Kinley Rasmus entered the Little League World Series with a famous baseball surname and left her own mark on the tournament’s history. The 12-year-old from Phenix City, Alabama, became only the 25th girl to play in the prestigious tournament since it began in 1947. Pitching for the Southeast Regional champions, she delivered an outstanding performance that quickly made her one of the standout players in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In her tournament debut, Rasmus pitched six scoreless innings, struck out eight batters and allowed just one hit against Tacoma, Washington. Her eight strikeouts matched the record set by Mo’ne Davis in 2014 for the most strikeouts by a female pitcher in Little League World Series history. Coverage from major American outlets including Good Morning America (ABC News), Deseret News, MLB.com and ESPN highlighted how the young right-hander captured attention while helping her team through a tough tournament.
A standout performance on the mound
Rasmus took the field wearing her trademark oversized white hairbow, a personal touch that inspired her team’s battle cry, “Fear the Bow”. “It brings joy to me,” Rasmus told ESPN before her debut. “Knowing they have my back whenever I take the mound.” She added: “It’s just so amazing. The opportunity is so great, it’s going to be such a blast and I’m just ready to play.” Her performance matched the excitement around her debut. In the opening two innings, she faced seven batters and struck out five, using a strong fastball and accurate pitching to keep hitters under pressure. Her team eventually lost 2-0 to Tacoma in extra innings after pitch-count rules forced Rasmus to leave the game at 81 pitches. The rules limit 12-year-olds to 85 pitches to help protect their developing arms. Still, her six scoreless innings kept Phenix City in the game through the end of regulation.
Continuing a family baseball legacy
Baseball has long been part of the Rasmus family. Kinley is the daughter of former Major League Baseball pitcher Cory Rasmus and the niece of former MLB outfielder Colby Rasmus. Her father and uncle were teammates on the 1999 Phenix City Little League team that won the United States championship. The team was managed by Kinley’s grandfather, Tony Rasmus. Kinley’s appearance in 2026 came as Phenix City reached Williamsport for the first time in 27 years, giving the family another memorable chapter in its baseball history. Despite the famous names around her, coverage from Deseret News and MLB.com noted that Kinley quickly created an identity of her own with her strong all-round play. When she was not pitching, she played shortstop and produced several important defensive plays. One of her best moments came during the elimination rounds when she made a leaping catch that stopped multiple runs.
Setting new tournament records
As Phenix City continued through the elimination bracket, Rasmus returned to the mound in relief during a tense 6-5 win over West Chester, Pennsylvania. She pitched four and two-thirds innings and struck out six more batters. That took her tournament total to 14 strikeouts, matching Mo’ne Davis’s overall record for a female pitcher at the Little League World Series. Rasmus also made an impact at the plate. In a later 4-2 rematch win over Tacoma, she collected her fifth hit of the tournament. Official tournament records confirmed that the hit gave her the most hits by a female player in Little League World Series history.
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A lasting impact on youth sports
Thousands of local Little League teams compete across dozens of countries, but only a small number of girls have reached the famous field in Williamsport. Rasmus became the 25th girl to play in the tournament since its creation. The 2026 event was also only the fourth time that two girls appeared in the same Little League World Series, with Rasmus joined by Nevada infielder Carsynn Meyer. Her performance went beyond the statistics. Rasmus showed remarkable confidence while playing under the pressure of international television coverage and a huge audience. Reports from ABC News and Deseret News said her pitching, hitting and fielding drew praise from fans, opponents and Major League Baseball figures.