Iowa defeated California in the opening round of the Little League World Series behind 15 strikeouts and a solo home run from Cooper Thissen during 5.1 no-hit innings. Unfortunately, a horrible strike three call by the umpire spoiled the West region representative’s chances of defeating the Midwest representative in the bottom half of the final frame.
It was outside (and high).
Although there are multiple opportunities to win a Little League game, this singular decision changed the entire outcome of the game — if not the rest of the bracket. ABS would’ve flipped the call in favor of the team that lost.
Cooper Thissen threw a no-hitter at the Little League World Series. (Almost!)
Davenport Northwest won the Iowa state tournament to qualify for the Midwest Region tournament. Iowa eventually went on to win the Midwest Region tournament to punch its ticket to Williamsport. They were accused of stealing signs during the championship game, which is against Little League rules, but the team rejects cheating allegations with a simple explanation.
At the forefront of Iowa’s success is Cooper Thissen. The 5-foot-8 lefty plays shortstop, centerfield, pitcher and catcher for Davenport Northwest. Much like Shohei Ohtani, he loves to back himself up at the plate on days when he is on the mound.
That is exactly what happened on Friday.
Thissen struck out the side in the top of the first inning and hit 74 miles per hour on the radar gun, which translates to 96 miles per hour from a 90-foot mound. And then he homered to start the bottom of the first inning!
Can't ask for a better start than that!
— ESPN (@espn) August 21, 2026
🔥 Struck out the side pitching in the top of the inning
🔥 Homered at the plate to start the bottom of the inning
Look at what it means to Cooper Thissen 👏 pic.twitter.com/GN9khRB7pj
That was the only run of the entire game. Thissen added three more strikeouts in the top of the second inning, three strikeouts in the top of the third inning, two strikeouts in the top of the fourth inning, and struck out the side in the top of the fifth inning. He had a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts through five innings but his pitch count was catching up to him.
Little League pitchers cannot exceed 85 pitches in six innings unless they already started a new batter when they threw their 85th pitch, in which case they can finish that at-bat. Thissen threw 74 pitches through the first five innings and walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth inning to hit 80.
This is where things got interesting.
He struck out the next batter (15 total strikeouts) on his 83rd pitch, which guaranteed him another at-bat. A wild pitch sent the base runner to second. A walk and passed ball put runners on first and third with one out. Thissen was done.
Iowa won because of an awful strike three call by the umpire.
Anthony Johnson Jr. took over for Cooper Thissen in the bottom half of the sixth with one out and two runners on. Iowa still led 1-0.
California loaded the bases with two outs. Johnson faced a 3-2 count. Strike three was called to complete the combined no-hitter. The Midwest representative advanced to the winner’s side of the double elimination Little League World Series bracket. The West representative dropped down to the loser’s side of the bracket.
However, the game should’ve continued. The called strike three was outside (and high), which should’ve walked in a run on Ball 4.
Iowa completes the combined no-hitter! 🔥
— ESPN (@espn) August 21, 2026
Anthony Johnson Jr. finishes the job after Cooper Thissen struck out 15 in less than 6 innings 👏 pic.twitter.com/9AhrsA7uZ7
The game should’ve been tied at 1 with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. California could’ve walked it off, or at the very least, had a chance in extra innings. Instead, it was strike three. Game over.
Umpires at the Little League World Series are volunteers so it’s hard to be a hater, but the pitch was not in the zone. Brutal.