Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Shelby, NC (WNN) - This is a gorgeous morning to play day 3 in the 2025 American Legion World Series. Going into today's final round of division pool play, 21 home runs have been hit, and today will probably see the record-setting number increased. Several records have been broken due to the homerun fireworks; every game has included at least one homerun, and each team has at least one homerun in the tournament. Rockport, Indiana's Micah Toler set a record for the most different positions played in a game on Saturday. He played third base and right field, pitched, and finished at second base for a total of four positions played in a game. Several players have had multiple home runs in a single game as well. Home run records are exciting; however, the most important thing in today's game is survival and moving on to the semifinal round.
No team has been eliminated or secured a berth in the semifinals through the first two days. Chesapeake, Virginia, is the only team without a loss, yet they could still be eliminated in the tie-breaking process if they lose to Bossier City, LA, in the first game of the day. Greece, NY, is the only 0-2 team; however, they are still mathematically alive due to how the tie breakers come into play. They have the lowest odds of making it, but still have an outside shot pending the results of their three-day play and scores of other games. If Bossier City wins, NY will automatically be eliminated. The easiest path for any team to advance is first to win, second to allow as few runs as possible, and score as many runs as possible. Every game and every run on day three is crucial. After the night's final game, only four teams will remain. Let's see how it played out.
The outcome of this game would have a huge impact on the Stripes Division. Bossier City got on the board first after Hudson Brignac ripped a triple and was sacrificed in by Easton Sanders. After one complete inning, LA. 1-0 over VA. The Seals of Chesapeake would answer back with a homerun off the bat of Ben Kablach. The score was still tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the third. Jackson Jones grounded to shortstop, but it is mishandled, and he is safe. Cole Snell drilled a home run that scored him and Jones. After three innings, the Bossier City Phillies led 3-1.
Brody Bower for Bossier City and Colin Lebel for Chesapeake pitched great games and kept the scoring low—more offensive action in the top of the fifth. Trey Campos walked, Reid Downs singled, and then Campos scored off a sacrifice from Keegan Haesler. Wes Stubbe followed with a base hit, and heads-up running from Reid Downs resulted in him scoring from second on the throw. His speed and a headfirst Pete Rose-style slide beat the throw and tag. We were now tied at 3-3, and these two teams were clearly demonstrating why they are two of the top eight teams in the nation. In the bottom of the fifth, Kade Bryant scored what proved to be the winning run as Hudson Brignac grounded to shortstop, and the ensuing error allowed him to score on the throw. The rest of the game was a pitching duel—a thrilling, low-scoring game between two great teams. Final score was Bossier City, LA 4 and Chesapeake, VA 3.
Bossier City scored 4 runs on 5 hits, made 0 errors, and left 3 runners on base. The win improves them to 2-1, and Chesapeake scored 3 runs on 7 hits, made 2 errors, and left 5 runners on base. They fall to 2-1. What this means for the Stripes Division is that Greece, NY, is officially eliminated. If Asheville, NC, loses tonight, they will be eliminated. They must shut out NY and score at least 13 runs to advance. A loss by NC automatically advances Louisiana, and that would also give Louisiana the top seed from the Stripes Division since they defeated Virginia head-to-head. Virginia is in because they hold a tiebreaker advantage over NC.
The Stars Division is a little more straightforward. All four teams are tied at 1-1; win and you're in, lose and you're out. Rockport got off to a quick start as Micah Toler walked and then scored on a home run by Peyton Gray. They were quickly ahead 2-0 over League City. They added one more at the top of the third when Andersen Smith singled in Micah Toler. Starting pitcher Talon Jennings was pitching a gem of a game; it looked like Rockport's day with a 3-0 lead. League City knew the season was on the line and would not go away easily. It took a while, but they finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. A homerun from Jarret Williams followed a two-out single by Tyler Sauers, and the hit was a blast over right center field.
Rockport's 3-2 lead looked very fragile at this point. The bottom of the next inning saw the game tied at 3-3 on a two-out Noah Paulson double that scored Asa Sampson. The seventh was scoreless, and the game headed to extra innings. Rockport made some noise in the eighth but left two runners stranded. Texas could not bring in Noah Paulson after he reached on a single. The ninth inning looked decisive as Rockport loaded the bases with two outs; unfortunately, a called strike three ended the threat. Texas, however, could not get a runner on base. Both teams were fighting for their playoff lives and were giving all-out efforts on defense to squash anything the other could get going. Our game headed into the tenth inning. There is a new rule in place in 2025 for extra-inning games. If no winner has been declared after the ninth inning, the "ghost-runner" rule goes into effect. A runner is placed on second base to begin the inning. Rockport failed to advance the runner, and we reached the bottom of the tenth. The speedy Caden Schindler was selected as League City's "ghost runner". Jackson Higgins blasted the second pitch down the third base line into left field, and it was hit in just the right spot for Schindler to sprint home from second. League City, Texas, secured a 4-3 walk-off victory.
