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Girls in baseball World Series receive national recognition

Twenty-four years since Trail’s Kelly Craig made history

The 68th Little League World Series is celebrating its 40th Anniversary of girls in Little League, and it’s only fitting that Vancouver’s Emma March and Mo’ne Davis from Philadelphia are playing in this year’s tournament.

In 1974, the Little League Federal Charter was amended, and girls started playing Little League Baseball and Little League Softball was founded.

There have been 18 girls in all that have played in the tournament, including Trail’s Kelly Craig who helped the Trail baseball team win the Canadian Championship and advance to the World Series in Williamsport, PA. in 1990.

It is 24 years to the day that Craig made history. On Aug. 21, 1990, she was the first girl to start a game on the mound at the World Series against a team from Matamoros, Mexico. Although her appearance was brief, the Trail team would win the game 8-3.

Trail would eventually lose in the semifinal to Chinese Taipei, but it was a memorable run for the team coached by Andy Bilesky and Neil Craig, and the last Trail team to advance to Williamsport.

Davis set her own records this year, becoming the first girl to throw a shutout game in the history of the Little League World Series. With her team representing the Mid-Atlantic Region, Davis stunned fans and competitors with her 70 mph fastball. She will also become the first Little League player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, coming out on Monday.

Greater Trail is still fielding excellent young ballplayers with Allison Schroder competing with the Trail All Stars in the provincial baseball championship last month and recently picking up silver with Team BC at the nationals, and Ella Matteucci who is playing for Team Canada in the World Cup Sept.1-7, and won bronze with Team B.C. at the Women’s Nationals on Sunday.



Jim Bailey

About the Author: Jim Bailey

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