Brisbane Metro’s 2026 Little League Championship campaign has come to a close, but not before showing the nation their resilience, determination and talent. Through a strong pool, every game was close and they pushed some of the nation’s best proving they’re not a team to be taken lightly.
After opening the tournament against eventual finalists Adelaide Marlins, Metro proved they belonged on the national stage throughout the week, producing dominant victories, outstanding pitching performances and several thrilling contests.
A Tough Opening Test
Metro’s tournament began with a hard-fought 2-0 loss to Adelaide Marlins. Despite the result, the pitching staff showed its quality early, with Anderson Wild striking out nine batters across three innings before Noah Akahoshi added three more strikeouts in relief. Adelaide managed just four hits as Metro pushed one of the tournament’s strongest teams all the way.
Bounce Back Victory
Brisbane Metro responded in style the following morning with a commanding 9-1 win over Melbourne Athletics. Four pitchers combined to allow just two hits while striking out 12 batters, led by Lincoln Wood’s perfect three-inning relief appearance. Offensively, Kai McKenna collected three hits while Anderson Wild’s bases-clearing triple highlighted a five-run fifth inning that put the game beyond doubt.
Metro then faced Adelaide for a second time later that day, again pushing the Marlins in a low-scoring contest before falling 2-0. Wild once again starred on the mound, striking out nine batters in another impressive display.
Keeping Finals Hopes Alive
Facing a must-win situation on Day Three, Brisbane Metro delivered their most explosive performance of the tournament, defeating the Northern Territory Buffaloes 18-3.
A remarkable 13-run second inning broke the game open, with Lars Van Der Hoek driving in four runs and Noah Akahoshi contributing an inside-the-park home run as part of a three-RBI performance. Metro’s offense piled up 15 hits while Benji Robertson and Axel Holmstrom combined for six strikeouts on the mound.
Playing Spoiler
Entering the final day of pool play needing a win to stay alive, Brisbane Metro again rose to the occasion with a 6-3 victory over Ryde Black.
Metro scored four runs in the opening inning and never surrendered the lead. Benji Robertson collected two RBIs, Axel Holmstrom added an insurance double, and Lincoln Wood threw a complete game, striking out six batters without issuing a walk.
The result left Metro with a 3-2 pool-play record and demonstrated the team’s ability to perform under pressure.
A Heartbreaking Finals Miss
Metro’s final pool game was one of the most thrilling contests of the championship, an extra-innings battle against Melbourne Rangers.
After falling behind 3-2, Metro fought back to level the score in the sixth inning and force extras. Kai McKenna and Noah Akahoshi each collected two hits, while Axel Holmstrom delivered a strong relief outing with four strikeouts.
The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the seventh when Melbourne Rangers secured a walk-off 4-3 victory, ending Metro’s hopes of reaching the championship finals.
Finishing on a High
Brisbane Metro ensured their tournament finished on a positive note, claiming a dramatic 5-4 extra-innings victory over Cronulla Black in the consolation game.
Metro appeared in complete control after Axel Holmstrom, Toby Sheeran and Anderson Wild drove in runs to establish a 4-0 lead through four innings. However, Cronulla Black mounted a determined comeback in the sixth, capitalising on walks and errors to level the scores at 4-4.
With the game heading to extra innings, Metro found one final response. Toby Sheeran delivered the decisive blow, singling home the go-ahead run in the top of the extra frame before Ari Holmstrom shut the door on the mound to secure a hard-fought 5-4 victory.
Tournament Highlights
Across seven games, Brisbane Metro showcased depth throughout the roster and received standout contributions from several players.
Noah Akahoshi starred both offensively and on the mound, while Kai McKenna consistently produced at the plate. Lars Van Der Hoek’s four-RBI performance against Northern Territory was one of the offensive highlights of the week, while Anderson Wild delivered two dominant pitching performances against Adelaide, striking out 18 batters across just six innings.
The pitching staff as a whole was a major strength throughout the tournament, with Lincoln Wood, Ari Holmstrom, Axel Holmstrom, Benji Robertson, Noah Akahoshi and Anderson Wild all delivering key innings when called upon.
Most importantly, the team showed tremendous resilience throughout the week. Whether responding to early setbacks, keeping finals hopes alive, or bouncing back from heartbreak to finish with a win, Brisbane Metro represented Queensland with pride and finished their national campaign with plenty to celebrate.