Avery Inkster and Amelia Baragar of London, Ont., were nothing short of disappointed when they found out they weren't selected to be on A.B. Lucas Secondary School's co-ed baseball team.
But the Grade 10 students didn't take no for an answer and with the help of some teachers, they're spearheading a first-of-its-kind girls' softball team at their school. In fact, so many young women expressed interest, they have enough players to make up two teams.
"We thought it was only going to be a couple of girls including us but when we eventually got to the meet, about 40 girls showed up," said Inkster.
"It just sparked the interest for how many girls wanted to play softball, which just blew both our minds and made us wonder why we don't have a girls softball team."
The two play softball — also known as fastpitch softball, or fastball — which is slightly different from baseball in that it uses larger balls, with different types of bats and gloves, closer bases, and is overall more fast-paced.
Despite their different skillsets, Inkster and Baragar thought they'd have a decent shot at making Lucas' baseball team because only three girls tried out for the co-ed team.
"Baseball has always traditionally been a boy's sport. When you think of it, you imagine guys throwing a ball around, but girls want to play, too. We learned that even though softball isn't the first sport anyone thinks of, there's a lot of interest in it," Baragar said.
Although they were reassured the team at their school is co-ed, it is almost always advertised as the boys baseball team, Inkster said.
The pair and their team will play a one-day tournament in Drumbo, Ont., against the girls' team at Medway High School on May 30.
When they heard the girls didn't
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