1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:21,151 --> 00:00:22,239 Go! 4 00:00:24,285 --> 00:00:27,331 Today, we will witness the first co-ed team 5 00:00:27,375 --> 00:00:32,075 in professional baseball since the 1950s. 6 00:00:32,119 --> 00:00:33,859 You see baseball all the time, 7 00:00:33,903 --> 00:00:37,080 but you never think about seeing a woman out there. 8 00:00:37,124 --> 00:00:38,777 I don't know why they get so hung up on this. 9 00:00:38,821 --> 00:00:41,171 There's nothing wrong with being not so great at sports. 10 00:00:41,215 --> 00:00:42,955 Like I can't cook a good soufflé. 11 00:00:44,348 --> 00:00:45,958 What you're about to see 12 00:00:46,002 --> 00:00:47,743 is not a work of fiction, 13 00:00:47,786 --> 00:00:50,528 but it is a story of many dreams 14 00:00:50,572 --> 00:00:53,792 that you've likely never seen it or heard of it before. 15 00:00:53,836 --> 00:00:55,664 A pivotal Group C matchup today. 16 00:00:55,707 --> 00:00:58,101 Two teams collide on a huge stage. 17 00:00:58,145 --> 00:00:59,929 Both need a victory to advance. 18 00:01:02,888 --> 00:01:04,194 Holmes and her first triple, the play today, 19 00:01:04,238 --> 00:01:06,892 a double to left that brought home two runs. 20 00:01:06,936 --> 00:01:09,199 Courage, passion, 21 00:01:09,243 --> 00:01:12,507 perseverance against all odds. 22 00:01:12,550 --> 00:01:15,553 This is the world of women's baseball. 23 00:01:15,597 --> 00:01:17,729 -Let's go, Ebony, let's go. -Let's go, Ebony, let's go. 24 00:01:17,773 --> 00:01:19,949 -Let's go, Ebony, let's go. -Let's go, Ebony, let's go. 25 00:01:19,992 --> 00:01:21,124 People wouldn't believe me 26 00:01:21,168 --> 00:01:22,473 when I'd say I play baseball. 27 00:01:22,517 --> 00:01:23,996 They're like, "Oh, you mean softball." 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,130 I'm like, "No, I play baseball with all the guys." 29 00:01:27,174 --> 00:01:29,045 And you have to actually do the function, 30 00:01:29,089 --> 00:01:30,133 -like not this, but... - Yeah, you can't do it 31 00:01:30,177 --> 00:01:32,004 -like this. -Yeah. 32 00:01:32,048 --> 00:01:34,659 My coach said "I don't think you should play 33 00:01:34,703 --> 00:01:37,314 for my team anymore, because you're taking spots away 34 00:01:37,358 --> 00:01:39,751 from boys that could potentially be college prospects. 35 00:01:39,795 --> 00:01:41,318 It was after a game, 36 00:01:41,362 --> 00:01:43,015 and this guy had tweeted, 37 00:01:43,059 --> 00:01:45,192 "Why aren't you playing softball?" 38 00:01:45,235 --> 00:01:47,846 Baseball is for boys and softball is for girls. 39 00:01:47,890 --> 00:01:49,979 That's something that's just been kinda carried 40 00:01:50,022 --> 00:01:51,850 in people's head for so long. 41 00:01:51,894 --> 00:01:54,114 I played baseball since I was five years old, 42 00:01:54,157 --> 00:01:55,202 and ever since then, 43 00:01:55,245 --> 00:01:57,595 I just fell in love with the game. 44 00:01:57,639 --> 00:01:59,858 I played till I was 14. 45 00:01:59,902 --> 00:02:01,991 Went to high school, they didn't let me play. 46 00:02:02,034 --> 00:02:03,079 I think that's just something 47 00:02:03,123 --> 00:02:04,341 that we have to deal with 48 00:02:04,385 --> 00:02:07,692 being women playing in a men's sport. 49 00:02:07,736 --> 00:02:10,565 Women play rugby, women play soccer, 50 00:02:10,608 --> 00:02:13,742 women play basketball, mixed martial arts. 51 00:02:13,785 --> 00:02:16,136 Women do all these violent sports. 52 00:02:18,007 --> 00:02:20,009 What is the issue with baseball? 53 00:02:35,372 --> 00:02:36,634 Whoa! 54 00:02:36,678 --> 00:02:39,028 Good job, Marti, way to hit the ball, all right. 55 00:02:39,071 --> 00:02:42,292 You are the next Nomar Garciaparra, baby! 56 00:02:42,336 --> 00:02:45,295 I grew up playing baseball in Southern California. 57 00:02:45,339 --> 00:02:47,645 My dad trained me before I could walk. 58 00:02:47,689 --> 00:02:49,125 Marti was adorable. 59 00:02:49,169 --> 00:02:51,040 She looked like Shirley Temple, 60 00:02:51,083 --> 00:02:54,261 striking out boys when she's seven, eight years old. 61 00:02:54,304 --> 00:02:57,089 KNBC and KABC would show up. 62 00:02:57,133 --> 00:02:59,440 They thought she was the mascot or something else, 63 00:02:59,483 --> 00:03:01,006 and then they would see the windup, 64 00:03:01,050 --> 00:03:02,617 pretty much the same windup she has now 65 00:03:02,660 --> 00:03:03,792 that she had at seven, 66 00:03:03,835 --> 00:03:06,186 and it just made for pretty good TV. 67 00:03:06,229 --> 00:03:08,449 Well, it looks like you enjoy playing baseball, 68 00:03:08,492 --> 00:03:10,277 -is that right? -Yeah. 69 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:11,452 If you could have your baseball dream come true, 70 00:03:11,495 --> 00:03:12,931 what would it be? 71 00:03:12,975 --> 00:03:16,152 That I can be in the major leagues. 72 00:03:16,196 --> 00:03:17,675 -The major leagues? -Mm-hmm. 73 00:03:21,375 --> 00:03:23,594 As far back as I can remember, 74 00:03:23,638 --> 00:03:26,075 I've played baseball and I've loved the game. 75 00:03:26,118 --> 00:03:29,034 I used to turn on a baseball game 76 00:03:29,078 --> 00:03:30,645 and fall asleep on the couch, 77 00:03:30,688 --> 00:03:32,516 and my brother would walk in and change the channel 78 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,170 and I would immediately wake up. 79 00:03:34,214 --> 00:03:35,824 And I would say, "Hey, I was watching that." 80 00:03:35,867 --> 00:03:37,347 And he would say, "You were sleeping!" 81 00:03:37,391 --> 00:03:38,479 And I said, "No, I was watching it." 82 00:03:41,656 --> 00:03:44,702 I like that baseball is way more complicated 83 00:03:44,746 --> 00:03:46,138 than people think. 84 00:03:46,182 --> 00:03:48,924 The average fans sees the game, they see home runs, 85 00:03:48,967 --> 00:03:50,317 -they see strikeouts... 86 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,319 and that's about as deep as they get. 87 00:03:52,362 --> 00:03:54,495 But it's so much more complicated than that. 88 00:03:54,538 --> 00:03:56,323 There's so much more going on. 89 00:03:56,366 --> 00:03:59,674 I can't say that at five, I appreciated all those things, 90 00:03:59,717 --> 00:04:01,545 but certainly, the seed was planted. 91 00:04:03,547 --> 00:04:06,463 We start in tee-ball and there's a handful of other girls, 92 00:04:06,507 --> 00:04:10,554 and then you get to machine or coach pitch, and... 93 00:04:10,598 --> 00:04:11,947 there are fewer girls. 94 00:04:11,990 --> 00:04:15,342 Then you get to kid pitch and I was the only girl. 95 00:04:15,385 --> 00:04:16,647 But I love the game. 96 00:04:18,258 --> 00:04:21,217 In 1931, The Yankees were on their way back 97 00:04:21,261 --> 00:04:23,306 from spring training when they stopped 98 00:04:23,350 --> 00:04:26,353 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to play an exhibition game. 99 00:04:26,396 --> 00:04:28,659 There, they faced Jackie Mitchell 100 00:04:28,703 --> 00:04:32,707 who struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. 101 00:04:32,750 --> 00:04:34,274 The next day in the paper, 102 00:04:34,317 --> 00:04:36,363 Babe Ruth was quoted, saying, 103 00:04:36,406 --> 00:04:37,886 "I don't know what's going to happen 104 00:04:37,929 --> 00:04:39,540 if they begin to let women in baseball. 105 00:04:39,583 --> 00:04:41,672 Of course, they will never make good. 106 00:04:41,716 --> 00:04:42,760 Why? 107 00:04:42,804 --> 00:04:44,849 Because they are too delicate." 108 00:04:44,893 --> 00:04:46,808 No one knows for certain why. 109 00:04:46,851 --> 00:04:48,113 But the next day, 110 00:04:48,157 --> 00:04:50,551 Jackie Mitchell's contract was voided. 111 00:04:50,594 --> 00:04:53,336 Since then, no woman has played 112 00:04:53,380 --> 00:04:55,251 on a Major League affiliated team. 113 00:04:59,081 --> 00:05:01,344 Ever since I was six, I've been playing baseball. 114 00:05:01,388 --> 00:05:03,781 My dad kinda got me into it. 115 00:05:03,825 --> 00:05:05,479 When she was a very young age, 116 00:05:05,522 --> 00:05:07,655 you know, I would teach her the proper mechanics 117 00:05:07,698 --> 00:05:10,310 to throwing, balance, the swing mechanics. 118 00:05:10,353 --> 00:05:11,702 I would video tape her, 119 00:05:11,746 --> 00:05:13,704 we'd break it down, she'd get to watch it. 120 00:05:13,748 --> 00:05:15,140 It got to the point where he was like, 121 00:05:15,184 --> 00:05:16,446 "Well, don't you wanna get in a league, 122 00:05:16,490 --> 00:05:18,187 and don't you wanna play?" 123 00:05:18,230 --> 00:05:21,233 And I kept saying no. I didn't want to do it. 124 00:05:21,277 --> 00:05:23,323 And one of my biggest concerns, I was like, 125 00:05:23,366 --> 00:05:26,587 "Well, if I gotta play, do I have to have my hair up?" 126 00:05:26,630 --> 00:05:27,762 She saw every girl 127 00:05:27,805 --> 00:05:28,893 that had her hair in a ponytail, 128 00:05:28,937 --> 00:05:31,026 assumed that it had to be that way. 129 00:05:31,069 --> 00:05:32,201 I said, "You can have your hair any way you want to, 130 00:05:32,244 --> 00:05:33,289 first of all." 131 00:05:33,333 --> 00:05:34,856 "Then I wanna play baseball." 132 00:05:34,899 --> 00:05:36,771 At 11 and 12, you know, 133 00:05:36,814 --> 00:05:38,860 I kept getting people that would say, "Well, you know, 134 00:05:38,903 --> 00:05:41,210 when the boys start getting stronger and faster, 135 00:05:41,253 --> 00:05:42,559 things are gonna change a little bit, 136 00:05:42,603 --> 00:05:43,995 and they never did. 137 00:05:44,039 --> 00:05:45,736 She was a baseball player. You know? 138 00:05:45,780 --> 00:05:47,956 And it wasn't she threw like a girl or threw like a boy, 139 00:05:47,999 --> 00:05:49,087 she threw like an athlete. 140 00:05:49,131 --> 00:05:50,785 And then high school came around, 141 00:05:50,828 --> 00:05:52,395 she's like, "I wanna play baseball." 142 00:05:55,964 --> 00:05:59,533 I'd always wanted to be on the Dodgers. 143 00:05:59,576 --> 00:06:02,492 And I kept having these fantasies, 144 00:06:02,536 --> 00:06:05,060 this might be why I became a political scientist, 145 00:06:05,103 --> 00:06:06,975 that they would change the law 146 00:06:07,018 --> 00:06:10,021 by the time I got to be nine and I could play Little League. 147 00:06:11,414 --> 00:06:14,156 In 1973, there were lawsuits 148 00:06:14,199 --> 00:06:17,333 to allow girls to play Little League Baseball. 149 00:06:17,377 --> 00:06:18,813 One team physician said, 150 00:06:18,856 --> 00:06:21,337 "No, girls' bones are softer at this age. 151 00:06:21,381 --> 00:06:22,599 They break much easier." 152 00:06:22,643 --> 00:06:24,209 Or there was talk about 153 00:06:24,253 --> 00:06:26,995 if a girl gets hit in the chest with a ball, 154 00:06:27,038 --> 00:06:28,736 she's gonna get breast cancer later. 155 00:06:28,779 --> 00:06:31,086 I mean, this is just crazy science 156 00:06:31,129 --> 00:06:34,655 to keep little boys and little girls segregated. 157 00:06:34,698 --> 00:06:37,745 Little League Baseball lost in 1973, 158 00:06:37,788 --> 00:06:40,269 and the Hoboken, New Jersey Little League 159 00:06:40,312 --> 00:06:43,359 shut down for a year rather than let girls play with boys. 160 00:06:44,534 --> 00:06:46,188 Of course, legally they couldn't stop 161 00:06:46,231 --> 00:06:47,972 the two girls that played with the boys, 162 00:06:48,016 --> 00:06:50,061 but they certainly didn't support them. 163 00:06:50,105 --> 00:06:51,976 Instead of starting girls baseball 164 00:06:52,020 --> 00:06:53,413 or welcoming co-ed baseball, 165 00:06:53,456 --> 00:06:55,110 they created the softball league. 166 00:06:55,153 --> 00:06:57,547 And that sort of became the popular version 167 00:06:57,591 --> 00:06:59,680 of this is what girls do and this is what boys do. 168 00:07:01,638 --> 00:07:03,248 Totally two different sports. 169 00:07:03,292 --> 00:07:04,728 We're two different sports. 170 00:07:04,772 --> 00:07:07,165 I relay to this as tennis and ping-pong. 171 00:07:07,209 --> 00:07:09,341 It's the same concept, different dimensions, 172 00:07:11,431 --> 00:07:12,823 but totally different sport. 173 00:07:14,259 --> 00:07:16,087 She can hit, she can pitch, 174 00:07:16,131 --> 00:07:19,308 but Stacy Piagno doesn't play softball. 175 00:07:19,351 --> 00:07:21,092 As Fox30's Brent Martineau explains, 176 00:07:21,136 --> 00:07:24,792 like the movie, Stacy, she's in a league of her own. 177 00:07:24,835 --> 00:07:27,490 The fastball is pretty good. 178 00:07:27,534 --> 00:07:29,666 The curveball can be nasty. 179 00:07:29,710 --> 00:07:31,276 Strike! 180 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,888 Not bad stuff for a pitcher with a ponytail. 181 00:07:33,931 --> 00:07:35,629 This is normal for me, you know. 182 00:07:35,672 --> 00:07:38,936 I've always played baseball since I was little. 183 00:07:38,980 --> 00:07:42,418 Stacy Piagno is one of the guys. 184 00:07:42,462 --> 00:07:44,159 I grew up playing when I was younger. 185 00:07:44,202 --> 00:07:46,553 You know, it just started off as something fun to do. 186 00:07:46,596 --> 00:07:48,685 Me and my brother, we both played. 187 00:07:48,729 --> 00:07:51,862 As I got older, um, I definitely fell in love with the sport, 188 00:07:51,906 --> 00:07:55,126 just how, you know, anybody falls in love with what they do. 189 00:07:55,170 --> 00:07:56,911 And I had a pretty easygoing past. 190 00:07:56,954 --> 00:07:58,608 You know, I was always pretty accepted growing up 191 00:07:58,652 --> 00:08:00,654 with my coaches and teammates. 192 00:08:00,697 --> 00:08:02,264 But it got to the point where 193 00:08:02,307 --> 00:08:04,875 I have to either, you know, 194 00:08:04,919 --> 00:08:09,750 work my butt off to stay in this sport or just slide out. 195 00:08:09,793 --> 00:08:11,534 I played high school baseball with the boys, 196 00:08:11,578 --> 00:08:14,537 then I went to college and I ended up playing softball. 197 00:08:14,581 --> 00:08:16,408 Softball, it is a different sport, 198 00:08:16,452 --> 00:08:18,541 but at least I was, you know, running 199 00:08:18,585 --> 00:08:20,238 and throwing something. 200 00:08:23,677 --> 00:08:25,896 It's tough being the only one. 201 00:08:25,940 --> 00:08:28,812 You just gotta work a hundred times harder 202 00:08:28,856 --> 00:08:33,164 to fit in, to earn respect, and to, to do well. 203 00:08:35,123 --> 00:08:36,646 Whenever I came into the ballpark, 204 00:08:36,690 --> 00:08:38,430 I was a little nervous, I was a little scared. 205 00:08:38,474 --> 00:08:40,215 I didn't know what to expect. 206 00:08:40,258 --> 00:08:41,477 I wasn't like the guys who were able 207 00:08:41,521 --> 00:08:42,826 to change in the locker room. 208 00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:44,567 I changed in the restroom. 