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It took less than two hours. In that short time, Cooper Thissen became a household name.
Producing one of the more dominant pitching performances in Little League World Series history can do that for a kid. And Anthony Johnson displaying some big-time clutch pitching sure helped, too.
Thissen and Johnson combined on a no-hitter, striking out 17 as Davenport, Iowa edged Bonita, California, 1-0 Friday afternoon at Lamade Stadium. Thissen threw 5 1/3 no-hit innings, struck out 15 and hit a first-inning home run.
Johnson excelled under pressure as fans around the stadium stood in the final moments, collecting two straight strikeouts and leaving the bases loaded with one out as Iowa handed California its first loss this year.
"I've been waiting for this for a while," Thissen said. "Just coming out here and playing on this baseball field is amazing."
So was he.
Thissen already was trending on Twitter halfway through the game. He opened the game by striking out the side on 10 pitches before launching a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first. In less than five minutes, he already had left quite an impact at South Williamsport.
And that impact felt more seismic as the game progressed. It was so early and Noah Kirk was sensational for California, but Thissen was untouchable allowing just one ball to be put in play, a third inning grounder to shortstop Xavier Ludtke who made a nice back-handed stop.
California scored 33 runs in three West Regional wins, but Thissen wore the cape Friday and proved to be their Kryptonite.
"That was the best I've seen. I've seen him throw well but this was a dominant performance against a very good California team," Iowa manager Mark Erwin said. "That was the best performance I've seen from him, personally. I'm sure he's had a couple other special ones but it was the best one I've seen by far."
Johnson made sure it did not go to waste.
Thissen's only blemishes were four walks. He entered the final inning at 74 pitches, 11 shy of the 85-pitch count limit. Following a strikeout to open the sixth, Thissen walked consecutive batters and hit 85. He received a rousing standing ovation as he walked the mound and handed the ball to Johnson.
Johnson, the team's quiet player, spoke volumes about who he is following a one-out walk. The go-ahead runners in scoring position, Johnson stayed poised and fought back from a 2-1 count for a strikeout.
Then, facing a full count, Johnson pumped a fastball by for strike three and Iowa fans erupted with joy. Gloves were tossed in the air and the team from Davenport Northwest celebrated its first Series victory in three appearances.
"Coming in, I was just focusing on my mechanics; trying to find the zone with every pitch," Johnson said. "Getting that last strikeout just felt amazing, knowing that we beat one of the best teams 1-0 and seeing the whole crowd and how hyped it was. It was crazy."
"AJ's a quiet kid, but he's a cold killer if you get him there," Erwin said. "You saw it on the mound there at the end."
Fans witnessed great pitching the entire game as Kirk and Leo Gonzalez combined on a one-hitter for California. Kirk also has overpowered opponents this summer, so when Thissen hit his lead-off home run, it felt bigger than many solo shots so early do.
Highlighting that, Kirk did not allow another hit and Caleb Irwin and Crue Neff were the only other Iowa batters to reach base, drawing walks. Kirk struck out 13 in his 4 2/3 innings and also received hearty applause when he reached 85 pitches.
"It was the best. The best of this season; best of I might have ever seen by two 12-year-olds," California manager Steve Winnick said. "They are both next-level pitchers. They could be at the next, next elite level if they continue on the path. I wouldn't be surprised if I see both those guys in the big leagues someday, to be honest."
Thissen has proven equally impressive offensively this summer and proved it again in the first inning. His father's Assumption High School captured a high school state championship last month and Thissen kept the good family times going.
The home run was impressive enough but coming on the pitch it did, made it stand out even more. Because Kirk did not throw a bad pitch. It was low in the zone, but Thissen stayed with it and drilled it over the center-field fence. He then did everything possible to protect the advantage he provided.
"I was just getting my swing off. Once it hit off the bat, I kind of knew it was gone," Thissen said. "Looking into the crowd was amazing. Everyone was cheering me on and it was great."
Iowa's win earns it a showdown Sunday against the winner of Friday night's New Jersey-Pennsylvania game. California will be back at it Saturday, facing Alabama in an elimination game.
"We don't have to wait multiple days and sit on this," Winnick said. "We get to play tomorrow and hopefully bring our A game and hopefully work our way back to that championship game."