Adelaide Armada Crowned 2026 Intermediate League National Champions

In a dominant display on Monday morning, Adelaide defeated Southern Titans 13-0 to claim the 2026 Intermediate League Championship and secure Australia’s place at the Intermediate League World Series in Livermore, California later this year.

The victory marks a historic moment for South Australian baseball, with Adelaide becoming the first Adelaide-based team since 2016 to win a Little League national championship.

A Final Day Like No Other

The championship game came after a dramatic and challenging final day of the tournament.

Relentless rain across the New South Wales and Queensland coast left almost every diamond in the region unplayable, forcing tournament officials to relocate the Gold Medal Game nearly 300 kilometres north to Redcliffe Baseball Club in Queensland.

Thanks to an incredible effort from tournament organisers, volunteers, and baseball clubs, the game was able to go ahead — and the Adelaide Armada made sure the opportunity counted.

Armada Explode Early

From the very first inning, Adelaide took complete control.

The Armada exploded for four runs in the opening frame before adding another six runs in the second inning to put the game beyond reach early.

Ethan Zoontjens sparked the fast start with a two-run double, while Archie Wallis, Brock Harding, and Harrison Malec all delivered RBI plays as Adelaide piled on the pressure.

The offence never slowed down.

Cooper Scarabotti and William Fuller added RBI singles, Wallis drove in two more runs, Zachary Gratton earned a bases-loaded walk, and Malec continued the momentum with another RBI hit as Adelaide stretched the lead to 10-0.

It was a complete team performance offensively, with the Armada finishing with:

• 12 hits

• 7 walks

• 7 stolen bases

• Flawless defence

Zoontjens Dominates on the Mound

While the offence stole headlines early, Ethan Zoontjens delivered one of the standout pitching performances of the tournament.

The right-hander threw a complete-game no-hitter across five innings, striking out eight batters while not allowing a single hit.

Despite working through five walks, Zoontjens repeatedly made big pitches in key moments and completely shut down the Southern Titans lineup.

Wallis finished with three RBIs, while Zoontjens, Wallis, Harrison Malec, and Fuller all collected multiple hits in the championship win.

Off to California 🇺🇸

With the national title secured, Adelaide Armada will now represent Australia at the Intermediate League World Series in Livermore, California later this year.

The tournament will see the team take on some of the best junior baseball talent from around the world on the international stage

Baseball South Australia CEO James Rawson praised the achievement and the impact of Charter Baseball pathways across the state.

“We are incredibly proud of our Intermediate Armada team on winning the Australian Intermediate League Championship and earning the opportunity to represent Australia at the Little League Intermediate World Series in Livermore, California, USA. Charter Baseball is about giving more young players the chance to play, develop and enjoy the game, and this result is a great example of where those opportunities can lead. It is a fantastic achievement for the players, coaches and families, and we wish the team all the very best as they head to the United States for the next stage of this incredible experience.”

Foundation Pathways Assistant James Henty also reflected on the team’s performance throughout the tournament.

“The Adelaide Armada won the 2026 Intermediate League National Championship with a whole team effort. With sound defence, strong hitting and even better pitching, they proved themselves to be worthy champions and earned their trip to Livermore, California for the Intermediate League World Series to take on the world.”

Parts of article information sourced via Baseball Australia.