Mo'ne Davis brings LLWS matchup full circle with 1st pitch thrown to Hassell
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WASHINGTON -- Eleven years after facing off in the 2014 Little League World Series, Mo’ne Davis and Robert Hassell III were reunited on Thursday night at Nationals Park.
Philadelphia native Davis was selected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals' 3-2 win in the series opener against the Phillies, which was also their annual Ladies Night. Hassell, who made his Major League debut this season with the Nats, was behind the plate to catch it.
“She was throwing gas,” Hassell said. “ ... It was kind of what I expected.”
More than a decade after Davis became the first girl to throw a shutout and earn a win in the Little League World Series, Davis still vividly recalls her pitching strategy against Hassell.
“I was just really feeling everything that game and I ended up striking him out, which was pretty cool,” Davis told Dan Kolko on MASN’s Nats Xtra. “So I have bragging rights over him right now. He can’t get his redemption back from me.”
Davis, who went on to play softball at Hampton University, will be back at Nationals Park on Aug. 25 for the Women’s Pro Baseball League tryouts.
“I remember even at 12, we didn’t underestimate her at all,” said Hassell. “... It’s been a long time, but what she’s done is great.”