July 20, 2026 – Story and photos by Joshua Ross
Massachusetts Little League’s District 8 is loaded with talent. Last year, the New England representative in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. was fellow District 8 team Braintree American. Hingham is looking to replicate their success this year and took a huge step on Wednesday night with a 7-0 win over Milton National winning the District 8 title.
This team is not a stranger to success though. They have won three of the last four District 8 Championships as 9 year olds, 11 year olds, and now 12 year olds. A core group of nine players have been together through it all with a few new players moving in and out over the years. The current 13 player roster is a strong one and they believe they can make an impact, and history, as the first ever Hingham team to move past Sectionals.
Head Coach Matt Elio is no stranger to District 8 competition. He was an assistant coach in 2022, the year after the last Hingham District 8 title. He knows the significance of making it out of this round.
“In Massachusetts Little League, many believe that District 8 is the toughest District in Massachusetts as it includes perennial powers Braintree American and Milton National,” Elio says. “The Braintree American team at this age group were the Mass State Champions at 10 years old, so in the same District you have the 10 and 11 year old state champions and only one can advance out of districts. The Hingham and Braintree teams have formed a special bond due to the competitive nature of both teams, but also due to the incredible support Braintree provided to Hingham last summer during their State Championship run. In an incredible show of sportsmanship last summer the Braintree team presented the boys with a signed baseball that was kept in the dugout during every sectional and state championship game.”
Hingham made it through District 8 pool play with a 4-1 record, with their only loss coming to Braintree American in the final game. Hingham, Braintree, and Milton National all finished with a 4-1 record, but Hingham got the top seed due to only allowing nine runs in five games. After a 7-2 win over Cohasset and an 8-2 win over Milton National in the double elimination round, they were once again looking across the field at Braintree American. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Hingham rallied for two runs and came away with the 2-1 win, leading to their championship win on Wednesday.
The boys will start the next leg of their journey on Tuesday night vs Taunton East at home at Carlson field at 5:45 pm. They will continue focus on their experience and the things that got them to this point, including putting team first.
“The rallying cry for the boys this summer is all about team, team, team,” Elio adds. “The boys’ practice jerseys and the shirts parents and siblings seen wearing at games all have a 267 printed on the back – the cumulative number of all 13 kids’ numbers. The message is simple, the pressure of trying to defend a state title is not on one player as we win and lose as a team. The team mentality showed through districts as all 13 kids contributed in significant ways whether it was at the plate in the field or on the mound. Through 9 District games, Hingham only allowed 14 runs and what’s even more staggering about those numbers is they played Braintree American and Milton National in five of those nine games, so Districts was not an easy path for this team.”
Along side Elio are assitant coaches Dave Khtikian and former HLL President Jon Cignetti, who was also
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