Kane County Cougars win Baseball Champions League undefeated

The Kane County Cougars (American Association) defeated the hosts Diablos Rojos (Mexican Baseball League, LMB), 7-3, in the final at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium in Mexico City to win the 2026 Baseball Champions League. Kane County completed an undefeated run.

"We walk away champions, and we couldn't be more proud to bring this Baseball Champions League title back to Kane County and the American Association," commented the Cougars' manager, George Tsamis.

Josh Allen, the Cougars' 35-year-old veteran second baseman, posted a .500 batting average with two homers and an impressive 1.633 OPS through the tournament, earning MVP honours.

"I definitely think not only beating them once, but beating them twice, I definitely think we accomplished that. And it means a lot being able to come down here and experience success," said Josh Allen postgame.

Allen credited the team effort: "With all of us, I mean, that was probably the best lineup I've been a part of, for sure. Just knowing that, you know, it just takes a lot of the pressure off. If you don't get the job done, you know, there's a heck of a lot of firepower behind you that will get it done for you. So it definitely helps a lot."

The Championship Game

The Cougars scored first. With two outs in the bottom of the first, left fielder Thomas Dillon crushed the first offering by former Major League Baseball (MLB) right-hander James Kaprelian and drove it beyond the right field wall for a solo homer.

Kaprelian wouldn't allow another run in his four innings of work, and the Diablos Rojos tied the game in the top of the fifth against Kane County's starter Konnor Ash with another solo homer to right field. Left fielder Bryan Gonzalez, the ninth batter in the Diablos Rojos lineup, stepped to the plate with one out and went deep with the first pitch he saw.

The Cougars survived a jam in the top of the sixth. Reliever Kyle Crigger allowed a single to Jon Singleton and a double to Ramon Flores. With runners at third and second, he retired Francisco Mejia on a grounder to shortstop and left for Art Warren. The 33-year-old former major leaguer struck out Rio Ruiz on five pitches to end the threat.

The Cougars scored all the runs they needed in the bottom half of the frame. Allen led off the at-bat with a double off reliever Justin Courtney and scored on Dillon's single. Designated hitter Todd Lott and first baseman Josh Rehwaldt added back-to-back singles, making it 3-1, and another run scored on an error. With two outs, third baseman Claudio Finol looked at a strike, then hammered the second pitch he saw for a two-run homer to centre field. Centre fielder Armond Upshaw added a double and sent Courtney to the showers. Shortstop Elvis Peralta, the ninth batter of the frame, welcomed new reliever Nick Vespi with an RBI double, extending the Cougars' lead to 7-1.

Warren, who would earn the win, Jordan Martinson, Derrick Cherry and Jake Gozzo limited the Diablos Rojos to a couple of runs, leading the Cougars to the Baseball Champions League Title.