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baseball

Vienna native named first female Division I college baseball general manager

March 27, 2025 by Tara S

John Domen | WTop News

Only a few colleges nationwide have elected to have a baseball general manager on staff. Now, a 25-year-old woman from Fairfax County, Virginia, is stepping up to the plate.

Sam Gjormand became the first general manager of the baseball team at the College of Charleston in South Carolina earlier this year.

She’s believed to be the first woman to join a college baseball coaching staff.

The Virginia native has been around baseball diamonds her entire life. Well, at least since she was two days old.

Her dad, Mark, was the head varsity baseball coach at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, since well before she was born. As such, she’s always grown up around the game.

Sure, she tried softball when she had to give up baseball, but it wasn’t something she was passionate about. Gjormand admitted she always found herself wandering back to her dad’s field every chance she got.

Gjormand served as a team manager of the baseball team at James Madison University while she was a student there.

That’s how she got on the radar of College of Charleston’s head baseball coach, Chad Holbrook, who quickly hired her upon graduation.

The college announced her promotion to general manager late last month.

Even though college sports are becoming more professionalized, a GM at the collegiate level still carries different responsibilities compared to what you see from a GM in Major League Baseball.

“I’m helping out with our support staff, making sure everybody has what they need, kind of as a liaison between our coaching staff and them,” Gjormand said. “I’m overseeing equipment, travel. I’m overseeing, basically, everyday team needs, making sure everybody is taken care of, from the baseball staff outward.”

Those are the same responsibilities she had in years past. But as times change in college sports, her ability to help discern talent gives her added responsibilities.

“With this new GM title, I’m going to take over some of the ‘NIL’ (name, image and likeness payments) responsibilities, working with our collective, the Charleston Edge, to get our players taken care of, and working with some of our donors to make sure we’re bringing it in on that end as well,” she added.

Working behind the scenes with the Northern Virginia College League, as well as the prestigious Cape Cod League, gave her a lot of practice handling administrative roles.

“I really like being the cog that makes the motor turn, is how I put it to people,” Gjormand said. “I like being behind the scenes. I don’t need to be the face of a program, but I like knowing that when I show up every day, I have the opportunity to really make something special happen with this program.”

‘Get your foot in the door’: Breaking new ground on college baseball diamonds

It’s an opportunity that’s much more common in professional baseball, especially at the minor league level, though more and more women have been hired for front office roles in the major league, too.

In fact, Gjormand always figured if she was going to work in baseball, it might have to be on the pro ball side of things. She certainly hadn’t imagined a career in college baseball before she was offered one.

She said other women are now seeing there are footsteps they can follow as well.

“When I get to hear from young women trying to break through the game or seeing what I’m doing on the college side of things, and saying, ‘I didn’t know there was a spot for me in college baseball. I just thought it was big league or bust,’” Gjormand said. “That is cool for me to hear.”

Only one other college program has its own general manager. When Gjormand’s new position was announced, Coach Holbrook offered the kind of praise anyone would want to hear from their boss, regardless of their job or gender.

“Sam has proven to be invaluable to our baseball program,” Holbrook said in a February statement. “She is much more than an administrator; she has an incredible and vast knowledge of the game and provides our coaches incredible baseball insight to all things Cougar Baseball. She is simply great at her job and these new responsibilities will only make our program much better. We are lucky to have her at The College.”

Asked what advice she’s given other women who are trying to work their way into college baseball, Gjormand said, “Just get your foot in the door, and then that’s your opportunity to start running.”

“Once you start running, nobody’s telling you when you have to stop or how far you’re allowed to go. You just keep on going,” she added.

And while the overall number of women involved in baseball is minimal, the bond and sisterhood that exists between them is strong.

“I think the cool part about it is seeing how different all of our stories are,” Gjormand said. “But the one common theme is … our ambition and just knowing that there’s a place for us, and not taking no for an answer.”

