji Komine was terrific on the mound. He threw 5.1 shutout innings, allowing just two hits, four walks and had nine strikeouts.

Eight different Ryde Black players had hits. Haruki Sawa had two RBI.

It leaves Pool B with four teams fighting for two spots. Runs allowed will factor into the equation should we go to a three-way tiebreaker and head-to-head can’t be used.

Ryde Black (3-1) finish tomorrow vs Brisbane Metro (2-2). Adelaide (4-0) play Eastern Phantoms (3-1).

RYDE BLACK

Hits: L. Punch, H. Myles, Y. Otsuka, J. Valente, J. Melhem, L. Wolstenholme, K. Komine, I. Choi
RBI: H. Myles, Y. Otsuka, J. Valente, J. Melhem, N. Fernie, H. Sawa 2

Pitching:
– K. Komine: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
– L. Punch: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: L. Kendall, H. Nicholls

Pitching:
– P. Thomas: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
– M. Renwick: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
– H. Nicholls: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

RYDE RED 11 vs BRISBANE NORTH 7 | Ryde Red are a win away from finals 

Ryde Red scored six runs in the last inning to pull away from Brisbane North in a pivotal Pool A battle.

They became their group team to a 3-1 record. Their 11-7 win moves them just a win away from a semi-final sport and a chance at Williamsport.

Ryde Red built up a 5-1 lead before Brisbane clawed back within one.

Entering the sixth inning up 5-4, Ryde Red scored six runs on three hits to push the score out to an 11-4 margin. Edin Becerivic and Frederick Coats heat had two-RBI base hits.

Brisbane North push pushed back in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs and loading the bases.

Becerivic had two hits for Ryde Red. Jasper Pearse had three RBI. Loats had three stolen bases.

Ryde Red improve to 3-1. They play their final game vs the Melbourne Rangers (2-2) on Baseball+. If they win that, they are in the semi finals.

RYDE RED

Hits: D. Warwick, H. Kaneko, J. Lee, N. Robson, E. Becirevic 2, F. Loats, K. Bosman
RBI: H. Kaneko, N. Robson, E. Becirevic 2, F. Loats, J. Pearse 3, C. Dillon

Pitching:
– H. Kaneko: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
– K. Bosman: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
– J. Lee: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
– C. Dillon: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

BRISBANE NORTH

Hits: H. Lokeni, A. Griffin 2, T. Hession 2, J. Land, J. Young

RBI: E. Grobler, M. Fogg 2, A. Gaskell

Pitching:
– T. Lyall: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
– M. Fogg: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
– H. Campbell-Manfield: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

CRONULLA BLACK 13 def  CANBERRA RANGERS 3| Cronulla bounce back with nine run inning to keep finals hopes alive

Cronulla need to win their final two games and find some help to get into the finals.

They accomplished part the challenge on Friday afternoon with a resounding win over Canberra.

The game was close until it wasn’t. Cronulla led 4-0 in the fourth before exploding for nine runs. Hudson Castillo, Charlie Wooden, Leonardo Percey, Lucas Grant and Jack Smith each had RBI base hits in the inning.

The hits from Wooden and Grant were triples.

Hudson Castillo pitched all four innings, surviving a three-run charge in the final inning by Canberra.

Teddy Tudor built on a three-hit day earlier for Canberra, tallying two more in the afternoon.

The win moves Cronulla to 2-2. They face Brisbane North (1-3) tomorrow at 9:00AM on Baseball+. To make the finals, Cronulla will need to win the game, then hope Canberra Rangers (1-3) to defeat the Central Firebirds (3-1), and Melbourne Rangers (2-2) to defeat Ryde Red (3-2). From there, they would need to hope to come out in a four-way tiebreaker.

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits: L. Percey, X. Dunn, L. Grant, E. Wall, F. Donnelly, A. Fils-Aime, O. Fowler, C. Wooden
RBI: L. Percey, L. Grant, E. Wall, J. Smith, F. Donnelly, H. Castillo, C. Wooden 2
Pitching:
– H. Castillo — 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
– A. Fils-Aime — 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

CANBERRA RANGERS
Hits: T. Tudor 2, C. Hackett, E. Tunningley, T. Matavesi

Pitching:
– D. Hurley — 0.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
– K. Hayashi — 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
– K. Herath — 0.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
– E. Tunningley — 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

END OF DAY STANDINGS AND SCHEDULE

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Top Two teams advance to the semi-finals.

Pool A (Runs allowed)

Ryde Red 3-1 (21)
Central Firebirds 3-1 (18)
Melbourne Rangers 2-2 (20)
Cronulla Black 2-2 (23)
Brisbane North 1-3
Canberra Rangers 1-3

Pool B (Runs Allowed)

Adelaide Marlins 4-0 (16)
Ryde Black 3-1 (10)
Eastern Phantoms 3-1 (22)
Brisbane Metro 2-2 (15)
Melbourne Athletics 0-4
NT Buffaloes 0-4

Tiebreakers:
1. Head-to-head
2. Runs Allowed Ratio

By the end of the day, some teams may have their foot in the door of finals at the 2026 Australian Little League Championships.

This is your Newspaper Story. Each day we will publish results with a ‘newspaper style’ recap with stats, highlights and photos.

Watch live on Baseball+ and follow on GameChanger.

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DAY 2 SCHEDULE

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– Pool A: Brisbane North 6 def Canberra Rangers 0 (Baseball+)
– Pool A: Ryde Red 8 def Central Firebirds 3
– Pool A: Central Firebirds 1 def Melbourne Rangers 0  (Baseball+)
– Pool A: Cronulla Black 10 def Ryde Red 0 (Baseball+)

– Pool B: Adelaide Marlins 4 def Ryde Black 3
– Pool B: Brisbane Metro 9 def Melbourne Athletics 1
– Pool B: Adelaide Marlins 2 def Brisbane Metro 0
– Pool B: Eastern Phantoms 10 def Northern Territory Buffaloes 6

Live Scoring: GameChanger | Watch on Baseball+ 

DAY 3 SCHEDULE HERE  

CURRENT STANDINGS

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Top Two teams advance to the semi-finals.

