Pro baseball stars have their chewing tobacco, their walk-up music and their steroids (er, scratch that last one).
The stars of the ongoing Little League World Series, meanwhile, rely on a much more endearing set of pre-game rituals and off-field hobbies.
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The Little League World Series brings together top youth baseball teams, featuring players between 11 and 13 years old, from the United States and abroad for a nationally televised jamboree celebrating America's pastime. But no matter where this year's crop of talent comes from, many share a fixation common to the middle-school male.
Forget baseball -- all these kids really want is girls.
First, it was Trey Hondras from Chicago whose pre-game superstition cracked up the Internet, popping on Reddit and hitting nearly every sports blog on the web last week. "Talks to girls before game for good luck," read ESPN's deadpan factoid about Hondras during a game last Thursday.
Meet Trey Hondras. He's bringing his A-game to the Little League World Series. #LLWS pic.twitter.com/R0A6rgppLx— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 14, 2014
Then on Sunday, ESPN listed the hobby of Texas' Presley Smith as simply "Talking to girls."
That same day, young Clayton Broeder from Texas stepped up to the plate, as well. You might think the boy is pining to meet Major League Baseball star Mike Trout or outfielder/meme Hunter Pence, but you'd think wrong. No, Clayton wants to meet Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Kate Upton.
Kid at LLWS has an important life goal @KateUpton pic.twitter.com/UfzFgHvsbQ— Larry Brown (@LBSports) August 18, 2014
Of course, there is one young woman who rules supreme in this summer's Little League World Series. Her name is Mo'ne Davis. If you're just catching up, Davis is the rare girl in a boy-dominated event (just 18 females have ever played in the LLWS). But Davis isn't just participating -- she's dominating.
After playing a major role in advancing her team from Philadelphia to the World Series, Davis on Friday pitched a complete-game shutout on the strength of her 70-mph fastball. She allowed just two hits. The performance drew adulation on Twitter from some very big names in the sports world and beyond.
Her braids are long, her stuff is nasty and her game face is fierce.
Mo'ne Davis is bringing the heat as @taneybaseball is up 3-0. #LLWS2014 pic.twitter.com/1YuIpjhg79— espnW (@espnW) August 15, 2014
So from the silly (talking to girls for good luck) to the inspiring (Davis' dominating shutout), this is a Little League World Series in which girls appear to be the secret to success.
But we'd be remiss not to mention Blake Money, who plays for Tennessee. Money's family was in attendance last week to root him on, as he took Little League's biggest stage. Included in the cheering section was Blake's younger brother, Cash.
Yup, that's Cash Money if you're scoring at home. Feast your eyes upon his eminence, but don't stare for too long because the bling is that bright.
Kids: They grow up so fast these days.
The Little League World Series continue through Aug. 24. Check out the remaining schedule of games, here.