Karl Ravech’s ESPN Farewell Comes as Curaçao Captures Little League World Series and Orioles Take Two of Three From Athletics

Karl Ravech’s ESPN Farewell Comes as Curaçao Captures Little League World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Karl Ravech’s final ESPN assignment ended with a championship celebration Sunday, as Curaçao defeated Henderson, Nevada, 11-2, to win the 2026 Little League World Series.

For Ravech, the championship game represented the closing chapter of a 33-year ESPN career. The veteran baseball broadcaster was honored during the broadcast, receiving an emotional tribute from colleague Eduardo Pérez and Little League officials. Ravech has been a familiar voice at the Little League World Series for decades, making his final sign-off at Lamade Stadium particularly fitting.

The game itself belonged to Curaçao.

Nevada jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning when Logan Edwards and Michael Kleiner reached base before Maddox Bryan delivered a two-run single. Curaçao answered immediately, with Shardijon De Lanoi producing a two-run single to tie the game.

From there, Curaçao's offense took control.

Jaymiëll Martina put Curaçao ahead in the fourth inning with a two-run double. The decisive blow came in the fifth when Juriënsly De Windt delivered a bases-clearing double, giving him three RBIs and helping Curaçao break the game open. De Lanoi also finished with three RBIs. Curaçao added three more runs in the sixth inning to complete the 11-2 victory.

The pitching performance was equally impressive. De Windt started and worked three innings, allowing two runs—only one earned. Giendry Ryan followed with 2⅓ innings and struck out four, while Steven Felix recorded the final two outs and finished the championship with a strikeout and a flyout.

Nevada's Carsynn Meyer, who had made history by becoming the first girl to record a hit in a U.S. championship game, went 0-for-2 in the final. Nevada finished as the runner-up after reaching the championship game for the second consecutive year.

For Curaçao, the 11-2 victory delivered its second Little League World Series championship and first title since 2004.

For Ravech, it was the final call of an ESPN era that spanned more than three decades.

The broadcaster left Williamsport with the championship trophy behind him, memories in front of him and the appreciation of generations of baseball fans.

Orioles Take Two of Three From Athletics

The Baltimore Orioles took two of three games from the Athletics in a series that featured late-inning drama, extra-base power, strong relief pitching, and one of the most explosive offensive performances of the set. Baltimore entered the series with a 66-69 record and left Oakland at 68-69, winning Games 1 and 3 while dropping Game 2.

Across the three games, the Orioles showed several different ways to win. Game 1 required 10 innings and a late rally. Game 2 was a more controlled 5-3 victory, with Baltimore building an early lead and surviving a late Athletics push. Game 3 featured a completely different offensive formula, as Gunnar Henderson and Coby Mayo combined for three home runs and eight RBIs in an 8-5 victory.

The series also highlighted Baltimore's pitching depth. The Orioles' bullpen repeatedly handled high-pressure situations, while the offense received major contributions from players throughout the lineup.

Game 1: Orioles 4, Athletics 3 — Baltimore Wins in Extras

The opening game was a tense 10-inning affair, with Baltimore ultimately escaping with a 4-3 victory.

Baltimore jumped ahead in the second inning by scoring twice. Dylan Beavers delivered the first big hit of the night, singling to right field to score Coby Mayo. The Orioles added another run when Luis Narváez reached on a fielding error by Athletics pitcher José López, allowing Leody Taveras to score.

That 2-0 advantage held until the seventh inning, when Oakland finally broke through. Shea Langeliers? No — it was Jhonny Heim who supplied the damage, hitting a solo home run to right field that traveled 353 feet. Suddenly, the Athletics were within one.

Oakland tied the game in the eighth. Lawrence Butler singled to left, bringing home Henry Bolte. The Athletics had a chance to take the lead, but McNeil was thrown out at home, keeping the game tied at 2-2.

Neither team scored in the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.

