Richard: Real baseball by real women at 11th annual Diamond Classic
From A.J. Richard at Baseball Sisters on June 11, 2016:
After Red Sox Women’s Fantasy Camp in January, I ambitiously declared 2016 my “Year of Women in Baseball”. I had no real concept of the amazing journey ahead.
Memorial Day weekend 2016 marked the 11th Diamond Classic Women’s Baseball Tournament hosted by the Eastern Women’s Baseball Conference. The EWBC is dedicated to providing opportunities for girls and women to play organized baseball and preparing amateur female baseball players for national and international competition. Major League Baseball rules are used. Yes, women are pitching from 60’6” and running/throwing 90′ between bases. The league is composed of 4 teams (Montgomery County Barn Cats, Virginia Flames, Virginia Fury, and Baltimore Blues). The DC Thunder represented the EWBC in the tournament. The 11th annual Diamond Classic featured 8 teams, 2 teams from Canada, and at least one player from Australia.
The Diamond Classic has become a fixture thanks to Bonnie Hoffman and the EWBC. For many girls, the tournament (along with two or so other tournaments) is the highlight of their year. Some play on teams with boys. Some play softball the rest of the year. Some only get to play during the tournaments. It’s a time when new friendships are sparked and old friendships rekindled. Camaraderie runs rampant. It’s a chance to talk baseball with other females who understand and feel as strongly about it as you. Parents got to talk with other parents who understand what it’s like to raise an athletic girl who is determined to take the road less traveled.
Read the full article here: https://baseballsisters.wordpress.com/2016/06/11/real-baseball-real-women-diamond-classic/
Originally published: June 13, 2016. Last Updated: June 13, 2016.