Softball
There seem to be two schools of thought about Mo’ne Davis, the Little League World Series icon whose first season as a softball player at Hampton University was interrupted by the school’s coronavirus shutdown.
One is that Davis could’ve considered walking on water to arrive at her new “Home By the Sea,” as HU is called. She would be that dominant, the thinking went, finally focusing on softball against females after her baseball success against males.
The second was that Davis, who gained national acclaim in 2014 for becoming the first girl to pitch a shutout in the almost-exclusively boys-populated Little League series, might have difficulty finding the normalcy she craved at Hampton because of her celebrity. Neither idea has been true.
Yes, an ESPN camera crew followed her around campus her first day of the fall semester, but Davis has otherwise blended seamlessly with the other students. And, while coaches and teammates consider Davis very good, and potentially great, her transition to playing at a high level in the markedly different sport of softball has not been without challenges.
“It was very important to go to a place for four years with a family atmosphere, where I would feel comfortable and secure,” Davis said from her home in Philadelphia. “It was a big thing for me not to be treated differently.
“Being on the softball team is like having a bunch of older sisters. I’ve fit in at Hampton like any other student.”
Pirates coach Angie Nicholson and her husband, assistant coach Richard Nicholson, have worked to provide her with a typical college experience. They limited who could interview her and try to allow her to be “normal and like everyone else.” Nicholson said Davis has been so humble and hard-working, you wouldn’t be able to tell she is famous unless you knew it.
Because of that, Davis, a communications major, has been able to enjoy her time at HU, especially her classes at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications that largely drew her there in the first place. Davis follows current events closely, enjoys expressing herself in writing and is not at all intimidated at the prospect of entering journalism at a time when the profession is much criticized.
“It (criticism) is going to happen no matter what, but you can’t be the best if you’re not up for a challenge,” she said. “There are a lot of good journalists out there, people doing the right thing.”
Brianna Anderson, a senior and team captain, was among the Pirates who felt some trepidation at Davis’ joining the program, particularly because so many implied she would be a savior. Anderson says she learned quickly that Davis was a good teammate and a darn good player.
“I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know she would be as humble as she is,” Anderson said. “I was getting questions like: ‘Is Mo’ne going to win you guys a championship?’ and 'Is Mo’ne going to do this or that?’
“I was hoping she wouldn’t come in like that because it’s a team sport and takes a lot of other players. She’s definitely come in and done her part and is one of the most humble people I’ve ever met.”
Davis is, Nicholson and Anderson note, kind of shy, which explains why she ran from the room embarrassed as some of her teammates watched a video of her acceptance comments for Best Breakthrough Athlete at the 2015 ESPY Awards. Davis received lots of other accolades for her Little League World Series accomplishments. She made the cover of Sports Illustrated, was named one of “The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014” by Time Magazine, was the subject of the Spike Lee documentary “I Throw Like a Girl” and was praised by scores of prominent people, including then-First Lady Michelle Obama.
But the biggest and most enduring thrill of celebrity for Davis was befriending Allen Iverson, an NBA legend in her hometown of Philadelphia. She said the Iversons treat her like family and have attended some of her games at Hampton.
Davis, who started all 19 games at second base for the 15-4 Pirates, is a work in progress. Although she gained fame in Little League as a pitcher, she will not try the position in softball.
“It’s not my thing,” she said. “It’s a whole different mechanic, and I give props to the pitchers on the team because it’s very hard to pitch in softball.
“I enjoy playing the field and hitting.”
Although Davis says she is still becoming comfortable with the small-ball aspect of softball ― things like thinking ahead and knowing when to cover the bag ― Nicholson says she is a terrific fielder because of her fluid movement, great transitions with the ball from glove to throwing hand and her rocket arm. Anderson has painful experience with the latter.
“I can’t stand playing first base in practice because Mo’ne throws the ball so hard,” Anderson said. “She’s going to have a big impact (on the program), and I wouldn’t be surprised if she breaks program records.
“I love her and am close to her. She’s close with a lot of the players.”
Davis, who batted .333 with eight RBIs in 19 games, can’t wait to return to Hampton after already building some lasting memories. She hit a two-run single in her collegiate debut, a win over North Carolina A&T. She also singled and scored the first run in the bottom of the seventh against arch-rival Howard to begin a rally from a three-run deficit that ended in a walk-off victory.
“Being able to win a game like that, to come back and never give up, is something special,” Davis said. “Howard is always a big game, and the smiles on the faces of (my teammates were) the happiest I’ve seen.
“I’m really excited because we’re going to have a great team the rest of my time here. I know the next three years are probably going to be some of the best experiences in my life.”
For the schedule and scores go to www.hamptonpirates.com.