Star Little League World Series pitcher heads home, but her signature white bow will stay in Pa.
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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT -- The star girl pitcher in the 2026 Little League World Series is back home in Alabama, but one of the signature oversized white bows she wore in her hair when in uniform did not go with her.
Kinley Rasmus donated the bow she wore in the Grand Slam Parade and in Phoenix City's first game to the World of Little League Baseball Museum.
The rally cry of the team had been "Fear the Bow" in recognition of her pitching skills. She did not give up a run in either the Southeast Region tournament championship game or the two games she pitched in the series.
The 12-year-old right-hander broke the record for most hits in the series by a girl with five hits and became the first girl with an extra-base hit.
She tied records set by Philadelphia pitching sensation Mo'ne Davis in 2014 for the most strikeouts in the tournament with 14 and in a single game with eight. She also tied the series record for girls with three runs batted in.
The museum has been actively collecting objects from this year's series teams, director Adam Thompson explained. The focus was on items unique to each team, he said.
Before the series, coaches, players and parents were asked if they would be willing to loan or donate items for an exhibit highlighting the 2026 tournament, he said.
Kinley's mother, Jill, offered to donate one of her daughter's bows, he said. The Bridgewater, Mass., team donated its good luck charm, Fred the Frog, he said.
The bow is in a temporary case along with a brief description under the headline "Fear the Bow." This fall the bow and the other donated items will be moved into the exhibit highlighting the 2026 Series, Thompson said.
Jill Rasmus said her daughter was glad to donate the bow. Although Kinley could have it back after a year, her mother believes her daughter will want it to stay in the museum.
The museum holds an autographed ball containing the signatures of the 1999 Phenix City series team that lost to Japan in the world championship game that year. Her father, Cory, and her uncle, Colby, played on that team, and both went on to play major-league baseball. Her grandfather, Tony, was a coach.
Jill Rasmus, a softball player at Southern Mississippi, describes her daughter as an even-minded kid who is a team player. She said she knew it took a team effort to get to the series.
She was reserved at post-game news conferences and on Friday morning, in an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America," never took sole credit for a victory, despite being the game's star.
Her mother was the team's female player advocate. Her duties included staying with her daughter in separate quarters at the complex. That was the same arrangement Little League had for Carsynn Meyer, the girl member of the Henderson, Nev., team.
Jill Rasmus credits her husband with helping their daughter with her pitching mechanics.
Phenix City had a 3-2 series record. It lost its first game to Tacoma, Wash., 2-0 in an extra inning in which Kinley hurled six shutout innings but did not factor into the decision.
The team bounced back to beat Bonita, Calif., 12-2, before eliminating West Chester, the Pennsylvania entry, 6-5, in another extra-inning game in which she pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.
Alabama then got its revenge against Tacoma, winning 4-2, before being eliminated Wednesday by Hamilton, Ohio, 11-2. Kinley was ineligible to pitch those two games.
Kinley's baseball career is likely over. Her plan, she said before the series, is to return to softball. She played both when she was younger but then focused on baseball.
Kinley played shortstop when she was not on the mound during the series.