209 00:08:46,264 --> 00:08:48,571 As I was walking to the batting cages, 210 00:08:48,615 --> 00:08:50,442 I literally asked myself, "Do I want this?" 211 00:08:50,486 --> 00:08:52,227 Like, is this something I really want? 212 00:08:52,270 --> 00:08:54,882 I, like, paused and I was like, "Yeah, I want this." 213 00:08:56,013 --> 00:08:57,406 Run! Go! 214 00:08:57,449 --> 00:08:59,451 I definitely had that dream as a kid. 215 00:08:59,495 --> 00:09:03,064 I wanted to be the first woman in professional leagues. 216 00:09:03,107 --> 00:09:05,109 I, I think I probably wrote some story 217 00:09:05,153 --> 00:09:08,156 for some elementary school essay. 218 00:09:10,419 --> 00:09:12,203 I decided I was gonna give it a shot 219 00:09:12,247 --> 00:09:13,901 at the high school level. 220 00:09:13,944 --> 00:09:17,382 I actually wrote a letter to all the high school coaches 221 00:09:17,426 --> 00:09:19,515 uh, at schools that I could attend. 222 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,212 I wasn't asking for special treatment, 223 00:09:21,256 --> 00:09:23,650 I was simply asking for a fair shot. 224 00:09:23,693 --> 00:09:27,610 Frankly, some coaches said no, there's a softball team, 225 00:09:27,654 --> 00:09:29,438 um, and a handful of coaches said, 226 00:09:29,481 --> 00:09:31,962 "Sure, if you're good enough, you can come play." 227 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,312 I stopped going to the games 228 00:09:34,356 --> 00:09:37,054 because the boys were hurting her. 229 00:09:37,098 --> 00:09:39,230 At that time, she played second base. 230 00:09:39,274 --> 00:09:42,059 There was a man on first, there was a ball hit to second. 231 00:09:42,103 --> 00:09:44,496 She charged the ball and the runner, 232 00:09:44,540 --> 00:09:46,324 put his knee right into her head 233 00:09:46,368 --> 00:09:48,370 as she was going for the ball and knocked her out. 234 00:09:48,413 --> 00:09:50,851 And I was done, 'cause I was gonna kill somebody 235 00:09:50,894 --> 00:09:54,071 if I continued to watch what was going on in the field. 236 00:09:55,682 --> 00:09:57,118 For nearly a century, 237 00:09:57,161 --> 00:09:59,033 there were only two opportunities 238 00:09:59,076 --> 00:10:00,904 for women to play baseball. 239 00:10:00,948 --> 00:10:04,429 In the 1940s, while the men were away at war, women played 240 00:10:04,473 --> 00:10:07,563 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League 241 00:10:07,607 --> 00:10:10,610 as portrayed in the movie A League of Their Own. 242 00:10:10,653 --> 00:10:13,177 Even though by the 1990s the ban on girls 243 00:10:13,221 --> 00:10:14,614 in Little League had been lifted, 244 00:10:14,657 --> 00:10:16,833 in practice, very little changed. 245 00:10:16,877 --> 00:10:19,488 From 1994 to 1997, 246 00:10:19,531 --> 00:10:22,186 a few women got to play for the Silver Bullets, 247 00:10:22,230 --> 00:10:24,841 a professional women's team that barnstormed the country 248 00:10:24,885 --> 00:10:26,321 playing against men. 249 00:10:26,364 --> 00:10:28,889 Otherwise, girls who play have no choice 250 00:10:28,932 --> 00:10:31,892 but to play on boys teams if they're fortunate enough 251 00:10:31,935 --> 00:10:34,808 to have school, league, and parental support. 252 00:10:34,851 --> 00:10:36,636 -Hooray! -Hoo-rah! 253 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:38,594 Every time I go out to pitch against a guy team, 254 00:10:38,638 --> 00:10:40,161 I hear chatter. 255 00:10:40,204 --> 00:10:42,554 I've been trained by doing this so many times 256 00:10:42,598 --> 00:10:44,600 that I kinda, it's like, mute them out. 257 00:10:44,644 --> 00:10:46,080 Come on, dummy, get 'em out! 258 00:10:46,123 --> 00:10:48,430 -The boy can play! - Let's go! 259 00:10:48,473 --> 00:10:50,084 Tie game! 260 00:10:50,127 --> 00:10:51,738 What? No. 261 00:10:51,781 --> 00:10:53,870 Got 'em at three! 262 00:10:53,914 --> 00:10:55,785 There were times I would feel 263 00:10:55,829 --> 00:10:57,526 left out as an athlete. 264 00:10:57,569 --> 00:10:59,049 People in the crowds would, 265 00:10:59,093 --> 00:11:00,877 would sometimes think differently. 266 00:11:00,921 --> 00:11:03,314 Guys on the other team would make it a big deal. 267 00:11:03,358 --> 00:11:05,708 One dad came up to my dad and said, 268 00:11:05,752 --> 00:11:07,710 "She'll never play high school baseball in this town. 269 00:11:07,754 --> 00:11:09,320 Not as long as I'm around." 270 00:11:09,364 --> 00:11:11,105 I've had people try to peg me. 271 00:11:11,148 --> 00:11:12,933 They went after her all the time. 272 00:11:12,976 --> 00:11:16,110 They hit her like six or seven times with a pitch. 273 00:11:22,464 --> 00:11:25,902 Talk about pursuing a dream. It takes a lot of courage 274 00:11:25,946 --> 00:11:27,251 to come out to this field. 275 00:11:29,732 --> 00:11:31,908 When I finished my senior year, 276 00:11:31,952 --> 00:11:33,388 for all intents and purposes, 277 00:11:33,431 --> 00:11:37,044 I thought that baseball was over for me. 278 00:11:37,087 --> 00:11:39,394 I wanted to go to a big Division 1 school, 279 00:11:39,437 --> 00:11:41,613 I wanted to have that experience. 280 00:11:41,657 --> 00:11:43,093 The best way for me to do that 281 00:11:43,137 --> 00:11:46,662 was to use volleyball as a means to get a scholarship. 282 00:11:47,837 --> 00:11:49,752 You can't go anywhere with baseball 283 00:11:49,796 --> 00:11:51,014 if you're an athletic girl. 284 00:11:51,058 --> 00:11:54,191 And, and that's, that's a real roadblock. 285 00:11:57,020 --> 00:11:58,456 Whenever people doubted me, 286 00:11:58,500 --> 00:12:01,155 I would take that energy and that would fuel me. 287 00:12:01,198 --> 00:12:03,113 That's what made me keep going. 288 00:12:03,157 --> 00:12:04,898 Go, go, go! More! 289 00:12:04,941 --> 00:12:07,335 Sometimes baseball will be tough and it'll be hard, 290 00:12:07,378 --> 00:12:08,597 and I get frustrated with it, 291 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:10,120 so I'd want to do something else. 292 00:12:10,164 --> 00:12:13,689 I liked being with women athletes like my own. 293 00:12:13,733 --> 00:12:18,041 There are times I, I would want to pursue soccer or golf, 294 00:12:18,085 --> 00:12:20,087 and then there are times I just thought like, 295 00:12:20,130 --> 00:12:22,132 I just, I just really love baseball. 296 00:12:22,176 --> 00:12:24,787 Like I just can't imagine stopping. 297 00:12:24,831 --> 00:12:27,007 - Woo! 298 00:12:28,182 --> 00:12:32,839 I was Googling women's baseball, 299 00:12:32,882 --> 00:12:34,231 men's league, 300 00:12:34,275 --> 00:12:36,016 I was just looking for anything, 301 00:12:36,059 --> 00:12:40,281 and I stumbled on the fact that USA Baseball 302 00:12:40,324 --> 00:12:41,804 had a women's team, which I didn't know, 303 00:12:41,848 --> 00:12:43,153 and they were having open tryouts 304 00:12:43,197 --> 00:12:44,981 for the 2006 National Team 305 00:12:45,025 --> 00:12:47,505 that was going to play in the World Cup in Taiwan. 306 00:12:47,549 --> 00:12:48,811 I thought, well, I haven't played in a while 307 00:12:48,855 --> 00:12:50,682 but I'm gonna give it a shot. 308 00:12:57,167 --> 00:12:58,734 USA Baseball is the governing body 309 00:12:58,778 --> 00:12:59,996 for the sport of baseball. 310 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,520 All Olympic sports have one. 311 00:13:02,564 --> 00:13:05,349 One of our jobs is fielding national teams 312 00:13:05,393 --> 00:13:08,048 to be able to complete with the best in the world. 313 00:13:08,091 --> 00:13:09,136 Life is such a special thing, 314 00:13:09,179 --> 00:13:10,441 where you get to come out 315 00:13:10,485 --> 00:13:12,704 and finally, you know, play baseball together. 316 00:13:12,748 --> 00:13:14,706 So we don't get paid, we don't have salaries. 317 00:13:14,750 --> 00:13:15,925 It's not like that. 318 00:13:15,969 --> 00:13:18,798 This is purely the love of the game. 319 00:13:18,841 --> 00:13:20,190 In 2004, 320 00:13:20,234 --> 00:13:22,932 the first Women's Baseball World Cup was held, 321 00:13:22,976 --> 00:13:25,369 providing international playing opportunities, 322 00:13:25,413 --> 00:13:27,850 and giving women their only chance to play 323 00:13:27,894 --> 00:13:31,549 high-level amateur baseball once every two years. 324 00:13:31,593 --> 00:13:35,031 And in 2015, women's baseball was included 325 00:13:35,075 --> 00:13:37,642 in the Pan American Games for the first time. 326 00:13:37,686 --> 00:13:40,210 Team USA won the gold. 327 00:13:40,254 --> 00:13:44,301 The World Cup in South Korea is next and that's our focus. 328 00:13:44,345 --> 00:13:46,086 We're currently number two in the world, 329 00:13:46,129 --> 00:13:48,044 but we wanna be number one. 330 00:13:48,088 --> 00:13:51,308 The top 40 female baseball players in the USA 331 00:13:51,352 --> 00:13:53,093 compete to represent their country 332 00:13:53,136 --> 00:13:54,616 and the sport they love. 333 00:13:54,659 --> 00:13:57,793 I hope it goes further than, you know, just this year, 334 00:13:57,837 --> 00:13:59,142 this, this go around. 335 00:13:59,186 --> 00:14:00,752 It'd mean the world to me to go play, 336 00:14:00,796 --> 00:14:02,493 especially for the United States. 337 00:14:02,537 --> 00:14:04,452 Only 20 will make the cut 338 00:14:04,495 --> 00:14:06,193 for the rare opportunity 339 00:14:06,236 --> 00:14:09,022 to play baseball with women and against women. 340 00:14:11,241 --> 00:14:13,156 Every year, we get more girls 341 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:15,724 that find out about the team and try out, 342 00:14:15,767 --> 00:14:18,422 and each year it gets better, and stronger, and bigger 343 00:14:18,466 --> 00:14:20,250 and more of a program. 344 00:14:22,949 --> 00:14:24,385 Did you ever pitch 'em on top? 345 00:14:24,428 --> 00:14:26,866 I did, actually was a... pitched quite a bit, 346 00:14:26,909 --> 00:14:28,911 -about 400 years ago, but... 347 00:14:28,955 --> 00:14:30,304 I probably crossed. 348 00:14:30,347 --> 00:14:31,566 I was really hurt too. 349 00:14:31,609 --> 00:14:32,959 I got pulled out of the first inning. 350 00:14:33,002 --> 00:14:34,961 Oh, yeah, you were hurt? You started? And mentally? 351 00:14:35,004 --> 00:14:36,397 I'm actually gonna go take pitching lessons 352 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:37,920 and come back to the team 353 00:14:37,964 --> 00:14:39,661 so that I can pitch one inning and redeem myself. 354 00:14:39,704 --> 00:14:40,923 I got you, Holmsie. 355 00:14:40,967 --> 00:14:42,229 I've never been more butthurt in my life. 356 00:14:42,272 --> 00:14:43,621 It was awful. 357 00:14:43,665 --> 00:14:46,842 Tamara, she's just like a goofball, to be honest. 358 00:14:46,886 --> 00:14:48,278 She's just great to have around, 359 00:14:48,322 --> 00:14:51,107 and it's funny, 'cause she's so intimidating. 360 00:14:51,151 --> 00:14:52,717 Like, physically. 361 00:14:52,761 --> 00:14:56,286 But she's the nicest person that you've ever met. 362 00:14:56,330 --> 00:14:58,158 Being the oldest person on the team, 363 00:14:58,201 --> 00:15:00,595 you know, I'm gonna get beat up with the old person jokes, 364 00:15:00,638 --> 00:15:03,337 but at the same time, they have to carry the equipment 365 00:15:03,380 --> 00:15:05,426 so it's good to have the youngins around. 366 00:15:06,949 --> 00:15:08,646 My biggest responsibility 367 00:15:08,690 --> 00:15:11,519 is to, is to lead by example, 368 00:15:11,562 --> 00:15:15,697 and help groom them in the USA Baseball way. 369 00:15:17,351 --> 00:15:19,353 You can look at any high-end elite athlete 370 00:15:19,396 --> 00:15:22,225 and you see that, that what we call that it factor. 371 00:15:22,269 --> 00:15:23,444 You gotta have that heart 372 00:15:23,487 --> 00:15:24,749 and you gotta have that confidence. 373 00:15:24,793 --> 00:15:26,447 A lot of times, you can't teach that. 374 00:15:29,276 --> 00:15:32,192 I work as a full-time firefighter in Oakland, 375 00:15:32,235 --> 00:15:35,978 and I run a CrossFit gym in my off days 376 00:15:36,022 --> 00:15:38,459 when I'm not playing baseball. 377 00:15:38,502 --> 00:15:41,418 Up in my 20s, I played the last two years 378 00:15:41,462 --> 00:15:42,898 with the Silver Bullets, 379 00:15:42,942 --> 00:15:45,248 and then USA Baseball came around 380 00:15:45,292 --> 00:15:48,077 and that also provided another high level of play. 381 00:15:48,121 --> 00:15:49,557 We can try it out. 382 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:50,906 Yeah, we need to get it. 383 00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:52,255 There are a handful of us 384 00:15:52,299 --> 00:15:55,737 who have been playing together since 2006, 385 00:15:55,780 --> 00:15:58,740 and we've built a very good camaraderie 386 00:15:58,783 --> 00:16:00,307 and some really close friendships. 387 00:16:00,350 --> 00:16:01,961 This is what we look like when we play catch 388 00:16:02,004 --> 00:16:03,658 and Catchphrase. 389 00:16:03,701 --> 00:16:06,356 Recently got married and then a handful of players 390 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,359 that I'm the closest to came to my wedding, 391 00:16:09,403 --> 00:16:12,667 so, you know, we are, in fact, a family. 392 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:20,066 -Yeah! -Yeah! 393 00:16:28,248 --> 00:16:31,468 I anticipate this being my last World Cup. 394 00:16:31,512 --> 00:16:33,775 I'm definitely gonna go down swinging for sure, 395 00:16:33,818 --> 00:16:35,559 but I don't feel any extra pressure. 396 00:16:35,603 --> 00:16:36,647 - Yeah. 397 00:16:36,691 --> 00:16:38,214 I come and sit here all the time. 398 00:16:39,563 --> 00:16:40,782 More, more, more! 399 00:16:40,825 --> 00:16:42,523 Hit me, hit me! 400 00:16:42,566 --> 00:16:45,656 Ones are at the 45, twos are at first base. 401 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:48,050 How I got into women's baseball is somewhat of a funny story. 402 00:16:48,094 --> 00:16:50,270 I'd finished up my college playing career 403 00:16:50,313 --> 00:16:51,880 and my college coach called me, 404 00:16:51,923 --> 00:16:53,360 and he's like, "Hey, you just graduated." 405 00:16:53,403 --> 00:16:54,883 He's like, "What are you doing this summer?" 406 00:16:54,926 --> 00:16:57,407 It was an opportunity to coach and I jumped on it. 407 00:16:57,451 --> 00:16:59,583 When I found out it was women's baseball, 408 00:16:59,627 --> 00:17:01,368 I went into it like every other guy. 409 00:17:01,411 --> 00:17:03,370 I was like, "Oh, are they gonna be able to reach the play? 410 00:17:03,413 --> 00:17:05,502 Are they gonna be able to hit it out of the infield?" 411 00:17:05,546 --> 00:17:08,549 And I was very pleased 412 00:17:08,592 --> 00:17:11,726 to see within minutes of being on field 413 00:17:11,769 --> 00:17:14,598 that my ignorance was inexcusable. 