Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Shelby, NC (WNN) - After a one-day delay due to excessive water on the field, the first pitch of the 2025 ALWS is finally here. Players and coaches have had to deal with the butterflies doing somersaults in their stomachs for an extra day, but now it's time to get down to business. Day one is here, and the weather is gorgeous. Due to the postponement of Thursday's game, Friday was Senior Citizen Day, with everyone over 55 admitted free, and Salute to Academic Achievement Day. Donations of canned soup were collected by the Council on Aging of Cleveland County for the Leona Neal Senior Center. Also, the Parade of Champions took place before the final game of the night with an impressive flyover of the vintage T-28 warbirds.
The players, fans, media, and coaches are ready to start this tournament. Nervous energy is evident in the players' pregame movements. There are 12 games to be played over the first three days of this World Series—a total of 15 games over the course of the five-day event. Let's get to the action and see how day one unfolded.
The tournament began with a great game between the Central Plains and the Great Lakes champions. A scoreless first inning as players began to settle their nerves and focus on the task at hand. Carter McPeak, first baseman for Nebraska, earned the distinction of being the first base runner in the first inning after being hit by a pitch. He was left stranded. The tournament's first base hit came off the bat of Rockport's left fielder, Jared Burger, with one out in the bottom of the second. He would score the first run of the tournament to give Rockport, Indiana, the early 1-0 lead. That run was by virtue of a walk by Seth Doem and a single hit by Braden Pruitt. The throw to home was off target, allowing Burger to easily reach home safely. Through 2 ½ innings, the Carpetland "Rugs", from Lincoln, Nebraska, left a runner on base in each of their three at-bats. Rockport began to pull away in the bottom of the third with 3 runs scored off 4 hits. Micah Toler hit a single, followed by a double from Andersen Smith, scoring Toler. The play of the inning came when Peyton Gray ripped a triple to right-center field. A collision at the plate between Smith and the catcher, with Smith safe, gave Gray enough time to stretch the hit into a triple as he reached safely with a creative slide that somehow eluded the attempted tag. After three complete innings, Indiana led 4-0. Lincoln broke onto the board in the top of the fourth as Carter Harmes hit the first homerun of the tournament. Rockport added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning as Ty Brown and Braden Pruitt both scored. Indiana was now leading 6-1 and looking to be in complete control. In the top half of the fifth, Dele Odulate singled to score Lewis Cockle, then made a series of incredible base-running decisions. He stole second base, then two throwing errors gave him a green light to home plate. The score had been cut in half and was now at 6-3. Rockport went down in order in the bottom of the fifth inning. The top of the sixth saw Nebraska taking all the momentum.
Kalai Larsen laid down a bunt single, then Bradyn Rhodes was hit by a pitch. Lewis Cockle singled to plate Larsen. Trevor Roach sacrificed to center field as Erickson scored. Suddenly, Nebraska is within one run with two outs. Brody McIntire walks to place runners on first and second. Dele Odulate launched a rocket of a line drive toward third base, Micah Toler made the play of the game by laying out into a dive and quickly tagging the bag for the final out, which saved probably two runs and kept Indiana in the lead at 6-5. It also ended the growing momentum that had swung in favor of Lincoln. The bottom of the sixth saw Indiana set down 1,2,3. Nebraska started things off in the seventh with Carter McPeake reaching on a single. Unfortunately, he would be left stranded, ending the game with Rockport, Indiana winning 6-5 over Lincoln, Nebraska.
Indiana scored 6 runs on 7 hits, committed 2 errors, and stranded 7 runners. Their next game will be on Saturday at 1 pm as they face Portland, Oregon, Post 158. Lincoln, Nebraska scored 5 runs on 7 hits, committed only 1 error, and left 5 runners on base. They play again on Saturday at 7 pm against League City, Texas, Post 554. This is a reminder that each team will play three games within their division before we begin eliminating teams.
The Seals of Chesapeake made a statement as they came out swinging to begin our second game of the day. After a leadoff flyout to left field, four straight solid singles were rattled off by Keegan Haelser, Thomas Conrad, Wes Subbe, and Ryan Gocio. George Chevalier joined in on the hit parade with a solid two-run double. Xavier Doon's hard-hit line drive was caught in center field. Trey Campos singled, Reid Vandergrift walked, followed by a single from Reid Downs and a walk from Keegan Haelser. The inning ended on an amazing catch against the wall in right field by Tyler Cannon, robbing Thomas Conrad of an extra-base hit. Twelve Chesapeake batters came to the plate during the opening half inning, blazing out to a 6-0 lead, collecting 7 hits; the only negative was leaving the bases loaded. Greece, New York, looked unfazed as the leadoff batter ripped off a single; however, the bats fizzled as the next three batters made outs. At the top of the second, Wes Stubbe was able to score on a fielder's choice hit by George Chevalier, and the score was now 7-0. Things were beginning to look bleak for New York with two outs in the bottom of the third until Derrick Allen and Mason Davey hit back-to-back singles. Tyler Cannon knocks a standup two-run single, and Greece was back in the contest. The next batter struck out, but the lead was cut down to 7-2. Strong defense and solid pitching kept things at the status quo until the top of the sixth inning. Thomas Conrad and Wes Stubbe hit back-to-back home runs. The one by Conrad was a monster shot that hit off the upper portion, about three-quarters up, of the light bank. After these two blasts, the Chesapeake Seals push the lead to 9-2. New York began to make some noise in the bottom of the seventh inning as Jack Kelly and Dylan Savage both walked. Unfortunately, this was followed by a strikeout, a fielder's choice, and a groundout that ended the comeback attempt.
