Girls can play ball too!

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Everything in our home revolves around baseball with my two sons Guy and Russell. My oldest son Guy is 6 and recently played his first year in tee ball and rookie league.  We play baseball or catch just about every night.

His new favorite baseball movie: A League of Their Own. The first time he watched the movie he turned to me and asked, “Why are they making such a big deal about girls playing baseball?”  I replied, “Not that long ago women weren’t allowed to vote, work outside the home and they didn’t have the same rights as men.”  Guy’s response, “Well that’s just dumb.  Girls are people too.”  I have to secretly admit it was a super proud mommy and feminist moment for me! 

Last week when my cousin’s daughter Brynn joined us for a game of baseball and Guy stepped up to coach her. She was all decked out in her zebra print skirt and leopard print sneakers ready to play.  I do believe this was her first time on a baseball diamond.  I stood back and watch him show her how to stand at the plate and hold the bat.  Her fist time holding the bat she put it on her left shoulder batting lefty to the front not to the back.  Guy started to get frustrated but I kindly reminded him of his first night of practice. He forgot to review a major part of baseball with her…..the bases. Hence, the most epic baseball play I’ve ever witnessed in my life.

She hit the ball after the third pitch I gave her!  She ran to 3rd base, then the pitcher’s mound and then to second base in a zig zag pattern and stopped dead in her tracks.  All this made even funnier listening to her high pitch squeal of delight and the diva outfit. The whole time Guy is yelling to her, “Dirt in the skirt Brynn! Dirt in the skirt!”  That is just one of his favorite lines from A League of Their Own along with, “Girls can’t play ball!” Which if you aren’t familiar with the movie an older man is saying that in a mocking manner until one of the female ball players nail him with a ball almost knocking him over. Guy laughs every time at that part and says, “She showed him!”

My next gift to Brynn will be the book:Momma Played Baseball by David A. Alder.  Hopefully, I can get it autographed by Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands, a former Rockford Peach from Orangeville, Pennsylvania. She played for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League during the World War II era.  I never want Brynn (or any person) to forget that girls can play ball too.
Submitted by Sara L.

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 2, 2013 at 11:39 AM

    Great article - shows how far we have come. I love how your little guys know already how dumb it is to tell girls they can't do something!

    ReplyDelete

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