LLWS 2026 Game 13 Recap: Canada 4, Australia 0
Canada survived elimination with a 4-0 win over Australia in Game 13 at Lamade Stadium. Felix Hoyano threw 5.2 shutout innings and struck out nine while allowing just one hit. Sha Hassko broke the game open with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning.
Canada moves on to face Panama on Monday in its next elimination game. Australia’s tournament run ends after the shutout loss. The Vancouver-based team scored its first run in the opening inning off an Australian fielding error.
Felix Hoyano Retires 17 of 18 Batters Faced
Hoyano allowed only a leadoff infield single to Daniel Warwick in the first inning. He retired the next 17 batters he faced without letting another Australian runner reach base. His nine strikeouts and clean control kept Australia off the scoreboard for the entire game.
Canada’s best pitching performance: Hoyano’s outing was the most dominant start by a Canadian pitcher so far in the 2026 LLWS. He did not issue a single walk across nearly six innings of work. His command allowed Canada’s offense the room it needed to break the game open late.
Sha Hassko Delivers the Decisive Blow
Hassko stepped up with two outs in the top of the sixth inning and Canada leading 1-0. He drove a 0-1 pitch to center field for a three-run home run, scoring Cruz Krpan and Felix Hoyano ahead of him. The blast pushed Canada’s lead to 4-0 and put the game away.
Hassko also factored into Canada’s first run of the game. He lined a single to center in the first inning that advanced Cruz Krpan to third base. Krpan then scored when Australia’s second baseman Nick Robson committed a fielding error on the play.
Australia’s missed chance: Australia starter Hikaru Kaneko escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, getting Connor Ross to pop out and ending the threat. Kaneko took the loss after allowing one run on four hits and a walk, but Hassko’s sixth-inning homer proved too much to overcome.
How the Game Unfolded, Inning by Inning
| Inning | Key Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Daniel Warwick’s leadoff infield single is the only hit Hoyano allows all game. Cruz Krpan reaches on a fielder’s choice, advances on a Sha Hassko single, and scores on an error. | CAN 1, AUS 0 |
| 2nd | Canada loads the bases on a walk, a single, and an error. Hikaru Kaneko strikes out the next batter and gets Connor Ross to pop out to end the threat. | CAN 1, AUS 0 |
| 3rd–5th | Hoyano and Kaneko settle in and trade zeros. Neither offense manages a hit through the middle innings. | CAN 1, AUS 0 |
| 6th | Sha Hassko crushes a three-run homer to center with two outs, scoring Cruz Krpan and Felix Hoyano. Canada’s lead grows to 4-0. | Final: CAN 4, AUS 0 |
Game 13 Box Score
| Team | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 4 | TBD | TBD |
| Australia | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Pitcher | Team | IP | H | R | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felix Hoyano | Canada | 5.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Hikaru Kaneko | Australia | TBD | 4 | 1 | 1 | TBD |
| Key Hit | Player | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Run HR | Sha Hassko | Canada | Center field, two outs, 6th inning — scored Krpan and Hoyano |
| RBI Single | Sha Hassko | Canada | Advanced Cruz Krpan to third in the 1st inning |
Next Games for Canada and Australia
| Team | Bracket | Next Game |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Elimination Bracket | Monday, August 24 vs. Panama |
| Australia | Eliminated | Tournament run ends with the loss |
Canada’s path forward: Little Mountain Little League stays alive in the elimination bracket after the shutout win. Canada now turns its attention to a matchup against Panama on Monday. The Vancouver-based team must keep winning every game to reach the international championship.
Conclusion
Canada shut out Australia 4-0 in Game 13 to survive its first elimination test of the 2026 LLWS. Felix Hoyano struck out nine over 5.2 shutout innings while allowing just one hit. Sha Hassko’s three-run homer in the sixth put the game out of reach.
Canada advances to face Panama on Monday in the next round of the elimination bracket. Australia’s tournament run comes to a close after the shutout defeat. Hoyano’s clean, walk-free outing stands as Canada’s best pitching performance of the tournament so far.