Pool A

Ryde Red 2-1
Central Firebirds 2-1
Melbourne Rangers 2-1
Cronulla Black 1-1
Brisbane North 1-2
Canberra Rangers 0-2

Pool B

Adelaide Marlins 3-0
Eastern Phantoms 2-0
Ryde Black 2-1
Brisbane Metro 1-2
Melbourne Athletics 0-2
NT Buffaloes 0-3

RECAPS

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BRISBANE NORTH 6 def CANBERRA RANGERS 0 | Despite being outhit, Brisbane North do enough to pick up first win of the tournament

Likely needing to win out to make the finals, Brisbane North found a way to get it done vs the Canberra Rangers.

Porter Cox and James Young each pitched three shutout innings, combining for six hits, seven strikeouts and crucially no walks.

They needed to be flawless because Canberra only allowed two hits for the game and took a no-hitter into the sixth.

Brisbane took advantage of a series of walks and errors to build a 4-0 advantage. They weaved around base runners, stranding all 10 batters Canberra managed to push aboard.

Teddy Tudor picked up two hits for the Rangers.

Brisbane North improve 1-2, keeping their Pool B finals hopes alive.

BRISBANE NORTH (1-2)

Hits: A. Griffin (2B), C. Black (2B)
RBI: P. Cox, T. Lyall, A. Griffin, E. Grobler, M. Fogg, J. Young

Pitching:
– P. Cox — 3.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
– J. Young — 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

CANBERRA RANGERS (0-2)

Hits: T. Tudor 2, H. Kerns, K. Herath, L. Kowert, D. Hurley

Pitching:
T. Tudor — 0.1 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB
L. McIntyre — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
L. Kowert — 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB
K. Herath — 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
T. Matavesi — 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K

ADELAIDE MARLINS 4 def RYDE BLACK 3 | Marlins walk-off Ryde Black in crucial battle to stay undefeated

In a clash between two undefeated teams, Adelaide delivered the most dramatic finish of the tournament so far.

Trailing 3-2 entering their final at-bat, the Marlins found a way.  Jack Robertson cashed in the tying run before Mandel Guo lifted a sacrifice fly to score the winner, completing a 4-3 comeback walk-off victory over Ryde Black.

The win moves Adelaide to 2-0 and gives the Marlins a crucial result in the race for a top-two finish.

It was a tense contest from the opening pitch. Both teams’ pitching staffs came to play.

Adelaide starter Cameron Majewski was outstanding, allowing just one hit and no earned runs across 2.2 innings while striking out six. Jack Robertson followed with 3.1 innings of relief, surrendering four hits and two walks while striking out five. All three Ryde runs were unearned.

Ryde’s pitching staff was equally impressive. Haruki Sawa and Alexei Post combined for 5.2 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, with only one of those runs earned. The pair walked two and struck out nine.

Scoring was hard to find, and came off of walks and errors.

Adelaide took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. Then, Ryde made their move. Jacob Melham delivered an RBI single and Lily Westenholme followed with a clutch triple.

It set the stage for the dramatic final inning.

With their backs against the wall, Adelaide rallied. Robertson brought home the tying run before Guo’s sacrifice fly sealed a memorable walk-off victory.

ADELAIDE MARLINS (2-0)

Hits: C. Majewski (2), B. Manning, H. Ung, W. Cox
RBI: J. Robertson, M. Guo, C. Maidment

Pitching:
– C. Majewski — 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
– J. Robertson — 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

RYDE BLACK
Hits: H. Sawa (2B), H. Myles, J. Melhem, L. Wolstenholme (3B), I. Choi

Pitching:
– H. Sawa — 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
– A. Post — 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

RYDE RED 8 def CENTRAL FIREBIRDS 3 | Ryde Red’s five-run fifth inning is the difference in improving to 2-0

Ryde Red blue the game opening with a monster five run fifth inning. Cormac Dillon and Daniel Warwick each had key RBI singles to plate four of the five runs.

They were backed by excellent pitching from Edin Becirevic. The starter allowed five hits and one run over 4.2 innings, striking out seven and walking two. Daniel Warwick closed it out and picked up the save.

Ryde took advantage of errors to build up a 3-1 lead before ripping off the five runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Central Firebirds did push back in the final innings thanks to RBIs from Vincent Buckley and and Flynn Kalin. But despite outhitting Ryde Red 8-6, Central Firebirds’ scoring was capped at three runs.

The Firebirds drop to 1-1 and still very much in the hunt for finals.

RYDE RED
Hits: D. Warwick, A. Dare, R. Fury, H. Kaneko, N. Robson, C. Dillon
RBI: D. Warwick 2, H. Kaneko, C. Dillon, K. Bosman

Pitching:
– Edin Becirevic — 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
– Daniel Warwick — 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS
Hits: F. Kalin 2, H. Welten 2, A. Fisher, J. Krawec, K. Ogilvie, B. Saban-Smithers
RBI: F. Kalin, K. Ogilvie

Pitching:
– Callum Moffat — 3.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
– Kai Aizlewood — 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
– Kai Ogilvie — 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS 1 def MELBOURNE RANGERS 0 | Beau Price and Archie Griffiths deliver one of the best tournament pitcher’s duels in recent memories

Take a bow, Beau and Archie!

Beau Price tossed the tournament’s first complete game shutout, firing 6.0 shutout innings with no runs, three hits, no walks and seven strikeouts for the Central Firebirds.

Archie Griffiths was equally as impressive in his complete game effort. He went 5.0 innings with 3 hits, 2 walks 10 strikeouts and just one run.

