The Little League World Series Has Its First Female Player in 5 Years

In the 70+ year history of the Little League World Series, only 18 girls have played. The last female to play at this level was star pitcher Mo’ne Davis in 2014 – she was a strikeout machine and is now a college softball pitcher.
Five years later, 12-year-old Maddie Freking has made history as the 19th female. The second-baseman for Coon Rapids-Andover caught SportsCenter’s eye with a heads up double play.
The last girl from Minnesota to play in Williamsport was @KrissyWendell. Maddie Freking is about to change that. #GirlsWithGame pic.twitter.com/KZesgMBScJ
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 10, 2019
That double play ended up being a huge part of her team’s come from behind win in the regional finals. Afterward, Freking spoke about the reaction people have when they see a girl in the LLWS.
“Some people say, ‘Woah,’” she told the Pioneer Press. “Some think it’s cool, some not so much.”
NOW on @NBCNightlyNews: @joefryer introduces us to Maddy Freking– the first girl to play in the Little League World series in five years. pic.twitter.com/k1hotaAcWj
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) August 15, 2019
Freking continues to play awesome and keeps making the highlight reel.
Maddy Freking can do it all ????
She made this batter strike out looking, then added a play for the #LLWS highlight reel. pic.twitter.com/mwHAfhC0aU
— espnW (@espnW) August 18, 2019
Maddy, we salute you.