Filed Under: baseball, Women in Sports

Softball and baseball on same day! Woman makes NCAA history

April 10, 2024 by Tara S

Melanie Martinez-Lopez | MLB

Jillian Albayati continues to be a pioneer for women in the game of baseball.

On Sunday, she became the second player in collegiate history — and the first in Division II — to play baseball and softball on the same day when she accomplished the feat for Cal State San Marcos.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Cal State San Marcos baseball team was down four pitchers, including three starters, and were considering open tryouts in the middle of chasing the California Collegiate Athletic Association title.

Softball coach Stef Ewing immediately thought of Albayati, a right-handed pitcher for baseball and a third baseman for softball.

The move made sense, given Albayati began to play baseball when she was 3 years old — and she played throughout high school. The All-CIF pitcher from Anaheim went 20-0 with a 1.68 ERA in her high-school career, all while hitting .360.

“I piped up and said, ‘We’ve got Jill on our team, and she played high school baseball,’” Ewing told San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Kirk Kenney. “She pitches and plays third base for the U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team. She can throw.’”

It was not the first time Albayati made a mark on women’s baseball.

She was selected to play in the inaugural Trailblazer Series. It was created in 2017 to provide girls with an opportunity to play baseball with other girls in a highly competitive environment.

The following year, Albayati participated in the 2018 Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series, a program that focuses on developing girls who play baseball.

Now, she has once again made her mark nearly seven years later — this time, just days before the 2024 Trailblazer Series gets underway on Saturday.

When Albayati was offered the opportunity to pitch in a baseball game Sunday for Cal State San Marcos — a first for Division II sports (Christina Elsbury did it last year for Division III Gallaude) — there was no hesitation. According to the Union-Tribune, she threw a bullpen session on Friday to showcase her skills, and soon after, Albayati was added to the roster.

“We’re in a place where we’re pretty banged up on the mound,” Cougars baseball manager Jose Garcia told the newspaper. “It’s not asking her to come in and pitch in high-leverage situations. It’s more to give us a cushion, to eat some innings and help keep everybody as healthy as possible.”

Albayati’s complete game

When Sunday came around, the 5-foot-6 Albayati was ready to pitch in.

First came the softball game against Cal State Monterey Bay. After celebrating her teammate’s walk-off grand slam in a dramatic 4-3 win, the sophomore switched out of her softball jersey and sprinted over to the nearby baseball field. She was called in from the bullpen two batters into the ninth inning.

Albayati was not intimidated by the seven batters she faced. She allowed two runs (one earned) off three hits and one walk to close out the inning.

She then returned to the softball field after her collegiate baseball debut for the second game of a doubleheader. She went 2-for-6 in the softball team’s 4-2 victory to help the club complete the sweep — before once again returning to the baseball dugout to end her day.

“It’s just amazing,” Albayati said to Kenney. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that.”

Albayati hopes to be able to continue playing both sports, but she told Ewing her priority is softball.

“But I know her love is baseball,” Ewing said. “I thought we made a kid’s career in more ways than you can imagine by having her go out there. … We made her dream come true today.”

With both teams on the road an hour away for the next series, there is a chance she may travel with the baseball team while the injured pitchers continue to recover.

The newspaper also reported that Albayati was invited to pitch for the Savannah Bananas over the summer.

Filed Under: Athlete Spotlight, baseball, Softball, Women in Sports, Women's Sports

Jenny Cavnar Makes MLB History as A’s Lead Play-by-Play Announcer with Dallas Braden

April 1, 2024 by Tara S

By BVM Sportsdesk

Jenny Cavnar is set to make history as the first woman to serve as a Major League Baseball team’s primary play-by-play voice, appointed by the A’s. Her groundbreaking journey is a tribute to predecessors like Suzyn Waldman and Melanie Newman. Cavnar acknowledges the support of decision-makers like Alison Vigil and Devon Fox, leading to her current role alongside former A’s pitcher Dallas Braden. Despite the pressure, Cavnar is ready for the challenge, drawing inspiration from her broadcasting experience and the advice to “do the work” and “be you.” This opportunity symbolizes progress for women in sports and aims to normalize such hires beyond headline status, creating equal opportunities for all aspiring broadcasters.