“It’s the best pitcher’s duel I can remember at an Australian national championship,” said play-by-play commentator Luke Eisenhaur, who has called five Little League Nationals and multiple Australian Youth Championships and Senior League Tournaments.

Both players looked exhausted after the game but met up for a commemorative photo.

The Firebirds scored the game’s only run in the first inning off a fielder’s choice from the batt of Bentley Saban-Smithers.

The Rangers had their best chance in the fifth inning. They had runners on first and second with nobody out, but Beau Price worked his magic and preserved the shutout.

The result throws Pool A into chaos.

The Melbourne Rangers and Firebirds are now equal at 2-1. Ryde Red sit at 2-0, with Cronulla Black (0-1) and Brisbane North (1-2) firmly within striking distance and key games to play.

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS

Hits (3): Ashton Fisher, Jacob Krawec, Callum Moffat
RBI: Bentley Saban-Smithers
Pitching:
– Beau Price: 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 SO

MELBOURNE RANGERS

Hits (3): Archie Watt-Sinclair (2), Leigh Yule
Pitching:
– Archie Griffiths: 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 10 SO

BRISBANE METRO 9 def MELBOURNE ATHLETICS 1 | Metro dominate on the mound in and in the batters box to pick up first win of the tournament

Four Brisbane Metro pitchers combined to allow two hits, 12 strikeouts and just one run in a much needed 9-1 Brisbane Metro victory on Thursday morning.

Ari Holmstrom threw 1.2 innings with four strikeouts, allowing just one run, to start. Lincoln Wood fired of 3.0 perfect shutout innings with five strikeouts to follow. Alfred Kelly and Axel Holmstrom both worked a pair of outs to close the door.

Metro were buoyed by timely bats. They scored five runs in the fifth, large in part to a 3-RBI Anderson Wild triple, Noah Akahoshi triple, and Kenji Robertson RBI single. It bounced the score out from 3-1 to 8-1 and put the game beyond doubt.

Kai McKenna led the way for Brisbane Metro with three hits.

Brisbane Metro improve to 1-1 and put themselves firmly in the mix for a top-two position and spot in the finals. The Athletics fall to 0-2.

BRISBANE METRO

Hits: K. McKenna 3, N. Akahoshi 2, A. Holmstrom 2, T. Sheeran 2, A. Wild, B. Robertson
RBI: A. Wild 3, N. Akahoshi, B. Robertson, K. McKenna, T. Sheeran

Pitching:
– Ari Holmstrom — 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
– Lincoln Wood — 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
– Alfred Kelly — 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
–  Axel Holmstrom — 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS
Hits: Lucas Yang, E. Doganay
Pitching:
Max Keane — 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Nathaniel Singling — 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Yugo Takei — 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Austin Neill — 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

ADELAIDE MARLINS 2 def BRISBANE METRO 0 | Marlins win second game of day, improve to tournament’s only 3-0 team

The Adelaide Marlins are the first and only 3-0 team at the 2026 Little League Championships.

Hunter Ung and Mandel Guo combined to allow four hits in a 6.0 inning shutout effort with just one walk and 7 strikeouts.

It builds on a comeback 4-3 walk-off win earlier in the day over Ryde Black, putting the Marlins in an optimal position to push for a top two position and spot in the Finals.

Jack Robertson continued his hot start to the tournament with a key RBI single in the third inning. They scored their second run off an error in the fourth.

Anderson Wild was excellent on the mound for Brisbane Metro. He struck out nine batters in his 3.0 innings of work.

How about the day Mandel Guo had? He had the walk-off sacrifice fly to win the first game of the day and 2.1 innings of near flawless shutout relief work in a shutout effort today.

The Marlins improve to 3-0, Metro split the day and drop to 1-2.

BRISBANE METRO

Hits: Benji Robertson, Axel Holmstrom (2B), Toby Sheeran, Seryoung Chang

Pitching:
– Anderson Wild — 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
– Noah Akahoshi — 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

ADELAIDE MARLINS

Hits: Jack Robertson, Connor Maidment, William Cox, William Miles
RBI: Jack Robertson

Pitching:
– Hunter Ung — 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
-Mandel Guo — 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

EASTERN PHANTOMS 10 def NORTHERN TERRITORY 6 | Eastern Phantoms score four in the last inning to break tie and improve to 2-0

The Phantoms won a wild one.

With the score tied at six in the top of the last, Paddy Thomas came up to the plate with bases loaded and nobody out.

He hit a ground ball to third, which triggered a sequence of errors that resulted in all four prospective Phantoms runs coming home. Four on the board and a 10-6 lead. A chaotic way to end a chaotic game.

The Phantoms gradually built up a 4-0 lead through three innings with RBI to Lachlan Kendall, Nicholas Rowland and Jack McCay.

But the Phantoms responded with five runs in the bottom of the third off five hits. Blake Derr had the biggest hit of the inning – a single that drove in two.

Paddy Thomas tied the game up at five in the fourth.

With his team down 6-5 in the fifth, Northern Territory’s William George ripped a single down the right field line which helped square the game up.

In the end, it’s jubilation for the Phantoms and heartbreak for the Buffaloes. But, what a tremendous effort from both teams.

Northern Territory drop to 0-3 on the tournament while the Phantoms are one of two remaining unbeaten teams at 2-0 ahead of their double header day on Friday.

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: N. Rowland 2, J. McCay, L. Kendall, A. Westwood, P. Thomas, A. Kelly 2, H. Nicholls
RBI: N. Rowland, J. McCay 2, L. Kendall, P. Thomas

Pitching:
– Ari Kelly — 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
– Mitchell Renwick — 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
– Oliver Duck — 3.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

NT BUFFALOES
Hits: B. Derr (2), S. Follayter, C. Brown, Kelvin Sleigh, Korey Sleigh, F. Kleiner, Z. Zahnen
RBI: Follower, Kelvin Sleigh, Korey Sleigh, Zahnen

Pitching:
– William George: 4.0 IP, 7H , 3ER, 1 BB, 3SO
– Korey Sleigh: 2.0IP, H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

CRONULLA BLACK 10 def RYDE RED 0  | Pool A thrown into complete chaos as Cronulla Black win in run rule fashion

The next two days are going to be fun.

With Cronulla’s run-rule victory on Thursday, it ensures that every team in Pool A already has a loss to their name through two days. All teams are in a position to advance out of the group with two days to play.

Jack Smith and Xavier Dunn combined for a complete game shutout. They both struck out five.

Lucas Grant was perfect at the plate, leading all batters with a 3-for-3 effort including a triple in a five run fifth inning.

Cronulla slowly built their lead until they exploded in the fifth.

Hudson Castillo put Cronulla on the board in the first. Grant had an RBI single and later stole home in the third.

In the fifth, Ethan Wall, Alexi Fils-Aime, William Bunker and Hudson Castillo all had RBI.

Cronulla improve to 1-1 while Ryde drop to 2-1. The schedule for tomorrow and the current standings are at the bottom of this story.

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits: L. Grant 3, L. Percey, A. Fils-Aime, H. Castillo, W. Bunker
RBI: L. Grant, E. Wall, A. Fils-Aime, H. Castillo, W. Bunker, O. Fowler, L. Percey

Pitching:
– Jack Smith — 3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
– Xavier Dunn — 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

RYDE RED

Hits: D. Warnick, H. Kaneko, J. Lee, F. Loats, J. Pearse, C. Dillon

Pitching:
– Aaron Dare — 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
– Hikaru Kaneko — 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
– Nicholas Robson — 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
– Frederick Loats — 1.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

CURRENT STANDINGS

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Top Two teams advance to the semi-finals.

Pool A

Ryde Red 2-1
Central Firebirds 2-1
Melbourne Rangers 2-1
Cronulla Black 1-1
Brisbane North 1-2
Canberra Rangers 0-2

Pool B

Adelaide Marlins 3-0
Eastern Phantoms 2-0
Ryde Black 2-1
Brisbane Metro 1-2
Melbourne Athletics 0-2
NT Buffaloes 0-3

Welcome to Blacktown International Sportspark for the 2026 Australian Little League Championships.

This is your Newspaper Story. Each day we will publish results with a ‘newspaper style’ recap with stats, highlights and photos.

Watch live on Baseball+ and follow on GameChanger.

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DAY 1 SCHEDULE

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– Pool B: Adelaide Marlins 25 def NT Buffaloes 12
– Pool A: Central Firebirds 10 def Brisbane North 8
– Pool A: Ryde Red 7 def Canberra Rangers 1

– Pool B: Ryde Black 10 def Melbourne Athletics 5
– Pool A: Melbourne Rangers 12 def Brisbane North 6

– Pool A: Eastern Phantoms 9 def Brisbane Metro 1
– Pool B: Melbourne Rangers 1 def Cronulla Black 0
– Pool B: Ryde Black 16 def NT Buffaloes 1

Live Scoring: GameChanger | Watch on Baseball+ 

Tomorrow’s Schedule (Day 2): Click here.

CURRENT STANDINGS

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Top Two teams advance to the semi-finals.

Pool A

Melbourne Rangers 2-0
Ryde Red 1-0
Central Firebirds 1-0
Cronulla Black 0-1
Canberra Rangers 0-1
Brisbane North 0-2

Pool B

Ryde Black 2-0
Adelaide Marlins 1-0
Eastern Phantoms 1-0
Brisbane Metro 0-1
Melbourne Athletics 0-1
NT Buffaloes 0-2

RECAPS

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Ryde Red 7 def Canberra Rangers 1 | Ryde pull away late, use big time pitching performance to secure first win of the tournament 

Aaron Dare, Edin Becirevic, Kobe Bosman, Daniel Warwick and Cormac Dillon combined to allow just one hit in an opening day win for Ryde at the Little League Championships.

The game was tight until the very end. Ryde scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away, taking a 2-1 margin out to 7-1. Dillon, Bosman, Warwick and Riley Fury each had a key run batted in during the big inning.

Canberra held tough. It was 1-0 Ryde until the bottom of the fourth inning tanks to stand out pitching from Chase Hackett and Lincoln McIntyre.

Ryde expanded their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth but an RBI to Layton Kowert cut the lead in half.

The stats and pitching lines are below.

RYDE RED

Hits (7): A. Dare, R. Fury, E. Becirevic, J. Pearse, C. Dillon, D. Warwick, K. Bosman

RBI: D. Warwick, A. Dare, R. Fury, H. Kaneko (2), C. Dillon, K. Bosman

Pitching:
– Aaron Dare: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
– Edin Becirevic: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
– Kobe Bosman: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K
– Daniel Warwick: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
– Cormac Dillon: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

CANBERRA RANGERS

Hits: L. Kowert

RBI: L. Kowert

Pitching:
– Chase Hackett: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K
– Lincoln McIntyre: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
– Bennett MacDonald: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 K
– Kanata Hayashi: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Central Firebirds 10 def Brisbane North 7 | Firebirds win a wild one in early contender for game of the tournament

Talk about entertaining.

In a game that featured 18 runs, three lead changes, a couple insane starting pitcher stat lines, and a dramatic pushback, Central Firebirds survived to start their tournament with a win.

Let’s start with the pitching.

Evan Grobler (Brisbane North) and Jacob Krawec (Central Firebirds) combined for 17 strikeouts in their collective outings.

Grobler struck out 10 in 3.2 innings, allowing one hit and two earned runs. Krawec struck out 7, giving up 2 hits and 2 earned runs in 3.1 innings.

When the starters left, the bats erupted.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Brisbane North plated three runs to take a 4-3 lead.

Central Firebirds responded instantly, capitalising off doubles from Kai Ogilvie and Beau Price, scoring five runs in the fifth to hold an 8-4 lead.

Brisbane North worked the deficit within one in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three. 8-7.

Central Firebirds added a pair of key insurance runs in the top of the last. Trailing 10-7, Brisbane North summoned three base runners but only scored one.

10-8 your final.

CENTRAL FIREBIRDS

Hits: J. Krawec, B. Saban-Smithers, K. Ogilvie (2), B. Price (2), K. Aizlewood, D. Strain

RBI: J. Krawec, B. Saban-Smithers, K. Ogilvie, B. Price (2), K. Aizlewood, D. Strain

Pitching:
– Jacob Krawec: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
– Kai Andrews: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
– Callum Moffat: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
– Vincent Buckley: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

BRISBANE NORTH

Hits: T. Lyall, E. Grobler, J. Young, C. Black, A. Griffin
RBI: T. Lyall (2)

Pitching:
-Evan Grobler: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
– Porter Cox: 0.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
– Taylor Lyall: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
– James Young: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

ADELAIDE MARLINS 25 def NT BUFFALOES 12 | Northern Territory scores 12, but Marlins slug their way to an opening win

The Marlins used three huge innings and handful of big time performances en route to 25 runs on the scoreboard.

Adelaide scored six in the first, eight in the third and eight in the fifth. At one point they led 15-0 before Northern Territory mounted a frantic comeback, cutting the deficit to 15-10 after three.

The 12 runs the Buffaloes scored is more than what they accumulated in the 2025 tournament.

Jack Robertson finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with an inside-the-park homer.  Hunter Ung also collected three hits an an inside-the-park home run.

Connor Maidment led all batters with a 5 RBI performance off his two hits.

Credit to the NT Buffaloes. They refused to roll over.

Down 15-0 in the bottom of the third, and needing to score to avoid a run-rule loss, the Buffaloes scored ten runs to extend the game. It’s the most runs in an inning they’ve ever scored at a Little League event.

Blake Derr led the Buffs with two RBI while Harry Clifton had two hits.

ADELAIDE MARLINS

Hits (11): J. Robertson (3), H. Ung (3), C. Maidment (2), B. Manning (2), O. Patman
RBI: C. Maidment (5), H. Ung (3), J. Robertson (2), B. Manning (2), H. Lee, C. Kenny

Pitching:
– C. Roach: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
– W. Miles: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
– C. Kenny: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
– B. Manning: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
– M. Guo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

NT BUFFALOES

Hits: H. Clifton (2), K. Sleigh

RBI: B. Derr (2), T. Gawler, H. Clifton, S. Fuller, Z. Zahnen
Pitching:
– B. Derr: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 6 BB, 2 K
– Z. Zahnen: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB
– H. Clifton: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
– F. Kleiner: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB
– S. Follayter: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

MELBOURNE RANGERS 12 def BRISBANE NORTH 6 | Rangers overpower Brisbane North to start tournament 1-0

They scored early, the scored late, they soared to victory.

The Melbourne Rangers plated three runs in each of the second and third innings to race out to a 6-2 lead. They never looked back, and even added five runs in the sixth to build a commanding 12-3 lead in the final inning.

Patrick Lane provided the get-away moment. With the game sitting at 3-2, Lane came through with a three-run Little League inside-the-parker to push the Rangers out to a 6-2 lead.

Meanwhile, Carter McGowan was dealing on the mound. He fired off 5.0 innings with 7 strikeouts, allowing nine hits, three runs and crucially walked nobody.

Felix Fliener and Archie Griffiths each had two hits for Melbourne in the win. Fleiner’s two-RBI triple was the crescendo in a five-run sixth inning.

MELBOURNE RANGERS

Hits (1): P. Lane, A. Watt-Sinclair, F. Fleiner (2), H. Duncan, A. Griffiths (2), C. McGowan, H. Reeman, E. Andrzejewski
RBI: P. Lane, F. Fleiner (2), H. Duncan, A. Griffiths, C. McGowan (2), E. Andrzejewski
Pitching:
– Carter McGowan: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
– Hudson Reeman: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

BRISBANE NORTH

Hits (13): P. Cox, H. Lokeni (2), T. Lyall, T. Hession, A. Gaskell, M. Fogg (3), A. Griffin (3), C. Black
RBI: M. Fogg (2), A. Griffin

Pitching:
– Harper Lokeni: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
– Avery Griffin: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
– Matthew Fogg: 1.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
– Harrison Campbell-Manfield – 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Ryde Black 10 def Melbourne Athletics 5 | Ryde Black score seven in the last inning to stun Athletics

Ryde Black entered the sixth and final inning down 5-3. They promptly rattled off seven unanswered runs to take the lead for good.

While they made the most of a series of walks, Haruki Sawa drove in a pair to push the lead to 10-5. Sawa followed up his heroics at the plate by shutting down the Athletics 1-2-3 to close out the game.

Moments earlier, the Athletics mounted a comeback of their own.

Down 3-1, the Athletics scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to move three outs away, scoring on a pair of wild pitches.

Liam Punch and Mason Chamberlain led Ryde with two hits each. Max Keane had two hits for the Athletics.

Alexei Post had a crucial diving catch in foul territory to make the highlight reel, too.

RYDE BLACK

Hits: L. Punch (2), M. Chamberlain (2), A. Post, H. Myles, Y. Otsuka, N. Fernie, I. Choi
RBI: L. Punch, M. Chamberlain, Y. Otsuka, L. Wolstenholme

Pitching:
N. Fernie 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Y. Otsuka 2.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
L. Wolstenholme 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
H. Sawa 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

MELBOURNE ATHLETICS

Hits: M. Keane (2), Y. Takei, T. Wilkinson
RBI: None

Pitching:
S. Yang 4.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
T. Needham 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
O. Allen 0.0 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
L. Lidgett 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

MELBOURNE RANGERS 1 def CRONULLA BLACK 0 | Jayden Sambell and Patrick Lane combine for shutout as Rangers improve to 2-0

Have a day, Melbourne Rangers.

