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Published On: August 8th, 2026

With their 4-3 win over the Kalamazoo Growlers, the Royal Oak Leprechauns have clinched the second-half championship in the Great Lakes East Division, and will head to the Northwoods League playoffs for the first time in franchise history and face the Kenosha Kingfish in the first round.

In a best-of-three series between the Leprechauns and the Kingfish, the first game will be played in Royal Oak on Sunday, August 9, with first pitch scheduled for 5:35 p.m. CDT.

The Kingfish enter the postseason after battling back from a 3-9 start to claim the Great Lakes East first-half championship. The first-half title secured Kenosha’s first playoff berth since 2018, and now, for the first time in eight years, playoff baseball will return to Historic Simmons Field. Game 2 of the series will be played on Monday, August. 10, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. CDT.

If the series is tied at 1-1 through the first two games, the Kingfish will host the decisive game three on Tuesday, August 11, with first pitch also scheduled to be at 6:35 p.m. CDT.

For fans looking to take in the playoff action, the Kingfish will be offering an $8 ticket-plus-hat promotion, available for purchase online or through the ticket office by phone.

Along with the ticket promotion, the first 500 fans to enter Historic Simmons Field on Monday will receive a “Reel It In” rally towel, sponsored by American Outfitters.

Playoff baseball is here, and the Kingfish look forward to seeing you as they begin their 2026 Northwoods League playoff run.

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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now entering its’ 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 415 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM). League games are viewable live on FloSports.tv.