MARK NANCE Stella Weaver warms up with the Nolensville , TN team before their game against Seattle, WA for their second round in the Little League World Series at Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pa on Monday August 21, 2023.

The first time he watched Stella Weaver play last March, Nolensville, Tennessee manager Randy Huth immediately understood something the world would soon discover.

She is pretty special.

Huth was amazed by the way Weaver hit, ran, played defense and pitched. But as the summer rolled along, Weaver’s qualities far expanded beyond the baseball field. She became a special figure in Little League history not just because of the way she played the game, but for how she handled an intense spotlight and conducted herself like someone well beyond 12-years-old.

Weaver concluded the best all-around Little League World Series performance by a female in its 76-year history Wednesday night, producing another hit in Nolensville’s 5-3 loss against California. She doubled the previous American record for hits at the Series (four) and tied Japan’s Sayaka Tsushima for the overall record, doing so in six fewer at-bats. Weaver also pitched a scoreless inning and played strong defense in both the infield and outfield.

All this while being the toast of South Williamsport. Weaver was only the 22nd girl to play at the Series, so there always was going to be media attention following her. But because she was such a standout through Nolensville’s run, she started receiving the kind of fanfare which only Mo’ne Davis received before.

And just like Davis, Weaver excelled while handling that pressure like a pro. Nothing fazed her and she kept blazing a trail like the 21 players before her.

“She will forever be remembered for the effort and how well she did here at the World Series and she has a big future ahead of her,” Huth said. “Stella was with me all year. I had her since March and to see her grow and become the person she is today is very special to me. I’m very proud of her.”

That thought is shared by all those associated with Nolensville. Really, it’s all those who like sports. Weaver played great, but she handled everything even better. She showed that she’s not just an elite player but also a fantastic person.

She is still so young, but already Weaver is a role model.

“It’s got to be tough for her. She has a lot of attention on her. She’s basically representing every female who’s ever wanted to play baseball,” Huth said. “That can’t be easy and she’s handled it with pure class. She’s amazing and she’s just rolled with the punches.”

Davis was the same way when she became a star at the 2014 Series. She established herself as the best female pitcher in Series history but never made anything about herself. She always deflected praise toward her teammates, stayed humble and never cracked under the glare of the spotlight.

Weaver carried on that legacy and became the best overall female player in Series history. That may seem like a bold statement but there really is no argument against it. Weaver compiled the best average by a female at the Series, hitting .500 and she hit safely in all four games.

In addition to her hitting prowess, Weaver likely would win a race against most of the players here. She can fly around the bases and her speed helped produce the game-winning run in a 2-1 win against Nevada after she ignited a two-out rally with a single before taking third on an ensuing single and scoring on a wild pitch.

“It started with me getting that hit, so I was really happy about that. Gideon was on first base and when he got that hit, I was running and running,” Weaver said. “Coach Chris (Mercado) always tells me if you’re getting a passed ball you’re going. I don’t even care, you’re just running.”

Weaver opened the game against Washington on the mound and worked a perfect inning and she played well in right and center field, as well as first base. Weaver wowed a worldwide audience but it was just what Nolensville had come to expect. She made two amazing catches against Goodlettsville to help Nolensville win the district title, hit .364 at regionals and threw a two-hit shutout against Alabama in the opener there.

Nolensville reached the two previous Series and Huth liked the potential his league showed last spring. He coached Weaver during the regular season and, knowing she likely would become an all-star, he started coaching her on and off the field.

She had never done an interview prior to the district tournament but soon was doing between 10-12 per day as Nolensville made its Series run. Anticipating that possibility, Huth started preparing Weaver last March.

“The day I met her in March I said you better get used to talking to people because a lot of people are going to want to talk to you if we make it pretty far,” Huth said. “I also said if we make it as far as I think we will you’ll be on the cover of a Wheaties box before it’s over with. She laughed at me and thought I was crazy but it might be true.”

“My first interview was in districts and I was super nervous and then I as kept doing more interviews I just kept being really calm and getting used to it,” Weaver said. “Now I kind of like getting interviewed just to tell my story.”

What a story she can tell.

Time will tell if Huth’s prediction comes true and Weaver lands on a Wheaties box cover, but she has shined a bright light on female athletics. She has made a huge empowering statement and has handled her newfound celebrity like a pro.

Davis parlayed her Series success into earning a college degree and she is now interning with the Los Angeles Dodgers. She learned a lot through her Series experience that had nothing to do with baseball and everything to do about growing up. No doubt, it is the same for Weaver and the way she has conducted herself signals more great things come lay ahead.

For now, Weaver has left an indelible mark on Series history. She has become the GOAT — Greatest of All-Time — among female players here and has influenced countless future female baseball players. Weaver has fans young and older and always made time for them.

Weaver enjoys sharing her story and with great reason. Simply put, it’s one of the best stories ever told at the Series.

“She handled the pressure with class. She always stayed humble. She took pictures and signed autographs for every single person that wanted them when she didn’t have to,” Huth said. “She could have just focused on the game, but she did that because she sees herself as an ambassador for women’s sports and that’s pretty special.

“Stella’s amazing.”

Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse