Washington could not defeat Alabama during an elimination game at the Little League World Series despite allegations of sign stealing. The guys (and girl!) from Phenix City keep rolling in Williamsport.
This most recent result was the reverse of the opening round.
Fortunately, the alleged sign-stealing scandal did not change the eventual outcome of the Little League World Series. Poetic justice was served.
Kinley Rasmus made history at the Little League World Series.
Alabama lost its first game of the Little League World Series to Washington on Aug. 19 by a final score of 2-0. It has not lost since.
The team from Phenix City took down California by a score of 12-2 on Aug. 22, defeated the Mid-Atlantic by a score of 6-5 in epic comeback fashion on Aug. 24, and got its revenge on Washington by a score of 4-2 on Aug. 25. The boys (and girl!) from the Yellowhammer State will only play elimination games from this point forward. They cannot lose again. Only one team will play its way out of the loser’s bracket into the United States championship.
Although Phenix City has multiple players who are crucial to the lineup, Kinley Rasmus is the most important. The 25th girl to play in the Little League World Series, who comes from a family of Major Leaguers, continues to make history. Rather, HERstory.
Rasmus was crucial in the comeback victory over the Mid-Atlantic — both on the mound and at the plate.
And then set the record for most hits by a girl in Williamsport during the win over Washington.
There may not be a better story in sports right now. Rasmus and Alabama are on fire.
Washington was accused of sign stealing against Washington, again.
Reading an opponent’s signs from second base is often part of the game on the high school, college and professional levels of baseball. That is not the case in Little League. Players are strictly prohibited from stealing and/or relaying signs to alert a batter of a pitch selection and/or location. Sign stealing is classified as unsportsmanlike behavior, which can lead to ejection.
Rule 9.01 (d) reads as follows: “The stealing and relaying of signs to alert the batter of pitch selection and/or location is unsportsmanlike behavior. If, in the judgment of the umpire this behavior is occurring, the team manager and those responsible including any player(s) and/or coach(es) shall be warned after the first offense. Those responsible including any player(s), coach(es), and/or manager shall be ejected from the game for a team’s subsequent offense.”
This rule was thrust to the forefront of conversation during a game between Texas West and Oklahoma atthe Southwest Regional tournament in 2025. It did not lead to an ejection but teams were warned. A similar incident took place during a game at the Midwest Regional tournament in 2026. Iowa ultimately laughed it off as a big misunderstanding and was not punished.
The most recent accusations are two-fold. Washington was accused of stealing signs from Alabama during the Opening Round. The runner on second kept making some kind of signal with his hand, which caught the catcher’s attention behind the plate and led to a brief conversation between manager and umpire.
Washington ultimately defeated Phenix City during the first game to send Alabama to the loser’s bracket. They met again in an elimination game on Tuesday. Washington was accused of stealing signs for the second time against the same opponent.
It did not matter in the end. Even if the Washington team was stealing signs, the stolen signs did not lead to victory. Warnings and ejections were not necessary. Alabama got its revenge to stay alive.