Little League World Series Slugger's Favorite Athlete: Ben Johns

When Michael Frankie of Texas East isn't on a baseball diamond, he's on the pickleball court.

The Little League World Series is one of the most wholesome sporting events of the year. Taking place annually in Williamsport, PA, it unites talented tikes from 20 teams around the world to battle it out for the coveted title of World Series Champions.

The on-field talent is astounding, but many of the highlights often come from getting to know the quirks of the many young, international personalities.

Jaxon Lisle from Oklahoma, for example, listens to "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins to pump himself up before each game.

Holden Disselkoen of Texas East offers a more traditional anecdote, listing Fernando Tatis Jr. as his favorite MLP player.

Then there's his teammate Michael Frankie, a 12-year-old who towers four-feet, 10-inches and who listed a more unorthodox favorite athlete: Ben Johns.

The broadcast had to add "Pickleball Player" in parenthesis so viewers would have any idea who Ben Johns even is.

Apparently, Frankie plays a ton of pickleball himself.

Consider us Texas East fans.

Texas East would go on to lose to Louisiana 7-2 in the Southwest Region Semifinal.