Navojoa, Mexico 6 Defeats Paderborn, Germany 5 in Game 9 of the PONY League World Series
More than six hours after the first pitch, Navojoa, Mexico completed a dramatic comeback against Paderborn, Germany, earning a 6-5 walk-off victory in Game 9 of the 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series.
The matchup between the Mexico Zone and European Zone champions began at 10 a.m. before rain suspended play in the third inning. After a lengthy delay, the teams returned to the field at 4:30 p.m., with Paderborn holding an early advantage.
Paderborn built its lead with a five-run second inning. Keylen Ruiz drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the first run before a fielder’s choice off the bat of Tizian Sulilatu allowed two more runs to score. Felix Blesing followed with another bases-loaded walk, and a passed ball extended the German lead to 5-0.
That advantage held until Navojoa came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with just three outs remaining.
The Mexico Zone champions mounted their comeback with five runs on two hits, erasing the deficit and tying the game at 5-5. Iker Leyva delivered a key RBI single during the rally as Navojoa took advantage of its final opportunity at the plate.
With the score tied later in the inning, Santiago Almada completed the comeback with a walk-off RBI single, bringing home the winning run and giving Navojoa a 6-5 victory.
Almada led Navojoa offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI. Navojoa also showed patience at the plate, drawing seven walks, including two each from Jesus Valenzuela and Humberto Borquez.
Borquez provided one of the game’s standout performances on the mound in the top of the seventh, throwing an immaculate inning. He struck out all three Paderborn batters he faced on nine pitches, setting the stage for Navojoa’s comeback in the bottom half.
Robin Meermeyer started for Paderborn and worked 2⅓ scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out three and walking one. Mauricio Araiza started for Navojoa, allowing five runs, four earned, on two hits over 1⅔ innings. He struck out two and walked four.
Ben Nussbaum, Ruiz and Joschua Butt each recorded a hit for Paderborn, while Sulilatu and Blesing each drove in a run. Paderborn committed no errors defensively and turned one double play.
After falling behind 5-0 and enduring a rain delay that stretched the game across much of the day, Navojoa saved its offense for when it mattered most. Five runs in the seventh erased Paderborn’s lead before Almada delivered the final swing of the comeback, sending the Mexico Zone champions to a 6-5 walk-off win.
Following Mexico’s victory today, they will advance to Game 13 on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 10 AM ET, where they will take on the loser of Game 11. Paderborn, Germany saw its 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series run come to an end today, finishing the tournament with a 1-2 record.
West Covina, CA 5 Overcomes Hidalgo, TX 3 in Game 10 of the PONY League World Series
A weather-altered Game 10 of the 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series ended dramatically as West Covina, California earned a 5-3 walk-off victory over Hidalgo, Texas.
Originally scheduled for seven innings, the matchup between the West Zone and South Zone champions began several hours later than scheduled following earlier rain delays. With daylight and additional weather concerns affecting the remainder of the schedule, the game was shortened to five innings.
West Covina wasted little time taking advantage of the shortened contest, jumping ahead in the bottom of the first inning. Brandon Chavez launched a two-run home run to left field to give the West Zone champions an early 2-0 lead.
The lead grew an inning later when Corzantes connected on an 0-2 pitch and sent a solo home run over the left-field fence, extending West Covina’s advantage to 3-0.
With the fifth inning serving as the final scheduled frame, Hidalgo mounted a comeback.
Josiah Ruiz started the rally with a solo home run to left field on an 0-2 count, cutting West Covina’s lead to 3-1. Hidalgo continued to battle and eventually erased the remainder of the deficit, tying the game at 3-3 and forcing West Covina to answer in the bottom half.
West Covina did exactly that.
With the game tied in the bottom of the fifth, Corzantes delivered again, driving in the final two runs to complete the 5-3 walk-off victory. He finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs out of the eighth spot in the West Covina lineup, accounting for three of his team’s five runs.
Aaron Morales provided a complete-game effort on the mound for West Covina, working all five innings while allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out eight and walked just one.
Robert Lozano started for Hidalgo and pitched 1⅔ innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits. He struck out one without issuing a walk.
Ruiz led Hidalgo with three RBIs, while Diego Puente, Oziel Garcia, Ruiz, Lozano and Adrian Delgado each recorded a hit.
West Covina also played error-free defense, with Jeremy Jimenez recording a team-high 10 defensive chances.
After waiting through weather delays just to take the field, West Covina built an early three-run advantage, watched Hidalgo erase it in the final scheduled inning and then responded with the decisive swing. Corzantes’ two-run walk-off capped the 5-3 victory and sent the West Zone champions forward in the 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series.
With the win today, West Covina will advance to Game 14 on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 12:30 PM ET, where they will take on the loser of Game 12. Hidalgo, Texas saw its 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series run come to an end today, finishing the tournament with a 1-2 record.
Washington, PA 4 Defeats Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 3 in Game 11 of the PONY League World Series
Taichung City, Chinese Taipei 4 Defeats Hagerstown, Maryland 2 in Game 12 of the PONY League World Series