“Fear the bow” is not just a mantra; it’s a reality.
Kinley Rasmus, the standout player from Phenix City Little League, once again showcased her exceptional talent in a thrilling walk-off victory. Playing for the Southeast Region team, she faced off against West Chester Little League, delivering a performance to remember.
Rasmus took to the mound in the third inning and demonstrated her pitching prowess by striking out six batters. This remarkable feat brought her Little League World Series strikeout tally to 14, tying her with Mo’ne Davis for the record of most strikeouts by a girl in the tournament’s history.
Her contributions were not limited to pitching. At the plate, Rasmus managed a hit in three at-bats and crucially drove in the game-tying run. In the bottom of the third inning, she delivered a hard-hit grounder to left field, bringing Easton Allen home.
“I’m just so grateful for this opportunity,” Rasmus expressed with heartfelt gratitude. “I couldn’t be here without my teammates. They’ve supported me throughout this journey, and I’m incredibly thankful to them.”
Rasmus, who is the daughter of former MLBer Cory Rasmus and is the niece of veteran outfielder Colby Rasmus, entered the game with Phenix City trailing 5-0.
She went on to give up just two hits and no runs in 4 ⅔ innings on the mound.
“I just had to lock into the game and know to throw strikes and let my defense work,” she said about coming into the game. “Just throw strikes.”
Rasmus has taken the Little League World Series by storm with her play.
She flashed her defensive skills earlier in her team’s run when she made a leaping catch at shortstop to rob her opponent of a hit. And her eight strikeouts last week against Washington made her the first girl since Davis in 2014 to strike out that many batters in a single game at the tournament.
The Alabama squad will now look to keep its Little League World Series dreams alive on Tuesday when they face Washington again in the elimination bracket.