Celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day – The Rhode Island Baseball Connection
National Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated annually during the first week of February. According to Wikipedia, “The National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is an annual day of observance held during the first week of February to acknowledge the accomplishments of female athletes, recognize the influence of sports participation for women and girls, and honor the progress and continuing struggle for equality for women in sports.” This year, February 2nd (today) is designated at National Girls and Women in Sports Day. So in honor or National Girls and Women in Sports Day, I would like to share some of the amazing, inspiring, and incredible stories I have had the honor of writing over the past few years. You can click on the links next to the photos to view the article and read more about the positive impact these girls and women have had on the Rhode Island Baseball Experiences of so many.
Words cannot describe the positive impact the Pawtucket Slaterettes Girls Baseball Organization has had here in Rhode Island Baseball. Dedicated volunteers, amazing baseball players, so many cherished memories, and the opportunity to play baseball! A Rhode Island Treasure 40 years and running!
Kayla Baptista is a star. She can hit a fastball traveling 90+ mph with the best of them. And her coaching and instructor career has really taken off after her impressive summer coaching with Wareham of the Cape Cod League. The sky is limit? Not even close. She is a meteoric star on the rise in the world of baseball.
Last year, in honor of Mother’s Day, I asked the Rhode Island baseball community to send me photos, stories, and why baseball was important to them. The responses were incredible and heartwarming and so much fun to read. I loved reading how other mothers, like my own, gave so unselfishly so others could prosper in the game of baseball.
I interviewed Leah Lapham, the former Coventry Little League All Star, and her parents about her baseball journey and why baseball was so special to them. It was a great article and I loved all the amazing game photos the Lapham family sent to me to share with others.
Deb Bettencourt of the Pawtucket Slaterettes emailed me once and said “Hey you should meet Tina Trahan and do an article on her!” Deb has always been a great contributor this experience for me and I was able to meet and interview Tina about her incredible baseball journey.
Warwick North (Westside) Little League recently won a fan poll for “Best Snack Shack.” When I presented the prize to the league, WNLL President Sean Wiggins wrote this “This is Sean Wiggins I am the President of WNLL. We were so excited when we saw the article. The person who is 100% responsible for our shack is Jaime Banspach our Treasurer/Concessions Manager & everything else. She was inducted as our 1st lifetime member at Warwick North a tradition we had at West Side.”
On a recent trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, I observed and photographed a ton of women in baseball photos and exhibits, like this one honoring Mo’ne Davis. The Pawtucket Slaterettes, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, Rachel Balkovec, Lolly Hopkins are just some of the names and stories showcased at the Baseball Hall of Fame, which I highly recommend for any baseball fan!!!
The positive impact on Rhode Island Baseball by these girls and women can not be understated. Their committed to community, to mentoring youth baseball players, to supporting Rhode Island baseball players of all ages – it is just so incredible! On this National Girls and Women in Sports Day, I salute you all and thank you for all you do to enhance the Rhode Island Baseball Experience. And please, if you have an inspiring story to share – today or any day – about the positive impact someone had on your baseball journey, send it my way!
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The RIBBE is The Rhode Island Baseball Experience. It is promoting the game of baseball here in the great state of Rhode Island for the entire baseball world to see. The RIBBE is positive stories, photos, videos, and responsible social media posts. The RIBBE is an information resource for families looking for an AAU team or a summer camp or a great place to buy a first baseman’s mitt. The RIBBE is a network of coaches, tournament directors, parents, leagues, and baseball junkies whose passion of the game of baseball is unquestioned. I believe that providing expert analysis, information and directions to ballfields, and coaching advice from some of the top RI baseball minds will help promote the game of baseball here in RI to a whole new level.
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