Little League World Series icon Mo'ne Davis threw out a historic first pitch to Ella Bruning - the only girl competing at this year's event

• Mo'ne Davis made history for her stellar pitching efforts at the 2014 Little League World Series.
• Texas catcher Ella Bruning is following in her footsteps as the only girl at the event this year.
• Davis threw out a symbolic first pitch to Bruning in honor of their connection as LLWS trailblazers.

Seven years, two presidents, and a whole lot of baseball since Mo'ne Davis made Little League World Series history, Ella Bruning is shaking up the competition as the only girl at this year's event.

On Tuesday, the 12-year-old catcher linked up with her glass-shattering predecessor - who is widely remembered as the first girl to pitch a shutout and earn a win at the annual South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, event. Bruning squatted behind home plate to catch a ceremonial first pitch from Davis, symbolizing their connection as LLWS trailblazers and bridging the near-decade between their historic feats at the tournament.

Bruning has taken center stage at this year's event. The Abilene, Texas, native is just the 20th girl to participate in the LLWS, and she's the first female catcher to post up behind the plate since 2001 - well before she was born.

She's done more than hold her own behind the plate, putting her toughness on full display by staying in the game after taking a pitch to the thigh in Monday's matchup against Michigan. MLB even called her "a beast" on Instagram for her gritty defensive efforts.

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Bruning has shined on the offensive side of the game as well. Despite admitting she's "not the best hitter" on her team, the breakout star became just the third girl ever to record multiple hits in a single LLWS game. She also tacked on a stolen base and an RBI to round out last Friday's historic outing against Washington.

Davis - a now-20-year-old Hampton University softball player who's back at the LLWS offering in-game analysis for ESPN's KidsCast - is intimately familiar with the spotlight Bruning is now experiencing. In 2014, when she became the first Black girl to participate in the esteemed youth baseball championship, Davis captivated the sports world with her stunning pitching efforts and unwavering confidence.

She's thrilled to see Bruning taking up the mantle.

"Watching for years leading up to before I played, I wouldn't see any girls," Davis said, per USA Today. "I think I played against only two girls growing up on all-boys teams. Now ... constantly seeing more girls play, I feel like it's becoming more normal, and they're going out, and they're holding their own."

"It's cool to see [Bruning] doing such great things," Davis added. "I'm cheering for her and hoping that she makes it a fun tournament and really hoping that she enjoys it because it's such a fun experience."

Check out Davis' symbolic first pitch to Bruning below:

-ESPN (@espn) August 24, 2021