Little League World Series star pitcher Mo'ne Davis makes cover of Sports Illustrated

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Mo'ne Davis driving in a run with a single to right field during a Little League World Series game against Pearland on August 17th.
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Little League World Series star pitcher Mo'ne Davis makes cover of Sports IllustratedMo'ne Davis driving in a run with a single to right field during a Little League World Series game against Pearland on August 17th.
Gene J. Puskar / AP

It's been a big year for Mo'ne Davis.

After her phenomenal pitching made her a star sensation at the 2014 Little League World Series, Mo'ne Davis made history as the first little league player to make the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine seen below.

Davis is a player for Philadelphia's Taney Dragons in the Little League World Series. Davis came to national attention after becoming the first female to win a game in the LLWS, let alone a two-hit shutout, against South Nashville 4-0 on Friday, August 15th.

Davis isn't just talented at baseball, though. Debra Brady, Davis's basketball coach at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, believes that baseball isn't even the star pitcher's best sport.

"She's a phenomenal pitcher, but I think her best sport is basketball. In a year or so, she will be doing the same unbelievable things in basketball . . . she was head and shoulders above any kid I ever coached at that level," said Brady.

Davis's love of sport blossomed early. Steve Bandura of other Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation noticed Davis six years ago holding her own at football against the boys. Bandura introduced Davis to the Marian Anderson Recreation Center's after-school program that includes time spent on homework and sports. From there, Davis and the program were inseparable.

Bandura though believes that Davis's best skills aren't her athletic ones, but her analytical. "She sees the floor and analyzes better than all high school kids . . . she plays chess when everybody else is playing checkers."

You can see Davis's maturity and composure in the YouTube clip below.

Davis' next game is against Nevada on August 20th at 4:30 PST, 6:30 CST, and 7:30 EST on ESPN. Check out the gallery above of Davis in action at the Little League World Series.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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