2 home runs in the 2nd inning power Post 165 to the victory.
Two years ago, Midland (Mich.) Post 165 was six outs away from a title in its last American Legion World Series appearance.
On Thursday morning, one of the three players who played for Midland in that championship game returned to Shelby, N.C., and sparked an emphatic 11-2 victory over Bedford (N.H.) Post 54 in the opener of the 2026 ALWS.
Cayden Nieto, a starting catcher two years ago in that 5-3 championship game loss to Troy (Ala.) Post 70, hit a grand slam in the second inning to push Post 165's early lead to 7-0.
Midland cruised to the victory in the opener of the 15-game tournament.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
PHOTO 1: Cayden Nieto of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165 celebrates a home run. PHOTO 2: Jack Hinton of Bedford, N.H., Post 54 throws to first. PHOTO 3: Pitcher Carter Harcek of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165. PHOTO 4: Ethan Strand of Bedford, N.H., Post 54 runs the bases. PHOTO 5: Jimmey Sequin of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165 runs the bases. PHOTO 6: Demetrios Hunt of Bedford, N.H., Post 54 attempts to tag out Jimmey Sequin of Midland, Mich., Berryhill Post 165. Photos by Chet Strange
Midland, which is playing in its 10th ALWS in Shelby, led 2-0 after five innings against Troy in 2024 before losing 5-3.
“Two years ago left a sour taste in our mouth,” said Nieto, who along with Jayden Mieske and Landon Love are the lone returnees for Midland from that team. “We just couldn't pull through. Getting back here gives us a chance to create great memories.
“Our mentality this morning was, 'Let's get Game One' and keep going from there.”
Mieske and Jay Roper had two hits apiece to lead Midland's 10-hit offense.
Jimmey Sequin's RBI triple in the first inning made it 1-0. Then Owen Dominowski hit a two-run home run earlier in the inning in which Nieto slugged his grand slam.
Midland added singles runs in the fourth (Aryan Punjabi RBI single) and fifth (Nieto sacrifice fly) and tallied its last two runs on a Bedford throwing error.
On the mound, starter and winner Carter Harcek (4 innings), Nate Schultz (1 inning), Blake Sian (1 inning) and Love (1 inning) combined on the four-hitter.
“We got them up early and they were ready to play,” Midland head coach Dan Cronkright said. “We were off for three days straight (since winning the Great Lakes Regional in Lexington, Ky.) and they were ready to play.”
James Gilbert (2 hits, 1 RBI) led Bedford.
Next for Midland (30-5): 7 p.m. ET Friday vs. Jacksonville (Fla.) Post 316.
Next for Bedford (25-2): 4 p.m. ET Friday vs. Portland (Ore.) Post 158.
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