The Big Picture

Cavnar’s appointment reflects a significant milestone in gender diversity in sports broadcasting, paving the way for more inclusive opportunities in the industry.

By the Numbers

  • Jenny Cavnar is the first woman to serve as a Major League Baseball team’s primary play-by-play voice.
  • She has over 18 seasons of experience as a broadcaster in Major League Baseball.

State of Play

  • Jenny Cavnar appointed as the A’s lead play-by-play announcer, marking a historic moment for women in sports broadcasting.
  • Her partnership with former A’s pitcher Dallas Braden adds a personal touch to the new role.
  • The appointment underscores progress towards gender equality in sports commentary and sets a precedent for future hires.

What’s Next

Cavnar’s achievement opens doors for more gender diversity in sports broadcasting, aiming to make such appointments a norm rather than an exception, fostering equal opportunities for all aspiring broadcasters.

Bottom Line

Jenny Cavnar’s groundbreaking role as the A’s lead play-by-play announcer signifies a crucial step towards gender equality in sports broadcasting, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities for all in the industry.

Filed Under: baseball, Women in Sports

Trailblazing female baseball coach from US aims for Japan pro ranks

March 21, 2024 by Tara S

Bianca Smith is on a mission to find out how far her life-long passion for baseball can take her as a coach, and whether her fascination with Japan can make that happen in Nippon Professional Baseball.

The first black woman hired to coach by a Major League Baseball team, Smith is now a world away from America’s minor leagues, in Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, working as a sports advisor and coaching elementary school and middle school teams.

With her degrees in business and law, the 33-year-old Smith once saw herself as a future MLB team president, but found her true calling in uniform on the field with players.

When the Boston Red Sox wanted to keep her at the lowest minor-league level for 2023, Smith opted to move on, not knowing a dream opportunity would shortly open up and bring her to Japan.

“I have been fascinated with Japan since I was 12, just like any American kid (through) anime. Then I started reading manga,” Smith said. “I fell in love with Japan, and when I decided I was going to work in baseball, that was top of my list.”

Turned onto baseball by her mother, a New York Yankees fan, Smith’s favorite player was Derek Jeter. She was alerted to a different style of baseball in Japan after Hideki Matsui joined the Yankees.

“I have been following the Japanese national team since the first World Baseball Classic in 2006. The aspects of Japanese baseball are what I’m passionate about, the defense, the base running, the strategy, that’s why I love watching them. That’s why Japan.”

In Higashikawa, Hokkaido, she’s sharing her knowledge and experience with kids and coaches but said it’s hard to tell when coaches and parents buy into her ideas or if they’re only open because the head coach is on board.

“That’s why I’ve got all the information together so I can explain why we need to do it this way. I’ve been picking and choosing,” she said, sounding like the lawyer she trained to be.

Smith’s coaching journey has been a process of learning how to manage her need to control things, and developing communication and teaching skills to better help players.

“I don’t want to come in changing the culture because that never works,” she said. “But I am a player coach. In the pros (in the United States) they’re used to this. Even the coaches that are territorial, they’ll still listen to players. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t have a job.”

Despite her deep and sustained interest in Japan, Smith was not prepared for the ritual displays of respect she has witnessed toward coaches, parents and the field itself, or for the culture of fault finding.

“It’s one of the first things I saw. In a practice game, a kid makes one mistake, they pull them and make them practice for 30 minutes, next to the game, that same mistake they messed up,” Smith said.

When the head coach eventually asked how mistakes are dealt with in America, Smith told him.

“You put him back in,” she said. “You talk to him quickly and then put him back in. If they know that if they make one mistake they’re going to get pulled, they’re going to be afraid to make a mistake. They’re going to play it safe on every play.”

Smith has been willing to lead by example through her efforts to learn languages and communicate in them as best she can, mistakes and all.

