History was rewritten in the circle at the 2026 ISC World Tournament.
Back in 2013 in Quad Cities, Illinois, Australian pitching phenom Adam Folkard set what many considered to be an untouchable gold standard in modern fastpitch. Pitching for the Hill United Chiefs, Folkard put together one of the most dominant single-tournament performances in past 20 years—stringing together 19 ⅓ consecutive no-hit innings. That legendary run propelled the Chiefs to an ISC title, earning Folkard the Leroy Zimmerman Most Outstanding Pitcher Award while teammate Nick Shailes claimed the Cleo Goyette MVP Award.
Thirteen years later, history didn’t just repeat itself—it was surpassed.
Fast forward to the 2026 ISC World Tournament: the Hill United Chiefs once again captured the World Championship, led by Cleo Goyette MVP winner Lenny Villalvazo and a breathtaking, record-breaking display on the rubber from Marco Diaz, recipient of the 2026 Leroy Zimmerman Most Outstanding Pitcher Award.
The Masterclass: 19 ⅔ Consecutive No-Hit Innings
Diaz didn’t just win games; he neutralized every lineup that stepped into the batter’s box. Across four tournament appearances, Diaz was virtually untouchable, racking up 19 ⅔ consecutive no-hit innings to break Folkard’s historic mark by exactly ⅓ of an inning.
Here is a game-by-game breakdown of Diaz’s historic streak:
Game 1 vs. Puslinch Kodiaks
- Innings Pitched: 4.0
- Stat Line: 0 Hits | 1 Walk | 12 Strikeouts
- The Tone Setter: Diaz came out firing, retiring side after side and racking up 12 strikeouts in just 4 innings of work to open his tournament run.
Game 2 vs. Georgian Bay Giants
- Innings Pitched: 7.0 (Complete Game)
- Stat Line: 0 Hits | 3 Walks | 18 Strikeouts
- Complete Dominance: Diaz put on a clinic, firing a full 7-inning complete game no-hitter while striking out 18 batters.
Game 3 vs. JB Fastpitch
- Innings Pitched: 7.0 (Complete Game)
- Stat Line: 0 Hits | 3 Walks | 15 Strikeouts
- Back-to-Back Perfection-Level Pitching: Facing high-caliber competition, Diaz delivered his second consecutive 7-inning no-hitter, striking out 15 and tying Folkard’s record territory.
Game 4 vs. NorthEast Drillers
- Innings Pitched: 1.2 No-Hit Innings before history was halted
- The Record Breaker: Diaz worked through the first inning cleanly and retired two more in the second to record his 19th and 19 ⅔ no-hit outs, officially surpassing Adam Folkard’s 19 ⅓ mark. The legendary streak finally came to an end when Juan Zara connected for a base hit to break up the run.
Comparing the Eras of Dominance
| Player | Year | Team | Consecutive No-Hit IP | Leroy Zimmerman Pitcher Award | MVP Teammate |
| Adam Folkard | 2013 | Hill United Chiefs | 19 ⅓ | Yes | Nick Shailes |
| Marco Diaz | 2026 | Hill United Chiefs | 19 ⅔ | Yes | Lenny Villalvazo |
A Championship Legacy Continues
With 45 strikeouts accumulated during his 19 ⅔ hitless frame run, Marco Diaz etched his name firmly into the International Softball Congress record books. Combined with Lenny Villalvazo’s MVP performance and another championship trophy heading back to Ohsweken, ON with the Hill United Chiefs, the 2026 tournament will forever be remembered as the year Marco Diaz set a new standard for pitching perfection.
Congratulations to Marco Diaz and the Hill United Chiefs on a historic, record-shattering achievement!
