Pitcher Dylan Cole struck out eight batters and helped supply the offensive punch with a two-run home run as North Scottsdale Little League downed Tucson's Canyon Del Oro Little League, 13-3, in the Arizona state championship game at the Kenilworth Sports Complex in Coolidge.

The win gave North Scottsdale its third state championship in the major baseball division, and its first since 1999. North Scottsdale advanced to the West Region tournament in San Bernardino, California.

Cole had also provided a go-ahead, two-run triple in the opening game of the state final four tournament, a 6-5 victory over Gilbert National Little League. The win marked the only game in five post-district clashes against other Arizona district champions in which North Scottsdale did not reach double-digits in scoring. The District 6 champions topped Tempe South, 22-11, in their opening round game at the Northern Arizona sectional tournament, then overpowered Prescott Valley 13-0 and Glendale's Arrowhead Little League, 11-4, in subsequent tournament games.

In an effort to reduce travel costs, Arizona officials switched the state tournament format from a fourteen-team, round robin tournament to a final four tournament for which leagues qualified based on sectional tournament results.

Canyon del Oro reached the state championship game after emerging from the bottom bracket at the Southern Arizona sectional tournament. The District 5 champions fell by an 11-0 score against Gilbert National in their second sectional tournament game, then won three straight contests to reach the state tournament.

At the state finals, CDO edged Arrowhead, 11-10, then leveraged Spencer Packard's walk-off, two-run homer to avenge their earlier loss to Gilbert National in a 7-6 win.

North Scottsdale won one of its four pool contests at the West Region tournament, and reached the semifinal round before dropping a 12-2 decision against eventual U.S. champion Waipio Little League (Waipahu, Hawaii).