Geraldine Brophy/The Western Star
She tagged along with her parents — Marina Redmond and Paul White — on a regular basis so she became somewhat familiar with the game as a spectator.
This year, the Corner Brook Baseball Association, for the first time in 55 years, is implementing a female baseball program.
White, who is an 11-year-old Grade 6 student at St. Gerard’s School, was hesitant about adding baseball to the list of sports she enjoys. However, her mom encouraged her to give it a shot so she opted to participate in the spring program where female baseball was in a league of its own.
She had a blast in the spring program playing the game with girls so she’s excited about her first season of baseball in a summer league for young girls with the possibility of being one of the girls chosen to represent the city in a provincial female tournament.
She was happy to be surrounded by a number of her friends at the spring camp and she figures it will be a cool experience to be among the 35 girls who have been hitting the ball around for the past couple of weeks to come together for a summer on the diamond.
“I’m not as intimating when we’re playing with all girls because it’s fun,” said White, who is active in swimming, tennis, soccer, basketball and running when she’s not in school.
She’s willing to learn the tools of the trade as she goes, but already knows it will be time well spent when she snags flies at Jubilee Field with other girls her own age.
“It’s fun getting to hit and throw the ball,” she said.
The association is hoping to boost the registration numbers with a special event this Saturday at Jubilee Field. All female players who registered in the spring program have been invited to increase the numbers by participating in Bring a Female Friend Day Saturday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Jubilee Field.
No invitation is required, which means any female in the city is encouraged to come along for a fun day of baseball with Baseball NL female director Bob Morgan, along with coaches within the local minor system, conducting a skills development session. Morgan will also conduct a question-and-answer session after the clinic and a BBQ will follow for all participants.
Jacklyn Morgan and Victoria Curran, two female players who have played baseball in the United States and played on the national stage at a couple of levels, will be on hand to share their experiences, including what they discovered when they attended Baseball Canada evaluation camps in Cuba in the past.
It’s the place to be Saturday, White figures. She was hesitant about giving it a try when the topic of female baseball popped up initially, but she’s a happy camper now that she took the first step by going to a practice.
Who will join her is what she’s waiting to find out now. She is hoping to bring a female friend to the field Saturday and hopes others do the same.
“It’s a great way to get more girls involved because they will probably see how much fun it is when they try it out like I did,” she said.