How analogous is a willingness to make mistakes in a foreign language and a willingness to make mistakes in baseball?

“It’s completely the same,” Smith said. “You’re not going to get better if you don’t push your limits and try to go past them.”

Coaching kids has pushed her to be even better at simplifying techniques in order to demonstrate them.

“It comes in handy as a coach, particularly working with people who don’t speak your language,” she said.

“A good coach is able to take a complicated idea and simplify it for anybody. Being a lawyer is just like being a coach,” she said. “A lawyer has to break down the law for someone who doesn’t understand it and take the important parts that actually apply to them.”

As an advocate of the player-first coaching that is gradually making headway in Japanese pro baseball and who shares its compulsion to plan everything that can be controlled, Smith would seem to be an attractive hire for a Japanese pro team.

But she said, the team would have to genuinely want her to empower players to develop their own styles rather than lecture them on doctrine and dogma.

“I want you to take control of your own development because you know your body better than I do,” she said. “I could not coach for an organization that would not let me have that kind of freedom with my players.”

(By Jim Allen)

Filed Under: baseball, Women in Sports

Pawol to be first woman to umpire MLB Spring Training games since 2007

February 12, 2024 by Tara S

Julia Kreuz | MLB

Jen Pawol has been steadily moving up the umpires ranks over the course of her eight-year career, and she is now one step closer to the Majors with the Monday announcement that she will be the first woman since 2007 to work in Major League Spring Training games. This is a crucial step in Pawol’s effort to become the first female umpire in the Majors, a goal that’s significantly closer today than yesterday.

Whenever MLB needs fill-in or additional umpires during the regular season, it draws from the group of Triple-A umpires that are named to the MLB Call-Up list that is made up exclusively of umpires that had been invited to MLB Spring Training. After firmly standing her ground while the pool of candidates narrowed around her, Pawol’s odds have never been more favorable.

She’s had nearly a decade to build up to this moment.

Pawol started her career on June 24, 2016, in the Gulf Coast League. At the time, Pawol was the seventh woman to umpire in a Minor League game, following in the footsteps of Bernice Gera (1972), Christine Wren (1975-77), Pam Postema (1977-89), Theresa Cox Fairlady (1989-91), Ria Cortesio (1999-2007) and Shanna Kook (2003-04). Cortesio was the most recent female umpire to work a Spring Training game.

Not since Postema, though, has there been this much momentum in a woman’s quest to officiate in the Major Leagues.

The 47-year-old Pawol is one of nine women scheduled to work on-field roles in the Minor Leagues this season. Yet, the list of female umps who have made it as far as Triple-A is significantly shorter: Postema, who was also the first woman assigned to Major League Spring Training games, and Pawol. The league has put a real effort into growing those numbers in recent years. If you open the testimonial page of MLB’s umpire camp website, two of the first four videos you’ll see feature women. One of them is Pawol, and the other is Isabella Robb, who became a professional umpire in 2022.

Pawol first attended an MLB/MiLB tryout camp in 2015 in Cincinnati, at the suggestion of long-time umpires Ted Barrett and Paul Nauert, whom she’d met at an ump clinic in Atlanta the year prior. Pawol was among 38 people invited to the league’s Umpire Training Academy in Vero Beach, Fla. That led to her Minors assignment in ’16.

Pawol kept rising from there. From the GCL, she moved through the ranks all the way to Double-A in 2022 and Triple-A in ’23.

But she and the game go back way further than that.

A New Jersey native, Pawol was inducted into the West Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022 after graduating in 1995 as a three-year all-state athlete in softball and soccer. That earned her a softball scholarship with Hofstra University, where she played in Division I as a catcher. Around that same time, a young Pawol also began umpiring softball games, a practice not uncommon for college backstops looking to get a better feel for the strike zone.

She added a World Championship with the U.S. Women’s softball team in Toronto in 2001 before converting into an NCAA umpire for both softball and baseball.