Baltimore finally broke through in the 10th. Mayo delivered a clutch RBI single to right, scoring Narváez and moving Gunnar Henderson to third. Christian Encarnacion-Strand followed with another RBI single, scoring Henderson and putting Baltimore ahead 4-2.

The Athletics answered with one run in the bottom of the 10th on a Zack Gelof single, but Baltimore's bullpen shut the door.

Mayo was one of Baltimore's best hitters, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Beavers also contributed an RBI, while Encarnacion-Strand drove in a run. The Orioles collected six hits but drew six walks, giving them opportunities despite striking out 12 times.

The biggest pitching story was the bullpen. Andrew Kittredge earned the win after throwing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, while Andrew Hoppe earned the save.

Baltimore starter Burch Smith? The box score credits Brandon Young with seven innings, five hits and one earned run while striking out four. Young's ability to keep Oakland's offense under control for seven innings gave Baltimore the foundation it needed.

Despite allowing nine hits as a team, Baltimore limited Oakland to just three runs. The Athletics went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while the Orioles went 4-for-11.

Game 1 ultimately came down to execution in the extra inning. Baltimore got the timely hits when it mattered most.

Game 2: Orioles 5, Athletics 3 — Taveras and Cowser Lead the Way

The Orioles followed their extra-inning victory with a 5-3 win in Game 2.

This game belonged to Leody Taveras and Coby Mayo? Taveras was particularly important, finishing 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and a walk.

Baltimore scored first in the third inning when Taveras hit a ground-rule double that brought Mayo home. The Orioles extended their lead in the fifth when Coby Mayo? The box score credits Coby Cowser with a solo home run to center field, his 13th of the season.

Baltimore then created separation in the sixth inning.

Taveras doubled again, this time scoring Mayo and Beavers. His second double of the game gave Baltimore a 4-0 advantage and represented one of the biggest offensive swings of the series.

Oakland refused to go quietly.

The Athletics scored twice in the sixth inning. Lawrence Butler walked with the bases in position, allowing J.J. Heim to score, and Denzel Walton was hit by a pitch to force home another run.

Oakland added another run in the eighth when Cortes singled to right, scoring Walton and cutting the Orioles' lead to 4-3.

Baltimore needed an insurance run, and it got one in the ninth. Cowser scored on a wild pitch by A.J. Puk? The box score credits Oakland reliever Enmanuel Alvarado with the wild pitch, giving Baltimore a 5-3 lead.

That proved to be enough.

Starter Shane Baz earned the victory after allowing five hits and two earned runs over 5⅔ innings. He struck out four and walked three. The bullpen then took over.

Baltimore used several relievers before Kittredge returned for the ninth and secured his eighth save.

The Orioles were not perfect offensively. They went only 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base. But their ability to generate extra-base hits proved decisive.

Taveras' two doubles and three RBIs were the centerpiece of the attack. Cowser supplied the home run and scored twice, while Mayo scored twice and collected a hit.

Oakland actually had 10 hits compared with Baltimore's seven, but the Athletics struggled to convert those opportunities. They went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.

That difference in situational hitting was essentially the story of Game 2.

Game 3: Orioles 8, Athletics 5 — Henderson Explodes

If the first two games were decided by late-game execution, Game 3 was defined by Baltimore's power.

The Orioles defeated Oakland 8-5 behind a spectacular performance from Gunnar Henderson, who went 4-for-4 with three runs, five RBIs and two home runs. Coby Mayo also homered and drove in three runs.

Henderson immediately made an impact.

Batting in the first inning, he launched a 413-foot home run to center field. The Athletics answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a Lawrence Butler double that scored Zack Gelof and Henry Bolte.

Oakland extended its lead in the second when J.J. McNeil doubled home B.J. Serven.

In the third, Serven launched a two-run homer to right-center field, giving the Athletics a 5-1 advantage.

At that point, Baltimore appeared to be in serious trouble.

