DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Brodey Acres of the Williamsport Crosscutters stands on first base after hitting a single against the IronBirds during the fourth inning of Wednesday’s second-half opener at Bowman Field. The Crosscutters finished the first half as champs, clinching that title on Saturday, July 4, and earning a spot in September’s championship.

The Williamsport Crosscutters are championship bound.

After a hard fought first half season that witnessed dramatic comebacks, stellar hitting, and deadly pitching, the Crosscutters scrapped by to claim the MLB Draft League First Half title and home field advantage in the 2026 MLB Draft League Championship.

This glorious accomplishment is also met with a slight asterisk: They still have 51 games left to play.

Due to the format of the Draft League which pins the winner of the 30 game first half season against the winner of the 51 game second half campaign, the Crosscutters will have to wait 60 days after clinching the first half title in order to play for their second MLB Draft League title in program history.

That gives the Williamsport Crosscutters and manager Kenny Thomas ample time to put together the winning formula for the ballclub’s second title crown.

But don’t be mistaken, complacency doesn’t seem to be in the air.

The Crosscutters, fresh off their third half title since being a member of the Draft League, took no different routine warming up for Wednesday’s second half opener against the Aberdeen Ironbirds on Wednesday.

When asked about gearing up for the next 50 games, manager Kenny Thomas took no hesitation correcting the number of contests left.

“51,” echoed Thomas with a wry grin. “There’s 51 games left.”

And that attitude seems to be the motto for the Crosscutters as they gear up for September 2nd’s Championship: Playing as if they still have everything to play for.

“Yesterday, I had a meeting with the guy before practice. New guys, old guys, all of them,” discussed Thomas. “And I said ‘Nobody (in the MLB Draft League) has ever won both halves and the championship game in the same season.’ I just threw that out there. So there ya go, that is the mentality.”

With the evolution of the league from a college summer outfit in the first half to a professional organization in the second half, those with college eligibility or those preserving draft stock will be sidelined for the season with aspirations ahead.

But that isn’t to say every name is unfamiliar. Of the 22 athletes on the second half opening day roster, 10 are transitioning from the first half roster with six having made appearances in the last two weeks or longer.

On the hill starter Evan Grimes will be reunited with Matthew Mariano, with the pair having made a combined five appearances for the title win side.

But the most familiar reinforcements will come from the batters box. In addition to Trevor Conley and James McCoy, who joined the club in the last week of the first half season, first half stars Nick Barone, Brodey Acres, Owen Prince, and Chris Stanfield are still with the ballclub.

And while circumstances can change for all returnees with the upcoming MLB Draft taking place this Sunday, particularly first half stand outs Chris Stanfield and Brodey Acres, the lot not selected will be cornerstones as the Crosscutters chase another Draft League title.

They will be tailed by the remaining 12 athletes looking to make an impression on fans for the next 51 games. And with particular standouts like AEC Player of the Year Ehi Okojie, former Mets draft pick Jake Zitella, and Memphis starter David Case headlining the new group, it is expected to be quite the competitive bunch for the second half Cutters.

“I like em,” said Thomas on the new acquisitions. “It’s hard to tell, ya know? There’s a lot of 5 o’clock hitters in the world. The problem is the games start at 6:30. But so far, they are athletic and I feel pretty good about them.”

Williamsport’s second half kicks off the second half with a five game home stand beginning Wednesday, with Williamsport hosting the Aberdeen Ironbirds and Trenton Thunder.