Olivia Pichardo, 18, has been named to Brown University’s baseball crew. She’s the primary girl named to the roster of a Division I baseball crew within the U.S.

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Brown University Athletics

Olivia Pichardo, 18, has been named to Brown University’s baseball crew. She’s the primary girl named to the roster of a Division I baseball crew within the U.S.

Brown University Athletics

When Brown University’s baseball season begins in February, one of many gamers taking the sphere will make historical past. Olivia Pichardo, a first-year pupil from Queens, N.Y., might be first girl on the roster of a Division I faculty baseball crew within 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 stated in a media release. She stated being named to the crew is surreal, because it has been her aim since eighth grade to proceed taking part in baseball in faculty.

Pichardo walked on to Brown’s crew following tryouts and a grueling evaluation course of – throughout which she instantly impressed the pinnacle coach, demonstrating her talents 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,” stated 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.”

Making the lower is simply the most recent achievement on the ballfield for Pichardo. This yr, 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 might be a utility participant for Brown, in a position to play in each infield and outfield positions.

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Brown University Athletics

Pichardo might be a utility participant for Brown, in a position to play in each infield and outfield positions.

Brown University Athletics

Women have been making strides onto the rosters of baseball groups lately. In May, Kelsie Whitmore turned the primary girl to begin in a sport in professional baseball’s Atlantic League, taking left field for the Staten Island FerryHawks.

Baseball For All, a company that advocates for women and girls in baseball, keeps a list of colleges and universities that may take into account gifted gamers, no matter gender. There are 8 ladies (together with Pichardo) who’re rostered to play varsity faculty baseball within the spring of 2023, based on the group.

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

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Brown University Athletics

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

Brown University Athletics

Pichardo might be a utility participant in each the infield and outfield when the school season begins. She says when Achilles introduced throughout an October crew assembly that she had made the lower, her new teammates broke out into applause.

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

And optimistically, she’ll be removed from the final girl to play faculty baseball on the highest degree.

“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 stated. “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.”