Becoming a reference for the generations after her is a fortunate bonus for Pawol en route to the main goal. But that’s usually how it goes for pioneers. Like the women who paved the way before her, Pawol is forging a path that’s wider than herself.

Filed Under: baseball, Women in Sports

IOC Session approves LA28’s proposal for five additional sports

October 18, 2023 by Tara S

By: International Olympic Committee

Baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash have been officially included as additional sports on the programme for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (LA28). The decision has been taken by the 141st Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The five sports were proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee as a package for their edition of the Games only, and were reviewed and supported by the IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission (OPC) and Executive Board (EB).

For baseball and softball, cricket and lacrosse it will be a return to the Olympic Games, while flag football and squash will be making their Olympic debut in LA.

  • Baseball and softball have been part of the programme at several editions of the Olympic Games, most recently at Tokyo 2020.
  • Cricket was on the programme for the Olympic Games Paris 1900.
  • Lacrosse was included on the programme at St Louis 1904 and London 1908.
  • Flag football and squash will make their Olympic debut at LA28.

“The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally.”

“I have long believed that we have an incredible opportunity in Los Angeles to create the most compelling Games, not just for us, but for the world. Our Olympic sport programme, in its entirety, reflects this belief,” said LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman. “We are excited to embark on game-changing collaborations with major professional leagues that will unlock massive opportunities to amplify the Olympic and Paralympic story and captivate new audiences.” 

This selection of sports is the result of a thorough process and analysis based on evaluation criteria set out before the process began, including gender equality. It considered the utilisation of existing facilities, involving a wide range of sports communities both in the United States and globally, and incorporating some of the most popular sports in the United States and across the globe.

Modern pentathlon and weightlifting

The IOC Session also supported the recommendations made by the IOC EB concerning the status of modern pentathlon and weightlifting, which were not part of the initial sports programme for LA28.

  • Modern pentathlon: The IOC Session endorsed the recommendation from the IOC EB to include modern pentathlon on the LA28 sports programme, acknowledging the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing and the optimisation work conducted by the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) to reduce costs and complexity. As noted by the IOC EB, it is essential for the UIPM to continue to implement the necessary changes in governance and modernise as an organisation. Without the replacement of horse riding with obstacle racing, the sport would not have been included in the programme.
  • Weightlifting: The IOC Session accepted the IOC EB’s recommendation to include weightlifting on the LA28 sports programme following the decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to delegate its anti-doping management to the International Testing Agency (ITA), and its sanctioning to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) at least until the end of 2028. The effectiveness of the anti-doping programmes for the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification and Olympic competition will continue to be closely monitored by the IOC, as will the implementation of the governance and cultural changes adopted by the IWF.

Following the IOC Session decision to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA), the IOC has not recognised another governing body for Olympic boxing. Therefore, the IOC EB decided that any decision regarding the inclusion of boxing on the LA28 sports programme is put on hold, so there was no discussion of this by the IOC Session.

The other 28 sports that are part of the LA28 Olympic programme were approved by the IOC Session in February 2022.

The discipline programme was approved by the IOC EB on 13 October 2023, while the programme of events and athlete quotas will be finalised after Paris 2024. The OPC will now work on ensuring that the final athlete quota numbers for the Olympic Games LA28 remain reasonable and below the overall quota for Tokyo 2020.

Filed Under: American Football, baseball, Cricket, Flag Football, Lacrosse, Olympics, Softball, squash

Olivia Pichardo is the first woman to make the roster of Division I baseball team

February 7, 2023 by Tara S

Laurel Wamsley, Jonathan Franklin | NPR

When Brown University’s baseball season starts in February, one of the players taking the field will make history. Olivia Pichardo, a first-year student from Queens, N.Y., will be first woman on the roster of a Division I college baseball team in the U.S.

“It’s kind of crazy to know that I’m living out my dream right now and my ideal college experience that I’ve always wanted, so that’s really cool,” Pichardo said in a media release. She said being named to the team is surreal, as it has been her goal since eighth grade to continue playing baseball in college.

