Berlin Tops Brunswick in Extra Innings to Open State Tournament

The 2026 Maryland Little League 10‑12 Baseball state championship tournament got underway at Halfway National on Saturday, July 18, featuring three winners‑bracket quarterfinals. Among the opening-day games, Berlin delivered a dramatic extra‑inning victory over the Brunswick Railroaders, scoring the winning run on a passed ball in the seventh inning.

Berlin fell behind by four runs early, but a flurry of hits turned the tide. Corbin Derr’s RBI single trimmed the deficit to 5‑2 in the third, and a trio of RBI singles by Jackson Howell, Declan Soares and Jonah Isett in the fourth tied the game. Cooper Smith’s RBI single in the fifth gave Berlin a 7‑5 lead, and AJ Nelson’s scoring on a passed ball sealed the 8‑7 triumph.

Brunswick started strong with Jack Rhodes’ sacrifice fly in the first and an RBI single by Brayden Mobley in the second. The Railroaders extended their advantage with Rhodes’ three‑run homer in the third and two wild pitches that tied the game in the sixth. Despite the late rally, Berlin’s defense held on for the win.

The tournament also featured two additional quarterfinal matchups on opening day. Dorchester faced North East at 11:30 a.m., while South Baltimore squared off against Hughesville at 7:00 p.m. Both games set the stage for a deep winners bracket that will narrow the field over the coming days.

Key Tournament Schedule

• Quarterfinal matchups: Dorchester vs. North East (July 18, 11:30 a.m.), South Baltimore vs. Hughesville (July 18, 7:00 p.m.)

• Semifinal: Hub City faces Berlin (July 19, 9:00 a.m.)

• Quarterfinal continuation: Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner (July 19, 11:30 a.m.)

• Elimination round: Losers of Game 2 and Game 3 meet (July 19, 7:00 p.m.)

• Mid‑round action: Game 4 loser vs. Game 6 winner (July 20, 5:30 p.m.) and Game 5 loser vs. Brunswick (July 20, 8:00 p.m.)

• Winners bracket final: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner (July 21, 5:30 p.m.)

• Elimination semifinal: Winners of the two quarterfinals in the elimination bracket (July 21, 8:00 p.m.)

• Elimination final & championship: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (July 22, 7:00 p.m.) and the Maryland champion meets its opponent in the championship (July 23, 7:00 p.m.)

Path to the Little League World Series

After completing the state tournament, the Maryland champion will head to Bristol, Connecticut, for the Mid‑Atlantic Regional, slated to start on August 9. A run through the regional brackets could set up a berth in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, beginning August 19. Success at that level would mark the deepest postseason run for the state’s Little League program in recent memory.

The journey from the first pitch on July 18 to the possible championship game in late August highlights the depth of talent across Maryland’s districts. As teams like Berlin, Brunswick, Dorchester and South Baltimore battle for the state title, fans are treated to a rapid progression of talent and excitement. The eventual champion will carry momentum into the regional tournament, aiming to make Maryland proud on the national stage.