A strikeout is satisfying for any pitcher.
“When I usually strike a guy out, either I’ve seen them go into their dugouts, throw their bats and helmets and stuff,” said Ball Girls pitcher Shaelyn Delahanty. “Or I’ve seen them just walk away laughing because they know their teammates are going to just dog on them about that. ”
For this 13-U baseball team, a strikeout is just a little more special.
“I turn around and smile because I don’t want them to know that I am happy about it because I don’t want to seem overconfident,” Shaelyn said.
From far away, this squad looks like a typical travel league baseball team, but it’s the first of its kind to appear at Ballparks of America in Branson: an all-girls baseball team.
“We have a completely even and level playing field and they definitely meet the playing requirements,” said Ballparks of America GM Ryan Wolfe. “They can flat-out get it, it’s pretty cool.”
“[I] got connected with three girls from three different states [and] hey all just wanted to play ball with their friends, but didn’t have a home team,” said Coach and Founder of Ball Girls Baseball Allie Lacey. “So we decided to start an organization.”
Lacey played collegiate softball, coached collegiate softball, and was a ball girl for the Los Angeles Dodgers. She applied her knowledge to create this nonprofit 501(c)3 foundation that gives girls from Canada to California the opportunity to play ball.
“I’ve always loved baseball ever since I was little you know in between my brothers’ games and during them,” said Ball Girls infielder Ashlynn Jolicoeur. “I would play catch with my dad and hit and go on the field after and I just have always loved it.”
These girls turn their interest into their sport proving that throwing like a girl is something to be proud of.
“I just want everyone to know, little girls especially, that everyone can play baseball,” Ashlynn said. “Girls can do anything boys can do.”
And ambitions in baseball can be as big as the big leagues.
“I’d like to try to make it as far as I can you know like high school, college, possibly pro,” Shaelyn said. “With all of the opportunities I’ve been given so far, I think it’s not such a big dream any more than what I thought when I was a little girl.”
After all, there is no crying in baseball and these girls are as tough as it gets.
