LLWS 2026 Game 12 Recap: Metro NJ 3, Mid-Atlantic PA 1
Bayonne Central Little League from New Jersey beat West Chester, Pennsylvania, 3-1 in Game 12 at Lamade Stadium. Chase Klimkowski threw 5.1 scoreless innings and struck out six batters to lead the Metro Region. Mason Rincon hit his second tournament home run for an insurance run in the fourth inning.
Game 12
August 21, 2026 · 7:00 PM ET · ESPN
Lamade Stadium
Bayonne Central LL
Bayonne, New Jersey
East Side LL
West Chester, Pennsylvania
New Jersey improves to 2-0 in the US bracket and plays Iowa in the winners bracket on Sunday. Pennsylvania drops into the elimination bracket, needing to win every remaining game to survive. East Side LL represents a state searching for its first LLWS title since Levittown won the championship back in 1960.
Chase Klimkowski Delivers 5.1 Scoreless Innings
Klimkowski kept Pennsylvania off the scoreboard for five and a third innings Friday night at Lamade Stadium. Pennsylvania put runners on second and third with one out in the fourth inning. Klimkowski struck out the next batter and induced a ground ball to shortstop to escape the jam without any damage.
Chase was phenomenal. Chase was the Chase that we know he can be. He had a bad game the other day, but this was the Chase that I know he is. We were solid on defense as we always are, which is why we have made it this far. “Justin Smith, Bayonne Central LL Manager“
Mason Rincon Hits His Second Home Run of the Tournament
Mason Rincon stepped to the plate in the fourth inning with New Jersey leading 2-0. He launched a solo home run to right field to push the lead to 3-0. It was Rincon’s second home run in two games at the 2026 LLWS.
Rincon hit a walk-off home run in Game 4 to beat Bridgewater, Massachusetts 2-1 on Opening Night. Two days later against Pennsylvania, he delivered the same kind of damage in the fourth inning. His right-handed power gives Bayonne a consistent extra-base threat that no other Metro team brought to Williamsport.
Manager Smith on Rincon: Smith told the New York Post after the game that Rincon’s contribution was important, but the team needed everyone doing their job. With Bayonne up 2-0 at the time of the home run, the third run gave New Jersey the insurance they needed to hold on when Pennsylvania scored in the fifth inning.
How the Game Unfolded, Inning by Inning
Key Plays by Inning
Metro vs. Mid-Atlantic · Game 12
| Inning | Key Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Jett Bridges scored on a wild pitch. Joey Dwyer then singled to left, scoring AJ Tapia and giving New Jersey an early lead. | NJ 2, PA 0 |
| 4th (NJ) | Mason Rincon launched a solo home run to right field. His second homer in two games extended New Jersey’s advantage. | NJ 3, PA 0 |
| 4th (PA) | Pennsylvania loaded the bases with runners on second and third. Klimkowski struck out the next batter and induced a ground ball to shortstop. | NJ 3, PA 0 |
| 5th | Dillon DiGiulio scored on an error for Pennsylvania’s only run. Pennsylvania stranded additional runners at second and third. | NJ 3, PA 1 |
| 6th | Leandro Anaya completed a defensive play to help New Jersey close out the victory. | Final: NJ 3, PA 1 |
Game 12 Box Score
Team Score
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro, New Jersey | 3 | TBD | TBD |
| Mid-Atlantic, Pennsylvania | 1 | TBD | 1 |
Game 12 Pitcher
| Pitcher | Team | IP | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Klimkowski | New Jersey | 5.1 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
Key Hits
| Key Hit | Player | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo HR | Mason Rincon | New Jersey | 2nd HR of 2026 LLWS, solo shot to right field in the 4th inning |
| RBI Single | Joey Dwyer | New Jersey | Scored AJ Tapia in the 2nd inning, part of a 2-run frame |
Next Games for New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Team Record & Next Game
| Team | Record | Bracket | Next Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro, New Jersey | 2-0 | Winners Bracket | Sunday, 1:00 PM ET vs Midwest (Iowa) |
| Mid-Atlantic, Pennsylvania | 1-1 | Elimination Bracket | Monday, August 24, 7:00 PM ET · Game 24 |
Pennsylvania’s path forward: East Side Little League from West Chester moves to the elimination bracket. They play the winner of Saturday’s Game 16 matchup between Southeast and the loser of the West vs Midwest game. Pennsylvania must win every remaining game to reach the US Championship. Pennsylvania last won the LLWS title in 1960 when Levittown brought home the championship.
Conclusion
New Jersey beat Pennsylvania 3-1 in Game 12 and improved to 2-0 in the US bracket. Klimkowski threw five and a third scoreless innings and escaped a bases-loaded jam to keep Pennsylvania completely off the board. Rincon’s fourth-inning solo shot gave New Jersey a third run that proved to be the decisive winning margin.
Bayonne Central LL plays Iowa Sunday at 1:00 PM ET in the winners bracket as the last undefeated US team. East Side LL from West Chester enters the elimination bracket for Monday, August 24 at 7:00 PM ET. Pennsylvania must win each remaining game from this point to reach the US Championship at Lamade Stadium.