Pichardo walked on to Brown’s team following tryouts and a grueling assessment process – during which she immediately impressed the head coach, demonstrating her abilities as an infielder, outfielder and pitcher.

“It’s a workout common for baseball and allows us to evaluate athleticism and arm strength, as well as both offensive and defensive skills,” said Brown baseball head coach Grant Achilles. “Olivia put together the most complete walk-on tryout I have seen from a player since becoming a head coach.”

The first of many successes on the ballfield for women

Making the cut is just the latest achievement on the ballfield for Pichardo. This year, the 18-year-old was named to the roster of the USA Baseball Women’s National Team as a right-handed pitcher and outfielder.

Pichardo will be a utility player for Brown, able to play in both infield and outfield positions.

Brown University Athletics

Women have been making strides onto the rosters of baseball teams in recent years. In May, Kelsie Whitmore became the first woman to start in a game in pro baseball’s Atlantic League, taking left field for the Staten Island FerryHawks.

Baseball For All, an organization that advocates for girls and women in baseball, keeps a list of colleges and universities that will consider talented players, regardless of gender. There are 8 women (including Pichardo) who are rostered to play varsity college baseball in the spring of 2023, according to the organization.

Pichardo says her teammates have been welcoming, and cheered when she was named to the roster.

Brown University Athletics

Baseball has always been her sport of choice, despite critics’ opinions

Pichardo will be a utility player in both the infield and outfield when the college season starts. She says when Achilles announced during an October team meeting that she had made the cut, her new teammates broke out into applause.

“I did not expect that at all — that definitely took me by surprise,” Pichardo said. “Everyone was super happy about it.”

But in an interview with Morning Edition, Pichardo tells NPR’s A Martinez that throughout her baseball career, there have been countless times where many tried to discourage her away from the sport.

“Throughout all of my baseball career, every time I progress to the next level, more and more people would ask me about maybe switching to softball,” Pichardo said.

“There’s no shade towards softball, but it’s just that I’ve never played softball before,” she added.

Nevertheless, with any luck, she’ll be far from the last woman to play college baseball at the highest level.

“I’m just really glad that we’re having more and more female baseball players at the collegiate level, and no matter what division, it’s just really good to see this progression,” Pichardo said. “It’s really paving the way for other girls in the next generation to also have these goals that they want to achieve and dream big and know that they can do it.”

Filed Under: AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, baseball, Women in Sports Tagged With: Olivia Pichardo

Meet Olivia Pichardo, the First Woman in Division 1 Baseball: ‘Inspiring Girls Is My Biggest Motivator’

February 7, 2023 by Tara S

By Natasha Dye | People

In November, Olivia Pichardo’s dreams came true. After weeks of tryouts — preceded by years of practices and games and time spent throwing a ball with her dad — the 18-year-old athlete earned a spot on Brown University’s baseball team, making her the first woman to play for a Division 1 varsity college baseball team.

On the last day of tryouts, Pichardo sat among rows of male hopefuls in an auditorium at Brown, eager to learn if she made the cut.

That’s when Head Coach Grant Achilles delivered the best news of her life: “Olivia, thanks for joining us for the Fall and officially for the Spring.”

Everyone clapped for Pichardo, a pitcher, as she lit up with a smile, displaying the “quiet confidence” — as her mother Maximo calls it — that wowed Bears leadership. “I’ve always set a standard to perform at a certain level for every single game,” says Pichardo. “Throughout my life, I’ve had pretty high expectations for myself.”

It’s a drive that began developing at the age of 6, when Pichardo made her Little League debut in her hometown of Queens, New York.

Olivia Pichardo rollout
COURTESY

But in those early days, baseball was just an excuse to have a good time with her father Max, who volunteered to be a coach on all her teams. “He grew up playing baseball in the Dominican Republic,” she says. “He helped me develop a love for the game rather than developing all of the technical skills, because at that age it’s mostly about having fun.”