414 00:17:14,642 --> 00:17:16,905 Not only was I amazed and impressed 415 00:17:16,948 --> 00:17:18,080 with their athletic ability, 416 00:17:18,124 --> 00:17:20,213 their coachability is off the charts. 417 00:17:21,649 --> 00:17:25,348 The intensity, the drive to win, the compete level. 418 00:17:25,392 --> 00:17:27,829 I mean, I look for all those things in my athletes, 419 00:17:27,872 --> 00:17:29,396 you know, at WPI. 420 00:17:29,439 --> 00:17:31,789 Every single one of these girls has that level about 'em. 421 00:17:31,833 --> 00:17:33,356 And again, I think part of that 422 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:34,531 is that path they've taken. 423 00:17:34,575 --> 00:17:36,229 Plenty of sacrifices they had to make. 424 00:17:36,272 --> 00:17:38,144 So we're lucky as coaches 425 00:17:38,187 --> 00:17:39,928 that we're gonna be dealing with those type of athletes. 426 00:17:41,234 --> 00:17:42,757 - To two! - Two! 427 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:43,975 I love it. 428 00:17:44,019 --> 00:17:46,282 I mean, shoot, I, when I came walking in, 429 00:17:46,326 --> 00:17:47,849 I saw the third baseman make a play that, 430 00:17:47,892 --> 00:17:49,372 I mean, it's do or die. 431 00:17:49,416 --> 00:17:51,331 -And she made it look easy. 432 00:17:51,374 --> 00:17:52,941 So that's the need to see. 433 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,466 I mean, these girls are playing 434 00:17:56,510 --> 00:17:59,121 and everything full board. 435 00:17:59,165 --> 00:18:00,992 More of like, old time baseball, 436 00:18:01,036 --> 00:18:02,994 like a manufacture runs and stuff. 437 00:18:03,038 --> 00:18:05,127 Tell me again uh, what you do. 438 00:18:05,171 --> 00:18:06,650 -I'm a scout - All right. 439 00:18:06,694 --> 00:18:09,697 for the Toronto Blue Jays. 440 00:18:09,740 --> 00:18:12,134 I have dreams about old baseball at night, 441 00:18:12,178 --> 00:18:14,919 like living in Brooklyn and the Dodgers and stuff. 442 00:18:14,963 --> 00:18:17,139 Baseball was played totally different. 443 00:18:17,183 --> 00:18:19,272 Power's an added thing to it. 444 00:18:19,315 --> 00:18:21,143 Now that it's so individualized, 445 00:18:21,187 --> 00:18:22,666 everyone wants to see the guy throwing 446 00:18:22,710 --> 00:18:26,714 a hundred miles an hour and hitting 495-foot home runs. 447 00:18:26,757 --> 00:18:29,064 You kinda lose the whole team thing. 448 00:18:29,108 --> 00:18:30,457 While bat and ball games 449 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:33,199 go back as far as ancient Egypt, 450 00:18:33,242 --> 00:18:36,332 one of the more direct ancestors of the game 451 00:18:36,376 --> 00:18:39,030 was invented by women. 452 00:18:39,074 --> 00:18:41,163 Milkmaids in the 15th century 453 00:18:41,207 --> 00:18:43,731 were the ones that have been credited 454 00:18:43,774 --> 00:18:46,081 with inventing a game called stoolball. 455 00:18:46,125 --> 00:18:48,953 They set their milking stools in a circle. 456 00:18:48,997 --> 00:18:50,738 One served the rock to the other, 457 00:18:50,781 --> 00:18:53,741 and the other one hit it and ran to the first stool. 458 00:18:53,784 --> 00:18:57,179 And you got out if a fielder picked up the rock 459 00:18:57,223 --> 00:18:59,094 and threw it at you before you got to base. 460 00:18:59,138 --> 00:19:01,009 I mean, you know, simple, right? 461 00:19:01,052 --> 00:19:02,184 Very feminine. 462 00:19:02,228 --> 00:19:03,533 But it wasn't a boys' game. 463 00:19:14,892 --> 00:19:18,026 Twenty women will go home, and 20 will stay 464 00:19:18,069 --> 00:19:22,422 for a bi-annual opportunity to play competitive baseball. 465 00:19:22,465 --> 00:19:25,338 The ones who don't make the cut will have to wait two years 466 00:19:25,381 --> 00:19:27,775 for this opportunity to come around again. 467 00:19:29,733 --> 00:19:31,387 So this next year coming back, 468 00:19:31,431 --> 00:19:34,347 I will definitely be way more prepared. 469 00:19:35,870 --> 00:19:37,480 It is sad, you know, you're not going 470 00:19:37,524 --> 00:19:38,916 to South Korea or playing, 471 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,832 but it wouldn't help at all if we didn't come back. 472 00:19:41,876 --> 00:19:43,530 And then when you go to your exit meetings 473 00:19:43,573 --> 00:19:44,922 and the coaches sit down and talk to you 474 00:19:44,966 --> 00:19:46,446 and tell you, you know, what you're gonna work on, 475 00:19:46,489 --> 00:19:48,448 the positive things they have to say about you, 476 00:19:48,491 --> 00:19:51,320 it's just motivation to come back. 477 00:19:51,364 --> 00:19:55,150 The competitiveness of breaking down to 20 is so hard. 478 00:19:55,194 --> 00:19:56,673 And that sometimes it's gonna mean 479 00:19:56,717 --> 00:19:58,849 you're not gonna make that final 20 480 00:19:58,893 --> 00:20:00,764 and it's gonna be devastating. 481 00:20:00,808 --> 00:20:02,549 And it happens in all sports, right? 482 00:20:02,592 --> 00:20:05,334 I mean, you sign up for that. 483 00:20:11,514 --> 00:20:14,474 -Say home team. 484 00:20:14,517 --> 00:20:16,084 So it's gonna be a culture shock for me, 485 00:20:16,127 --> 00:20:18,434 'cause I'm in little Southern Louisiana, you know? 486 00:20:20,262 --> 00:20:22,743 In middle school, everyone always said like, 487 00:20:22,786 --> 00:20:25,049 "No one's gonna take you in high school for baseball, 488 00:20:25,093 --> 00:20:28,052 but I'm glad I picked it back up. 489 00:20:28,096 --> 00:20:29,315 I'll send it to Mom. 490 00:20:32,666 --> 00:20:36,278 It's going to be a battle of who's closer to perfection. 491 00:20:36,322 --> 00:20:38,933 Any of you that have been at international games, 492 00:20:38,976 --> 00:20:40,674 am I over-exaggerating? 493 00:20:42,328 --> 00:20:44,286 At the high-stakes table we're at, 494 00:20:44,330 --> 00:20:46,027 that means we let somebody come 495 00:20:46,070 --> 00:20:47,985 and take a gold medal off your neck. 496 00:20:48,029 --> 00:20:49,160 Give me that ring. 497 00:20:49,204 --> 00:20:50,553 They're taking that ring off your finger, 498 00:20:50,597 --> 00:20:53,077 and then bring it back to wherever they're from. 499 00:20:53,121 --> 00:20:54,818 A good solid core 500 00:20:54,862 --> 00:20:56,646 has played together for long enough, 501 00:20:56,690 --> 00:20:58,996 and that's starting to show in our play. 502 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:01,129 And even though we've gotten beat by Japan 503 00:21:01,172 --> 00:21:03,044 in the last couple of World Cups, 504 00:21:03,087 --> 00:21:05,351 we're still at least the number two player. 505 00:21:05,394 --> 00:21:08,832 And I feel like this is gonna be our year to surpass that 506 00:21:08,876 --> 00:21:10,443 and bring that championship back. 507 00:21:10,486 --> 00:21:11,531 We're gonna say on three. 508 00:21:11,574 --> 00:21:12,619 One, two, three. 509 00:21:12,662 --> 00:21:13,837 USA! 510 00:21:28,548 --> 00:21:31,333 ♪ Give me a game Underneath the lights ♪ 511 00:21:31,377 --> 00:21:33,509 ♪ Give me the roar of the fans 512 00:21:33,553 --> 00:21:36,295 ♪ Give me the sound Of the big bat swinging ♪ 513 00:21:36,338 --> 00:21:38,862 ♪ Best of the best in the land 514 00:21:38,906 --> 00:21:41,648 ♪ Just load up the bases 515 00:21:41,691 --> 00:21:44,085 ♪ Fire up the crowd 516 00:21:44,128 --> 00:21:47,001 ♪ Let's clear out the dugout 517 00:21:47,044 --> 00:21:49,351 ♪ We're gonna get real loud 518 00:21:49,395 --> 00:21:52,223 ♪ Just throw me a fastball 519 00:21:52,267 --> 00:21:54,356 ♪ Smoke from the mound 520 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:57,141 ♪ We're gonna end this thing With just one swing ♪ 521 00:21:57,185 --> 00:21:59,753 ♪ I'm gonna knock one out 522 00:21:59,796 --> 00:22:02,669 Freaking L.A. to Tokyo. 523 00:22:03,626 --> 00:22:05,585 Boarding. 524 00:22:05,628 --> 00:22:07,935 -Jessica! -Ready for takeoff. 525 00:22:07,978 --> 00:22:09,240 Don't wiggle next to us. 526 00:22:09,284 --> 00:22:10,938 When I was playing in high school, 527 00:22:10,981 --> 00:22:13,810 in my first couple years playing USA Baseball, 528 00:22:13,854 --> 00:22:15,203 I was playing 'cause I love to play. 529 00:22:16,030 --> 00:22:18,946 Now at 35, 530 00:22:18,989 --> 00:22:23,385 I see the impact that our success can have on the sport. 531 00:22:23,429 --> 00:22:25,169 Friend, how was your flight? 532 00:22:26,170 --> 00:22:28,259 I'm hangry. 533 00:22:28,303 --> 00:22:30,479 Every time we play in the World Cup, 534 00:22:30,523 --> 00:22:32,655 it's like, "Oh, women play baseball?" 535 00:22:32,699 --> 00:22:34,396 And then two years later, people forgot 536 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:35,702 that somebody already wrote that article. 537 00:22:37,094 --> 00:22:39,967 We almost reiterate that it's abnormal 538 00:22:40,010 --> 00:22:42,361 in some of the exposures that we do. 539 00:22:42,404 --> 00:22:43,840 It's nice when they're little. 540 00:22:43,884 --> 00:22:46,452 Everybody appreciates Mo'ne Davis. 541 00:22:46,495 --> 00:22:47,583 - Give it up, everyone. 542 00:22:47,627 --> 00:22:49,803 Mo'ne Davis from the Taney Dragons! 543 00:22:49,846 --> 00:22:51,457 Remember her name! 544 00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:55,330 It was a sensational story while she was doing it, 545 00:22:55,374 --> 00:22:57,985 and nobody recognized the fact that there are thousands 546 00:22:58,028 --> 00:23:00,030 of other girls playing Little League Baseball. 547 00:23:00,074 --> 00:23:01,423 There are... 548 00:23:01,467 --> 00:23:03,164 At the time, there were women 549 00:23:03,207 --> 00:23:05,775 playing in the Pan Am Games. 550 00:23:05,819 --> 00:23:09,518 And no announcer even mentioned it. 551 00:23:09,562 --> 00:23:11,259 There's more to this. It's not just, you know, 552 00:23:11,302 --> 00:23:13,000 us going and trying to win a gold medal. 553 00:23:13,043 --> 00:23:15,263 Let's, let's pave the way for these other girls. 554 00:23:15,306 --> 00:23:16,743 -Woo! - We had the YouTube 555 00:23:16,786 --> 00:23:18,092 streams this year, 556 00:23:18,135 --> 00:23:20,790 and media coverage has gotten better. 557 00:23:20,834 --> 00:23:24,141 The idea of a woman playing baseball 558 00:23:24,185 --> 00:23:27,449 to stop being an anomaly and to be normal. 559 00:23:27,493 --> 00:23:29,495 And that's what we're shooting for. 560 00:23:29,538 --> 00:23:31,018 Thank you. 561 00:23:31,061 --> 00:23:33,542 -Next stop, South Korea. -Woo! 562 00:23:39,505 --> 00:23:41,332 -We love USA! -We love USA! 563 00:23:41,376 --> 00:23:43,247 -We love USA! -We love USA! 564 00:23:43,291 --> 00:23:45,467 -We love USA! -We love USA! 565 00:23:45,511 --> 00:23:47,469 -We love USA! -We love USA! 566 00:23:47,513 --> 00:23:49,558 -We love USA! -We love USA! 567 00:23:49,602 --> 00:23:52,605 -We love USA! -We love USA! 568 00:23:52,648 --> 00:23:54,258 It's great to be here in South Korea. 569 00:23:54,302 --> 00:23:55,782 We're really looking forward to the tournament 570 00:23:55,825 --> 00:23:57,392 and feel very welcome. 571 00:23:57,436 --> 00:23:58,654 Thank you very much. 572 00:23:58,698 --> 00:23:59,786 - Bye! - It's like taking 573 00:23:59,829 --> 00:24:02,615 women's baseball out of the closet. 574 00:24:02,658 --> 00:24:05,444 You're catching a lot of media exposure, 575 00:24:05,487 --> 00:24:07,489 and people are asking, "Well, what is that?" 576 00:24:07,533 --> 00:24:08,925 The chapter of the United States. 577 00:24:08,969 --> 00:24:11,493 We'd like to thank everyone for their hospitality, 578 00:24:11,537 --> 00:24:13,364 and we very much look forward to competing 579 00:24:13,408 --> 00:24:15,976 with so many great ball clubs from all over the world, 580 00:24:16,019 --> 00:24:20,067 um, in such a great baseball country as South Korea. 581 00:24:20,110 --> 00:24:21,808 So we're very excited. 582 00:24:31,208 --> 00:24:32,949 These new teams coming in 583 00:24:32,993 --> 00:24:34,603 are definitely gonna bring a good energy 584 00:24:34,647 --> 00:24:36,213 and it's exciting to see it. 585 00:24:36,257 --> 00:24:38,694 We had like, Pakistan and India, like, 586 00:24:38,738 --> 00:24:41,044 teams that traditionally would not have been there, 587 00:24:41,088 --> 00:24:42,219 and that's amazing. 588 00:24:52,491 --> 00:24:55,537 Women baseball, you see a big potential 589 00:24:55,581 --> 00:24:57,017 for this sport in the world. 590 00:24:57,060 --> 00:25:00,237 The last editions of our World Cup was only eight teams. 591 00:25:00,281 --> 00:25:02,762 We increased that. Now we have 12 teams. 592 00:25:02,805 --> 00:25:04,981 It's the first time we ever had live coverage. 593 00:25:06,940 --> 00:25:09,116 They built here in Korea this new facility, 594 00:25:09,159 --> 00:25:11,118 mainly although for this event, 595 00:25:11,161 --> 00:25:12,772 and for the women's baseball. 596 00:25:46,501 --> 00:25:48,634 I got a group of women to start a team, 597 00:25:48,677 --> 00:25:50,853 then I did my best to develop an environment 598 00:25:50,897 --> 00:25:52,420 where they could begin to play baseball. 599 00:25:54,509 --> 00:25:56,337 We have a specific league in Australia 600 00:25:56,380 --> 00:25:57,773 for women's baseball. 601 00:25:57,817 --> 00:25:59,775 Well, we have 14 teams in Sydney. 602 00:25:59,819 --> 00:26:02,212 They all play in the competitions. 603 00:26:02,256 --> 00:26:04,475 The women's game is the dirty little secret 604 00:26:04,519 --> 00:26:06,216 that's swept under the rug. 605 00:26:06,260 --> 00:26:08,958 And it won't get on ESPN, 606 00:26:09,002 --> 00:26:13,223 but you put on chess and you put on poker, 607 00:26:13,267 --> 00:26:15,399 and you put on the spelling bee. 608 00:26:16,749 --> 00:26:18,228 Why wouldn't there be one highlight? 609 00:26:18,272 --> 00:26:19,360 Women's World Cup today. 610 00:26:19,403 --> 00:26:20,448 Blah, blah, blah. 611 00:26:20,491 --> 00:26:23,233 It's a beautiful event. Looks great. 612 00:26:23,277 --> 00:26:25,061 The top two teams from each group 613 00:26:25,105 --> 00:26:27,847 move on to compete for the gold medal in games 614 00:26:27,890 --> 00:26:30,676 broadcast on live TV in several countries. 615 00:26:30,719 --> 00:26:31,981 And for the first time, 616 00:26:32,025 --> 00:26:34,723 streamed on the Web around the globe. 617 00:26:34,767 --> 00:26:37,160 The remaining teams will play consolation games 618 00:26:37,204 --> 00:26:39,162 before returning home empty handed. 619 00:26:41,338 --> 00:26:43,297 Women play on the same field as the men. 620 00:26:43,340 --> 00:26:45,604 There are only a few differences. 621 00:26:45,647 --> 00:26:48,084 The women play with an aluminum bat, 622 00:26:48,128 --> 00:26:51,305 the outfield fence is moved in about 15 feet, 623 00:26:51,348 --> 00:26:53,437 and they play seven-inning games. 