Honestly, if you haven't been to Saginaw lately, you missed one of the most intense weeks of summer. The michigan little league state tournament just wrapped up its latest chapter at the Zauel Park complex, and the vibes were basically electric.
We aren't just talking about kids playing ball. We’re talking about 12-year-olds throwing heat under the kind of pressure that would make most adults crumble. This year, the story wasn't just about who won, but how a group from the Upper Peninsula—Negaunee Little League—came down and absolutely cleared the field.
They took down Plymouth-Canton 10-5 in the final. It wasn’t a fluke.
The U.P. Powerhouse: What Really Happened in Saginaw
Most people sort of expect the big Metro Detroit teams or the Grand Rapids powerhouses to dominate. Grosse Pointe Farms-City and Taylor North are usually the names you see etched on the trophies. But 2025 belonged to Negaunee.
The championship game on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, started off kinda shaky for the U.P. boys. They were down 1-0 early. You could see the nerves. Then, Gavin Hermes made a snag at second base that basically flipped the momentum on its head.
- The Turning Point: That second inning. Hermes snags a liner, doubles up the runner, and suddenly the dugout is screaming.
- The Offensive Explosion: Negaunee put up four runs immediately after that.
- The Heroics: Nathan Harvala. The kid is a machine. He hit two solo homers in the final after throwing a complete-game shutout the day before against Grand Rapids Southern.
It’s rare to see a team from District 11 come down and handle the heat like that. Evan Cardinal got the win on the mound, and Kalen Johnson came in to shut the door for the save.
Michigan Little League State Tournament: The Path to Williamsport
Winning the state title is huge, but it's really just the beginning of a much longer, more exhausting road. If you're new to how this works, it’s a grind.
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Teams start at the District level in late June or early July. Michigan is split into 16 districts. If you win your district, you move to the state tournament. This year, the state tournament used a pool play format.
How Pool Play Shook Out
The 16 district champs were split into four pools (A, B, C, and D).
- Pool A: Taylor North went 3-0, looking like the favorites early.
- Pool B: Negaunee went 3-0, barely breaking a sweat except for a 5-4 nail-biter against West Branch.
- Pool C: This was a mess. Ypsilanti Arbor American, Southern (Grand Rapids), and Petoskey all finished 2-1. Ypsilanti and Southern moved on based on the runs-allowed ratio.
- Pool D: Grosse Pointe Farms-City dominated, going 3-0 and outscoring opponents by a mile.
The top two teams from each pool advanced to the quarterfinals. That’s where things got weird. Southern knocked out Grosse Pointe Farms-City 7-2. That was a massive upset. Most people had Grosse Pointe pegged for the final.
Then Negaunee beat Mattawan 10-5, and Plymouth-Canton squeezed past Ypsilanti 6-5. In the semis, Negaunee edged out Southern 1-0 in a pitching duel for the ages.
Why This Tournament Still Matters
Some people think Little League is dying out because of "travel ball." They’re wrong.
Travel ball is about individual showcases and expensive jerseys. The michigan little league state tournament is about community. It’s about the kids you grew up with. Joe Dost, the Negaunee manager, mentioned that his core group of 12-year-olds has been together for years. They lost in the Minor Division state finals two years ago as 10-year-olds.
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That history matters. You don't get that "revenge tour" narrative in a random weekend tournament in Indianapolis.
The Legacy of Michigan Baseball
Michigan has a sneaky good history at the Little League World Series (LLWS) in Williamsport. Remember Taylor North in 2021? They won the whole thing. They were the first Michigan team to win the World Series since Hamtramck National did it way back in 1959 with the legendary Art Deras.
Thirteen Michigan teams have made it to Williamsport over the years. When a team wins the state tournament here, the rest of the Great Lakes Region (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky) takes notice.
What Most People Get Wrong About Eligibility
You can't just "recruit" a super-team for the state tournament. Little League International is incredibly strict about this.
- The 60% Rule: A player must have played in at least 60% of their local league's regular-season games.
- Residency: You have to live within the league's boundaries or attend a school within those boundaries.
- The "Opt-in": Most leagues send out an email around April 30 asking kids if they want to be considered for "All-Stars."
The selection process is subjective. Usually, it's a mix of player votes and coach evaluations. It's never perfect, and every year there’s a parent in the parking lot complaining that their kid got snubbed. That’s just part of the tradition.
What’s Next for the Winners?
Negaunee didn't get much time to celebrate. They headed straight to Whitestown, Indiana, for the Great Lakes Regional.
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The regional tournament is the final gatekeeper before the World Series. It’s double-elimination, and every single game is broadcast on ESPN platforms. For a kid from a small town in the U.P., seeing yourself on ESPN is a life-changing moment.
They faced Lexington Eastern (Kentucky) in their first game after drawing a first-round bye. The pressure in Whitestown is a different beast entirely. The fences are a bit deeper, the lights are a bit brighter, and the hitters are way more disciplined.
Actionable Steps for Parents and Coaches
If you want your kid to be part of the next michigan little league state tournament cycle, you can't start in June. You have to start now.
- Check Your Boundaries: Go to the Little League Finder website and make sure you’re registered with the correct local league. If you play in the "wrong" league, you aren't eligible for the All-Star team.
- Focus on Pitching Depth: The new pitch count rules mean you need at least 5 or 6 kids who can throw strikes. The teams that win states aren't the ones with one "ace"—they’re the ones with a deep bullpen.
- Prioritize Baseball IQ: In the Negaunee vs. Plymouth-Canton final, Negaunee won because they didn't make mental errors. They took the extra base. They snagged the line drives.
- Track the 2026 Dates: The 2026 District 9 tournament is already tentatively scheduled for June 8 through June 20. Expect the state tournament to follow in mid-July.
The Michigan state tournament is the peak of youth sports in the Great Lakes State. Whether it's held in Saginaw, Grosse Pointe, or Petoskey, it remains the ultimate proving ground for the next generation of ballplayers.
To stay updated on brackets and live scores for the upcoming season, keep an eye on the Michigan District 9 website or the official Little League World Series tournament tracker. Registration for the 2026 regular season typically opens in November of the previous year, so don't miss the "Early Bird" windows if you're looking to save a few bucks on registration fees.