Kinley Rasmus has taken the Little League Baseball World Series by storm on the mound and at the plate.
The 12-year-old player from Phenix City, Alabama, is the 25th girl to play in and ninth to pitch in the Little League Baseball World Series, which started in 1947, as she and her home town represent the Southeast in the national tournament.
After throwing her 14th strikeout of the tournament Monday, Rasmus tied Mo’ne Davis, who now plays in the new Women’s Pro Baseball League, for the most by a girl in Little League Baseball World Series history. She’s also pitched 10 2/3 scoreless innings.
“I just had to lock into the game and know to throw strikes and let my defense work,” she told the New York Post about Monday’s performance. “Just throw strikes.”
Rasmus is also the first girl in tournament history with an extra-base-hit and the fifth girl to have a multi-hit game, per the Montgomery Advertiser.
“I’ve enjoyed every single second of this whole opportunity,” Rasmus told the Columbus Ledger-Examiner. “I’m so grateful that I get to be in this position because I know many are wishing to be here, and I’m just so grateful to be here.”
Rasmus and her team face the Northwest on Tuesday. She is unavailable to pitch after pitching Monday but can still help the Southeast with her bat.
Kinley Rasmus’ baseball family history
Baseball is in Rasmus’ blood.
Her father, Cory Rasmus, pitched 84 games for the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, and her dad’s brother Colby Rasmus played 10 seasons in the MLB.
Her mom, Jill, played softball at Gulf Coast Community College, and her mom’s brother, Jeff Mathis, played in the MLB for 17 seasons, according to The Athletic.
‘Fear the bow’
Every game, Kinley Rasmus wears a white bow in her hair.
“I’ve always wore a bow since I was a little girl,” Kinley told the Ledger-Examiner. “Me and my sister, we always used to match with our big bows in our head, and it has become something I had to wear every game for good luck. I think I am gonna continue to wear it every single thing that I do, sports-wise.”
Inspired by her signature bow, fans have coined the catchphrase, “Fear the bow.” The phrase can be found on posters and highly coveted pins at the tournament, according to the Ledger-Examiner.
How social media has reacted to Kinley Rasmus
Kinley Rasmus has also lit up social media with each appearance. Here are some of the social reactions.