Midwest Region LLWS 2026: Davenport Northwest Little League, Davenport, Iowa
Davenport Northwest Little League from Davenport, Iowa, represents the Midwest Region at the 2026 Little League World Series. They went a perfect 4-0 through the Midwest Regional Tournament in Whitestown, Indiana, to earn their spot at Williamsport.
| Team | Davenport Northwest Little League |
| City | Davenport, Iowa |
| Region | Midwest |
| Regional Record | 4-0 |
| LLWS Opener | August 20 at 6:00 PM ET vs West Region (California) |
| Venue | Lamade Stadium, Game 8 |
| TV | ESPN2 |
| Manager | Mark Erwin |
The Midwest Region covers Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Davenport Northwest beat North Dakota, South Dakota, and Missouri before edging Wisconsin’s Whitefish Bay Little League in a walk-off championship. They open the 2026 LLWS on August 20 at 6:00 PM ET at Lamade Stadium against the West Region champion, Sweetwater Valley Little League of Bonita, California. The game airs live on ESPN2.
Davenport Northwest LL, Full 2026 LLWS Roster
| # | Player | Position(s) | Bats | Throws | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaxon Rasso | OF / 2B / 3B | R | R | 4’11” |
| 2 | Logan Chantos | 3B / P | R | R | 5’1″ |
| 3 | LySanias Broyles III | OF / 2B | R | R | 5’0″ |
| 4 | Tate Devaney | OF / 2B | R | R | 5’0″ |
| 5 | Crue Neff | 2B / C / OF | R | R | 5’1″ |
| 6 | Paxton Smith | OF | R | R | 5’1″ |
| 7 | Kannon Kane | P / SS / C / 2B | R | R | 5’4″ |
| 8 | Liam Rasso | C / OF / P / 1B | R | R | 5’6″ |
| 14 | Xavier Ludtke | SS | R | R | 5’6″ |
| 15 | Cooper Thissen | P / C / SS / CF | L | L | 5’8″ |
| 19 | Caleb Erwin | CF / P / 3B | L | R | 5’8″ |
| 22 | Anthony Johnson Jr. | P / 1B / OF | L | L | 5’8″ |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Mark Erwin |
| Coach | Anthony Johnson Sr. |
| Coach | Alan Rasso |
Key Players for Davenport Northwest LL at the 2026 LLWS
Cooper Thissen, #15
P / C / SS / CF · Bats L · Throws L · 5’8
Thissen was dominant on the mound in the Midwest championship, giving up a leadoff single and then striking out seven straight batters. He finished the day with 14 strikeouts and only one hit allowed before reaching his pitch-count limit. As a left-handed pitcher who can also catch, play short, or patrol center, he gives Davenport Northwest exceptional flexibility.
Anthony Johnson Jr., #22
P / 1B / OF · Bats L · Throws L · 5’8
Johnson Jr. delivered a huge relief effort in the championship and was at the center of the walk-off finish, racing home from third to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. His speed and two-way ability made him one of the biggest factors in Davenport Northwest’s title-clinching win over Wisconsin.
Kannon Kane, #7
P / SS / C / 2B · Bats R · Throws R · 5’4
With Davenport Northwest trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh of the championship, Kane came through with a two-run single that tied the game and set up the walk-off. His ability to play pitcher, shortstop, catcher, and second base makes him one of the most versatile pieces on the roster.
Caleb Erwin, #19
CF / P / 3B · Bats L · Throws R · 5’8
Erwin, the son of manager Mark Erwin, is tied for the tallest player on the roster at 5’8 and moved a key runner into scoring position on a fielder’s choice during the championship’s decisive seventh inning. His combination of pitching, center field range, and infield ability gives Davenport Northwest options all over the diamond.
Liam Rasso, #8
C / OF / P / 1B · Bats R · Throws R · 5’6
Rasso brings a rare four-position skill set behind the plate, in the outfield, on the mound, and at first base. He delivered a two-run double during Davenport Northwest’s regional run, adding another bat manager Mark Erwin could count on in a lineup built around versatility.
Davenport Northwest LL Midwest Regional Record, 4-0
Davenport Northwest Little League went a perfect 4-0 through the Midwest Regional Tournament held at Central Region Stadium in Whitestown, Indiana, capping the run with a dramatic extra-innings win over Wisconsin to earn their berth at Williamsport.
| Round | Opponent | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | North Dakota | Win | 13-0. Davenport Northwest opened pool play with a dominant victory over Fargo LL. |
| Game 2 | South Dakota | Win | 6-5. A one-run victory over Sioux Falls LL kept Iowa unbeaten. |
| Semifinal | Missouri | Win | 11-6. Davenport Northwest scored eight runs in the sixth inning to defeat Daniel Boone LL and advance to the championship game. |
| Championship | Wisconsin | Win | 7-6 (7 innings). Cooper Thissen recorded 14 strikeouts. Kannon Kane tied the game with a two-run single, and Anthony Johnson Jr. scored the walk-off run. The Midwest title was secured with a perfect 4-0 record. |
Down to their final outs against Missouri, Davenport Northwest trailed Daniel Boone Little League of Columbia, Missouri, late in the semifinal before an eight-run sixth inning flipped the game and sent them to the championship. That comeback set up the extra-innings thriller against Wisconsin two days later.
Sign-stealing scrutiny in the final: Video from the championship game drew attention after Whitefish Bay’s coaching staff raised a sign-stealing concern with umpires regarding a Davenport Northwest baserunner at second base. Umpires reviewed the situation on the field but did not issue a warning or ejection, and the result of the game stood. Little League’s rules call for a warning on a first offense and ejection on a repeat offense.
Midwest Region LLWS 2026 Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Opponent | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 8 | August 20 | 6:00 PM | West Region (Sweetwater Valley LL, California) | Lamade Stadium | ESPN2 |
| Subsequent games depend on results. Updated after each game. | |||||
Second night of the tournament: Game 8 on August 20 at 6:00 PM ET is one of the marquee matchups on the tournament’s second night at Lamade Stadium. Davenport Northwest draws Sweetwater Valley Little League of Bonita, California, which went 11-3 over Hawaii to win the West Region title. Midwest fans should plan to arrive early, as ESPN2 evening games at Lamade regularly draw large crowds.
Davenport Northwest Little League, Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city on the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area along with Rock Island and Moline, Illinois, and Bettendorf, Iowa. It has a population of roughly 100,000.
The Midwest Region covers Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Wisconsin joined the Midwest Region after the 2021 LLWS, having previously competed as part of the Great Lakes Region.
This is not Davenport Northwest’s first trip to Williamsport. The program also represented the Midwest Region at the LLWS in 2004 and 2005, giving this year’s group a well-established tradition to draw on.
Iowa at the LLWS: Iowa has sent 15 previous teams to the Little League World Series, but the state has never won a national title. Davenport Northwest’s dramatic 4-0 run through the Midwest Regional, capped by a walk-off win over Wisconsin, gives the Hawkeye State its 16th shot at making program history in Williamsport.
Conclusion
Davenport Northwest Little League from Davenport, Iowa, is the 2026 Midwest Region representative at the LLWS. They went a perfect 4-0 through the Midwest Regional held in Whitestown, Indiana.
Key players to watch are Cooper Thissen on the mound, Anthony Johnson Jr. for his speed and two-way ability, and Kannon Kane for his clutch bat. They open against the West Region champion on August 20 at 6:00 PM ET at Lamade Stadium on ESPN2.
