Mo'ne Davis named SI's SportsKid of the Year

Mo'ne Davis can add another honor from Sports Illustrated to her list of accolades.

The Taney Dragons star, who this summer became the youngest athlete ever to grace SI's cover, has been named the SportsKid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids.

The teenage pitcher gained national fame when she helped lead Philadelphia's Taney Dragons to the Little League World Series. In Williamsport, she became the first girl in the series' 75-year history to pitch a shutout.

"When Mo'ne pitched the historic shutout at the LLWS, she did more than just play a boys game. She dominated it, showing the nation that a girl can throw heat, too," SI Kids wrote in announcing the honor. "She also inspired countless kids to dream big. That's why Mo'ne Davis is the 2014 Sports Illustrated Kids SportsKid of the Year."

First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted a congratulatory message to Davis:

In a video on the SI Kids website, Davis says many girls have told her they consider her a role model.

"It feels great because then you know you're doing something good for younger kids," she said.

Davis told the magazine that her Williamsport experience was "nerve-racking, but I kept my cool."

She added: "My team told me, 'Go out and do what you do and we'll back you up.' They did. But me getting a shutout? I was a little shocked. I did it before, but this was a bigger stage."

The Taney squad was the first Philadelphia team to make it to the series, but was ultimately bumped by a team from Chicago one win away from the U.S. championship game.

The team's story was widely celebrated in Philadelphia and across the country, and the players have been dealing with fame, attending events and receiving honors for months since the series ended in August.

Davis, an honor-roll student, has thrown out the first pitch at a major league World Series game, starred in a Spike Lee-directed car commercial, donated a jersey to the national Baseball Hall of Fame and is due to release a memoir next year.

Activities and honors for the Dragons in recent months include leading the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, watching an Eagles game from owner Jeffrey Lurie's box and participating in the Liberty Medal ceremony.