624 00:26:58,442 --> 00:26:59,661 And with that, a very warm welcome 625 00:26:59,705 --> 00:27:01,097 to Gijang, South Korea 626 00:27:01,141 --> 00:27:03,796 and the 2016 Women's Baseball World Cup. 627 00:27:03,839 --> 00:27:06,146 The U.S. has been shut out of the top spot 628 00:27:06,189 --> 00:27:07,800 over the last four editions of this tournament 629 00:27:07,843 --> 00:27:09,671 by a dominant Japan national team, 630 00:27:09,715 --> 00:27:11,630 and the Americans looking to atone for that. 631 00:27:11,673 --> 00:27:13,936 Stacy Piagno gets to start for the United States 632 00:27:13,980 --> 00:27:16,112 this afternoon, as the U.S. takes on Hong Kong. 633 00:27:19,463 --> 00:27:20,682 Piagno is a member of last year's 634 00:27:20,726 --> 00:27:21,901 United States National Team 635 00:27:21,944 --> 00:27:23,642 that won gold at the Pan American games. 636 00:27:23,685 --> 00:27:25,339 She made history in that tournament, 637 00:27:25,382 --> 00:27:26,557 tossed the first no-hitter 638 00:27:26,601 --> 00:27:28,603 in women's baseball at the Pan Am Games. 639 00:27:32,781 --> 00:27:35,044 Piagno to second, and on to first, 640 00:27:35,088 --> 00:27:37,133 there is a 1-6-3 double play 641 00:27:37,177 --> 00:27:39,222 that cuts down the inning for Hong Kong. 642 00:27:39,266 --> 00:27:40,920 The United States coming up. 643 00:27:43,357 --> 00:27:44,706 - There's a swing 644 00:27:44,750 --> 00:27:46,229 and a drive off the bat of Baltzell out to center. 645 00:27:46,273 --> 00:27:48,275 That'll get down, and it'll roll toward the wall. 646 00:27:48,318 --> 00:27:50,538 In to score from second base is Brittany Gomez. 647 00:27:50,581 --> 00:27:52,192 Right on her heels flying all the way 648 00:27:52,235 --> 00:27:54,020 around from first, Jade Gortarez. 649 00:27:54,063 --> 00:27:57,197 The first three U.S. hitters reached two or home 650 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:58,894 on Baltzell's two-run double, 651 00:27:58,938 --> 00:28:00,461 and the United States is on the board quickly 652 00:28:00,504 --> 00:28:01,549 in the bottom of the first. 653 00:28:09,775 --> 00:28:11,385 Malaika Underwood, one of the best pure athletes 654 00:28:11,428 --> 00:28:14,214 in this tournament, and probably anywhere else too. 655 00:28:14,257 --> 00:28:17,043 This is her sixth straight Women's Baseball World Cup, 656 00:28:17,086 --> 00:28:19,959 and her second hit of the day already. 657 00:28:22,918 --> 00:28:25,399 That brings up Tamara Holmes. 658 00:28:25,442 --> 00:28:28,097 Ho-Ying Au pitching from the first base side of the rubber. 659 00:28:28,141 --> 00:28:29,751 Hopefully, it's not just one. 660 00:28:29,795 --> 00:28:32,101 Lifts it down the left field line. 661 00:28:32,145 --> 00:28:35,061 Seven-inning games here for this tournament. 662 00:28:35,104 --> 00:28:37,585 U.S. raised out to an early lead in the first inning. 663 00:28:38,804 --> 00:28:39,892 Americans have not looked back 664 00:28:39,935 --> 00:28:41,676 as there is a foul tip into the glove 665 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,201 of evading backstop by the plate, A.J. Hamilton. 666 00:28:45,245 --> 00:28:46,725 And that'll do it as the United States 667 00:28:46,768 --> 00:28:48,770 wraps up a tournament opening victory. 668 00:28:48,814 --> 00:28:51,555 It's the U.S., nine, and Hong Kong, one. 669 00:28:51,599 --> 00:28:54,950 The American improve to 1-0, Hong Kong falls to 0-1. 670 00:28:54,994 --> 00:28:56,735 You all today picked them up, did a really good job. 671 00:28:58,780 --> 00:29:00,826 Malaika gets up, one of the best players on Earth, 672 00:29:00,869 --> 00:29:02,610 and changes that line drive. 673 00:29:02,653 --> 00:29:03,959 Holmsie, one of the best hitters 674 00:29:04,003 --> 00:29:05,656 in the history of women's baseball gets up, 675 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:07,746 and she's willing to show bunt, pull it back, 676 00:29:07,789 --> 00:29:09,356 and that ball gets into the backstop, we score a run. 677 00:29:09,399 --> 00:29:11,401 You see what I'm saying? That's that veteran leadership 678 00:29:11,445 --> 00:29:13,012 that I hope you guys are picking up on, 679 00:29:13,055 --> 00:29:14,622 and that's how you adjust to the game. 680 00:29:17,016 --> 00:29:20,062 There's a long history of women playing baseball. 681 00:29:20,106 --> 00:29:23,152 You can't imagine how comfortable that uniform was. 682 00:29:23,196 --> 00:29:25,981 The only problem was sliding. 683 00:29:26,025 --> 00:29:29,419 Would you believe I'm still digging out gravel 684 00:29:29,463 --> 00:29:31,552 -in my strawberries? 685 00:29:31,595 --> 00:29:34,033 That was the year of 1948. 686 00:29:34,076 --> 00:29:35,556 That's a couple years ago. 687 00:29:35,599 --> 00:29:39,473 We learned a great deal, we took the bad with the good, 688 00:29:39,516 --> 00:29:42,824 and we bit our lips when we wanted to cry. 689 00:29:42,868 --> 00:29:44,434 We were just a team, 690 00:29:44,478 --> 00:29:48,743 and I think it's the most wonderful thing in the world. 691 00:29:48,787 --> 00:29:50,266 You can go back to the '90s 692 00:29:50,310 --> 00:29:52,747 with Julie Croteaus, Ila Borders. 693 00:29:54,270 --> 00:29:57,012 Diamonds truly are a girl's best friend. 694 00:29:57,056 --> 00:29:58,492 Baseball diamonds. 695 00:29:58,535 --> 00:30:00,842 That's not a mistake on your scorecard, 696 00:30:00,886 --> 00:30:04,759 that's Southern California College freshman Ila Borders, 697 00:30:04,803 --> 00:30:07,544 becoming the first woman ever to pitch 698 00:30:07,588 --> 00:30:09,546 in a men's college baseball game. 699 00:30:09,590 --> 00:30:11,853 I got my entire education paid for, 700 00:30:11,897 --> 00:30:13,986 and then I was able to play four years 701 00:30:14,029 --> 00:30:17,380 of professional baseball and get paid for it. 702 00:30:17,424 --> 00:30:19,121 You can keep going back, and back, and back, 703 00:30:19,165 --> 00:30:21,297 and there are women in this game, 704 00:30:21,341 --> 00:30:25,562 and I think we need to start recognizing that fact too. 705 00:30:25,606 --> 00:30:27,129 - There are some basic 706 00:30:27,173 --> 00:30:29,349 unanswered questions about why 707 00:30:29,392 --> 00:30:31,786 male athletes define athleticism, 708 00:30:31,830 --> 00:30:34,876 and why female athletes 709 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:37,966 are given the message at some point or another 710 00:30:38,010 --> 00:30:40,577 that this is not natural beyond a certain point. 711 00:30:41,927 --> 00:30:43,276 I've been around baseball forever. 712 00:30:43,319 --> 00:30:44,799 It's been in my blood. 713 00:30:44,843 --> 00:30:46,018 I went to Franklin Pierce, I was an All-American there. 714 00:30:46,061 --> 00:30:47,367 I got drafted by the Cardinals. 715 00:30:47,410 --> 00:30:48,890 And, um, feels like every guy, 716 00:30:48,934 --> 00:30:50,892 or at least the baseball players I was with, was like, 717 00:30:50,936 --> 00:30:51,937 you know, when I have a son, 718 00:30:51,980 --> 00:30:53,634 they're gonna be a major leaguer. 719 00:30:53,677 --> 00:30:54,896 And I had my girls 720 00:30:54,940 --> 00:30:57,159 that you never trade-in for the world, 721 00:30:57,203 --> 00:30:58,987 but if my daughter wants to play baseball, 722 00:30:59,031 --> 00:31:00,771 she's going to play baseball. 723 00:31:03,426 --> 00:31:06,473 We don't really respect women's athleticism, 724 00:31:06,516 --> 00:31:12,566 and we certainly barely accept women's team sports. 725 00:31:12,609 --> 00:31:16,613 We teach girls that femininity is basically disempowerment 726 00:31:16,657 --> 00:31:18,920 or its empowerment in a devious way. 727 00:31:18,964 --> 00:31:21,792 It's sexual empowerment. 728 00:31:21,836 --> 00:31:24,404 Right, like in middle school, I was pitching back then 729 00:31:24,447 --> 00:31:27,755 and I thought I was like the best pitcher there was. 730 00:31:27,798 --> 00:31:28,974 Like, I played on a bunch of boys' teams 731 00:31:29,017 --> 00:31:30,236 and I was always the best one. 732 00:31:30,279 --> 00:31:31,890 They would always tease me like, 733 00:31:31,933 --> 00:31:34,240 "Oh, you play like a girl, la, da, da." 734 00:31:34,283 --> 00:31:36,677 Then I would hit bombs and strike 'em out, 735 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,592 and I'm like, "Okay, well, if that's what you think 736 00:31:38,635 --> 00:31:41,334 playing like a girl is like, then I play like a girl." 737 00:31:47,427 --> 00:31:49,429 Big time opening night matchup 738 00:31:49,472 --> 00:31:51,953 at our main facility here in Gijang Hyundai Dream Park, 739 00:31:51,997 --> 00:31:53,999 as four-time reigning champion Japan, 740 00:31:54,042 --> 00:31:55,957 the top-ranked team in the world, 741 00:31:56,001 --> 00:31:58,829 takes on fourth-ranked Canada. 742 00:31:58,873 --> 00:32:01,049 These games are on live television in Korea. 743 00:32:01,093 --> 00:32:02,964 They're packing the stands. I mean, at the main stadium 744 00:32:03,008 --> 00:32:04,444 you couldn't find a seat anywhere. 745 00:32:08,839 --> 00:32:10,972 Autumn Mills set to deal the first pitch of the night. 746 00:32:11,016 --> 00:32:12,321 She'll pour in a called strike 747 00:32:12,365 --> 00:32:14,410 to get things started on the mound for Canada. 748 00:32:14,454 --> 00:32:16,412 Facing Canada, which is like the greatest rivalry 749 00:32:16,456 --> 00:32:19,111 in like history of women's sports, especially in baseball. 750 00:32:19,154 --> 00:32:21,330 Last few years it's been USA-Japan, 751 00:32:21,374 --> 00:32:22,853 USA-Japan in the finals, 752 00:32:22,897 --> 00:32:26,118 so, um, you know, hopefully, that's starting to change. 753 00:32:27,641 --> 00:32:28,772 Swing and a line drive back up to center field. 754 00:32:28,816 --> 00:32:30,339 That's a base hit. 755 00:32:30,383 --> 00:32:33,995 Obviously, we wanna be in that final game, um, next week, 756 00:32:34,039 --> 00:32:37,346 and I, we feel like we have the players to do that, 757 00:32:37,390 --> 00:32:39,000 and the coaching staff to help us get there. 758 00:32:40,088 --> 00:32:42,308 They really, really wanna beat us, 759 00:32:42,351 --> 00:32:45,180 and that's a situation where it cuffs you. 760 00:32:46,703 --> 00:32:49,228 Beating Japan, that's certainly, uh, my goal 761 00:32:49,271 --> 00:32:50,533 and high on my list. 762 00:32:52,405 --> 00:32:55,451 I started coaching women's baseball in 2001 763 00:32:55,495 --> 00:32:57,149 before the start of the World Cup. 764 00:32:57,192 --> 00:33:00,587 Back then, there was no culture of women's baseball in Japan. 765 00:33:00,630 --> 00:33:02,023 I immediately fell in love 766 00:33:02,067 --> 00:33:03,938 with their passion and will to fight. 767 00:33:05,113 --> 00:33:07,246 It hit me like a bang. 768 00:33:08,551 --> 00:33:10,510 And for the past 15 years, 769 00:33:10,553 --> 00:33:13,165 we have made slow but steady progress. 770 00:33:13,208 --> 00:33:15,297 And finally, we have a solid foundation. 771 00:33:16,690 --> 00:33:18,300 And in the next ten years, 772 00:33:18,344 --> 00:33:20,172 our goal is to have girls baseball 773 00:33:20,215 --> 00:33:21,738 in every high school in Japan. 774 00:33:24,089 --> 00:33:26,439 On the mound for Japan, Ayami Sato. 775 00:33:26,482 --> 00:33:28,310 Likely the top arm in this competition 776 00:33:28,354 --> 00:33:30,747 and really in women's baseball anywhere. 777 00:33:30,791 --> 00:33:32,836 Professionally this year, a 9-3 record 778 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:36,579 and 2.17 ERA in 2016. 779 00:33:36,623 --> 00:33:39,321 She's the anchor of this Japan staff which is in search 780 00:33:39,365 --> 00:33:41,541 of its fifth straight Women's Baseball World Cup title. 781 00:33:47,764 --> 00:33:49,418 When I first started baseball, 782 00:33:49,462 --> 00:33:52,900 there were no opportunities for girls to play. 783 00:33:52,943 --> 00:33:56,164 As I kept playing, I thought about quitting many times, 784 00:33:56,208 --> 00:33:59,254 but the timing was so perfect for me at every turning point, 785 00:33:59,298 --> 00:34:00,995 and I was able to keep playing. 786 00:34:03,824 --> 00:34:06,392 Now I'm a professional baseball player. 787 00:34:06,435 --> 00:34:08,307 I'm happy that now there are opportunities 788 00:34:08,350 --> 00:34:09,917 for girls to play baseball. 789 00:34:13,268 --> 00:34:14,965 With the Japanese team, 790 00:34:15,009 --> 00:34:18,230 we always play a very close, a very tight-knit game, 791 00:34:18,273 --> 00:34:21,102 and it's just all about who makes that first mistake. 792 00:34:21,146 --> 00:34:22,799 In the last couple of World Cups, 793 00:34:22,843 --> 00:34:24,801 we didn't make a lot, but when we did, 794 00:34:24,845 --> 00:34:28,936 they scored the one or two runs that was needed to beat us. 795 00:34:28,979 --> 00:34:32,113 So I'd like to see us come out a bit more dominant 796 00:34:32,157 --> 00:34:33,854 with our bats and tight on defense, 797 00:34:33,897 --> 00:34:37,162 and really just not make those costly mistakes. 798 00:34:38,163 --> 00:34:39,381 Swing and a miss. 799 00:34:39,425 --> 00:34:40,948 Fastball well spotted over the outer half, 800 00:34:40,991 --> 00:34:44,778 with the 11th strikeout of the night from Ayami Sato. 801 00:34:44,821 --> 00:34:47,259 Our final from Gijang Hyundai Dream Park tonight, 802 00:34:47,302 --> 00:34:50,436 it's Japan, eight, and Canada, two. 803 00:34:58,313 --> 00:35:00,141 Many of Team USA's players 804 00:35:00,185 --> 00:35:02,404 are recruited out of Division 1 Softball. 805 00:35:02,448 --> 00:35:04,145 While nearly half of the team 806 00:35:04,189 --> 00:35:05,755 played high school baseball with boys, 807 00:35:05,799 --> 00:35:08,018 only a select few had the opportunity 808 00:35:08,062 --> 00:35:10,804 to play competitive baseball beyond 12th grade. 809 00:35:12,806 --> 00:35:14,721 During summers, I still plan on trying 810 00:35:14,764 --> 00:35:17,027 to play baseball and trying to get better at it. 811 00:35:17,071 --> 00:35:19,639 And I was thankful that Stompers were willing 812 00:35:19,682 --> 00:35:22,337 to give me that opportunity to prove myself. 813 00:35:22,381 --> 00:35:25,166 Kelsie was drafted by the Sonoma Stompers. 814 00:35:25,210 --> 00:35:26,820 With the support of their sponsor, 815 00:35:26,863 --> 00:35:28,648 she became the first woman to play 816 00:35:28,691 --> 00:35:32,826 men's professional baseball since Ila Borders in the 1990s. 817 00:35:32,869 --> 00:35:36,003 I admire the courage and the love of sport. 818 00:35:36,046 --> 00:35:38,875 I just would like it to not happen with one, 819 00:35:38,919 --> 00:35:41,095 it should be four or five 820 00:35:41,139 --> 00:35:43,402 so they have colleagues on the team. 821 00:35:43,445 --> 00:35:45,055 It's tough being the only one, 822 00:35:45,099 --> 00:35:47,319 and, yeah, I mean, I do feel pressured. 823 00:35:47,362 --> 00:35:49,277 I guess that's one of the reasons why sometimes 824 00:35:49,321 --> 00:35:51,584 I could be so serious and so hard on myself, 825 00:35:51,627 --> 00:35:55,414 'cause I don't want to hear people saying this and that. 826 00:35:57,372 --> 00:36:00,375 Being with... with an all-girls baseball team 827 00:36:00,419 --> 00:36:01,811 is, is a lot different. 828 00:36:01,855 --> 00:36:04,336 And just to come together, and just to play, 829 00:36:04,379 --> 00:36:06,555 and not feel pressured is a great feeling. 830 00:36:08,078 --> 00:36:10,516 With a victory today, one of these teams 831 00:36:10,559 --> 00:36:12,909 will be moving on to the Super Round, 832 00:36:12,953 --> 00:36:14,737 basically guaranteed if they trip there, 833 00:36:14,781 --> 00:36:16,043 The United States, 834 00:36:16,086 --> 00:36:17,827 the world's number two coming into the day off 835 00:36:17,871 --> 00:36:19,873 of that victory over Hong Kong yesterday, 836 00:36:19,916 --> 00:36:21,962 a big start for the U.S. 837 00:36:22,005 --> 00:36:23,485 Snyder awaits the two, two. 838 00:36:23,529 --> 00:36:25,226 Takes a rip, left side. 839 00:36:25,270 --> 00:36:27,010 A stop there for Yung-Hsin Cheng. 840 00:36:27,054 --> 00:36:29,491 Bomb thrown to first from the hole. 841 00:36:29,535 --> 00:36:31,232 Runner breaking for third, Tamara Holmes. 842 00:36:31,276 --> 00:36:33,843 Very appropriately eased up on the groundout, 843 00:36:33,887 --> 00:36:35,454 what a great job of base running. 844 00:36:35,497 --> 00:36:38,761 And she's been a mainstay on this U.S. roster 845 00:36:38,805 --> 00:36:40,937 for the last two decades. 846 00:36:40,981 --> 00:36:42,069 And in nine games for the women's team 847 00:36:42,112 --> 00:36:43,897 during 2015 competition, 848 00:36:43,940 --> 00:36:47,248 Tamara got a .345 with an .820 OPS. 849 00:36:47,292 --> 00:36:49,511 They're intrepid these girls, they're fearless, 850 00:36:49,555 --> 00:36:51,905 and that's the beauty of watching them. 851 00:36:51,948 --> 00:36:53,211 Born in Newton, Massachusetts 852 00:36:53,254 --> 00:36:54,951 in the United States, Marti Sementelli, 853 00:36:54,995 --> 00:36:57,563 one of the younger players on this roster, she's just 23. 854 00:36:57,606 --> 00:36:59,869 But Marti made headlines back home when she was offered 855 00:36:59,913 --> 00:37:01,567 a partial scholarship out of high school 856 00:37:01,610 --> 00:37:03,221 to play collegiate baseball. 857 00:37:03,264 --> 00:37:05,962 Former winner of the World Cup's Best Right-Handed Pitcher Award, 858 00:37:06,006 --> 00:37:08,095 that award came eight years ago 859 00:37:08,138 --> 00:37:12,578 at the 2008 Women's Baseball World Cup when she was just 15. 860 00:37:14,188 --> 00:37:15,581 That was the first, 861 00:37:15,624 --> 00:37:17,278 a first straight cap in these towns. 862 00:37:17,322 --> 00:37:19,976 What a good play by Michelle Snyder on the backside 863 00:37:20,020 --> 00:37:23,110 of the third base bag to round that baseball. 864 00:37:23,153 --> 00:37:26,418 I thought Marti was the only one. 865 00:37:26,461 --> 00:37:30,160 And in 2008, they say, come to Wisconsin. 866 00:37:30,204 --> 00:37:32,250 And there's gonna be this tryout, 867 00:37:32,293 --> 00:37:33,773 they're gonna play a bunch of games, 868 00:37:33,816 --> 00:37:38,125 and they're gonna have the World Cup in 2008 in Japan. 869 00:37:38,168 --> 00:37:40,606 We were shocked at the talent. 870 00:37:40,649 --> 00:37:46,176 And then she saw other Martis, she wasn't the only one. 871 00:37:46,220 --> 00:37:48,135 Megan from Stafford, Virginia. 872 00:37:48,178 --> 00:37:50,398 A Longwood University product. 873 00:37:50,442 --> 00:37:53,923 Former Lancer who walked onto the basketball team there 874 00:37:53,967 --> 00:37:55,664 while playing softball. 875 00:37:55,708 --> 00:37:59,320 Shows you the athleticism of all the women in this tournament. 876 00:37:59,364 --> 00:38:00,495 - Even just watching this 877 00:38:00,539 --> 00:38:02,149 as Megan gets into this one, crushes it, 878 00:38:02,192 --> 00:38:03,368 high and deep to right. 879 00:38:03,411 --> 00:38:05,718 Racing back is Shen, and that ball is gone! 880 00:38:07,502 --> 00:38:11,811 -Yeah, yeah, woo! 881 00:38:11,854 --> 00:38:16,337 ♪ You know how lucky they are Come on take it on ♪ 882 00:38:16,381 --> 00:38:17,382 Right in front of my country 883 00:38:17,425 --> 00:38:18,818 and hitting a home run, 884 00:38:18,861 --> 00:38:20,472 in front of all these fans, definitely number one. 885 00:38:20,515 --> 00:38:22,952 ♪ Then come lady, Come on, take it on ♪ 886 00:38:22,996 --> 00:38:26,913 ♪ You know I like it, baby Come on, take it on ♪ 887 00:38:26,956 --> 00:38:30,438 ♪ You know I like it, baby Come on, take it on ♪ 888 00:38:30,482 --> 00:38:34,268 ♪ You know I like it, baby Come on, take it on ♪ 889 00:38:34,312 --> 00:38:37,793 ♪ You know I like it, baby Come on, take it on ♪ 890 00:38:37,837 --> 00:38:39,665 ♪ Take it, take it Take it, take it ♪ 891 00:38:39,708 --> 00:38:41,623 ♪ Take it, take it Take it, take it ♪ 892 00:38:48,978 --> 00:38:50,676 Gortarez, it's a first pitch bouncing back 893 00:38:50,719 --> 00:38:51,851 to the mound, 894 00:38:51,894 --> 00:38:54,244 if that ball hit off of her foot, 895 00:38:54,288 --> 00:38:56,725 but the United States is gonna record the out at first 896 00:38:56,769 --> 00:38:58,640 and record the victory with it. 897 00:38:58,684 --> 00:38:59,815 That is a final. 898 00:38:59,859 --> 00:39:02,296 The 1-3 putout retires Ya-Zhu Wen, 899 00:39:02,340 --> 00:39:06,866 and the United States moves on in a tight one to 2-0, 900 00:39:06,909 --> 00:39:08,433 a perfect record to their start here 901 00:39:08,476 --> 00:39:11,479 at the 2016 WBSC Women's World Cup. 902 00:39:11,523 --> 00:39:13,220 The U.S., they'll collide with the Australians, 903 00:39:13,263 --> 00:39:14,352 coming at them tomorrow. 904 00:39:22,272 --> 00:39:23,752 We love you! 905 00:39:23,796 --> 00:39:25,232 We love you! 906 00:39:25,275 --> 00:39:26,364 We love you! 907 00:39:27,495 --> 00:39:29,279 Woo! 908 00:39:29,323 --> 00:39:31,891 We were at the Major League Korean game last night 909 00:39:31,934 --> 00:39:33,893 and our thing's being promoted on the screen. 910 00:39:33,936 --> 00:39:35,721 Like that's not gonna happen anywhere else. 911 00:39:35,764 --> 00:39:38,071 That's opportunity. 912 00:39:38,114 --> 00:39:40,595 We looked up at the TV and we're on the TV. 913 00:39:40,639 --> 00:39:42,554 It was weird, and we started screaming. 914 00:39:42,597 --> 00:39:43,903 Oh, shit! 915 00:39:45,121 --> 00:39:46,558 -Look at... -Oh! 916 00:39:48,211 --> 00:39:49,343 It's slow! 917 00:39:51,214 --> 00:39:52,520 Oh, yeah! 918 00:39:52,564 --> 00:39:54,914 Yo, it's like Times Square in Korea. 919 00:40:17,502 --> 00:40:20,026 We're Australia, traditionally, the Aussie battler. 920 00:40:20,069 --> 00:40:22,071 We're the underdog a lot of the time, 921 00:40:22,115 --> 00:40:24,726 our population's not as great as a lot of the other countries, 922 00:40:24,770 --> 00:40:26,554 and we have to fight and claw 923 00:40:26,598 --> 00:40:28,164 for every little victory we have. 924 00:40:28,208 --> 00:40:30,123 We understand that we've got tough opposition, 925 00:40:30,166 --> 00:40:31,559 but on any given day, 926 00:40:31,603 --> 00:40:34,170 baseball's a funny game, um, and anything can happen. 927 00:40:40,263 --> 00:40:42,396 A pivotal Group C matchup today. 928 00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:44,180 The final one of the opening round 929 00:40:44,224 --> 00:40:47,053 for the United States and Australia, 930 00:40:47,096 --> 00:40:49,925 as these two teams roll powers in women's baseball, 931 00:40:49,969 --> 00:40:52,145 collide on a huge stage. 932 00:40:52,188 --> 00:40:53,407 Here are the scenarios. 933 00:40:53,451 --> 00:40:55,583 Very simple for each of these teams, 934 00:40:55,627 --> 00:40:57,324 especially on the United States side. 935 00:40:57,367 --> 00:40:59,065 If the U.S. gets a victory today, 936 00:40:59,108 --> 00:41:01,981 the Americans are through to the Super Round. 937 00:41:02,024 --> 00:41:03,809 The Aussies need a win today 938 00:41:03,852 --> 00:41:07,682 and they need it by five runs or more. 939 00:41:07,726 --> 00:41:10,250 We have the most female players of any country 940 00:41:10,293 --> 00:41:12,426 at the moment, aside from Japan, obviously, 941 00:41:12,470 --> 00:41:14,428 but the challenge we have is there's not enough depth, 942 00:41:14,472 --> 00:41:16,299 because it's not our national pastime. 943 00:41:16,343 --> 00:41:17,823 America! 944 00:41:17,866 --> 00:41:19,868 Two out scenario, here from Malaika Underwood. 945 00:41:19,912 --> 00:41:21,914 And she lifts this one to center field. 946 00:41:21,957 --> 00:41:24,264 Starting in on it, now racing back is Chelsea Forkin. 947 00:41:24,307 --> 00:41:25,483 It's over her head. 948 00:41:25,526 --> 00:41:27,180 It's gonna be an RBI double at least, 949 00:41:27,223 --> 00:41:29,399 for Underwood, is around second base. 950 00:41:29,443 --> 00:41:32,707 She's gonna dig for third and then throw on target, 951 00:41:32,751 --> 00:41:34,013 but a little bit off line. 952 00:41:34,056 --> 00:41:35,362 - One nothing lead 953 00:41:35,405 --> 00:41:37,495 here in the top half of the first inning. 954 00:41:38,234 --> 00:41:39,453 There's 20 years, 955 00:41:39,497 --> 00:41:41,542 in his daughter's case, of development, 956 00:41:41,586 --> 00:41:42,630 -of sacrifice... -She's been playing 957 00:41:42,674 --> 00:41:43,762 since she was five. 958 00:41:43,805 --> 00:41:45,415 -Of practice. -We were hitting all-- 959 00:41:45,459 --> 00:41:48,114 All the, you don't belong here, all that, you know, other shit. 960 00:41:48,157 --> 00:41:49,419 You don't wanna get dirty. 961 00:41:49,463 --> 00:41:52,510 Yeah, so it's more than just this. 962 00:41:54,990 --> 00:41:56,209 Kelsie Whitmore, 963 00:41:56,252 --> 00:41:58,820 a name that has made a whole lot of headlines 964 00:41:58,864 --> 00:42:01,693 across the United States in recent months. 965 00:42:01,736 --> 00:42:04,260 Eighteen years old, a really dynamic talent. 966 00:42:04,304 --> 00:42:06,219 Actually just graduated high school this year 967 00:42:06,262 --> 00:42:07,568 in Temecula. 968 00:42:09,396 --> 00:42:11,050 2-1 pitch on the way to Lovering. 969 00:42:11,093 --> 00:42:12,834 That one's lifted in the air to right field. 970 00:42:12,878 --> 00:42:14,706 This is gonna get over the head of Megan Baltzell, 971 00:42:14,749 --> 00:42:16,403 that's gonna run half off the wall. 972 00:42:16,446 --> 00:42:19,058 In to score from third base, Chelsea Forkin, 973 00:42:19,101 --> 00:42:21,147 and motoring all the way around. 974 00:42:21,190 --> 00:42:23,758 Aussies trying to find a way into the lead 975 00:42:23,802 --> 00:42:26,239 in this pivotal matchup with the United States. 976 00:42:26,282 --> 00:42:28,763 Two-one on the way, McMillan to the left side of the infield, 977 00:42:28,807 --> 00:42:32,114 diving, and not as fast as shortstop Jade Gortarez, 978 00:42:32,158 --> 00:42:35,770 Michelle Snyder, and that's gonna enable two runs to score. 979 00:42:35,814 --> 00:42:37,946 And the Aussies have jumped into the lead 980 00:42:37,990 --> 00:42:39,165 ahead of the United States. 981 00:42:39,208 --> 00:42:40,470 It's 3-1, Australia. 982 00:42:44,605 --> 00:42:45,519 That's the only one that bounced back to the mound. 983 00:42:45,563 --> 00:42:46,955 Gortarez will go to third, 984 00:42:46,999 --> 00:42:49,262 she'll cut the lead runner down there, back to first! 985 00:42:49,305 --> 00:42:51,264 In time to get the out! 986 00:42:51,307 --> 00:42:57,052 A 1-5-3 double play, and a huge swinging momentum 987 00:42:57,096 --> 00:43:00,447 as the United States gets out of a jam unscathed. 988 00:43:00,490 --> 00:43:02,623 We're a good team and we know... 989 00:43:02,667 --> 00:43:04,538 we think we're a pretty good team. 990 00:43:04,582 --> 00:43:05,974 They're made to vows as well, 991 00:43:06,018 --> 00:43:07,672 and when we come against them, yeah, we wanna win. 992 00:43:07,715 --> 00:43:10,196 And the Americans with the double play possibility 993 00:43:10,239 --> 00:43:11,763 still very much alive. 994 00:43:11,806 --> 00:43:13,765 They got themselves out of a first and second one-out jam 995 00:43:13,808 --> 00:43:16,158 in the fourth inning with a double play ball 996 00:43:16,202 --> 00:43:19,379 back to the mound, 1-5-3. 997 00:43:19,422 --> 00:43:20,772 - Anglin, 998 00:43:20,815 --> 00:43:22,034 a liner back up the middle. 999 00:43:22,077 --> 00:43:23,296 That's in the center field for a base hit. 1000 00:43:23,339 --> 00:43:24,950 It gets out to Brittany Gomez in a hurry. 1001 00:43:24,993 --> 00:43:26,212 She kicks it. 1002 00:43:26,255 --> 00:43:28,083 Coming around third base is Kim McMillan. 1003 00:43:28,127 --> 00:43:30,869 The throw to the plate is not in time! 1004 00:43:32,435 --> 00:43:33,872 McMillan scores 1005 00:43:33,915 --> 00:43:36,265 and the Australians have their five run margin. 1006 00:43:36,309 --> 00:43:38,267 They lead at 6-1 here in the fifth. 1007 00:43:41,444 --> 00:43:42,881 You know, you can tell who's been working 1008 00:43:42,924 --> 00:43:45,666 on their women's baseball program and who hasn't. 1009 00:43:45,710 --> 00:43:48,669 I think women's baseball is a sport in Australia. 1010 00:43:48,713 --> 00:43:50,802 Women's baseball is not a sport in the States. 1011 00:43:50,845 --> 00:43:53,892 Our country doesn't even know women's baseball exists. 1012 00:43:53,935 --> 00:43:57,373 I get tired of saying, yes, I meant women's baseball. 1013 00:43:57,417 --> 00:43:58,679 Hello. 1014 00:43:58,723 --> 00:44:00,159 Oh, you mean softball? 1015 00:44:00,202 --> 00:44:02,901 "There's no way you coach baseball if it's women." 1016 00:44:02,944 --> 00:44:04,380 Kind of an interesting fact 1017 00:44:04,424 --> 00:44:07,557 that her connection with this Australian women's team. 1018 00:44:07,601 --> 00:44:08,950 There's a speeding wind up to the right field. 1019 00:44:08,994 --> 00:44:10,256 That one ducked down for a base hit. 1020 00:44:10,299 --> 00:44:11,910 It's gonna bring home at least one. 1021 00:44:11,953 --> 00:44:13,999 If no one scores, third base. 1022 00:44:14,042 --> 00:44:16,741 Running around third base and scoring is now Anglin, 1023 00:44:16,784 --> 00:44:19,178 and the Aussies have built the lead to seven runs now. 1024 00:44:19,221 --> 00:44:20,614 It's 8-1. 1025 00:44:20,658 --> 00:44:22,355 We were hoping we'd never see this day. 1026 00:44:22,398 --> 00:44:24,400 Rounding third base, coming to the plate is Doty. 1027 00:44:24,444 --> 00:44:26,489 No throw in time and the Aussies continue 1028 00:44:26,533 --> 00:44:28,535 to add to the lead, that's now an 8-1 lead. 1029 00:44:28,578 --> 00:44:30,711 The other countries... 1030 00:44:30,755 --> 00:44:35,368 will eventually surpass us if somebody doesn't step up. 1031 00:44:38,023 --> 00:44:39,459 Seeing time in professional sports. 