BY: Tony Aiello (aiellotony/X)

LA MIRADA-The La Mirada Junior League All-Stars are world champions after a dramatic extra-innings victory in the 2026 Junior League Baseball World Series.

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Heritage Park in Taylor, Michigan, the West Region representatives defeated Chinese Taipei (Shing-Ming Junior Little League of Taoyuan) 6-3 in 10 innings. The win marked La Mirada’s first Junior League World Series championship since 2003 and ended a long stretch of dominance by Chinese Taipei squads.

The championship game stayed tight throughout. With the score tied 3-3 entering the top of the 10th, Jaden (Jayden) Valdez delivered the decisive blow—a three-run home run down the left-field line. Jayden Lopez and Ryder Ong scored ahead of him. Reliever Jerimiah Ortega then retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory.

La Mirada carried a slim 2-1 lead, with a chance of victory into the bottom of the seventh. Starter Adam Brewer had gone the maximum six innings allowed under the pitch-count rule and was lifted. Reliever Jerimiah Ortega took the mound and immediately found himself in trouble.

Tian-En Ma beat out an infield single, Yung-Tai Hsu walked, and Yi-Le Sung’s bunt attempt turned into another infield single when Ortega slipped while fielding the ball. The bases were suddenly loaded with nobody out, and Chinese Taipei had a golden chance to walk off the game right there.

Ortega managed to get the first out when Chia-Jui Yu popped up. But on the next pitch, a passed ball allowed Ma to race home with the tying run, knotting the score at 2-2.

Ortega escaped the rest of the jam without further damage by picking off a runner at third and a strikeout. La Mirada exhaled, and the game stayed tied heading into the late innings.

By the time the ninth inning ended, the score was again deadlocked—this time at 3-3—after the two sides continued trading runs. That set the stage for Jayden Valdez’s dramatic three-run blast in the top of the 10th.

La Mirada manager Ray Jauregi described the title as the result of months—and for many players, years—of dedicated work dating back to T-Ball, he told KTLA. Many of the players previously attended Hutchinson Middle School in La Mirada. The team advanced by winning the U.S. bracket, including a strong showing against the host Taylor North squad, before facing the international champion.

The victory made La Mirada the first United States team to claim the Junior League World Series crown since Fullerton in 2019.

COMMUNITY PARADE AND CELEBRATION

The City of La Mirada will celebrate its newly crowned Junior League World Series champions with a hometown parade and recognition ceremony on Tuesday, August 25.

The championship parade is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Behringer Park. The procession will travel down Alicante Road to La Mirada Boulevard and conclude at City Hall.

Organizers are encouraging residents to line the parade route, park along Alicante Road, bring signs, wear La Mirada gear, and cheer as the team passes by.

Following the parade, a Civic Center celebration will feature a team introduction at 6:00 p.m. and formal recognition by the City Council at 6:30 p.m.

The La Mirada Junior League All-Stars captured the 2026 Junior League Baseball World Series title earlier this month with a dramatic 6-3 extra-innings victory over Chinese Taipei in Taylor, Michigan. The win marked the community’s first championship in the event since 2003.

City officials and organizers are urging the community to turn out in force to give the young world champions the welcome they deserve.