THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 2, 2026 Page 9 Dolphins make Malden Youth Baseball history with four consecutive City Championships Historic season ends with dramatic 5-1 victory in winner-take-all Championship Game T he Dolphins of Malden Youth Baseball (MYB) celebrated the organization’s 50th season in historic fashion, accomplishing something that had never been done before in Malden Little League baseball history. The Dolphins captured their fourth consecutive City Championship, becoming the first Major Division team in the history of Malden Little League and the MYB to accomplish the remarkable feat. Malden Little League, the predecessor to today’s MYB, began play in 1953. For more than seven decades, teams have competed for the coveted City Championship, but no Major Division team had ever won four titles in a row — until this year’s Dolphins. The Dolphins finished the regular season in first place with an impressive 10-2 league record. Their first-place finish earned them a valuable bye in the opening round of the double-elimination City Series .They also played two games against Revere Youth Baseball teams, finishing with a 1-1 record. Dodgers strike first After the second-place Dodgers defeated the Red Sox in the opening game of the City Series, the Dodgers faced the Dolphins in the second game of the double-elimination tournament. The Dodgers came away with a hard-fought 2-0 victory, putting themselves in an excellent position to capture the championship. The victory propelled the Dodgers into the finals, where they would need only one more win to claim the title. Dodgers’ pitcher Simon Golden was outstanding, shutting out the Dolphins while allowing just one hit: a single by Dolphins’ rookie CJ Schuman. Golden recorded 12 strikeouts and allowed only three walks. For the Dolphins, Gio Cambriello started on the mound and pitched two scoreless innings, surrendering three hits while striking out three and walking one. Nick Cook-Tran relieved Cambriello and pitched four innings. He allowed two runs on two hits while striking out an impressive 10 batters and walking two. With the loss, the Dolphins faced CHAMPIONS: The 2026 Dolphins Team members are Nick CookTran, Gio Cambriello, Logan Salie, Gianna Ferreira, Ramon Ostalaza, Jaxon Nickerson, Chris Faria, James Melendez, Nick Faria, Anthony “Junior” Cambriello and CJ Schuman. (Courtesy photo) a daunting challenge: They would have to win three consecutive games to capture their fourth straight City Championship. However, the Dolphins were not ready to surrender their title. Dolphins eliminate Red Sox Their next game was against a young and talented Red Sox team. Facing elimination, the Dolphins responded with a convincing 11-1 victory, ending the Red Sox’ City Series run after four innings. Logan Salie turned in a dominant pitching performance, going all four innings while allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out eight and walked three. Salie also led the Dolphins offensively, collecting a double and a single. Cook-Tran contributed a double and a single. Ramon Ostalaza collected two singles and Gio Cambriello added a triple. The victory eliminated the Red Sox and set up a rematch with the Dodgers. The Dodgers had been resting while waiting for the winner of the Dolphins-Red Sox game and were now just one victory away from claiming the championship. Dolphins rally to force winner-take-all game The rematch began with the Dodgers taking an early 1-0 lead after two innings. Dodgers scoring came after Brayden Yin reached base on an error, advanced to third on a wild pitch and another error, and eventually scored on a groundout. The Dolphins responded in the third inning, taking a 2-1 lead. Ostalaza singled, Cook-Tran was hit by a pitch, and Cambriello delivered a clutch single that drove in both runners. The Dolphins added another run in the fourth inning when Ostalaza doubled. In the fifth inning, the Dolphins extended their lead with two more runs, highlighted by a double from Schuman. The Dodgers refused to go quietly, scoring once in both the fourth and fifth innings. They added another run in the sixth inning, but the Dolphins held on for a thrilling 5-4 victory. The comeback win forced a winner-take-all championship game for the City title. Cook-Tran delivers in Championship Game With the championship on the line, Brayden Yin took the mound for the Dodgers and Nick CookTran got the start for the Dolphins. The Dodgers scored their only run in the top of the first inning. From then on, Cook-Tran took control. The Dolphins pitcher mowed down the Dodgers for most of the game, allowing only three hits over six innings while striking out an incredible 12 batters and walking just two. The Dolphins offense answered the early deficit and eventually pulled away for a convincing 5-1 victory, securing the City ChamBASEBALL | SEE PAGE 10 Stop cleaning-out your gutters this season Debris Buildup Stands No Chance With LeafFilter P E Heavy leaves Pinecones Acorns Stainless Steel Micromesh uPVC Frame Pine needles Seed pods EXPIRES: 11/30/2026 + Storm debris Custom Fit To Your New or Existing Gutters AN ADDITIONAL 25% OFF 10% LeafFilter * Get a FREE full gutter inspection and estimate: Promo: 285 1-866-319-6047 *Promotional off er includes 25% off plus an additional 10% off for qualifi ed veterans and/or seniors. Cannot be combined with other off ers. See representative for full warranty details. 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