ROYAL OAK, Mich. — August 16, 2026 — The Royal Oak Leprechauns are Northwoods League Champions.

The Leprechauns defeated the St. Cloud Rox, 3–1, Thursday night in St. Cloud, Minn., capturing the first Northwoods League Championship in franchise history and completing a historic postseason run for the organization.

Royal Oak entered the postseason after earning its first playoff berth in franchise history. The Leprechauns opened the playoffs with a best-of-three series against the Kenosha Kingfish, clinching the series on the road in Kenosha, Wis., to advance.

From there, the postseason shifted to a single-elimination format. The Leprechauns traveled to Madison, Wis., for the Great Lakes Division Championship, where they defeated the Madison Mallards to earn a spot in the Northwoods League Championship Game.

In Thursday’s championship game, Royal Oak trailed St. Cloud 1–0 before breaking through with three runs in the eighth inning to take a 3–1 lead. The Leprechauns held the Rox scoreless in the ninth to secure the championship.

Luke Kosko (University of Cincinnati) went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Connor Larkin (University of Oklahoma) went 1-for-3 and scored a run. Jack Sequin delivered six scoreless innings on the mound, and Liam Baker earned the win.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group and everything they accomplished this summer,” said DJ LeMahieu, President and Manager of the Royal Oak Leprechauns. “Our players and coaches bought in from day one, and so many people behind the scenes worked incredibly hard to make this season possible.”

The championship caps a landmark season for the Leprechauns, which included the organization’s first postseason appearance, first playoff series victory, first Great Lakes Division Championship and now its first Northwoods League Championship.