​HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM) – The Horseheads Little League 10-12 All-Star team inched closer to a berth in Williamsport after delivering a dominant performance against Corning to capture the District 6 Championship. The Horseheads 10-12 All-Stars rolled to an 8-0 victory over Corning on Friday night, marking their first district title since their 2023 win over the same opponent.
Head coach Kevin Kline, a former player under the legendary Jeff Limoncelli at Horseheads High School from 2004 to 2006, credited the team’s success to lessons learned years ago. “It goes back to when I played,” Kline said. “Coach Limoncelli taught me that pitching and defense win baseball games. We’ve been sticking to that philosophy all season, and our bats finally woke up over the last three games.”
Horseheads wasted no time seizing the initiative as the designated road team for the night. Eli Pirozzolo opened the scoring with an RBI single, and a subsequent double steal allowed Eli Hillard to score. In the fourth inning, Hillard delivered a RBI bunt to bring in Pirozzolo, and he later crossed the plate again on a J.J. Reed two-run double. The scoring continued in the fifth when Jesse Schuyler lined an RBI single, and Kaidan Rijo followed with a two-run double that pushed the advantage to 8-0.
Beyond the offense, Horseheads received exceptional pitching and defense to seal the win. Pirozzolo contributed a first-inning pickoff/throwout play, while the team’s defensive effort remained sharp throughout. Max Marsh delivered a standout performance on the mound, tossing a complete game shutout while recording eight strikeouts on 81 pitches. Marsh’s only blemishes came with a hit batsman and a triple by Lincoln West, but he locked in when it mattered most and received strong support from his defense.
“I had a lot of fun out there,” Marsh said. “The crowd was really energetic, and when I was throwing strikes, I felt the adrenaline. I knew my defense would back me up, and that’s what mattered.”
With the victory, Horseheads earned the District 6 Championship and advanced to the Section 1 East Tournament. The upcoming Section 1 East event will be hosted by the Corning-Painted Post Little League at their complex on 110 Canada Road. Horseheads will open the double-elimination tournament on Thursday at 6 p.m. against the District 5 champions, Auburn. Auburn earned their spot by defeating Northern Cayuga 10-0 in five innings by mercy rule.
Fans and followers can stay tuned to 18 Sports for continuing coverage as the Horseheads 10-12 All-Stars pursue a trip to the Little League World Series. For additional information, view the full bracket for the Section 1 East Little League 10-12 All-Star Tournament. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, visit WETM – MyTwinTiers.com.