Kansas City Monarchs Claim AA Pennant - The Kansas City Monarchs capped the 2026 season with a championship, defeating the Milwaukee Milkmen 3-1 in the Miles Wolff Cup Finals to claim their fifth league title and fourth Miles Wolff Cup. K
ansas City finished 59-41, earning the No. 1 seed and West Division title, before defeating the Sioux Falls Canaries 2-1 and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the playoffs. The Monarchs advanced to the Finals with a 10-9 win over Fargo-Moorhead before finishing the postseason by defeating Milwaukee.
The Kansas City Monarchs received key contributions from Luken Baker, Saul Garza, Austin Callahan and Jimmy Endersby. Endersby threw seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a 4-0 Game 2 win, while Tyler Gentry led the playoffs with six home runs, including one in the championship-clinching Game 4 victory.
Billings Mustangs Take Pioneer League Title - The Billings Mustangs put together one of the strongest seasons in Pioneer League history in 2026, finishing 67-28 for a .705 winning percentage before capturing the league championship, their first as an independent team.
Billings defeated the Missoula PaddleHeads 2-0 in the semifinal series before sweeping the Long Beach Coast 2-0 in the Championship Series. The Mustangs won the opening game 12-2 before completing the championship sweep with a 14-11 victory in Game 2. The title marked Billings' 16th overall league championship and its first since 2014, according to Pioneer League records.
Billings' championship roster featured an imposing offensive group, led by A.J. Shaver, who recorded 154 hits, 21 home runs, 122 RBIs and 35 stolen bases while batting .434. Cameron Bowen added 147 hits, 37 doubles, 21 home runs and 114 RBIs, while Charlie Muniz hit .361 with 27 home runs, 106 RBIs and a .470 on-base percentage.
Adam Cootway also hit 22 home runs with 94 RBIs during the regular season and delivered three home runs during the Championship Series. His biggest moment came in Game 2, when his three-run homer helped Billings withstand a Long Beach rally and secure the 14-11 championship-clinching victory, earning him postseason MVP recognition for his impact throughout the title run. Julian Garcia also anchored the pitching staff with a 9-1 record and 97 strikeouts.