South Czech Republic Little League (Brno, Czechia) has been named the recipient of the 2026 Jack Losch Little League Baseball® World Series Team Sportsmanship Award based on their display of sportsmanship on and off the field.
“Congratulations to the players and coaches from South Czech Republic Little League on earning the 2026 Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award,” said Patrick Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “Sportsmanship is at the heart of our program because how we compete, how we treat one another, and the lessons children take with them from the game matter far beyond the final score. Throughout their time in Williamsport, this team represented their community and country with tremendous integrity, respect, and sportsmanship — the qualities that define what the Little League experience is all about. We are proud to recognize them representing what sportsmanship is all about at the Little League World Series and for embracing this experience, both on and off the field.”
This marks only the fourth time a team from the Europe and Africa Region has earned the award and first since Uganda’s Lugazi Little League took home the honor in 2012.
Voted on by the 20 participating teams, as well as the team hosts, volunteers, members of the media, and the Little League staff, the Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award recognizes the team that exemplifies a tremendous amount of sportsmanship both on and off the field, including the team’s time in the dormitories, dining hall, and interview room as well as their performance on the field.
About Jack Losch and the Team Sportsmanship Award
As a boy, Jack Losch was the center fielder on the first Little League Baseball World Championship team in 1947. As a young man, he established football rushing marks that continue to be in the record books today at the University of Miami where he was an All-American as a senior in 1955. A year later, he became the first Little League Baseball World Series participant to play a professional sport when he was selected in the first round of the National Football League amateur draft by the Green Bay Packers. In 2004, the Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award was established and is presented to a Series team each year that best exemplifies the spirit that Mr. Losch displayed both on and off the playing field.
Previous Recipients:
- 2004-Kutno LL, Kutno, Poland
- 2005-Whalley LL, Surrey, B.C., Canada
- 2006-Whalley LL, Surrey, B.C., Canada
- 2007 -Windmills Alpeldoorn (Netherlands) LL
- 2008-Edogawa Minami LL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2009-Hastings Community LL, Vancouver, B.C.
- 2010-Edogawa Minami LL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2011-Hamamatsu Minami LL, Hamanatsu City, Japan
- 2012-Lugazi LL, Lugazi, Uganda
- 2013-Perth Metro Central LL, Perth, Australia
- 2014-Coquivacoa LL, Maracaibo, Venezuela
- 2015-Webb City LL, Webb City, Mo.
- 2016-Maine-Endwell LL, Endwell, N.Y.
- 2017-Hills LL, Sydney, Australia
- 2018-Honolulu LL, Honolulu, Hawaii; Peachtree City LL, Peachtree City, Ga. (co-winners)
- 2019-Cacique Mara LL, Maracaibo, Venezuela
- 2020-No Award Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
- 2021-Honolulu LL, Honolulu, Hawaii
- 2022-Nolensville LL, Nolensville, Tenn.
- 2023-Kuei-Shan LL, Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei
- 2024-Johoku LL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2025-Joto LL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2026-South Czech Republic LL, Brno, Czechia
To learn more about the importance of sportsmanship in the Little League program, including important resources for local leagues, visit LittleLeague.org/Sportsmanship.