Phenix City thumps California in four innings 12-2 to advance at LLWS
Southeast celebrate with Cam Lee (14) who hit a home run against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast is hit by a pitch in the 4th inning against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast celebrate their win against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lorenzo Quintero of Southeast celebrates scoring against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Cam Lee of Southeast celebrates his home run against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Southeast celebrate with Cam Lee (14) who hit a home run against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast is hit by a pitch in the 4th inning against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast celebrate their win against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lorenzo Quintero of Southeast celebrates scoring against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Cam Lee of Southeast celebrates his home run against West at the Little League World Series. Southeast won 12-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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Phenix City, Alabama lost its first Little League World Series game in 1999 before rallying and winning the U.S. championship.
And while the road back is still a long one, the 2026 Phenix City team showed it is eager to try and make history repeat itself.
Phenix City kept its summer-long run going strong Saturday, thumping Bonita, California, 12-2 in four innings at Lamade Stadium. The Southeast champions scored 11 runs over the final three innings, including nine in the last two. Phenix City then scored five runs in the fourth with Cedric Harrison Jr. drawing a walk-off walk.
Phenix City will play Pennsylvania Monday, back at Lamade Stadium.
Easton Allen, Kinley Rasmus and Casen Smith all had two hits and Cam Lee walloped a two-run home run as Phenix City scored 12 of the game's final 13 runs after California took a brief 1-0 second inning lead. Rasmus also tied a Series record by becoming the fourth girl there to produce two hits in a game.
Urijah Berklite threw four strong innings for Phenix City, allowing just one earned run and striking out six. After California cut it to 7-2 in the top of the fourth, Berklite made his final pitch a clutch one, producing a strikeout and leaving the bases loaded. A half inning later, Phenix City was celebrating an impressive victory against a team which entered the Series undefeated.
"It's always fun to win; but it's much more fun to win as a team," Phenix City manager Case Rasmus said. "It was an incredible team win from the lead-off hitter to the 12 hitter all contributing in some way."
California entered the Series undefeated, but could not get its offense going after being no-hit against Iowa Friday. Still, it was a year to remember for Bonita which reached the Series for a second time since 2015.
"I've coached and played so many games. The games are fun; the games are exciting," California manager Steve Winnick said. "Some of those games are memorable but the boys themselves; getting to coach that group of boys was special."