D-BAT’s Brock Burkett scores a run against NW 509 Stars’ catcher Marshall Tomlinson in the bottom of the second inning against NW 509 Stars during pool play on Friday, July 24, 2026 at Ricketts Park. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)
Curtis Ray Benally
FARMINGTON – The path to a championship in this week’s Connie Mack World Series opens with a total of six games Sunday and Monday at Ricketts Park in the first round of the double-elimination tournament.
Seedings and schedules for the championship bracket were set by the American Amateur Baseball Congress following the conclusion of Saturday’s final pool play game between the Midland Redskins and the defending champion Dulins Dodgers National.
Dallas-based D-Bat United, coached by Ryan Bonesio, was the only team to finish the three-game pool play weekend with a perfect record, with wins over the Albuquerque Baseball Academy, the Midland Redbirds and the NW 509 Stars. The three wins saw the D-Bat squad outscore their competition by a combined margin of 22-10.
D-Bat will open their championship bracket schedule on Monday at 7:30 p.m. against Performance Baseball, which went winless during pool play.
D-Bat is led offensively by Talon Pate, who has recorded a .571 batting average with five runs batted in with seven runs scored in the pool play weekend. Jordan Andrews and Joshua Viars have also been mainstays at the plate in three games.
One of the more intriguing games on the Monday schedule is a first round clash at 1 p.m. between the Texas-based Marlins and the Brand of Athletes Goats from Oklahoma City.
The Goats (1-1-1) will look to Anderson Forrest and Jaxson McArthur to continue their combined strong presence at the plate. The duo have combined for six hits from 14 at-bats with six runs scored and five runs batted in.
The Marlins, 2-1 in pool play have gotten solid offensive performances from Chance Kirtley (.667 batting average) and Roman Stevens (.800 batting average) who has scored three runs.
The Monday schedule begins at 10 a.m. with the Midland Redbirds facing TEST Baseball. Both teams finished the pool play schedule with records of 1-2.
The Redbirds, coached by Heath Autrey, will look to Drake Hawpe, hitting .333 with six runs scored and five RBI’s to stay hot at the plate while TEST will turn to Troy Gonzalez and Connor Young to extend their strong pool play campaigns. The duo have combined for six runs scored and six RBI through the opening weekend.
At 5:15 p.m., the Midland Redskins will begin their quest for a 17th CMWS championship when they face off against Dulins Dodgers America.
The Redskins (2-0-1 in pool play) have already shown a bit of their strength at the mound over the weekend, with their seven combined pitchers striking out 19 batters and allowing only 13 runs over 18 innings.
Lucas Smith has batted .444 during pool play with four RBIs and will be called upon to extend his strong weekend performance.
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