League City scored 4 runs off 11 hits, made 2 errors, and left 7 runners on base. The win sends Texas to the semifinals on Monday. Whether they are first or second seed will be determined after the next game. Rockport< Indiana, was eliminated after scoring 3 runs on 3 hits, making 0 errors, and leaving 10 runners on base. So far, we have seen New York and Indiana eliminated. Virginia and Texas have advanced.
After sitting through a ten-inning game, nothing sounds better than grabbing a hot dog or a brat with grilled onions and peppers. Dayne Grigg has a tent set up for freshly grilled dogs called Dayne's Hot Dogs. He has been set up at the ALWS most every year since it moved permanently to Shelby, NC. Dayne's tent is always busy and a favorite spot to grab a dog between games. He is located just behind the third base grandstand, and the enticing aroma lures in fans from all over the stadium. Any true baseball fan knows you cannot watch a ballgame without a hot dog, and Dayne will be glad to hook you up with a delicious dog. Grigg has served the Shelby area for close to 55 years. He originally had his business located on NC Hwy 18. Dayne's Shingle Shack was opened in 1971 and operated for 46 years, serving Shelby and Kings Mountain residents. Construction of a new bypass forced him to relocate about 7 years ago, when the DOT bought him out. When not at the ALWS, he can be found at local events, such as the Cleveland County Fair and concerts.
This was another elimination game as the winner would advance, and the loser would be eliminated. Portland wasted no time showing they meant business. Kaino Santiago led off with a stand-up double. Joe Fagan singled next, and Dakota Chun's base hit gave them an early lead with Santiago scoring. Gabe Coltman walked to load bases. He was picked off at first. Carter Stewart walked to load them again. Ryan Nakamura doubled in a run, and Portland has the early lead of 4-0. An errant throw by the catcher allowed Nebraska to plate their own run. After one complete, 4-1 in favor of Portland. In the bottom of the second, Nebraska erased one more run when Bradyn Erickson scored from second base on a wild pitch. In the top of the third, Carter Stewart scored on a throwing error to push the lead to 5-2 for Oregon. Nebraska could not answer in the bottom of the inning. Oregon could not score in the top of the fourth, and it appeared things had settled down, but nothing could have been farther from the truth.
The bottom of the fourth saw both teams on a scoring rampage. Multiple pitching changes and defensive position swapping became the norm as each team tried everything to emerge victorious and advance to the semifinals. Nebraska captured the lead at 7-5 due to a couple of errors, a hit batter, and several hits. Oregon used two hit batters to score two more runs in the top of the fifth. The game was tied 7-7. It seemed Portland had put the game on ice, adding six runs in the sixth to lead 13-7, but not to be. Lincoln fought back to pull within 3 runs, 13-10. Griffin Scott hit his second home run in the final frame to seal the deal. Lincoln could not produce any offense in the bottom of the seventh. Final score, Portland, Oregon, 16-10 over Lincoln, Nebraska.
Lincoln scored 10 runs on 8 hits, made 2 errors, and left 8 runners on base. The loss eliminated them from the series. Portland scored 16 runs on 13 hits, made 5 errors, and left 6 runners on base. The win sends them to Monday's semifinals. Portland finishes as the runner-up in the Stars Division, and League City, Texas, finishes as the top seed. Their opponents will be determined by the outcome of the final game tonight.
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The final game of pool play will determine not only the runner-up in the Stripes Division but also the pairings for Monday's games. Asheville needs to win, shut out Greece, and score at least 13 runs to have a chance to advance. This one should be interesting. A good crowd for a Sunday night has turned out to see this one.
Kolt Nelson hits a base hit with one out. Evan Conner and Caden Davidson both walked. Nelson scored on a wild pitch, and Evan Conner scored off a Micah Simpson base hit. Hayes Hillier walked, and Reagan Smith's double knocks in three. Asheville leads 5-0. Asheville adds three more in the second as Jordyn Brown, Kolt Nelson, and Caden Davidson all score. NC is up 8-0. Two more runs in the third and one in the fourth, and Asheville goes up 11-0. The situation now for Asheville is they need to hold NY scoreless, then score at least two in the top of the fifth, and hold NY scoreless again in the bottom of the fifth. The game within the game is exciting. Kolt Nelson led off the inning with a walk, Evan Conner also walked, and Caden Davidson struck out swinging. A double steal moves runners to second and third. Micah Simpson struck out swinging. Hayes Hillier must reach base but pops out, ending any hope of Asheville advancing. It will be a bittersweet victory for Asheville as they win the game by mercy rule, yet get eliminated on a tiebreaker. The game ended 11-0.
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