Pichardo says the fun of baseball temporarily faded at the age of 14, when she started “getting insecure about being a girl playing baseball,” while others switched to softball.

Participating in baseball camps sponsored by MLB and USA Baseball helped her overcome the discomfort. “That was a big motivator for me to keep going,” she says, “and not really care about what other people might have to say about me.”

After finding success at the MLB Breakthrough Series and an MLB Grit event, she made the USA Baseball Women’s National Team at just 18, playing as a right-handed pitcher and outfielder last summer.

Hustling on the global stage made her even more determined to find a university where she could continue pursuing her passion. “I knew that I wanted and could play college baseball,” she says, “but the problem was finding the right school that fit me academically and where I would join the baseball team.”

Olivia Pichardo rollout
BROWN ATHLETICS

The perfect place turned out to be Brown, the Providence, R.I. Ivy League university where she became just one of the 5.5% of applicants to be accepted into the class of 2026, partly thanks to her impressive 5.2 GPA.

Receiving her acceptance letter was “a happy moment” for Pichardo, who says Brown was her mother’s top choice. “She cried when I got in, which made me uncomfortable,” she says, laughing.

As Pichardo began her studies last semester, she signed up to try out for the baseball team as a walk-on. Heading into the audition, she was confident in her ability to stand out. “I’ve always been able to not only just keep up,” she says, “but also excel.” Now she feels like just another one of the Bears. “My teammates treat me like they would each other, which I appreciate,” she says. “It’s all I could ask for.”

Currently, she’s leaning towards a major in business economics “because it’s a versatile degree” that will give her options if she doesn’t go pro. “I’m thinking about maybe pursuing an MLB front-office job one day,” says Pichardo, who became fascinated with the “behind-the-scenes” of baseball as an intern with the New York Mets last Spring.

Olivia Pichardo rollout
BROWN ATHLETICS

But for now Pichardo is focused on the upcoming season, kicking off Feb. 24. against the Memphis Tigers.

Her preparation has included reading Training Camp by Jon Gordon, a mandatory assignment for the Bears that encourages baseballers to find “something outside of yourself to play for,” she says.

When Pichardo hits the field, she’ll play for the next generation of female baseball players. “When I was little, I didn’t know there were other girls playing baseball,” she says. “Inspiring girls is my biggest motivator.”

Filed Under: AOTM, Athlete Spotlight, baseball, Women in Sports Tagged With: Olivia Pichardo

Giants’ Alyssa Nakken becomes first woman to coach on field in regular-season MLB game

April 14, 2022 by Tara S

Alyssa-Nakken-Coach

Nakken stepped in for the ejected first-base coach Tuesday vs. Padres

by: Dayn Perry | CBS Sports

In the third inning of Tuesday night’s game between the Padres and Giants (SD-SF GameTracker), San Francisco’s Alyssa Nakken made MLB history when she stepped in to the fill the role of first-base coach.

Richardson was ejected in the top of the third by first-base umpire Greg Gibson while apparently instructing the defense. As for Nakken, here she is fulfilling some of the usual duties of the first-base coach.

Nakken, 31, has been a part of the Giants organization since 2014, when she started as an intern in baseball operations. She now serves as a major league assistant coach on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff. In the past, she’s worked on outfield and base-running instruction, and in January of 2020, she became the first woman to hold a full-time coaching position in MLB. 

“I feel it’s my job to honor those who have helped me get to where I am,” she told MLB.com not long after ascending to that position. “Coaching, I never saw it. This job has kind of been hidden for so long. I’m so excited to be in this role for the challenge and the opportunity to make an impact for this organization that I love. But also, I’m excited that now girls can see there is a job on the field in baseball. It’s really cool.”

Nakken previously coached first base during a “summer camp” exhibition game in July of 2020, but Tuesday marked the first time a woman has coached on the field in a regular-season game.

Filed Under: baseball, Women in Sports

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