Back Mountain Completes Championship Comeback, Claims Section 5 9-11 Title
By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | July 18, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus
MOUNTAIN TOP — Championship baseball often comes down to timely plays, and Back Mountain Little League delivered them when they mattered most.
Less than 24 hours after extending the Section 5 Championship with a Game 1 victory, Back Mountain rallied again Saturday, defeating Green Ridge Little League 4-2 to earn the Section 5 9-11 Championship and a berth in next week’s Pennsylvania State Tournament in Selinsgrove.
Green Ridge wasted little time jumping in front.
With two outs in the opening inning, Will Mackrell lined a single to bring home a pair of runs, giving Green Ridge an early 2-0 advantage.
Back Mountain stayed patient and chipped away before breaking through in the third inning. Max Gannon delivered the game’s biggest hit, lining a single to right field that brought home two runs and evened the score at 2-2.
The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the fifth when Back Mountain manufactured the go-ahead run. Maxton Mercadante grounded out to plate the eventual game-winning run, and moments later an error allowed another insurance run to cross, extending the lead to 4-2.
On the mound, Max Gannon turned in a championship performance. The right-hander scattered six hits over six complete innings, allowing two runs while striking out four and walking just one to secure the title.
Green Ridge starter Mike Meyers battled through four innings, surrendering four runs, three earned, while striking out two.
Green Ridge collected six hits, led by Leland Kearney, who went a perfect 3-for-3 at the top of the lineup. Will Mackrell drove in both Green Ridge runs, while the District 17 champions also turned a crisp double play defensively to keep the game within reach until the final inning.
Back Mountain made the most of its opportunities despite recording just two hits. Ben Brodginski and Max Gannon each collected a hit, while Matthew DeSanto, Maxton Mercadante, and Max Gannon each drove in a run.
After dropping the opening game of the tournament series Tuesday, Back Mountain responded with victories in back to back days over Green Ridge to complete the comeback and capture the Section 5 championship.
The title sends Back Mountain Little League on to the Pennsylvania State 9-11 Tournament in Selinsgrove, where it will represent Section 5 against the Commonwealth’s top teams.
Top Performers
Back Mountain Little League
- Max Gannon — Complete game victory (6 IP, 2 ER, 4 K), 1-for-1, RBI and game-tying two-run single.
- Ben Brodginski — Doubled, scored a run and helped ignite the offense.
- Maxton Mercadante — Delivered the go-ahead RBI on a fifth-inning groundout.
Green Ridge Little League
- Leland Kearney — Outstanding 3-for-3 performance at the top of the lineup with a double and a run scored.
- Will Mackrell — 1-for-2 with the two-run RBI single that gave Green Ridge an early lead.
- Mike Meyers — Four innings on the mound while helping keep Green Ridge within striking distance throughout the championship game.
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter / X
YouTube
