Lincoln Carpet Land Post 500 came back from a 6-1 deficit to defeat Portland (Ore.) Post 158.
Nebraska has waited a long time to win another American Legion World Series.
On Tuesday night, Lincoln Carpet Land Post 500 basked in the glory of breaking that streak with a 9-6 comeback win over Portland (Ore.) Post 158 to win the 2026 championship at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
“It’s really special,” Lincoln head coach Mychal Lanik said. “Our kids gave it all they had all year long. I’m just happy and proud for them.”
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It was the second ALWS title in Nebraska history, and snapped a three-game losing streak for teams from the state in the championship game.
Omaha Post 1 won the 1939 title with a three games to one series victory it hosted over Berwyn (Ill.). Nebraska had since lost three ALWS title games: Omaha in 1965 and 2017 and Lincoln three years ago.
That 1939 Omaha team was Nebraska’s first team to advance to the ALWS.
In the years since, 24 other teams had advanced this far and fell short.
Lanik had coached two of those teams and one of the runners-up.
“It feels amazing,” said Lincoln designated hitter Cade Anderson, whose three-run home run in the fourth inning gave Post 500 the lead for good. “Coach Lanik’s ‘23 team came up just short. He does a lot for us as a coach so I feel really good for him and everybody who has been involved with the program.”
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PHOTO 1: Huxton Katt of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 attempts a play at first on Ryden Nakamura of Portland, Ore. Post 158. PHOTO 2: Jackson Makovicka of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 celebrates a home run.. PHOTO 3: Jaden Tragesser of Portland, Ore. Post 158 hits a home run. PHOTO 4: Pitcher Santino Arranaga of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500. PHOTO 5: Cal Gradwahl of Portland, Ore. Post 158 throws to first. PHOTO 6: Bradyn Erickson of Lincoln, Neb. Carpet Land Post 500 tags out Ben Foglio of Portland, Ore. Post 158. PHOTO 7: Jonny King of Portland, Ore. Post 158 throws to first. Photos by Chet Strange
Lincoln had to rally from a 6-1 deficit after 2 1/2 innings to claim its title. The comeback matched the rally by Troy (Ala.) Post 70 from a 5-0 deficit after two innings to win its 2022 championship in a 6-5 victory over Idaho Falls, Idaho.
The heroes were many for Carpet Land 500, with none bigger than the slumping Anderson’s game-winning home run.
Anderson had started the ALWS with zero hits in his first 13 at bats before smacking a deep home run to left field.
“It’s God’s will,” Anderson said. “It’s been a tough week. I thought I had some good hits that just went right to guys. It’s a surreal feeling for one to go out like it did.”
The rally began in the third, after Post 500 had seen its first two batters retired. Back-to-back walks were drawn by Trevor Roach and Huxton Katt before Jackson Makovica slugged a three-run home run to left to nudge Lincoln within 6-4.
In the fourth, Post 500 got quick traffic on the bases with a leadoff single by Brodie McIntire and one-out fielding error that allowed Dele Odulate to reach base. After Bradyn Erickson’s RBI single cut the lead to 6-5, Anderson’s home run put Post 500 ahead 8-6.
Lincoln added another run in the fifth when Sam Sutko walked and scored on Odulate’s triple to left.
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For Portland, which also sought its state’s second title in history, the defeat came after Post 158 had won a tiebreaker to advance to Monday’s semifinals after finishing 1-2 in pool play.
Portland Post 105 remains Oregon’s only champion with a 1969 title victory over Towson (Md.) in Hastings, Neb.
Jaden Tragresser’s two-out, three-run double and Andrew Ha’s two-out RBI double gave Portland a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
After McIntire’s two-out RBI single cut the lead to 4-1, a wild pitch and Cooper Berta’s RBI single in the third gave Portland its 6-1 lead.
But Post 158 could’ve had more as Lincoln left fielder Sutko gunned down runners at the plate in the second and third innings.
“They made two bang-bang plays at the plate and they’ve proved decisive,” Portland coach Joe Duran said. “Hats off to them.
“It was a heckuva year for us. I’m proud of our boys. We fought ‘til the end and made it interesting.”
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