On a beautiful May evening at the Cloverleaf at Lower Woodland Park , NCLL held its annual Baseball Home Run Derby — and this year's event delivered. Baseball Majors players stepped up to the plate alongside Softball Majors contestants, Dick's Drive-In sent boxes upon boxes of burgers and Seattle Pops kept things sweet, and a piece of NCLL history was made when a mom took the mound for the very first time . Congratulations to all of our contestants, and to our 2026 champions .

Softball

Winner: Avery Baker — congratulations to Avery on taking the title! Nora Dodgion had held the crown for three consecutive years , making her one of the toughest acts in NCLL Softball Derby history — and with Nora completing her final year of Little League eligibility last spring, the title was wide open. Avery claimed it.

L→R: Nora Dodgion, Elisa Pérez, Avery Baker, Ruby Way, Izzi Parsons. Not pictured: Noe Smith, Cami Richardson.
L→R: Elisa Pérez, Avery Baker, Ruby Way, Izzi Parsons.

Baseball

Winner: Luke Jacobsen — well done, Luke!

Back row (L→R): Auggie Hilen, Harlan Putman, Quinault Fuller, Will Millea, Alex Dallmeyer, Elliot York-Jones, Austin Christofferson, Luke Jacobsen, Henry Tufte. Front row: Brooks Bressler, Lucas Wickland. Not pictured: Kai Johnston.
Back row (L→R): Auggie Hilen, Harlan Putman, Quinault Fuller, Will Millea, Alex Dallmeyer, Elliot York-Jones, Austin Christofferson, Luke Jacobsen, Henry Tufte. Front row: Brooks Bressler, Lucas Wickland. Not pictured: Kai Johnston.

A Historic First

Coach Emma York-Jones and her son Elliot York-Jones.

In the history of the NCLL Baseball Home Run Derby, the pitching role has always gone to a father. This year, Coach Emma York-Jones changed that — becoming, as far as we can tell (and we're pretty sure), the first mother ever to pitch in the baseball derby, throwing for her son Elliot York-Jones . We love this moment and everything it represents.

Champions

Softball champion Avery Baker and baseball champion Luke Jacobsen.

Congratulations to both — see you next year.

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