Women’s baseball makes history with debut at Pan Am Games

Pitcher Sarah Hudek, of the United States, throws during a women's baseball game against Venezuela at the Pan Am Games Monday, July 20, 2015, in Ajax, Ontario. Women's baseball made history on Monday at the Pan Am Games, the first time it has been played in a large, multi-sport event.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Pitcher Sarah Hudek, of the United States, throws during a women's baseball game against Venezuela at the Pan Am Games Monday, July 20, 2015, in Ajax, Ontario. Women's baseball made history on Monday at the Pan Am Games, the first time it has been played in a large, multi-sport event.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

By Associated Press July 20, 2015 4 min read

TORONTO (AP) – Women’s baseball made history Monday at the Pan Am Games, the first time it’s been played in a large, multi-sport event.

There was no live television coverage at the debut, and perhaps only 200 fans saw the first pitch as American left hander Sarah Hudek threw a ball just off the plate to open the game against leadoff hitter Astrid Rodriguez of Venezuela.

“To be here, this is awesome. This is it,” said American player Malaika Underwood. “It doesn’t matter that we’re not on TV. I mean the fact we are out here is the point. When we look back at this, I think we’ll appreciate the magnitude.”

For the record, the United States defeated Venezuela 10-6 in a regulation seven innings.

Pardon a joke the women have heard many times, but none of the players threw like a girl, and none wore a skirt, which was the uniform in the 1992 film “A League of their own,” a depiction of women’s professional baseball in the United States in the 1940s starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna.