The 2023 Little League State Championships finished in thrilling fashion with a fantastic day of finals at Knox. Congratulations to our State Champions: Athletics (Little League Major), Twins (Little League Development), and Rangers Blue (Little League Minor).
Thank you to Knox Baseball Club and all the volunteers for making this such a wonderful weekend of baseball. Well done to everyone who took the field and had fun!
Catch up on photos and results on Facebook and read GameChanger recaps below.
Little League Major
Twins 8, Mets 0
Mets watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in an 8-0 loss to Twins on Sunday. Twins took the lead on a walk by Mason McKelvie in the first inning.
One bright spot for Mets was a single by Lucas Kelly in the first inning.
Mason was on the mound for Twins, giving up zero runs on five hits over six innings, striking out nine and walking zero.
Cruize Chase was on the pitcher's mound for Mets. The pitcher went three and a third innings, allowing six runs on two hits and striking out ten. Lucas threw two and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen.
Cale Morris led Mets with two hits in two at-bats. Twins racked up five hits as Maisen Ricketts and Nathan Macaulay had two hits apiece.
Rangers 9, Mariners 1
Rangers got ahead early in a 9-1 victory over Rangers on Sunday. Rangers scored on singles by Chase Potts and Lachlan Jeffree in the first inning.
Rangers added four runs in the fifth inning with RBIs from Tony Huang, James Wright, and Kai Cottam.
Rafferty Groenendyk led things off on the hill for Rangers. The hurler surrendered zero runs on one hit over four innings, striking out nine.
Toby Browning was on the pitcher's mound for Mariners. Toby lasted two innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out four. Bodhi Evans, Reuben Lian, and Liam Johnston contributed in relief for Mariners.
Brodie Leigh and Alexander Wavish each collected one hit to lead Mariners.
Rangers racked up nine hits on the day, including multiple for Chase and John Gogos. The team was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error as Oscar Haysom had the most chances with ten.
Grand Final: Athletics 9, Twins 8
It came down to the wire on Sunday, with Athletics taking victory on a dramatic walk-off in the late innings that sealed their victory over Twins.
Bats blistered as Athletics collected 14 hits and Twins tallied six in the high-scoring game. Twins got things started in the first inning as Maisen Ricketts singled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run.
Athletics scored four runs in the second with RBIs from Edison Bush, Jack Downs, and Joel Roberts. Twins put up three in the frame with big hits by Joshua Rowlands and Alexander Pezzin.
Athletics evened things up at eight in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kieran Hurlstone induced Archer Nicholas to hit into a fielder's choice, but one run scored.
Oliver Allen led things off on the mound for Athletics. The bulldog surrendered six runs on five hits over three and a third innings, striking out seven.
Beckett Shanks led things off on the pitcher's mound for Twins. Beckett surrendered seven runs on 12 hits over four and two-thirds innings, striking out five. Kieran threw two innings out of the bullpen.
Athletics tallied 14 hits in the game with two apiece for Jack, Cooper Box, Jacob Tayler, and Reiley Marshall.
Little League Division 2 Development
Mets PB 13, Belles 1
Mets won 13-1 over Belles thanks to a big first inning. Mets scored on walks by Leo N, Mika S, Kristian M, Cody I, and Jarvis W.
Tiare A got the start for Mets, giving up one run on one hit over four innings, striking out 11.
Evangelynn L was on the mound for Belles, giving up zero hits and six runs over two-thirds of an inning, striking out two. Alexandra E and Hannah W entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two innings and one inning respectively.
Madeline H led Belles with one hit while Tiare went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Mets in hits.
Mariners Teal 18, Mariners 10
Mariners fell behind early and couldn't come back in an 18-10 loss to Mariners Teal on Sunday. Mariners Teal scored on walks by Dallas H and Quinn M in the first inning.
Despite the loss, Mariners did collect eight hits in the high-scoring game, although Mariners Teal had nine. The winners scored five runs in the fourth inning with walks by Kino O, Otis F, and Sebastian H, plus hits by Griffin L and by Leo W.
Earlier, Ryder N, Gene B, and Beau R singled in the third to help score six runs.
Gene got the start for Mariners Teal. The hurler allowed five hits and five runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two.
Leo led things off on the pitcher's mound for Mariners, throwing one and one-third innings, allowing three hits and eight runs while striking out three. Sebastian and Maddy S entered the game as relief, throwing one inning and two-thirds of an inning respectively.
Mariners tallied eight hits on the day as Griffin went 3-for-3 and Bennet R also had multiple hits, plus three of the team's 11 stolen bases.
Mariners Teal collected nine hits and stole 11 bases as Ryder led the way with three and also had multiple hits alongside Gene and Beau.
Mets 23, Athletics 10
Athletics fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 23-10 loss to Mets on Sunday. Mets scored on an error, a double by Hayden H, and a fielder's choice by Trace L in the first inning.
Despite the loss, Athletics did collect seven hits in the high-scoring game, although Mets had 11 hits on the way to victory.
Mets scored nine runs in the fifth inning thanks to singles by Spencer T, Teal L, and Hayden, plus a fielder's choice by Levi E and an error on a ball put in play by Owen D.
Grant A led things off on the hill for Mets. The ace surrendered ten runs on seven hits over three innings, striking out five.
Charlie F started the game for Athletics. The pitcher went two innings, allowing seven runs on two hits and striking out two. Dylan A, Alexander K, and Peter B all contributed in relief.
Charlie went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Athletics in hits. Athletics stole eight bases during the game as two players stole more than one. Pete led the way with three.
Mets racked up 11 hits in the game, including multiple hits for Hayden, Grant, and Teal. Mets tore up the base paths, as four players stole at least two bases and Owen led the way with three.
Grand Final: Twins 12, Rangers 5
Rangers fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 12-5 loss to Twins on Sunday. Twins scored on an error during Luis F's at bat and a single by Taylor L in the first inning.
Rangers lost despite out-hitting Twins four to three. Twins racked up five runs in the third inning with RBIs from Luis, Taylor, Lucas E, and Ali R.
Oskar G was on the mound for Twins. The bulldog went three innings, allowing five runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
Riley started the game for Rangers. The hurler surrendered seven runs on three hits over two innings, striking out three. Hugh H threw one and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen and also went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Rangers in hits.
Twins stole 12 bases during the game as three players stole more than one. Luis led the way with two stolen bases and also had the most chances in the field with five.
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