Shortly after defeating Brisbane North, a team who has won two of the last four Little League titles, the Rangers shutout a traditional powerhouse from New South Wales.

Jayden Samuel and Patrick Lane were the definition of epic. Samuel threw 3.2 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, no runs and struck out 7. Patrick Lane threw 2.1 innings with two strikeouts, conceding just a hit.

Cronulla Black’s pitching combination of Lucas Grant and Jack Smith were equally as effective, giving up just two hits and striking out 12.

The Rangers scored their only run on a wild pitch in the second inning.

MELBOURNE RANGERS

Hits (2): A. Griffiths, A. Watt-Sinclair

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits (3): L. Grant, O. Fowler. W. Bunker

RYDE BLACK 16 def NORTHERN TERRITORY 1  | Ryde Black need just three innings to improve to 2-0

From the moment the umpire said ‘play ball’ Ryde Black were on.

The game was called (run rule) after a Ryde Black built up a 16-1 lead after three innings. It caps off a wonderful afternoon. Ryde. are 2-0 and alone at the top of Pool B after their 10-5 late-game win over the Melbourne Athletics.

Iain Choi allowed just one run on the mound off four hits. He struck out eight.

Koji Komine starred with the bat, racking up a perfect 3-for-3 stat line.

On the day, all 12 members of Ryde Black reached base.

RYDE. BLACK

Hits: K. Komine (3), A. Post (2), H. Myles, Y. Otsuka, I. Choi
RBI: K. Komine (2), J. Valente, A. Post, H. Myles, Y. Otsuka, L. Wolstenholme, I. Choi

Pitching:
Iain Choi 3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

NT BUFFALOES

Hits: H. Clifton, C. Brown, K. Sleigh, T. Howell
RBI: H. Clifton

Pitching:
C. Brown 1.0 IP, 4 H, 9 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
T. Brown 1.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
K. Sleigh 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Eastern Phantoms 9 def Brisbane Metro 1 | Consistent Phantoms ride plucky hitting and super defense to a win

Eastern Phantoms opened their Little League Championship campaign in style on Wednesday, defeating Brisbane Metro 9-1 behind a complete team performance at Diamond 1.

They scored in all but one inning during the win.

The Phantoms struck first in the opening inning when a dropped third strike allowed the game’s first run to score before adding two more in the second after Brisbane Metro miscues extended the inning.

Eastern Phantoms continued to build pressure throughout the afternoon and effectively put the game out of reach in the third. Lachlan Kendall delivered the key blow with a two-run double as the Phantoms stretched the lead to 5-0.

Darcy Brewis started on the mound and set the tone early, allowing just one run across 3.1 innings while striking out three. Lachlan Kendall followed with a dominant relief appearance, punching out six across two scoreless innings and not allowing a hit. Ari Kelly recorded the final two outs to secure the victory.

Kendall starred at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Ari Kelly also collected two hits, while Nicholas Rowland, Darcy Brewis, Oliver Duck and Carter Stingers each contributed offensively.

The Phantoms were flawless defensively, committing no errors. Mitchell Renwick led the way behind the plate and in the field, handling 10 defensive chances.

Brisbane Metro’s lone run came on an RBI single from Kai McKenna. Benji Robertson, Hamish McMahon, Ari Holmstrom and Axel Holmstrom also recorded hits in the loss.

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: L. Kendall (2), A. Kelly (2), N. Rowland, D. Brewis, O. Duck, C. Stingers
RBI: L. Kendall (2), N. Rowland, J. McCay

Pitching:
Darcy Brewis 3.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Lachlan Kendall 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Ari Kelly 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0

BRISBANE METRO

Hits: K. McKenna, B. Robertson, H. McMahon, A. Holmstrom, A. Holmstrom
RBI: K. McKenna

Pitching:

Noah Chang 3.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Kai McKenna 1.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Noah Akahoshi 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Ari Holmstrom 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

An adventurous day as the tournament was relocated 300km down the highway to conclude the tournament after heavy rains hit Gold Coast and Northern NSW.

After multiple contingency fields were foiled at the last minute due to rain, teams made their way nearly 300km away in Redcliffe, Queensland to play out the rest of the tournament.

Here is your Newspaper Story. Here you’ll find today’s scores, quick game recaps, key stats, highlights, and photos from across both tournaments.

By Monday, two teams will earn the right to represent Australia at their respective World Series events.

To watch live and free, head to Baseball+ via the app or at Baseball+.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE AND SCORES

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JUNIOR LEAGUE – Tournament Hub | INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE – Tournament Hub

JUNIOR LEAGUE FINALS
at Redcliffe, live Scoring via GameChanger

Semi Final: Cronulla Black 8 def Hills Blue 0

GOLD MEDAL: Eastern Phantoms 4 def Cronulla Black 2

Eastern Phantoms win gold and advance to the Junior League World Series in California later this year.

INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE FINALS
at Pine Hills Baseball Club, Live Scoring via GameChanger

2:15PM – GOLD MEDAL: Adelaide Armada 13 def Southern Titans 0

Adelaide Armada win gold and advance to the Intermediate League World Series in California later this year.

RECAPS

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INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE GOLD: Adelaide Armada 13 def Southern Titans 0 | Adelaide Armada Crowned Intermediate League Champions After Dominant Gold Medal Performance

The Adelaide Armada are national champions. .

Adelaide claimed the 2026 Intermediate League Championship on Monday morning with a commanding 13-0 victory over Southern Titans, securing Australia’s spot at the Intermediate League World Series in Livermore, California this August.

It marks the first time since 2016 that an Adelaide team has won a Little League national championship.

The victory capped a remarkable and chaotic final day of the tournament.