1032 00:44:40,982 --> 00:44:42,854 Another tease, and she just pitched her team 1033 00:44:42,897 --> 00:44:44,246 to the final out of a victory 1034 00:44:44,290 --> 00:44:46,988 and a passive win over the United States 1035 00:44:47,032 --> 00:44:49,338 as a fly out from Jade Gortarez will end it, 1036 00:44:49,382 --> 00:44:52,472 and Australia wallops the USA. 1037 00:44:52,515 --> 00:44:54,909 Our final score in game number 14 1038 00:44:54,953 --> 00:44:57,782 of the 2016 Women's Baseball World Cup. 1039 00:44:57,825 --> 00:44:58,957 The Emeralds all over the Americans. 1040 00:44:59,000 --> 00:45:00,785 Today, we were swinging bats 1041 00:45:00,828 --> 00:45:02,612 and it didn't matter who came in to pitch. 1042 00:45:02,656 --> 00:45:05,398 I think our backs against the wall helped us a little bit. 1043 00:45:05,441 --> 00:45:08,401 Yeah, I should like to know. 1044 00:45:08,444 --> 00:45:10,403 Aren't we all, hey? 1045 00:45:10,446 --> 00:45:11,709 All right, let's get to work! 1046 00:45:20,630 --> 00:45:22,937 - Are you okay? -I guess. 1047 00:45:22,981 --> 00:45:25,766 Just after we lost to Australia, 1048 00:45:25,810 --> 00:45:27,376 Hong Kong had to beat Chinese Taipei 1049 00:45:27,420 --> 00:45:29,857 in order for us to advance. 1050 00:45:29,901 --> 00:45:31,641 And everyone's just crushed, 1051 00:45:31,685 --> 00:45:33,513 and we're trying not to cry. 1052 00:45:33,556 --> 00:45:36,168 We went and watched the game on TV as a team, 1053 00:45:36,211 --> 00:45:39,258 just to support Hong Kong at that point. 1054 00:45:39,301 --> 00:45:42,304 The American team, wherever they are right now, 1055 00:45:42,348 --> 00:45:45,481 anxiously awaiting the outcome of this game. 1056 00:45:45,525 --> 00:45:47,657 It was so absurd, it was so horrible. 1057 00:45:47,701 --> 00:45:49,529 And you had to listen to the announcer 1058 00:45:49,572 --> 00:45:52,358 just say every two minutes about how it unfolded, 1059 00:45:52,401 --> 00:45:53,576 and how we're out. 1060 00:46:01,933 --> 00:46:04,500 I didn't have, like, five minutes to myself 1061 00:46:04,544 --> 00:46:07,112 to really internalize and probably go break something, 1062 00:46:07,155 --> 00:46:10,463 so I'm sitting there, like, with this devastating blow 1063 00:46:10,506 --> 00:46:12,987 of "This is the end of my career." 1064 00:46:13,031 --> 00:46:14,206 All these things like, you know, 1065 00:46:14,249 --> 00:46:16,774 I had visioned watching this stupid game. 1066 00:46:19,907 --> 00:46:21,474 You know, you think about it, it's like this is something 1067 00:46:21,517 --> 00:46:23,737 that you train for for two years, 1068 00:46:23,781 --> 00:46:25,652 and then at the drop of a hat, 1069 00:46:25,695 --> 00:46:27,741 something happens and you're just out of it like that. 1070 00:46:27,785 --> 00:46:30,962 And this ballgame is over. 1071 00:46:31,005 --> 00:46:33,094 Moving on to the Super Round. 1072 00:46:33,138 --> 00:46:34,835 The United States has been eliminated. 1073 00:46:34,879 --> 00:46:37,664 Chinese Taipei, the top seed coming out of Group C, 1074 00:46:37,707 --> 00:46:40,754 will join Australia coming up starting on Wednesday 1075 00:46:40,798 --> 00:46:42,408 for Super Round action. 1076 00:46:46,978 --> 00:46:48,980 I was very emotional that night, 1077 00:46:49,023 --> 00:46:52,940 and, uh, everyone was just, you know, quiet. 1078 00:46:57,684 --> 00:46:59,686 I don't like losing, like, at all. 1079 00:46:59,729 --> 00:47:02,602 So when I come across that, it's definitely hard for me 1080 00:47:02,645 --> 00:47:04,778 to accept and to go through. 1081 00:47:04,822 --> 00:47:07,955 And it is, like, a real bummer, because we're a good team. 1082 00:47:11,045 --> 00:47:12,438 You know when you have to tell people what happened, 1083 00:47:12,481 --> 00:47:13,656 that's always hard. 1084 00:47:13,700 --> 00:47:15,397 Like, ooh, like, you know, you get a text. 1085 00:47:15,441 --> 00:47:17,008 "How are you guys doing, are you winning?" 1086 00:47:17,051 --> 00:47:20,663 And it's like, "Well, five days ago this is what happened", 1087 00:47:20,707 --> 00:47:22,187 and you have to keep re-bringing it up. 1088 00:47:29,455 --> 00:47:32,327 And seeing how desperate we were 1089 00:47:32,371 --> 00:47:33,676 for those YouTube streams, 1090 00:47:33,720 --> 00:47:35,722 and how desperate we were for those articles, 1091 00:47:35,765 --> 00:47:37,071 and we finally got it. 1092 00:47:37,115 --> 00:47:38,986 Like, this was the tournament where it seemed 1093 00:47:39,030 --> 00:47:40,988 like everything was right there, 1094 00:47:41,032 --> 00:47:42,598 and if we could make a run for the gold, 1095 00:47:42,642 --> 00:47:43,948 it would have been a great story, 1096 00:47:43,991 --> 00:47:45,775 and everybody would have picked it up. 1097 00:47:45,819 --> 00:47:49,257 And then now, here we are in the consolation pool. 1098 00:47:52,304 --> 00:47:55,263 And to feel like you've let down your country, 1099 00:47:55,307 --> 00:47:59,485 or your family, or whatever sacrifices you made back home, 1100 00:47:59,528 --> 00:48:01,226 that's a tough pill to swallow. 1101 00:48:04,185 --> 00:48:06,231 And there are things that put it in perspective too. 1102 00:48:06,274 --> 00:48:09,712 Like last night when we played Pakistan, 1103 00:48:09,756 --> 00:48:13,978 the, the challenges that those women 1104 00:48:14,021 --> 00:48:16,067 have gone through to play the game. 1105 00:48:16,110 --> 00:48:18,939 Yeah, yeah, I want you to go from, so down up. 1106 00:48:20,985 --> 00:48:24,031 In Pakistan, people don't like to see women sport too much. 1107 00:48:24,075 --> 00:48:25,554 That's why some of the girls 1108 00:48:25,598 --> 00:48:27,600 don't do practice regularly. 1109 00:48:27,643 --> 00:48:31,734 My family's not supporting me as really to, uh, play. 1110 00:48:31,778 --> 00:48:34,085 I don't go outside of my hometown, 1111 00:48:34,128 --> 00:48:36,783 even for shopping, for university, or anything. 1112 00:48:36,826 --> 00:48:41,744 You have to go with your father, or your mother, someone. 1113 00:48:41,788 --> 00:48:43,181 It gets really difficult 1114 00:48:43,224 --> 00:48:44,965 to take off from job, because every girl's 1115 00:48:45,009 --> 00:48:47,402 having financial problem in Pakistan. 1116 00:48:47,446 --> 00:48:48,926 When you go back to your country, 1117 00:48:48,969 --> 00:48:50,449 you don't have anything to do. 1118 00:48:50,492 --> 00:48:52,146 You could lose your job. 1119 00:48:54,888 --> 00:48:56,629 If you are saying that they are not 1120 00:48:56,672 --> 00:48:59,545 that capable to play baseball in the USA, 1121 00:48:59,588 --> 00:49:03,027 just imagine your national game and the other country 1122 00:49:03,070 --> 00:49:05,464 are playing for it, and they are winning from you, 1123 00:49:05,507 --> 00:49:06,726 you should work on it. 1124 00:49:12,645 --> 00:49:14,734 In a stunning final-inning comeback, 1125 00:49:14,777 --> 00:49:16,866 Venezuela scored the walk off run 1126 00:49:16,910 --> 00:49:20,000 against Chinese Taipei to take home the bronze. 1127 00:49:25,440 --> 00:49:27,442 And in the lopsided gold medal game, 1128 00:49:27,486 --> 00:49:29,009 Japan defeated Canada 1129 00:49:29,053 --> 00:49:32,099 to take home the gold for the fifth time in a row. 1130 00:49:36,799 --> 00:49:38,236 For the first time 1131 00:49:38,279 --> 00:49:40,803 in the history of the World Cup games, 1132 00:49:40,847 --> 00:49:45,112 Team USA watched the final games from the stands. 1133 00:49:45,156 --> 00:49:48,463 One loss, no medals, that's tough. 1134 00:49:48,507 --> 00:49:50,900 And we knew what the math formula was, 1135 00:49:50,944 --> 00:49:53,816 and we didn't work out in the end of that formula. 1136 00:49:55,079 --> 00:49:57,907 At times, it can be frustrating 1137 00:49:57,951 --> 00:50:00,040 when you look back and you feel like, 1138 00:50:00,084 --> 00:50:02,347 "This is as far as we've gone?" 1139 00:50:14,141 --> 00:50:15,447 What great experiences 1140 00:50:15,490 --> 00:50:17,188 playing against the USA before. 1141 00:50:17,231 --> 00:50:20,234 I'm so bummed that we couldn't play each other this time. 1142 00:50:20,278 --> 00:50:22,976 Yes, yes, yes! 1143 00:50:25,022 --> 00:50:28,851 With us not playing Canada, with us not playing Japan, 1144 00:50:28,895 --> 00:50:32,072 some of the most beautiful baseball you'll see 1145 00:50:32,116 --> 00:50:35,815 in the women's game is not gonna be exposed to the world. 1146 00:50:35,858 --> 00:50:39,340 -Thank you. 1147 00:50:39,384 --> 00:50:40,515 There's no crying in baseball. 1148 00:50:40,559 --> 00:50:41,777 I know, cheers. 1149 00:50:43,214 --> 00:50:44,389 It's been a pleasure playing against all of you. 1150 00:50:48,741 --> 00:50:50,525 You guys are great competitors, and... 1151 00:50:52,049 --> 00:50:54,094 I have nothing but the highest respect for all of you. 1152 00:51:01,275 --> 00:51:04,104 Yes, yes, yes! 1153 00:51:04,148 --> 00:51:08,326 Yes, yes, yes! 1154 00:51:08,369 --> 00:51:11,633 Woo! 1155 00:51:16,812 --> 00:51:19,728 So what's your future with baseball? 1156 00:51:19,772 --> 00:51:22,079 I don't know. 1157 00:51:22,122 --> 00:51:23,863 I really don't know. Um... 1158 00:51:40,532 --> 00:51:41,707 We've been together now, 1159 00:51:41,750 --> 00:51:43,143 it'll be three weeks about, right? 1160 00:51:43,187 --> 00:51:45,406 So, you know, when you have that lifestyle, 1161 00:51:45,450 --> 00:51:47,974 then you have to go back home, it's like... 1162 00:51:48,017 --> 00:51:52,065 well, back home to the regular, old grind. 1163 00:51:52,109 --> 00:51:54,459 I don't like leaving this team 1164 00:51:54,502 --> 00:51:56,156 when we get so close together. It's... 1165 00:51:56,200 --> 00:51:57,636 You get used to everyday life. 1166 00:51:57,679 --> 00:51:59,420 Just going on the bus, eating together, 1167 00:51:59,464 --> 00:52:01,118 playing games, going back, hanging out. 1168 00:52:01,161 --> 00:52:03,076 So you get in such of a system 1169 00:52:03,120 --> 00:52:06,253 that you dread the, like the, separation. 1170 00:52:06,297 --> 00:52:08,560 We just vibe, like, really well together 1171 00:52:08,603 --> 00:52:10,692 and get along so well, because we understand 1172 00:52:10,736 --> 00:52:12,477 what we went through when we were younger. 1173 00:52:12,520 --> 00:52:15,044 People would say, "Oh, I totally get what you're saying." 1174 00:52:15,088 --> 00:52:16,263 Like, "I know what you're feeling." 1175 00:52:16,307 --> 00:52:17,830 Like, "No, you don't." Like... 1176 00:52:17,873 --> 00:52:19,179 You're not a girl that plays baseball, 1177 00:52:19,223 --> 00:52:20,267 you don't know what I mean. 1178 00:52:22,095 --> 00:52:24,880 I could do a career 165 days a year, 1179 00:52:24,924 --> 00:52:27,840 and I guarantee you, everyone else would say the same thing. 1180 00:52:27,883 --> 00:52:30,234 If you could just do this, 1181 00:52:30,277 --> 00:52:31,887 it would be just like guys in the major leagues. 1182 00:52:31,931 --> 00:52:32,975 That's what they do. 1183 00:52:35,021 --> 00:52:36,544 Few opportunities exist 1184 00:52:36,588 --> 00:52:38,851 for these players beyond the national team. 1185 00:52:38,894 --> 00:52:41,332 And two years is a long time to wait 1186 00:52:41,375 --> 00:52:43,160 for the next World Cup games. 1187 00:52:45,553 --> 00:52:47,947 Following their bronze medal victory, 1188 00:52:47,990 --> 00:52:51,603 Venezuela mandated a new women's professional league. 1189 00:52:52,734 --> 00:52:55,346 In 2001, Japan opened baseball 1190 00:52:55,389 --> 00:52:56,608 to its girls and women, 1191 00:52:56,651 --> 00:53:00,438 leading to professional opportunities. 1192 00:53:00,481 --> 00:53:04,311 Australian baseball is as open to women as it is to men. 1193 00:53:04,355 --> 00:53:07,445 And the Canadians now have rules and policies in place 1194 00:53:07,488 --> 00:53:08,968 to allow equal access. 1195 00:53:12,319 --> 00:53:15,496 The break that our women are more or less forced to take 1196 00:53:15,540 --> 00:53:18,369 in their baseball development is... 1197 00:53:18,412 --> 00:53:20,109 a monumental hurdle. 1198 00:53:20,153 --> 00:53:23,461 The US Women's National Team returned home, 1199 00:53:23,504 --> 00:53:24,810 not knowing when their next 1200 00:53:24,853 --> 00:53:28,161 baseball opportunity would arrive. 1201 00:53:28,205 --> 00:53:30,076 They work hard to stay in the game, 1202 00:53:30,119 --> 00:53:32,992 training and practicing wherever they can. 1203 00:53:33,035 --> 00:53:35,037 Many return to their day jobs, 1204 00:53:35,081 --> 00:53:37,910 while others pursued education. 1205 00:53:37,953 --> 00:53:39,825 Kelsie accepted a full scholarship 1206 00:53:39,868 --> 00:53:42,567 to Cal State Fullerton for softball. 1207 00:53:43,568 --> 00:53:44,656 I still constantly think 1208 00:53:44,699 --> 00:53:46,092 of baseball every single day. 1209 00:53:46,135 --> 00:53:48,094 I'll go out of my way to get ready for the summer, 1210 00:53:48,137 --> 00:53:49,791 and, yeah, like, I am playing softball, 1211 00:53:49,835 --> 00:53:51,228 so it's hard to think, like, 1212 00:53:51,271 --> 00:53:52,838 "Is this still something I can do?" 1213 00:53:56,755 --> 00:53:59,714 Twenty-five years ago, I was told to quit baseball, 1214 00:53:59,758 --> 00:54:03,892 and yet in 2017, we're still seeing the same thing. 1215 00:54:03,936 --> 00:54:06,155 It happened to me in pro-ball my last year. 1216 00:54:06,199 --> 00:54:09,289 I had a phenomenal year, good strikeout to walk ratio, 1217 00:54:09,333 --> 00:54:10,943 and had some innings pitched. 1218 00:54:10,986 --> 00:54:12,640 Was talking to two teams and they're like, 1219 00:54:12,684 --> 00:54:14,729 "Hey, we're gonna invite you to spring training camp." 1220 00:54:14,773 --> 00:54:17,863 And then I never got that call, so I called them up. 1221 00:54:17,906 --> 00:54:20,039 And they're like, "We don't want the media. 1222 00:54:20,082 --> 00:54:21,780 We don't want all the hoopla that comes with it. 1223 00:54:21,823 --> 00:54:23,869 We don't want you to be a distraction 1224 00:54:23,912 --> 00:54:26,698 to Major League Baseball." 1225 00:54:26,741 --> 00:54:29,570 To me, girls playing baseball is a social justice issue. 1226 00:54:29,614 --> 00:54:31,746 If you tell a girl she can't play baseball, 1227 00:54:31,790 --> 00:54:33,531 what else will she think she can't do? 1228 00:54:33,574 --> 00:54:35,924 How can you tell a young girl 1229 00:54:35,968 --> 00:54:40,015 who falls in love with the sport at an early age 1230 00:54:40,059 --> 00:54:42,191 that she can't play it? 1231 00:54:42,235 --> 00:54:44,150 Boys are allowed that dream. 1232 00:54:44,193 --> 00:54:46,544 I actually have a funny statistic on my phone 1233 00:54:46,587 --> 00:54:48,546 that I read to my athletes all the time. 1234 00:54:48,589 --> 00:54:52,506 "There are currently 455,000 high school players. 1235 00:54:52,550 --> 00:54:55,422 There are 25,000 college players. 