Greece, New York scored 2 runs, had 6 hits, made zero errors, and left 6 runners on base. Their next game is on Saturday at 10 am as they play Bossier City, Louisiana. Chesapeake, Virginia scored 9 runs off 13 hits, 0 errors, and left 7 runners on base. Next up for the Seals will be Asheville, NC, at 4 pm on Saturday.
Portland began the game with two outs; Dakota Chun hit a single, but he was thrown out as he tried to stretch it to a double. League City looked to get on the board first with a one-out single by Jackson Higgins, a strikeout followed, then a base hit from Ronald Rouse. Things stalled out when the following batter struck out. A hitting explosion began in the second inning. Gabe Coltman led things off with a solo homerun. Carter Stewart walked, Griffin Scott singled, and Ryden Nakamura hit a two-run single. After a double play, the next three batters singled: Jayden Nakamura, Kaino Santiago, and Joe Fagan. After batting around, Oregon had the lead at 4-0. Texas had an answer in the bottom of the second. Conner Keys appeared to ground out with one out; however, the throw from third to first was wide, and he was safe at first base. Tyler Sauers followed with a strikeout, then League City went to work as their bats came to life. Jarret Williams hit a single, Caden Schindler was hit by a pitch, with bases loaded, and Jack Higgins drilled a grand slam home run. Asa Sampson knocked a solo homerun to put League City in the lead for the first time at 5-4. Ronald Rouse and Parker Collier added singles but were unable to score. Oregon came back in the third to tie the game at 5-5 as Griffin Scott doubled in Carter Stewart. Once again, Texas had an answer for Portland. Caden Schindler launched a two-run, two-out home run to retake the lead 7-5. Even with plenty of hits to follow, the scoring ceased until the seventh inning when Portland attempted to stay in the game. Griffin Scott hit a solo homerun with two outs to close the score to within one run at 7-6. Ryden Nakamura hit a blazing single; unfortunately, the next batter struck out for League City to hang on to win 7-6.
League City, Texas scored 7 runs on 13 hits, committed 0 errors, and left 9 runners on base. Saturday, they continue league play at 7 pm in a game against Lincoln, Nebraska. Portland, Oregon scored 6 runs, on 14 hits, made 1 costly error that led to 5 runs, and left 7 runners on base. Saturday, they play at 1 pm when they face Rockport, Indiana. This game was a must-see for fans who enjoy plenty of hits and home runs. Between the two teams, there were 27 hits and 5 home runs.
Asheville starting pitcher Brady Nix retired the first three Bossier City batters. The Cardinals of Asheville were able to draw first blood. Kolt Nelson hit a one-out single; he scored after Caden Davidson took a couple of wild pitches, then hit a little blooper single to right field. Micah Simpson added a base hit, but he and Davidson were left stranded. Asheville 1-0. In the top of the second, back-to-back doubles from Hayes Hillier and Jordyn Brown added another run for the Cardinals as they now led 2-0. The Bossier City Phillies threatened in the top half of the third. Jackson Jones beat out the throw for an infield hit, a pitch hit Cole Snell, after a balk was called, runners were on second and third; however, a pop fly to the outfield ended their hopes of tying the game. Asheville still led 2-0.
Asheville added two more in the bottom of the third when Caden Davidson singles and is knocked in with a two-run homerun by Micah Simpson to go up 4-0. Brady Nix continued to keep the Phillies off the board as Bossier City remained scoreless through 3 ½. Bossier City got into the game in the fifth. After one out and a single by Kade Bryant, Brady Nix was removed due to pitch count. Brady Raye came into the game as Asheville's relief pitcher. Jackson Jones walked, Cole Snell struck out for out two. Hudson Brignac grounded to third, and an error by the third baseman put a runner at first, allowing Kade Bryant to score. Easton Sanders singled, scoring Jones. Sanders stole second, and Brignac successfully stole home on the same play. Bossier City had closed the score to 4-3. Asheville loaded the bases on a hit by pitch on Caden Davidson, a walk by Micah Simpson, and a walk by Reagan Smith. A Hayes Hiller strikeout leaves the bases loaded. Abel Thetford leads off the sixth with a standup double, and he scores on two wild pitches. Score is tied 4-4.
The bottom of the sixth began with a single by Jordyn Brown, he is picked off a few pitches later. Kolt Nelson grounds out for out 2. Evan Conner walked, and he scored when Caden Davidson doubled. Davidson scored on a wild pitch, Micah Simpson was walked, Grant Buchanan singled, and Simpson scored on a single by Carson Wallace. Asheville goes ahead 7-4. Bossier City battled back in the top of the seventh. Cole Snell led off with a double, Hudson Brignac singled, but a throwing error on the left fielder allowed Snell to score. Rignac is driven in on a single from Brock Laird. The score has dwindled to 7-6. Relief pitcher, Micah Simpson, picks off Laird at first base, then the game ends with a called third strike on Abel Thetford. The comeback falls just a little short as Asheville wins it 7-6.
Asheville scored 7 runs on 13 hits, committed 2 errors, and left 10 runners on base. They will play again on Saturday at 4 pm against Chesapeake, VA. Bossier City scored 6 runs on 8 hits, committed no errors, and stranded 5 runners. They play again on Saturday at 10 am against Greece, NY.
A large crowd witnessed an exciting nightcap to top off a thrilling opening day. Due to the high demand, some vendors ran out of hot dogs and pretzels. Saturday has four games on tap beginning at 10 am. There is a lot of baseball left to be played, and quite a bit of strategy will be used to work around pitching restraints caused by the postponed games from Thursday. This should lead to even more exciting play. Eight more games are left in division play to determine which teams advance to Monday's semifinals. Come on out for some quality, fun family entertainment. See you at the park.
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