After relentless rain up and down the New South Wales and Queensland coast left nearly every diamond in the region unplayable, the Gold Medal Game was relocated nearly 300 kilometres north to Redcliffe Baseball Club in Queensland.A huge effort from tournament officials, volunteers, and baseball clubs ensured the championship game could still go ahead.

Once first pitch arrived, Adelaide wasted no time taking control.

The Armada exploded for four runs in the opening inning before putting the game out of reach with a six-run second inning in a relentless offensive display.

Ethan Zoontjens ignited the fast start with a two-run double in the first before Archie Wallis, Brock Harding, and Harrison Malec all contributed RBI plays as Adelaide surged ahead early.

The pressure never stopped.

Cooper Scarabotti and William Fuller added RBI singles in the second inning, Wallis drove in two more runs, Zachary Gratton worked a bases-loaded walk, and Harrison Malec added another RBI hit as the lead ballooned to 10-0.

It was a complete team effort offensively.

Adelaide collected 12 hits, drew seven walks, stole seven bases, and played flawless defence behind one of the best pitching performances of the tournament.

Zoontjens was sensational on the mound, throwing a complete-game no-hitter across five innings while striking out eight.

The right-hander battled through five walks but never allowed Southern Titans to record a hit, repeatedly making big pitches whenever pressure mounted.

Wallis finished with three RBI, while Zoontjens, Wallis, Harrison Malec, and Fuller all collected two hits each.

The championship win sends Adelaide to the Intermediate League World Series in California later this year, where they will represent Australia on the international stage.

WINNING PLAYER LIST: Archie Wallis, Brock Harding, Harrison Malec, Flynn Dienelt, Angus Deer, Harvey Ingram, Cooper Scarabotti, Ethan Zoontjens, Jack Blanton, Zachary Gratton, William Fuller, Archer Spratt

ADELAIDE ARMADA

Hits (12): Ethan Zoontjens (2), Archie Wallis (2), Harrison Malec (2), William Fuller (2), Brock Harding, Harvey Ingram, Cooper Scarabotti, Archer Spratt

RBI: Archie Wallis (3), Ethan Zoontjens (2), Zachary Gratton (2), Brock Harding, Harrison Malec, Cooper Scarabotti, William Fuller

Pitching: Ethan Zoontjens — 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 8 K

SOUTHERN TITANS

Pitching:
Jack Clarke — 1.1 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
Jacob Golding — 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

JUNIOR LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL: Cronulla 8 def Hills Blue 0| Cronulla Black Advance to Gold Medal Game Behind Birthday Shutout From Kai Shibata

Cronulla Black are through to the Junior League Gold Medal Game after an emotional and dominant 8-0 semi-final victory over Hills Blue on Monday afternoon.

The win sets up a championship showdown against Eastern Phantoms in just 30 minutes.

In a day filled with chaos and weather drama, Cronulla came through.

The semi-final was relocated to Redcliffe Baseball Club in Queensland, nearly 300 kilometres from Lismore, after relentless rain across the coast rendered almost every diamond in the region unplayable. Thanks to a remarkable effort from tournament officials, volunteers, and local baseball clubs, the game was still able to go ahead.

And once it did, Kai Shibata owned the moment.

Pitching on his 14th birthday, Shibata was outstanding across six shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out five to lead Cronulla into the national championship game.

But the game’s most emotional moment came in the third inning.

With Cronulla building momentum, Hudson Shorey delivered a key RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0. It was bigger than baseball.

Just one month ago, Shorey lost his mother. Following the tournament relocations, Cronulla unexpectedly found themselves playing on the very diamond where his mum had grown up playing baseball in Redcliffe.

In a moment almost impossible to script, Shorey came through with one of the biggest hits of the game on the same field tied so closely to his family.

Cronulla then broke the semi-final open with an eight-run third inning, the same inning Shorey had his hit.

Fenix Cutajar drove in a run with a single before Eli Foo worked a bases-loaded walk. Shorey followed with his RBI hit, Shibata added another run with a groundout, and Franklin Pyke crushed a bases-clearing triple to put the game firmly out of reach. Logan Glasheen later added another RBI groundout to cap the inning.

Pyke finished with three RBI and two hits in the middle of the lineup, while Benjamin Napier reached base twice via walks as Cronulla’s offence continued to apply pressure throughout the afternoon.

Zack Fordyce closed the final inning with two strikeouts to complete the combined shutout.

Hills Blue threatened at times through Justin Jang, who collected two hits, while Hudson Dobb stole two bases, but Cronulla’s pitching staff and defence never allowed the game to tighten.

CRONULLA BLACK

Hits: Franklin Pyke (2), Fenix Cutajar, Hudson Shorey
RBI: Franklin Pyke (3), Fenix Cutajar, Eli Foo, Hudson Shorey, Kai Shibata, Logan Glasheen
3B: Franklin Pyke

Pitching:
Kai Shibata — 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Zack Fordyce — 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

JUNIOR LEAGUE GOLD MEDAL: Eastern Phantoms 4 def Cronulla Black 2 | Ellis dominates, Phantoms hold off late charge to claim Gold

The Eastern Phantoms are heading to the Junior League World Series.

The Western Australian club defeated Cronulla Black 4-2 in a tense Gold Medal Game on Monday evening at Redcliffe Baseball Club, earning the right to represent Australia in Taylor, Michigan this August against teams from around the globe.

It capped a remarkable tournament run for the Phantoms, who opened the national championships by conceding five runs in the top of the first inning of their opening game. They finished it as national champions without committing a single error across the entire tournament.

Lincoln Ellis was the star of the show, tossing 6.2 shutout innings in the win.

The title game was anything but comfortable.

Cronulla entered the championship less than 30 minutes after shutting out tournament favourites Hills Blue 8-0 in the semi-final, but the Eastern Phantoms struck immediately and never fully let go of control.

