The summer tournament season is officially underway for Little League Baseball District 18, and the road to Section 3 runs straight through Toms River. U12 teams from across Ocean County are battling for the district crown and a chance to advance to the Section 3 Tournament, scheduled for July 17 at Toms River Little League.

District 18’s U12 field features:

• Toms River
• Toms River East
• Jackson Holbrook
• Barnegat
• Manchester
• Brick
• Berkeley

Pool play wrapped up over the weekend, setting the stage for a high‑stakes double‑elimination bracket.

Semifinals set after pool play

With pool play complete, four teams have emerged to open the double‑elimination semifinals this week:

• Toms River vs. Jackson Holbrook Time: 6:30 p.m. Site: Manchester Little League
• Barnegat vs. Manchester Time: 6:30 p.m. Site: Manchester Little League

Brick and Berkeley concluded pool play but did not advance to the semifinal round. The winners and losers of these opening games will feed into a busy holiday week of tournament action.

Key dates on the District 18 calendar

Here’s a quick look at the upcoming schedule for the U12 bracket:

• Friday, July 3 Game: Winners of Wednesday’s semifinals Time: 6:30 p.m. Site: Jackson Holbrook Little League
• Sunday, July 5 Game: Losers’ bracket matchup (elimination game) Time: 1:30 p.m. Site: Berkeley Little League
• Tuesday, July 7 Game: Final preliminary game Time: 6:30 p.m. Site: Toms River East Little League
• Thursday, July 9 – Championship Game Time: 6:30 p.m. Site: Toms River Little League
• Friday, July 10 – Championship Game 2 (if necessary) Time: 6:30 p.m. Site: Toms River Little League

If the team emerging from the losers’ bracket wins on July 9, a decisive “if necessary” Game 2 will be played on July 10 to determine the District 18 champion.

What’s at stake for District 18

The winner of the U12 District 18 tournament will move on to the Section 3 Tournament at Toms River Little League on July 17, with the ultimate goal of continuing through the state and regional levels toward the Little League World Series.

District 18 has a strong recent history, with programs like Jackson Holbrook and Toms River earning state titles and making deep tournament runs in recent years. That pedigree adds extra intrigue to this year’s bracket—every game has the feel of a championship matchup.

Scores, updates, and live coverage

Fans can follow:

• Daily scores and brackets: District 18 maintains updated schedules, pool standings, and brackets for baseball and softball across all age groups on its official tournament site.
• “Game of the Night” live streams: One featured game per night is streamed live online, giving families and fans a chance to watch from home or on the go.
• Weather reminders: Teams are instructed to report to the game site unless notified otherwise; the district controls all official schedule changes.

Coaches and families can also access tournament resources such as rule summaries, residency checklists, pitch logs, and medical release forms through the District 18 website.

Ocean County baseball in the spotlight

From Toms River to Barnegat, Manchester to Brick, District 18 showcases the best of local youth baseball—packed bleachers, community pride, and kids chasing big‑league dreams on small‑town fields.

As the double‑elimination bracket unfolds, expect tight games, dramatic finishes, and at least one team punching its ticket to Section 3. Check back often for updated scores, standout performances, and championship‑night coverage as District 18 crowns its 2026 U12 champion.