Time to throw some major estrogen heat at you.
Last night Mo’ne Davis, the Philly female phenom, used her magical 13 year-old arm to pitch against the mighty Mountain Ridge Little League team from Las Vegas in front of a sellout crowd of 34,000.
The Taney Dragons lost and are now 2-1 and play the tough Jackie Robinson West team from Chicago tomorrow to see who faces Las Vegas on Saturday in the U.S. Little League World Series Championship game.
Mo’ne played well and took the loss in stride as did the rest of the team.
Mo’ne has been front and center of late, heating up not just the sports world, but the entire nation. It is such a refreshing break from what is going on in the Middle East.
If ISIS (terrorist organization claiming religious authority over all Muslims) put their energy into setting up constructive youth programs, they could hit a home run for the next generation rather than striking out through violence, religious prejudice and hatred.
Back to positivity. The spotlight is shining brightly on the 5-foot-4 athlete with long hair and endless swagger emanating from the pitching mound, throwing a baseball 70 mph.
This week Mo’ne Davis became the first little leaguer on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the first female pitcher in Little League history to throw a complete game shutout.
Never before has viewership been so high for a Little League World Series. It’s not just soccer moms and baseball fanatics, it’s many who previously had been totally disinterested in baseball and Little League baseball, in general.
Between Mo’ne’s inspiring shutout and the remarkable speech that Cumberland American coach, David Belisle, gave after losing to Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West 8-7, it was a memorable week for the Little League.
The Jackie Robinson West team has also been in the spotlight. They are the only all-black Little Leaguers.
Three time MLB All-Star, Curtis Granderson, grew up in the suburbs south of Chicago and played Little League there. The former Detroit Tiger, NY Yankee and now the center fielder for the NY Mets, recently contributed $5 milllion to the development of the Curtis Granderson Stadium at the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he played for 3 seasons.
The stadium will also serve more than 38 youth organizations in Chicago. That is a major development since many inner city Little League teams often do not have adequate baseball fields to play on.
Getting back to David Belisle’s speech…on a personal note, it was a stellar reminder that not all youth coaches and parents are psychopaths. I coached every sports team my daughter was on and I dealt with my share of insane parents and coaches. Belisle should go on a speaking tour. Youth sports parents and coaches are in need of behavioral modification training.
And to the Marin County sexist wench who asked me why I always coached, even though I knew more than most of the men, I hope your cheating husband finally dumped your pathetic ass.
Moving on…Mo’ne, who is consistently self-assured, takes over the mound surrounded by boys on all sides, standing in the middle of intensive media attention, owning it and managing her newly founded stardom with grace and composure.
Mo’ne’s mind set is that of an accomplished athlete. “First and second inning, I got to get to know the umpire’s strike zone so then I know where to throw,” she said. “And when I get through their order, I know where kids don’t like it. …Some people don’t like it low and outside so I throw it low and outside. Some people swing at curveballs, some people swing at first pitch, so I know when to throw the right pitch at the right time.”
She is acutely aware of her talent. “I throw my curveball like Clayton Kershaw and my fastball like Mo’ne Davis.” (Clayton Kershaw is the pitching ace for the L.A. Dodgers). She subsequently challenged Kershaw to a pitch off and he has accepted.
Davis isn’t just Taney’s best pitcher. She’s also an honor-roll student and commutes over one hour each way, every day to the prestigious Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Her goal after she finishes high school is to play for Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies…that’s the only wild pitch she has thrown…that basketball is her first love.
We mere mortals need to live in the moment and just enjoy her baseball prowess.
Mon’Ne Davis has also given new meaning to, “You throw like a girl.”
She is breaking down the barriers one 70 mph fastball at a time. In my book, Mo’ne Davis is already an All-Star female role model.
*Take a moment to listen to Coach David Belisle’s speech…it’s time well spent. (3:38)
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Girl power – yes, she throws like a girl! A very inspiring and talented girl.