On the very first pitch of the game, Riley Malcolm singled to spark the offence. Hunter Gordon later drove in a run before Joshua Watts ripped a two-run single to give the Phantoms an immediate 2-0 lead in the opening inning.

The Phantoms added another run in the third when Gordon lined an RBI single down the right field line to make it 3-0.

Lincoln Ellis then took over.

The right-hander delivered one of the pitching performances of the tournament, allowing just three hits across the opening six innings while striking out nine. Ellis faced the minimum through six innings and repeatedly escaped trouble with composure and defence behind him.

His biggest moment came in the third inning.

Cronulla placed two runners on with nobody out and threatened to completely shift momentum, but Ellis responded with consecutive strikeouts before the Phantoms escaped the inning to preserve the three-run advantage.

Defence also played a massive role throughout the game.

Eastern Phantoms twice cut down Cronulla runners on the bases during the opening innings, while Joshua Watts turned a key fly ball into a double play in the fifth inning to stop another potential rally.

Cronulla’s defence answered with moments of its own, including a strong play at third base to end a dangerous Phantoms threat in the third inning and keep the deficit within reach.

The game stayed tense all the way to the final out.

Eastern extended the margin to 4-0 in the seventh before Cronulla mounted one final charge. Down to their last out with nobody on base, Cronulla rattled off three straight hits to suddenly bring the tying run to the plate.

Benjamin Napier drove in a run before Franklin Pyke added another RBI hit to cut the deficit to 4-2 and make the finish nervy for the Phantoms.

But after Jordan Abbott entered in relief, Eastern finally secured the final out to complete the championship victory.

The two teams had already played one classic earlier in the tournament, when Eastern edged Cronulla 1-0 in pool play. The Gold Medal Game proved just as tense.

The championship game was relocated to Redcliffe Baseball Club in Queensland, nearly 300 kilometres north of Lismore, after relentless rain across New South Wales and Queensland left almost every diamond in the region unplayable. A huge effort from tournament officials, volunteers, and baseball clubs ensured the national final could still go ahead.

PLAYER LIST: Jordan Abbott, Jake Hayden, Troy Kingma, Riley Malcolm, Joshua Watts, Lincoln Ellis, Samuel Gardiner, Bailey Stingers, Hunter Gordon, Ryder Canny, Brody Warner, Brody Perkins. Coaches: Adam Ellis (Manager), Jeremy Sexton, Malcolm Riley, Bianca Hayden (EO)

EASTERN PHANTOMS

Hits: R. Malcolm, H. Gordon, J. Watts, B. Warner, T. Kingma
RBI: J. Watts (2), H. Gordon

Pitching:
Lincoln Ellis — 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Jordan Abbott — 0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER

CRONULLA BLACK
Hits: K. Shibata, B. Napier, F. Pyke, C. Blyton, L. Vigil, Z. Fordyce
RBI: B. Napier, F. Pyke

Pitching:
Zack Fordyce — 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Leo Vigil — 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

NEW UPDATE (12:50PM)

There have been massive amounts of rain in a short period just now in Windsor. All games relocated to Redcliffe. Approximate game times
– 2:00PM: Intermediate League Gold
– 3:00PM: Junior League Semi Final
– 30 mins after: Junior League Gold

NEW UPDATE (12:10PM)

Brisbane has endured an hour of rain between 10AM – 11AM which has made Pine Hills unplayable.

Redcliffe Padres and Windsor Royals are playable. Therefore, we will proceed with the new schedule:

At Windsor:
– 2:00PM: Junior League Semi Final: Cronulla vs Hills Blue
– 30 mins after: Junior League Gold

At Redcliffe:
– 2:00PM: Intermediate League Gold

Stay tuned for more updates. Thanks to the baseball community for their tremendous efforts.

ORIGINAL STORY (8:00AM)

There has been a significant amount of rain in the Lismore, Gold Coast and Brisbane region(s) on Sunday, overnight and yesterday morning.

Baseball Australia has made the decision to move the final games of the 2026 Intermediate League and Junior League tournaments to Pine Hills Baseball Club in Brisbane.

This outlines the new schedule and the decision making process. Thank you to the players and teams for their ongoing understanding, patience and flexibility. We can’t wait to see you fight for Gold!

New Schedule – Pine Hills Baseball Club

1:00PM – Intermediate League Gold Medal Game: Adelaide Marlins vs Southern Titans

1:00PM – Junior League Semi Final: Hills Blue vs Cronulla

30 minutes after Junior League SF – Gold Medal Game: Winner SF vs Eastern Phantoms

All consolation games are cancelled.

Early Field Inspection

We would like to thank all staff, volunteers and the incredible baseball community who woke up very early on Monday morning to inspect fields across Northern NSW, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

After two hours of field inspections and on the information provided in a short time window, contingency fields in the Gold Coast and Northern NSW area were deemed unplayable.

Moving to Brisbane

Upon inspection, Pine Hills Baseball Club became available as an option for the remaining Finals Games to be played across both divisions.

Baseball Australia has organised multiple busses to pick teams up from their accommodation and return them after the games to relieve Team Staff requirements to drive.

The broadcast and photography teams have been mobilised to attempt to capture the event. Thank you to Spacequake Sports and Dan Cohen Photography for hitting the road.

Next Steps

We play ball.

Thank you very much to the entire baseball community.

There are a lot of great people who dropped everything to try to make sure the kids get to play out the remainder of the championship.

We’d like to offer a sincere thanks to the team at Far North Coast Baseball Association. Based on the weather across the eastern half of Australia, we feel fortunate to have had this even on at Albert Park to complete four days of play.

Thank you to all the clubs, families, parents, players, staff, officials, and the broader baseball community who reached out and offered assistance in any way shape or form. We feel proud to be part of a community that comes together with the goal of giving the kids a chance to play.

Best of luck to the teams in the Finals.

Play ball.