1236 00:54:55,466 --> 00:54:59,383 There are 3,510 D1 scholarships. 1237 00:54:59,426 --> 00:55:02,429 There are 750 major league players. 1238 00:55:02,473 --> 00:55:04,866 So all these boys can play, 1239 00:55:04,910 --> 00:55:06,215 because they're chasing down a dream 1240 00:55:06,259 --> 00:55:08,043 and it's less than one percent likelihood, 1241 00:55:08,087 --> 00:55:10,350 and our girls can't 'cause it's zero percent?" 1242 00:55:11,046 --> 00:55:12,309 It's comical. 1243 00:55:14,006 --> 00:55:15,181 In the early years, 1244 00:55:15,224 --> 00:55:17,879 women weren't the only ones excluded. 1245 00:55:17,923 --> 00:55:21,535 When Branch Rickey wanted to bring Jackie Robinson up, 1246 00:55:21,579 --> 00:55:24,756 there were men who said he doesn't have what it takes, 1247 00:55:24,799 --> 00:55:28,542 athletically, physiologically, because he's black. 1248 00:55:28,586 --> 00:55:30,588 Thinking about the girls, 1249 00:55:30,631 --> 00:55:32,851 and how they've been discriminated against, 1250 00:55:32,894 --> 00:55:35,027 I say this is an absolute parallel 1251 00:55:35,070 --> 00:55:36,985 between what happened to my father. 1252 00:55:45,385 --> 00:55:48,954 You're out of the game, Kelly. Get off the field. 1253 00:55:48,997 --> 00:55:51,565 Next time I get on base, watch out for spikes. 1254 00:55:51,609 --> 00:55:54,133 It was a strength of character. 1255 00:55:54,176 --> 00:55:57,832 That is what helped him to survive and sustain, 1256 00:55:57,876 --> 00:56:00,574 until it got to the point where of acceptance. 1257 00:56:00,618 --> 00:56:02,968 And Jackie Robinson is at the plate. 1258 00:56:03,011 --> 00:56:04,839 Come on, Jackie, boy! 1259 00:56:04,883 --> 00:56:08,103 He can't bunt now, he's got to hit straight away. 1260 00:56:10,802 --> 00:56:12,107 Okay, let's face it. 1261 00:56:12,151 --> 00:56:15,981 Women have always tried to secretly compete. 1262 00:56:16,024 --> 00:56:18,026 - Do you believe that? - Secretly? 1263 00:56:18,070 --> 00:56:19,550 That's right, secretly compete 1264 00:56:19,593 --> 00:56:20,420 - against men. - They're not doing 1265 00:56:20,464 --> 00:56:21,900 very well. Doing the secret. 1266 00:56:21,943 --> 00:56:23,771 But once in a while, I have to give it to you ladies. 1267 00:56:23,815 --> 00:56:24,903 You do get lucky. 1268 00:56:24,946 --> 00:56:26,078 America's favorite pastime 1269 00:56:26,121 --> 00:56:28,254 takes a swing at the record books, 1270 00:56:28,297 --> 00:56:31,170 signing not one, but two female players 1271 00:56:31,213 --> 00:56:32,911 for minor league ball. 1272 00:56:32,954 --> 00:56:36,436 It was 25-year-old Stacy Piagno on the mound, 1273 00:56:36,480 --> 00:56:39,744 and 17-year-old Kelsie Whitmore in left field. 1274 00:56:39,787 --> 00:56:41,572 Getting a chance to continue to play, 1275 00:56:41,615 --> 00:56:43,965 um, as a woman, means a lot to me. 1276 00:56:44,009 --> 00:56:45,445 Just like any other ball player, 1277 00:56:45,489 --> 00:56:47,969 they drew the attention of young autograph hounds 1278 00:56:48,013 --> 00:56:49,971 and fans in the stands. 1279 00:56:50,015 --> 00:56:52,321 First I heard about it, they said there was one, 1280 00:56:52,365 --> 00:56:54,106 and then they said there was two. 1281 00:56:54,149 --> 00:56:55,324 And I was like, "That's so cool." 1282 00:56:55,368 --> 00:56:57,588 What makes this even more shocking, 1283 00:56:57,631 --> 00:56:59,677 they weren't even lesbians, that's crazy. 1284 00:56:59,720 --> 00:57:00,895 Wow. 1285 00:57:00,939 --> 00:57:02,723 There is an unbelievable amount of pressure 1286 00:57:02,767 --> 00:57:04,159 for them to succeed, not just for them, 1287 00:57:04,203 --> 00:57:05,857 but for their entire gender. 1288 00:57:05,900 --> 00:57:07,162 So, I remember my first day here 1289 00:57:07,206 --> 00:57:08,555 and Stacy was throwing. 1290 00:57:08,599 --> 00:57:10,122 So I kinda just watched her and she would say, 1291 00:57:10,165 --> 00:57:11,863 "Hey, was that downhill plane?" 1292 00:57:11,906 --> 00:57:12,994 And, "How was the velocity on that?" 1293 00:57:13,038 --> 00:57:14,126 And I was like, "No way." 1294 00:57:14,169 --> 00:57:16,345 She was talking like a pitcher. 1295 00:57:16,389 --> 00:57:17,825 And they're the first ones out there every day 1296 00:57:17,869 --> 00:57:19,348 and getting their work done. 1297 00:57:19,392 --> 00:57:22,482 Man, I wish my boys the same way. 1298 00:57:22,526 --> 00:57:25,137 Then we automatically, we gonna have the best team anyway. 1299 00:57:25,180 --> 00:57:27,879 I really feel like this team is such a great family 1300 00:57:27,922 --> 00:57:30,098 and I feel so welcomed by everyone. 1301 00:57:30,142 --> 00:57:31,752 Like these guys are my brothers out here, 1302 00:57:31,796 --> 00:57:33,406 close to my sister. 1303 00:57:34,581 --> 00:57:36,061 Just stay strong, ladies, 1304 00:57:36,104 --> 00:57:39,238 and rest assured that men all over the world 1305 00:57:39,281 --> 00:57:41,370 will be behind you every time you bend over 1306 00:57:41,414 --> 00:57:42,807 to pick up that weight, okay? 1307 00:57:42,850 --> 00:57:44,286 Now there's gonna be doubters. 1308 00:57:44,330 --> 00:57:45,636 There's always gonna be people who doubt them, 1309 00:57:45,679 --> 00:57:47,507 but they, and they know that. 1310 00:57:47,551 --> 00:57:48,813 They're just gonna prove them wrong. 1311 00:57:48,856 --> 00:57:50,379 They're gonna go out there and they will work 1312 00:57:50,423 --> 00:57:53,252 ten times harder than the naysayers and all that stuff. 1313 00:57:53,295 --> 00:57:55,036 She would not have gotten that opportunity 1314 00:57:55,080 --> 00:57:57,778 without this sort of crazy experiment coming 1315 00:57:57,822 --> 00:58:00,346 from Francis Ford Coppola and his people at Virginia Dare. 1316 00:58:00,389 --> 00:58:01,608 If they can play the game 1317 00:58:01,652 --> 00:58:04,655 and if some smart talent scout spots them, 1318 00:58:04,698 --> 00:58:06,961 I don't believe there is any barrier. 1319 00:58:07,005 --> 00:58:08,267 Once and for all, 1320 00:58:08,310 --> 00:58:11,618 defines that a professional baseball, 1321 00:58:11,662 --> 00:58:13,185 there is no prohibition. 1322 00:58:16,231 --> 00:58:17,929 I do feel a responsibility 1323 00:58:17,972 --> 00:58:20,758 to, you know, stand up for women's baseball. 1324 00:58:20,801 --> 00:58:22,977 There is a girl who came out just last night. 1325 00:58:23,021 --> 00:58:24,283 She was going into high school, 1326 00:58:24,326 --> 00:58:25,632 having trouble with her coach. 1327 00:58:25,676 --> 00:58:28,243 And we gave her a lot of talk. 1328 00:58:28,287 --> 00:58:30,115 And, um, she was just so thankful. 1329 00:58:30,158 --> 00:58:31,986 And she's going to a new high school 1330 00:58:32,030 --> 00:58:33,379 and it's looking pretty good for her. 1331 00:58:33,422 --> 00:58:35,250 Like, she's hopefully will be able 1332 00:58:35,294 --> 00:58:36,687 to play on our team down there. 1333 00:58:40,995 --> 00:58:44,738 I don't know if the issue really has to be, 1334 00:58:44,782 --> 00:58:48,437 "Do women have to play with men at the elite levels?" 1335 00:58:48,481 --> 00:58:50,222 Yeah, would it be great, and, yeah, 1336 00:58:50,265 --> 00:58:52,441 do I think that there are talented women 1337 00:58:52,485 --> 00:58:54,661 that will eventually have the opportunity to do that? 1338 00:58:54,705 --> 00:58:57,359 Absolutely, but we're not there yet, 1339 00:58:57,403 --> 00:58:58,926 and we shouldn't focus on that. 1340 00:59:00,319 --> 00:59:02,103 If we keep celebrating the one girl 1341 00:59:02,147 --> 00:59:05,585 that plays with the boys, we're never gonna get anywhere. 1342 00:59:05,629 --> 00:59:07,892 We're just gonna keep celebrating superstars. 1343 00:59:09,633 --> 00:59:11,852 When I was a girl, what would have I liked? 1344 00:59:11,896 --> 00:59:13,288 I'd like to play with other girls. 1345 00:59:18,337 --> 00:59:20,252 I made it work. I hit a few people. 1346 00:59:20,295 --> 00:59:21,862 What's the definition of work? 1347 00:59:21,906 --> 00:59:23,385 Struck out one. 1348 00:59:23,429 --> 00:59:25,344 Six months after the World Cup loss, 1349 00:59:25,387 --> 00:59:28,390 players from Team USA came to coach young girls 1350 00:59:28,434 --> 00:59:31,698 from across the country, and be a part of an opportunity 1351 00:59:31,742 --> 00:59:34,701 they could only have dreamed of for themselves. 1352 00:59:34,745 --> 00:59:36,964 Malaika was telling one of the little girls on our team, 1353 00:59:37,008 --> 00:59:40,620 super talkative, "Hey, so your coach, Tamara Holmes, 1354 00:59:40,664 --> 00:59:43,971 she loves it when you go up and you talk to her." 1355 00:59:44,015 --> 00:59:45,494 She said, "She doesn't like to be left alone." 1356 00:59:45,538 --> 00:59:47,061 See, I'm standing with her. 1357 00:59:47,105 --> 00:59:48,193 Oh, good, yes! 1358 00:59:48,236 --> 00:59:50,021 They're all great. 1359 00:59:50,064 --> 00:59:51,152 Why don't you play softball? 1360 00:59:51,196 --> 00:59:52,763 You'd be good at softball. 1361 00:59:52,806 --> 00:59:54,329 Bleh! 1362 00:59:54,373 --> 00:59:56,636 It's so much harder than baseball. 1363 00:59:56,680 --> 00:59:59,726 I wanna congratulate the players participating 1364 00:59:59,770 --> 01:00:02,468 in our inaugural Trailblazer Series 1365 01:00:02,511 --> 01:00:04,644 hosted by Major League Baseball. 1366 01:00:04,688 --> 01:00:07,255 We know this tournament will forge a path 1367 01:00:07,299 --> 01:00:10,476 for the next generation of women who play our great game. 1368 01:00:11,695 --> 01:00:13,000 We decided, "Hey, let's do something 1369 01:00:13,044 --> 01:00:14,611 around Jackie Robinson." 1370 01:00:14,654 --> 01:00:17,439 He's a trailblazer and he paved the way for a lot of people. 1371 01:00:17,483 --> 01:00:18,876 Let's put together a tournament that... 1372 01:00:18,919 --> 01:00:20,660 that highlights his pathway. 1373 01:00:26,231 --> 01:00:27,667 14S slacks, yes? 1374 01:00:27,711 --> 01:00:29,103 That could be. 1375 01:00:29,147 --> 01:00:30,670 I think it has to start at the youth level. 1376 01:00:30,714 --> 01:00:33,673 We've gotta find ways to deepen our pool. 1377 01:00:33,717 --> 01:00:35,675 We gotta continue, you know, getting the word out that, 1378 01:00:35,719 --> 01:00:36,937 yes, women do play. 1379 01:00:36,981 --> 01:00:38,069 -Fine. -Is there something 1380 01:00:38,112 --> 01:00:39,723 I should know about you? Are you... 1381 01:00:39,766 --> 01:00:41,289 I ask a lot of questions. 1382 01:00:41,333 --> 01:00:42,769 Oh, good, I have a lot of answers. 1383 01:00:42,813 --> 01:00:44,553 Really, it's the first step, 1384 01:00:44,597 --> 01:00:47,295 first time series for young girls in baseball. 1385 01:00:47,339 --> 01:00:48,819 Then, of course, you know, we're excited, 1386 01:00:48,862 --> 01:00:50,690 and excited to see where it goes. 1387 01:00:50,734 --> 01:00:52,736 They all said this was the first time they've done it, 1388 01:00:52,779 --> 01:00:54,651 ever played with other girls. 1389 01:00:54,694 --> 01:00:57,001 I think it's really cool that the MLB 1390 01:00:57,044 --> 01:01:00,526 has finally decided to chip in on girls baseball, 1391 01:01:00,569 --> 01:01:04,138 because they've been out of it for so long. 1392 01:01:04,182 --> 01:01:06,706 All right, so we're gonna start by warming up, 1393 01:01:06,750 --> 01:01:09,056 and we're gonna throw a really short bullpen 1394 01:01:09,100 --> 01:01:10,710 just to see what you got, 1395 01:01:10,754 --> 01:01:13,017 and then we'll do an infield, outfield. All right? 1396 01:01:17,325 --> 01:01:21,416 Two, four, four, six, you guys are hitting. 1397 01:01:21,460 --> 01:01:23,331 The rest of us, we're just gonna shag. 1398 01:01:23,375 --> 01:01:24,593 You don't have to say in the infield, 1399 01:01:24,637 --> 01:01:26,857 you can just kinda hang back in the outfield, 1400 01:01:26,900 --> 01:01:28,728 'cause balls are gonna be going all over the place. 1401 01:01:28,772 --> 01:01:30,730 I want you to completely get those hips across 1402 01:01:30,774 --> 01:01:32,558 and use all the power in your legs, okay? 1403 01:01:32,601 --> 01:01:33,733 Use that ball better. 1404 01:01:33,777 --> 01:01:34,995 -Better. 1405 01:01:35,039 --> 01:01:36,431 That means you, kitty-kat. 1406 01:01:36,475 --> 01:01:37,998 When can I go to the field? 1407 01:01:38,042 --> 01:01:39,217 Not yet, hang tight. 1408 01:01:39,260 --> 01:01:40,697 We're gonna switch all together, okay? 1409 01:01:40,740 --> 01:01:41,959 I'm pretty sure... 1410 01:01:42,002 --> 01:01:43,090 The girls are so great, they all work hard. 1411 01:01:43,134 --> 01:01:44,222 They wanna be here. 1412 01:01:44,265 --> 01:01:45,789 They love the game. 1413 01:01:45,832 --> 01:01:47,442 They all remind me of little versions of myself. 1414 01:01:47,486 --> 01:01:49,749 Little versions of Lincoln. Holmes too. 1415 01:01:51,403 --> 01:01:53,013 Somebody catch me, catch two. 1416 01:01:55,320 --> 01:01:56,495 That's good. 1417 01:01:56,538 --> 01:01:58,192 The challenge is how do you put this girl 1418 01:01:58,236 --> 01:02:02,283 in front of all kids to make them connect to it? 1419 01:02:02,327 --> 01:02:04,590 Well, you can see these girls can play ball. 1420 01:02:04,633 --> 01:02:08,028 And all they... and all we want, Billy, is a league of our own. 1421 01:02:08,072 --> 01:02:09,682 Yep. 1422 01:02:09,726 --> 01:02:12,598 Before I get six foot under, I want this thing going, 1423 01:02:12,641 --> 01:02:14,121 and I don't have many more years, 1424 01:02:14,165 --> 01:02:16,645 so we had better get started. 1425 01:02:19,692 --> 01:02:22,782 Every girl here has dreamt of playing in the majors. 1426 01:02:22,826 --> 01:02:25,785 Every girl, so to have Rob Manfred say 1427 01:02:25,829 --> 01:02:27,918 that, you know, "We believe in you now, we've heard you." 1428 01:02:29,354 --> 01:02:30,355 It matters. 1429 01:02:33,053 --> 01:02:35,099 One of, if not the most important aspect 1430 01:02:35,142 --> 01:02:36,970 of this tournament are the women 1431 01:02:37,014 --> 01:02:38,929 who have been carrying the torch for girls 1432 01:02:38,972 --> 01:02:40,800 and women playing baseball long 1433 01:02:40,844 --> 01:02:43,063 before this tournament was even created. 1434 01:02:43,107 --> 01:02:45,544 And we're proud that we have so many of them here 1435 01:02:45,587 --> 01:02:46,937 serving as our coaches, 1436 01:02:46,980 --> 01:02:48,808 and I'd like to introduce them now. 1437 01:02:48,852 --> 01:02:50,114 Marti Sementelli. 1438 01:02:52,943 --> 01:02:54,771 Justine Siegal. 1439 01:02:57,730 --> 01:02:59,471 Malaika Underwood. 1440 01:02:59,514 --> 01:03:02,169 At some point, it's not just about you 1441 01:03:02,213 --> 01:03:03,649 and what you want, 1442 01:03:03,692 --> 01:03:05,782 and if you have the knowledge and you have the ability 1443 01:03:05,825 --> 01:03:08,567 to reach out to the kids, which I hope I do, 1444 01:03:08,610 --> 01:03:11,657 'cause I never thought I would consider myself 1445 01:03:11,700 --> 01:03:14,965 a coach or in this position, but now that I'm here, uh, 1446 01:03:15,008 --> 01:03:16,618 it, it's a good feeling. 