BRONX TIMES REPORTER,BTR AUG. 13-19, 2021 9
cess of creating a professional
women’s league of her own.
Zipay told The Bronx
Times she is currently setting
the blueprint for a future
women’s baseball league
under the banner American
Girls Baseball with the
goal of starting regional
tournaments and showcases
throughout 2022.
“These women want a
league of their own. They
want to be legitimized and
seen for being some of the
best in the
sport of baseball,”
Zipay said. “And what helps
is if people watch how talented
they are, invest in the
sports and the athletes, and
open their mind to what
women can accomplish on
the baseball fi eld.”
While women’s profess
stop-and-start endeavor in
the U.S., other countries have
found a market for the sport.
Japan started a four-team
Japanese Women’s Baseball
League in 2009, although it’s
seen a decline due to a lack
of investment. In August
2019, the league announced
that without new investors
half of the league’s players
had been released ahead of
the 2020 season.
The future of collegiate
and professional women’s
baseball is still undetermined,
but many agree, the
investment in the 12-andunder
age groups is vital to
building an ecosystem of
hit, run and
of them.
anyone who is going
these pro women’s
knows that
there’s going to be a chance
you’ll be operating at a loss
for a few years,” said Adler.
“But it’s important that if
we’re building the talent in
the youth sports circuits,
high school and collegiate
levels, we begin to draw investment
and eyes to a product
that is good.”
sional
wn.
ly seta
fuleague
Ameri
sport of baseball ”
s i o n a l
baseball has been a
in
the U S other countries have
and larger
crowds, there would
be a severe contraction of
rostered talent. In November,
players
had been released ahead of
girls who can h
fi eld with the best
“I think anyone
ing to build these
en’s leagues kn
b
you’ll be operatin
Members of the start-up
Reinas Baseball team
visit Citi Field in Flushing.
The team only came into
existence during the COVID
19 pandemic.
Photo courtesy Gabby Velez
For New York Wonders
girls baseball players, the
Baseball For All Nationals
tournament is career
milestone.
Photo courtesy Girls for All
Baseball