Kinley Rasmus tied Mo’ne Davis‘ Little League World Series strikeout record with 14 total strikeouts after a stellar relief outing on Monday, leading Phenix City, Alabama, to a 6-5 elimination win over West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Historic Strikeouts on the Williamsport Stage
Kinley Rasmus added another milestone to her tournament run by matching Mo’ne Davis’ historic Little League World Series strikeout record for a girl. Pitching for Phenix City, Alabama, the two-way star recorded six strikeouts during a high-stakes elimination game against West Chester, Pennsylvania, bringing her tournament total to 14 strikeouts.
That performance mirrored the legendary benchmark set by Davis in 2014. Rasmus first signaled her dominance in her opening tournament appearance, tossing six scoreless innings and striking out eight batters—another record she now shares with Davis for the most strikeouts by a girl in a single game at the tournament. Rasmus flashed her defensive skills earlier in her team’s run when she made a leaping catch at shortstop to rob her opponent of a hit.
She is one of two girls playing in the tournament this year, joining Carsynn Meyer of Paseo Verde, Nevada. They are among the 25 girls who have competed in the event’s 79-year history.
Relief Pitching and a Dramatic Comeback
The road to history required a heavy dose of grit. Phenix City found itself in a deep hole, falling behind 5-0 early in the contest. When Rasmus took over the pitching duties in the top of the third inning with Alabama down five runs and desperate for something to change on defense, the star pitcher gave it exactly what it needed.
She delivered immediately by picking up a double play to end the inning and stop the bleeding. From there, she gave up just two hits and no runs over the final four innings, throwing more than four scoreless innings (specifically 4 ⅔ innings on the mound) and shutting down the Pennsylvania offense as her teammates orchestrated a rally.
“I just had to lock into the game and know to throw strikes and let my defense work. Just throw strikes.”
Kinley Rasmus, Phenix City pitcher
Two-Way Impact at the Plate
Rasmus made her presence felt far beyond the pitching rubber. In the bottom of the third inning, Alabama cut into the lead with a handful of RBI singles before Rasmus stepped up to the plate and delivered the game-tying RBI on a single to left field (specifically on a hard grounder to left field to score Easton Allen). Rasmus finished the game going 1-for-3 at the plate.
Her offensive contributions have been a constant throughout the summer. In an elimination game against Bonita, California, last Saturday, Rasmus went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI triple. During the regional tournament leading up to Williamsport, Rasmus hit .750 by going 6-for-8, complemented by a complete game shutout and eight strikeouts en route to a 4-0 win over Tennessee to secure the Southeast regional title, allowing just three hits and no walks.
A Baseball Family Legacy
Athletic talent runs deep in the Rasmus household. Kinley is able to keep hitters off balance with a remarkable curveball, which she has attributed to her dad, former Major League pitcher Cory Rasmus. Kinley is the daughter of Cory Rasmus and the niece of former MLB outfielder Colby Rasmus, a 10-year MLB vet who played for five teams between 2009 and 2018, starting his career with the St. Louis Cardinals before joining the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles.
Her father serves as an assistant coach for the Phenix City squad this summer, bringing a full-circle element to the team’s postseason run. Cory Rasmus and his brother Colby both played on Phenix City’s 1999 Little League World Series team, and Kinley’s regional title run helped lift Alabama to their first trip to the Little League World Series in 27 years.
What Lies Ahead in Williamsport
Following the hard-fought victory, Rasmus expressed appreciation for her teammates and the journey that brought her to the international stage.
“I’m just so grateful for this opportunity. I couldn’t be here without my teammates and they’ve just been here with me this whole ride. I’m just so grateful to them.”
Kinley Rasmus, Phenix City pitcher
With Phenix City surviving the elimination bracket in what marked the team’s second straight elimination win, the team advances to face Tacoma, Washington, next on Tuesday. Rasmus stands just one strikeout away from breaking Davis’ historical tournament mark outright, though it will likely take at least another win if she’s going to find her way back onto the mound.
