We are all human; so, we share emotions and experiences.
We find ways to support our families (physically, emotionally,
Even spiritually). We cover ourselves with attractive and
Comforting garments which announce our disparate cultures.
We all know love and appreciation (and their destructive
Counterparts), and be it civilly or otherwise, we know combat
And competition. We are blessed to live in an age when the
World has grown closer and baseball, once America’s game,
Is now played and loved globally . . . by men and by women!
Women’s Baseball World Cup, 2022 — the biggest stage
For women’s baseball every four years: teams from Canada,
Mexico, the U. S., Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong,
Japan, Taiwan, Cuba, France, Puerto Rico and Venezuela
Took the field to play the sports highlight of their lives. Gazing
Into their eyes, one could see determination, toughness, a
Desire to compete, grace and passion – – – a love of the game,
Not so much America’s sport as the world’s, not so much a
Men’s sport alone but now a women’s sport as well.
Leading up to the World Cup, Ayami Oshima of Japan pitched
The phrase, “The joy of baseball.” Alison Shroder of Canada
Remembered her days as a Little Leaguer and understood.
South Korea’s Soyeon Park loved baseball so much that she
Would play the sport in the snow, swinging at snowballs while
In uniform . . . and watching videos of great defensive plays.
She acknowledged that, “I am happiest when I’m playing
Baseball.” A girl named Gabby, from Puerto Rico, like others,
Had played baseball since she was “a kid.” Libia, a Cuban,
Had practiced so often and had overcome her father’s
Doubts about girls playing baseball seriously to the point
That he finally relented and gladly bought her the requisite
Equipment so that she could do her best. In Uganda, girls
Formed groups and cheered their women’s team rhythmically.
In the U. S., Kelsie Whitmore became the first female in
The starting lineup of a men’s minor league team, in the
Atlantic League, from her experience in the women’s World
Cup four years before, and like so many other incredible
Athletes, she focuses on team play and gets strength from
Team spirit. She has broken a glass ceiling by smashing a
Baseball right through it!
All these young women spoke about their love for the game
And their love for their teammates, realizing how much they
Depended on each other and desired victory. One noted that
Baseball is “simple yet complex” — as we can illustrate by
“See the ball; hit the ball” to the thickness of an MLB rulebook.
The great Ichiro talks about idolizing a female teammate in
Elementary school for four years and notes that she, as so
Many of her sisters, loves baseball and indeed became the
Manager of a men’s team. There is so much more to learn.
Watch the documentary “See Her Be Her” and you will
Understand why these women are in a league of their own!