Meet Jeffrey “Boog” Powell, the newest Little Leaguer to lasso America’s heart.
The Tennessee 12-year-old stands at an imposing 5-foot-2 and 220 pounds and looks every bit like a fearless slugger with swagger.
And although he’s no relation to that other Boog, the Baltimore Orioles great — or to the A’s newly acquired Powell — when he stepped up to the plate Monday night during the Little League Southeast Regional semifinals, he immediately became the object of Twitter affection.
Even former Giants quarterback Jared Lorenzen, known as the “Hefty Lefty,” threw his support in Powell’s corner.
Unlike Georgia’s Jayce Blalock, who hit a grand slam into the trees Sunday, Powell grounded out to first base.
But we all saw his hustle as he sprinted like a freight train toward first base. His sister took to Twitter to make sure we knew we were witnessing the biggest heart in Little League.
Unfortunately, his squad eventually fell to North Carolina, 4-2. But even if he didn’t launch any rockets, Boog’s clearly the heart and soul of the team, even when he’s not wearing cardboard cups on his ears. ESPN should hire him as a special correspondent in Williamsport, Pa., for the rest of the tournament.