One of two girls pitching in this year's 2026 Little League World Series, Kinley Rasmus is letting her personality shine on the diamond for Phenix City.
The rally cry of Alabama's all-stars has been "Fear the bow," a phrase that warns opponents that throwing like a girl isn't something to poke fun at anymore. Not when that girl is the daughter of a former big league pitcher, Cory Rasmus, who made the trip to Williamsport with Phenix City when Alabama last made the Little League World Series in 1999.
Before facing Northwest representative Tacoma (Washington) in Phenix City's first game of the LLWS on Wednesday, August 19, Kinley told the ESPN broadcast what "Fear the bow" has grown to mean to her.
"I love that and like, when I hear people say it, it just brings joy to me and know that they've got my back in everything I do in the field and it just gives me so much excitement," Kinley said.
Although baseball runs in her blood, Kinley also shared with ESPN broadcasters that the 2026 LLWS will likely be her last experience with the sport. She is a multi-sport athlete, involved in swimming, flag football and softball, but plans to devote more of her attention towards the latter two.
To help Phenix City win the Southeast region championship and become one of 20 teams in the LLWS, Kinley pitched a complete game shut out and notched eight strikeouts.
Kinley also received the starting nod for Phenix City in its opening game of the 2026 LLWS, tying her hair back with none other than a white bow.
All games of the LLWS, which runs from August 19 to August 30, can be viewed on ESPN.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What 'Fear the bow' means to Alabama Little League World Series star Kinley Rasmus
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