Instead, the Orioles' offense completely flipped the game.

Mayo started the comeback in the fourth inning with a three-run homer to left-center field. His blast scored Pete Alonso and Henderson, cutting Oakland's lead to 5-4.

Then came Henderson again.

In the fifth inning, Henderson hit his second homer of the night, another 413-foot shot. This time, Alexander and Alonso scored, giving Baltimore a 7-5 lead.

Henderson's two home runs accounted for five RBIs, and his four-hit performance was easily the offensive highlight of the series.

Baltimore added one more run in the eighth when Henderson tripled to center, allowing Jackson Holliday to score.

The Orioles finished with seven hits but turned those seven hits into eight runs because of the quality and timing of their extra-base hits.

Oakland actually outhit Baltimore 9-7, but the Athletics could not generate another scoring rally after the third inning.

Chris Bassitt earned the win for Baltimore despite allowing five runs on eight hits over 5⅔ innings. He struck out four and walked three. The bullpen was outstanding afterward.

A. Nunez threw 1⅓ scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Jordan Walker followed with a scoreless inning, and Yennier Cano closed the game with a clean ninth inning to earn his third save.

The Athletics' starter Jeffrey Springs had a rough outing. He allowed six hits and seven earned runs in 4⅔ innings while surrendering three home runs.

That was the decisive difference.

Series Takeaways

The Orioles' two victories demonstrated different strengths.

Game 1 showed Baltimore's ability to win a close, low-scoring game through pitching and timely hitting. The Orioles did not dominate the box score, but they made the critical plays in the 10th inning and received excellent relief work.

Game 2 showcased the value of extra-base hits and Leody Taveras' production. His two doubles and three RBIs gave Baltimore the early cushion it needed, while Kittredge once again provided a reliable finish.

Game 3 was the offensive showcase. Gunnar Henderson was unquestionably the star. Going 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs, Henderson accounted for more than half of Baltimore's eight runs. Coby Mayo's three-run homer was equally important because it sparked the comeback when Baltimore was trailing 5-1.

The Orioles also demonstrated impressive bullpen consistency throughout the series. Kittredge earned a win in Game 1, saved Game 2, and the bullpen protected another victory in Game 3. That reliability becomes particularly important in close games, and Baltimore received several strong performances from its relief corps.

The Athletics, meanwhile, repeatedly put runners on base but struggled to capitalize. Oakland collected nine hits in Game 1, 10 in Game 2 and nine in Game 3. Yet Baltimore won two of those games because the Orioles were more efficient in key situations.

Final Assessment

Baltimore's 2-1 series victory was a good example of a team finding multiple ways to win.

The Orioles won a 10-inning thriller, protected a two-run lead in Game 2 and then erased a four-run deficit in Game 3. They received timely hitting from Mayo, Taveras, Beavers and Encarnacion-Strand, while Henderson's extraordinary Game 3 performance provided the signature moment.

The final numbers tell an interesting story. Baltimore scored 17 runs across the three games while allowing 11. The Orioles hit five home runs, including three in the decisive third game, and repeatedly relied on their bullpen to protect narrow leads.

Most importantly, the series showed resilience. After falling behind 5-1 in Game 3, Baltimore did not panic. Henderson and Mayo responded with the power needed to completely change the game.

For a team sitting just below .500, taking two of three on the road is meaningful. Baltimore left the series at 68-69, one game away from an even record, while Oakland fell to 53-84.

The Orioles did not dominate every inning or every statistical category. Instead, they consistently delivered in the moments that mattered most. Game 1 belonged to the late-inning bullpen and extra-inning offense. Game 2 belonged to Taveras and situational execution. Game 3 belonged to Henderson and the Orioles' power.

Taken together, the three box scores paint a picture of a Baltimore team capable of winning close games, overcoming deficits and getting major contributions from its young core. If that formula continues, the Orioles can remain competitive down the stretch.