1447 01:03:16,662 --> 01:03:19,621 And our final but certainly not least coach, 1448 01:03:19,665 --> 01:03:21,319 Tamara Holmes. 1449 01:03:30,023 --> 01:03:31,198 All right, we can get on the bus, 1450 01:03:31,242 --> 01:03:33,026 we'll figure it out if I find her. 1451 01:03:36,029 --> 01:03:39,903 I'm the worst coach in charge of herding kids. 1452 01:03:41,513 --> 01:03:43,341 ♪ Down by the banks Of the Hanky Panky ♪ 1453 01:03:43,384 --> 01:03:45,517 ♪ Where the bullfrogs jump From bank to banky ♪ 1454 01:03:45,560 --> 01:03:47,736 ♪ With a ees uuf, soda puff 1455 01:03:47,780 --> 01:03:49,826 ♪ Hey, Mr. Alligator Ate your puffs ♪ 1456 01:03:49,869 --> 01:03:51,958 -Dang it. 1457 01:03:52,002 --> 01:03:53,177 After you're with me, 1458 01:03:53,220 --> 01:03:55,048 we're gonna start walking out here, okay? 1459 01:03:55,092 --> 01:03:56,963 And I have your tickets right here. 1460 01:03:57,007 --> 01:03:59,792 Girls, the third inning, top of the third, 1461 01:03:59,836 --> 01:04:02,186 that's when we're going to go buy our meals. 1462 01:04:06,712 --> 01:04:08,627 David, just taking a photo. 1463 01:04:10,934 --> 01:04:13,197 This just should not be a special event. 1464 01:04:13,240 --> 01:04:15,199 It should be here all across the country 1465 01:04:15,242 --> 01:04:17,897 on diamonds in local communities everywhere. 1466 01:04:17,941 --> 01:04:21,901 This is the first event that we've done for the girls, 1467 01:04:21,945 --> 01:04:24,599 but what is beyond that, you know, who knows. 1468 01:04:24,643 --> 01:04:26,471 It could be league, it could be a woman coach, 1469 01:04:26,514 --> 01:04:28,429 it could be a lot of different things. 1470 01:04:28,473 --> 01:04:30,823 - Who's the first? - I am! 1471 01:04:30,867 --> 01:04:32,781 - Who's the best? - I am! 1472 01:04:32,825 --> 01:04:36,611 -Who are you? - Trailblazers! 1473 01:04:38,352 --> 01:04:40,224 The Trailblazer Series ended 1474 01:04:40,267 --> 01:04:43,531 with the girls being honored on the field at Dodger Stadium 1475 01:04:43,575 --> 01:04:47,013 as part of the Jackie Robinson Day celebration. 1476 01:04:47,057 --> 01:04:49,537 My hopes and dreams is that this would continue, 1477 01:04:49,581 --> 01:04:51,539 this would be a start, 1478 01:04:51,583 --> 01:04:54,064 and that the girls 1479 01:04:54,107 --> 01:04:58,546 that develop and really become real talents 1480 01:04:58,590 --> 01:04:59,939 will get an opportunity. 1481 01:04:59,983 --> 01:05:01,201 ♪ Can you see 1482 01:05:01,245 --> 01:05:06,641 ♪ By the dawn's early light 1483 01:05:06,685 --> 01:05:12,560 ♪ What so proudly we hailed 1484 01:05:12,604 --> 01:05:14,519 ♪ Free 1485 01:05:14,562 --> 01:05:17,739 ♪ And the home 1486 01:05:17,783 --> 01:05:23,136 ♪ Of the brave 1487 01:05:29,577 --> 01:05:31,014 For a while, there were a lot of games 1488 01:05:31,057 --> 01:05:32,319 where we weren't getting in. 1489 01:05:32,363 --> 01:05:34,234 So, you know, it kinda takes a toll on you. 1490 01:05:34,278 --> 01:05:36,715 It starts to make you feel like, "Am I ever gonna get in? 1491 01:05:36,758 --> 01:05:38,195 Am I ever gonna get my chance?" 1492 01:05:38,238 --> 01:05:39,892 We're out here, we're working hard every day, 1493 01:05:39,936 --> 01:05:41,938 physically and mentally, like I said, 1494 01:05:41,981 --> 01:05:43,113 and it's like we wanna get out there 1495 01:05:43,156 --> 01:05:44,984 and prove what we've been working for. 1496 01:05:47,900 --> 01:05:49,206 I mean, we're skeptical. 1497 01:05:49,249 --> 01:05:51,077 We were wondering whether they were just there 1498 01:05:51,121 --> 01:05:52,470 to fill roster spots, 1499 01:05:52,513 --> 01:05:55,255 or just there to, you know, for the experience. 1500 01:05:55,299 --> 01:05:56,561 We didn't know if they would play 1501 01:05:56,604 --> 01:05:58,780 or if they would get any time on the field. 1502 01:05:59,607 --> 01:06:01,740 I have over 20 years 1503 01:06:01,783 --> 01:06:03,568 of professional baseball experience. 1504 01:06:03,611 --> 01:06:06,571 Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006, 1505 01:06:06,614 --> 01:06:08,834 so it's an interesting thing, you know? 1506 01:06:08,877 --> 01:06:11,750 A girl is gonna play professional baseball. 1507 01:06:11,793 --> 01:06:14,448 It's something you wouldn't normally, uh, see. 1508 01:06:14,492 --> 01:06:16,798 And, you know, they'll joke about it here and there. 1509 01:06:16,842 --> 01:06:19,540 One of our guys last year, he hit one home run last year. 1510 01:06:19,584 --> 01:06:21,325 He hit it off of Kelsie. 1511 01:06:21,368 --> 01:06:23,066 It was his first professional homer, 1512 01:06:23,109 --> 01:06:24,545 and it was his only professional homer, 1513 01:06:24,589 --> 01:06:26,721 and we said, "Hey, maybe this year 1514 01:06:26,765 --> 01:06:28,462 you can hit a homer off a guy." 1515 01:06:32,945 --> 01:06:36,209 She was on the mound, it was the first inning, 1516 01:06:36,253 --> 01:06:38,777 -and she came up like this. 1517 01:06:38,820 --> 01:06:40,953 Add there must have been 500 to 600 people there, 1518 01:06:40,997 --> 01:06:42,737 which for us, is a huge crowd. 1519 01:06:42,781 --> 01:06:47,003 And hushed, I said, "I've never in my whole life, 1520 01:06:47,046 --> 01:06:48,787 ever been to a baseball game 1521 01:06:48,830 --> 01:06:51,529 where there wasn't a single sound." 1522 01:06:53,183 --> 01:06:56,055 I felt very comfortable, I felt in my zone, 1523 01:06:56,099 --> 01:06:59,276 and, you know, from then on out they were very quick innings, 1524 01:06:59,319 --> 01:07:01,887 and I felt like I just couldn't be stopped, 1525 01:07:01,930 --> 01:07:05,412 and they just weren't getting a hold of any of my pitches. 1526 01:07:05,456 --> 01:07:08,633 Last week, the young recruit, she belongs. 1527 01:07:11,201 --> 01:07:12,941 She tossed seven innings, gave up a run, 1528 01:07:12,985 --> 01:07:15,553 struck out four, and won the game. 1529 01:07:15,596 --> 01:07:17,294 Just the third female pitcher 1530 01:07:17,337 --> 01:07:18,425 - to claim a victory... 1531 01:07:18,469 --> 01:07:21,602 in a men's league since the 1950s. 1532 01:07:21,646 --> 01:07:24,257 That night she won, to me, she looked like 1533 01:07:24,301 --> 01:07:27,695 an ex-big league pitcher that threw, 1534 01:07:27,739 --> 01:07:29,219 you know, 78 miles an hour. 1535 01:07:29,262 --> 01:07:30,655 Last year, both me and Kelsie, 1536 01:07:30,698 --> 01:07:32,135 we were both being recognized 1537 01:07:32,178 --> 01:07:35,094 for just being girls and being here. You know? 1538 01:07:35,138 --> 01:07:37,096 But this year, what was so special to me 1539 01:07:37,140 --> 01:07:38,967 is that I actually got recognized for playing, 1540 01:07:39,011 --> 01:07:40,621 and for something that I've physically done. 1541 01:07:40,665 --> 01:07:42,275 I've grown up playing ball with Stacy, 1542 01:07:42,319 --> 01:07:45,496 so I was definitely, um, honored to be part of that game, 1543 01:07:45,539 --> 01:07:46,975 and I was super proud of her. 1544 01:07:47,019 --> 01:07:48,412 I knew she was gonna take care of business that day. 1545 01:07:48,455 --> 01:07:50,414 And she didn't only pitch well, she dominated. 1546 01:07:50,457 --> 01:07:51,893 At least I can say I played with a girl before. 1547 01:07:51,937 --> 01:07:53,373 Not a lot of guys can say that. 1548 01:07:53,417 --> 01:07:54,548 That's probably one of the coolest things 1549 01:07:54,592 --> 01:07:55,854 I've ever been a part of. 1550 01:07:55,897 --> 01:07:57,116 It was a tough loss to take, 1551 01:07:57,160 --> 01:07:58,378 but she deserved the win 1552 01:07:58,422 --> 01:08:01,164 and it was neat to, uh, to be here to see her. 1553 01:08:05,559 --> 01:08:07,257 Those of us who love baseball 1554 01:08:07,300 --> 01:08:08,997 know there's no other game like baseball. 1555 01:08:10,956 --> 01:08:13,654 As soon as I hear the sound of a ball 1556 01:08:13,698 --> 01:08:16,918 hitting a leather glove or see it flying off a bat, 1557 01:08:16,962 --> 01:08:18,442 I'm in love again. 1558 01:08:18,485 --> 01:08:19,878 It's a great game, 1559 01:08:19,921 --> 01:08:23,838 and why can't we be committed 1560 01:08:23,882 --> 01:08:26,928 to saying that half the population of this nation 1561 01:08:26,972 --> 01:08:29,409 should also have access to it? 1562 01:08:29,453 --> 01:08:31,368 It's not one of those things where life's not fair. 1563 01:08:31,411 --> 01:08:33,805 No, I mean, this is something that people can change. 1564 01:08:35,459 --> 01:08:39,071 This adversity, this bias that they endure 1565 01:08:39,115 --> 01:08:42,161 from an early age, because of their love of the game 1566 01:08:42,205 --> 01:08:44,381 is a challenge. 1567 01:08:44,424 --> 01:08:47,862 And part of succeeding is overcoming the challenge. 1568 01:08:50,343 --> 01:08:53,694 I learned so many life lessons in baseball, 1569 01:08:53,738 --> 01:08:57,176 like as a person, as an athlete, as a teammate, 1570 01:08:57,220 --> 01:08:58,743 even as a daughter, like, and as a sister. 1571 01:08:58,786 --> 01:09:00,658 I've been through so many ups and downs, 1572 01:09:00,701 --> 01:09:04,183 and, like, I've learned so much. 1573 01:09:04,227 --> 01:09:06,707 Baseball is not only played on the field, 1574 01:09:06,751 --> 01:09:10,450 it is also played in the hearts of players and fans. 1575 01:09:10,494 --> 01:09:12,670 And what is played in the heart is then reflected 1576 01:09:12,713 --> 01:09:14,889 in all other aspects of our lives, 1577 01:09:14,933 --> 01:09:17,544 from the classrooms to the living rooms, 1578 01:09:17,588 --> 01:09:20,808 from the boardrooms to the courtrooms. 1579 01:09:20,852 --> 01:09:23,159 They're playing baseball now, but you know what? 1580 01:09:23,202 --> 01:09:25,161 They're learning that they can be anybody. 1581 01:09:27,859 --> 01:09:30,470 The future's in the smile on these girls. 1582 01:09:30,514 --> 01:09:32,603 Whatever it is, it's their choice, 1583 01:09:32,646 --> 01:09:34,953 and that's what they're learning on this baseball field. 1584 01:09:34,996 --> 01:09:36,563 They gotta keep fighting, 1585 01:09:36,607 --> 01:09:38,522 or else, nothing will really happen, 1586 01:09:38,565 --> 01:09:40,785 but I also think as we go, 1587 01:09:40,828 --> 01:09:42,830 you know, the generations are getting stronger. 1588 01:09:42,874 --> 01:09:45,964 And the confidence just oozing, dripping everywhere, 1589 01:09:46,007 --> 01:09:47,922 which is just awesome to see. 1590 01:09:56,279 --> 01:09:58,498 I say I think we're in the middle 1591 01:09:58,542 --> 01:10:00,544 or beginning of the story, not at the end, 1592 01:10:00,587 --> 01:10:02,589 and probably, to get to the end, 1593 01:10:02,633 --> 01:10:05,897 we'll go this way and that way, 1594 01:10:05,940 --> 01:10:08,378 and... 1595 01:10:08,421 --> 01:10:11,424 forward and backward, and everywhere in between. 1596 01:10:16,168 --> 01:10:17,778 For every woman and girl 1597 01:10:17,822 --> 01:10:19,650 who has been denied the right to play, 1598 01:10:19,693 --> 01:10:21,608 another has stood up. 1599 01:10:21,652 --> 01:10:23,262 The game is far from over, 1600 01:10:23,306 --> 01:10:26,570 but they stand united with their allies. 1601 01:10:26,613 --> 01:10:29,050 Headed towards one clear goal. 1602 01:10:29,094 --> 01:10:31,575 The freedom to pursue their dreams. 1603 01:10:31,618 --> 01:10:33,707 The right to play baseball. 1604 01:10:34,447 --> 01:10:35,970 Yeah, yeah! 1605 01:11:10,396 --> 01:11:13,312 At seven, women's baseball World Cup 1606 01:11:13,356 --> 01:11:15,183 USA, Venezuela. 1607 01:11:15,227 --> 01:11:19,492 Amanda Giovani, a diamond grab to double up the rudder. 1608 01:11:20,580 --> 01:11:23,583 Robbing, Elise Koalina. 1609 01:11:23,627 --> 01:11:25,846 USA wins by a score of three to one. 1610 01:11:25,890 --> 01:11:27,152 Like that baseball. 1611 01:11:47,651 --> 01:11:49,217 So, uh, let me get this right, 1612 01:11:49,261 --> 01:11:53,700 so it's gonna be, uh, my name, what brought me to baseball. 1613 01:11:53,744 --> 01:11:55,920 I swear she wore, like, 1614 01:11:55,963 --> 01:11:58,836 it was like a one piece, like, tights. 1615 01:11:58,879 --> 01:12:00,751 She, I swear she wore it during BP. 1616 01:12:00,794 --> 01:12:02,056 Every time I'd look at her, 1617 01:12:02,100 --> 01:12:03,536 I'd just picture that's what's under her uniform. 1618 01:12:05,016 --> 01:12:06,452 Never leave home without it. 1619 01:12:09,194 --> 01:12:12,023 And I don't think you can say, "We want a woman in the pros", 1620 01:12:12,066 --> 01:12:13,764 and then work backward and go try to find her. 1621 01:12:13,807 --> 01:12:15,287 She may not be alive yet. 1622 01:12:15,331 --> 01:12:17,376 She might be born in February. 1623 01:12:27,299 --> 01:12:28,996 All the rookies had to sing karaoke 1624 01:12:29,040 --> 01:12:30,781 before the game in the locker room 1625 01:12:30,824 --> 01:12:32,652 It was really embarrassing. 1626 01:12:38,789 --> 01:12:40,747 She's just anti-visor. 1627 01:12:40,791 --> 01:12:42,227 Does not want to wear it. 1628 01:12:42,270 --> 01:12:44,925 We ordered these, uh, custom-made Nike baseball hats. 1629 01:12:44,969 --> 01:12:46,840 We're gonna do a little ceremony, 1630 01:12:46,884 --> 01:12:49,321 and give her, her, uh, big baseball hat. 1631 01:12:49,365 --> 01:12:51,410 Finally, you've got something you can wear. 1632 01:12:51,454 --> 01:12:53,064 -So cute. -Yes. 1633 01:12:56,415 --> 01:12:59,070 We'll play baseball in a little bit, okay? 1634 01:13:00,506 --> 01:13:02,639 It's okay, we'll go play baseball. 1635 01:13:26,576 --> 01:13:28,795 -I'm very proud of Marti. -Oh, my god. 1636 01:13:28,839 --> 01:13:31,102 Would have loved to go further but, uh, she did good. 1637 01:13:31,145 --> 01:13:32,495 She did everything she could do. 1638 01:13:32,538 --> 01:13:36,194 I can't be any prouder in you than right now. 1639 01:13:36,237 --> 01:13:37,630 Then buy me a new car. 1640 01:13:37,674 --> 01:13:40,981 No, we'll get some soup on Witty Street and Waltham. 1641 01:13:41,025 --> 01:13:42,374 Oh, cool, I get soup. 1642 01:13:44,724 --> 01:13:45,986 I mean I've been there. 1643 01:13:46,030 --> 01:13:48,380 A lot of the girls on the team have been there. 1644 01:13:48,424 --> 01:13:50,426 Isn't that life? 1645 01:13:50,469 --> 01:13:53,472 Don't you have to make those hard decisions with anything? 1646 01:13:53,516 --> 01:13:55,822 Got a buddy right here. 1647 01:13:55,866 --> 01:14:00,348 Um, you have to make those decisions, I mean, 1648 01:14:00,392 --> 01:14:03,482 do you wanna move down to the other busking zone? 1649 01:14:43,348 --> 01:14:44,828 And that's a wrap. 1650 01:14:44,871 --> 01:14:46,394 And that's pepper.