FEMALE KNUCKEBALLER MAKES PRO DEBUT IN JAPAN

A 17-year-old high school girl made history by pitching against a men’s professional baseball team in Japan. Eri Yoshida, who throws a sidearm knuckleball, made her debut for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the independent Kansai League in a game against the Osaka Gold Villicanes at the Osaka Dome.


Yoshida, who was drafted and signed last winter by the first-year team, faced two batter in the ninth inning in front of 11.592 fans and curiosity-seekers at the 45,000-seat stadium. She walked the first batter she faced on four pitches and allowed a stolen base before she struck out the next batter swinging before being pulled from the contest, which was won by Kobe, 5-0.

Yoshida began playing baseball in the second grade, and wants to emulate Boston’s Tim Wakefield as a successful knuckleball pitcher. Until now, no woman had ever played against a men’s team in Japan, although there was a women’s professional league there in 1950 and 1951.