Taney's Davis right on the Mo'ne

HER LONG, BLACK braids swing wildly when she throws, the ball dancing to the plate and stymieing young batters. The quiet, little Philadelphian throws like a girl, which in her case is the best thing coach Allen Rice could ask for.

Mo'ne Davis, who plays for the Taney Dragons, is a legend around Philadelphia Little League circles. The 13-year-old ace already possesses a fastball, curveball, knuckleball and changeup in her arsenal, more than some major league relievers.

And for five of her 5 2/3 innings yesterday, she was nothing but masterful in Taney's 8-4 win over Newark (Del.) National. Pitch after pitch she mowed down batters. Eighty-five throws later - the Little League pitch limit - Davis left the mound after a 10-strikeout performance and just one out remaining in the game. She's only one of two girls playing in the Mid-Atlantic Little League Regional at Breen Field in Bristol, Conn.

Taney advances to play Colonie (N.Y.) tomorrow night.

For Rice, the performance was nothing new. She's becoming an example for what Philadelphia baseball could be and what young players can aspire to, male or female.

"She's been a high-level pitcher for years, and in or around Center City everyone knows Mo'ne," Rice said. "In town, we are all used to her. We've known her for so long that it's just like every other male pitcher that everyone else knows. She's a great role model for more little girls to play hardball instead of softball."

Rice, who's in his mid-40s, spends his days as an architect and all of his "free time" with the Dragons, organizing and teaching them yearlong. Originally from Boston, the coach founded the team 3 years ago after coming to Philly with his wife.

And Rice has staked a lot in Taney. It's not uncommon that you see him piling kids into the car following a game. He drops off his players at different spots across the city if their parents can't make an event. His son, Jack, even plays for the club. He smacked an RBI single that gave the Dragons a two-run buffer in the first inning yesterday.

Now, the Dragons are 2-0 in pool play and inching closer toward a possible Little League World Series appearance in Williamsport, a dream that wouldn't only show the world Philadelphia's new female gunslinger, but also send the message that Philly baseball isn't soft.

In fact, it's as hard as that 70 mph fastball that Davis blinds 13-year-olds with from the brown mounds across the state.

"It's crazy being up here, we're one tournament away from Williamsport and it's every kid's dream," Rice said. "We are playing very well. The team we beat is very good. If we hadn't had an A- performance, then who would've known? There are very good teams here. We are super-excited. We are still getting acclimated but we are playing well. We can compete here."

And Davis agrees. She said she doesn't get panicky when she's on the mound.

"No, I don't get nervous," Davis said when asked about playing against boys during her Little League travels. "I think makes other girls want to play baseball, too."