July 31, 2026, Submitted by Hingham Little League, photos by Joshua Ross
Some teams are remembered for championships. Others are remembered for the way they played the game. The 2026 Hingham Little League 12-Year-Old-All-Star team will be remembered for both.
This summer’s team etched its name into Hingham Little League history by capturing only the program’s second 12-year-old District Championship in it’s 77-year history before advancing to the Sectional Championship Game – the first Hingham team to ever reach that stage. They finished among the final five teams remaining in Massachusetts, just three wins shy of a trip to the New England Regional, in Bristol, Connecticut, and a chance to continue the road toward the Little League World Series.
Although their remarkable run ended with a hard-fought 3-0 loss to Bridgewater in the Sectional Championship, the legacy of this team extends far beyond wins and losses.
Their story can be summed up in one number: 267
Throughout the summer, “267” became the team’s rallying cry. It represented the combined total of every player’s uniform number, serving as a daily reminder that no individual was bigger than the team. Every run scored, every key strikeout, every defensive play, and every sacrifice belonged to all 13 players.
The strength of this team wasn’t one superstar – it was its depth.
Every player contributed throughout the tournament. Some delivered clutch performances on the mound (Patrick Kirk, Matthew Collard, Miles Cooper, Clark Sigovitch). Others came through with timely hits (Connor Khtikian, Will Whitcher, Sean Harold, Hugh Hurstak, Henry Wenstrom, George Tzanetakos). Others made game saving defensive plays (Max Labrie, William Bowes, Brennan Elio). On any given day, a different player stepped into the spotlight, and that collective mindset became the foundation of one of the greatest seasons in Hingham Little League history.
The journey began in District 8, widely regarded as one of the toughest districts in Massachusetts. Twelve teams were divided into two pools, and Hingham found itself grouped with perennial powers Braintree American and Milton National.
Hingham finished pool play with a 4-1 record, defeating Hanover, Milton National, Rockland and East Braintree. Their only loss came in a tightly contested 3-2 game against Braintree American. Hingham, Braintree American, and Milton National all finished 4-1, but Hingham earned the No. 1 seed for the double-elimination tournament by allowing just eight runs during pool play.
The team carried that momentum into the knockout round, opening with a 7-2 victory over Cohasset before defeating Milton National, 8-2. That win set up a winner’s bracket rematch with Braintree American. Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, Hingham rallied for two runs to secure a dramatic victory and punched its ticket to the District Championship.
Playing before a packed crowd at Carlson Field, Hingham exploded for seven first-inning runs against Milton National and never looked back, claiming the District 8 Championship and becoming just the second Hingham 12-year-old team ever to accomplish the feat.
The success continued in the Sectional Tournament.
Hingham dominated pool play, defeating Shrewsbury (7-2), Bridgewater (14-2) and Taunton East (3-0), while outscoring opponents 24-4. That undefeated run earned the right to host the Sectional Championship.
In the championship game, both teams played outstanding baseball. Hingham’s defense was flawless, and the pitching staff once again kept the game within reach. Despite putting runners on base throughout the afternoon, Hingham stranded 13 runners and ultimately fell 3-0 to Bridgewater.
The scoreboard may have ended their tournament run, but it could not define their season.
Head Coach Matt Elio reflected on what the team accomplished.
“This was a summer these boys will never forget. That last game is going to sting for a while, but they should be incredibly proud of what they accomplished. No other team in the 77-year history of Hingham Little League has ever played in a 12-year-old Sectional Championship. Sometimes baseball is like that – the better team doesn’t always win – but nothing can take away what these boys accomplished together”.
Over the past four summers, this 12 year old group has established itself as arguably the most successful team in the history of the program. They captured three District Championships in four years – winning titles as 9-, 11-, and 12 year olds-and at age 11, became the first team in Hingham Little League history to win a 12-and under Massachusetts State Championship.
Even after last summer’s historic state title, the expectations entering 2026 were enormous. Rather than shy away from the pressure, the team embraced it, successfully defending its District 8 championship and making another unforgettable postseason run.
Yet Coach Elio believes the championships tell only part of the story.
“What’s even more impressive than all the championships these boys have won is the kind of teammates they are. They represent Hingham Little League in the best possible way. You never see one of them throw a helmet or a glove. What you do see is them picking each other up after every at-bat, every inning, every game. They genuinely care about one another and they love playing with and for each other, and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for”
While their Little League tournament run has come to an end, one final chapter remains.
Next week the team will travel to Cooperstown Dreams Park to compete against teams from across the country, providing one last opportunity to enjoy the game together before moving onto the next stage of their baseball careers.
“It’ll be nice for the boys to play without the pressure that comes with the Little League Tournament baseball,” Elio said. “Because of all the success they’ve had over the last several years, they’ve missed out on many local summer tournaments while making deep Little League runs. Cooperstown is the perfect way to celebrate everything they’ve accomplished together.”
Years from now, the scores and statistics may fade.
What won’t be forgotten is 267 – thirteen boys who proved that the strongest teams are built around player, but around every player.
Together, they became the standard by which future Hingham Little League teams will be measured.