13-year-old girl in a league of her own

Chelsea Baker, a 13-year-old Floridian, has beat the boys with her wicked 65 mph knuckle ball. Being the only girl on a boys-only Little League team can’t be easy but Baker certainly makes it look that way. Over the past four years, her teams have lost just eight of their 105 games. But don’t blame Chelsea, because she has yet to lose a sanctioned game, and she’s pitched not one, but two perfect games.

She was recently profiled by ESPN’s newsmagazine “E:60″. The piece is narrated by actress Geena Davis, who said Chelsea’s tale was magical, including her knack for baffling and befuddling the boys.

Baker and her family, who live in Plant City near Tampa, are used to negative comments from opposing players and parents. As Baker’s mother, Missy Mason Baker, tells ESPN, “‘Go play softball with the girls’ — we get that a lot, and we have gotten that a lot over the last three years.” Most of those parents are probably trying to protect their sons from being victimized by Baker’s wicked pitching.

Chelsea says, “After I usually strike somebody out with a knuckleball, they sometimes start crying back to the dugout, and a lot of them just like open their mouth like they can’t believe it.” With 127 strikeouts in 60 innings this past season, there probably have been a lot of open mouths and quite a few tears shed.

Chelsea talks on camera about her 65 mph fastball and her strikeout pitch, a knuckleball she learned from Joe Niekro, a former Major League pitcher and Plant City resident who died in 2006. Chelsea called Nieko “Coach Joe,” and said it took some coaxing to get him to share his famous pitch. She wrote a tribute to him after he died and placed a baseball he had given her in his casket.

It’s not surprising that Chelsea dominates on the mound, only that she has managed to make it this far. Most girls are informed that baseball is for boys and softball is for girls. But there’s really no reason why girls can’t play baseball. While there’s no rule against including girls on baseball teams, they’re often met with opposition from coaches or players.

Chelsea provides some hope for the future of women in male-dominated sports, especially because she may be the best Little Leaguer and perhaps even one of the best baseball players of all-time one day.

As she heads into the eighth grade, high school is right around the corner — and that means trying out for the baseball team, which she’ll likely do. According to her interview with ESPN, Chelsea wants to eventually play in the pros, and while she’ll likely face the barriers that every woman who wants to play professionally in a male-dominated sport faces, just try and stop her, especially if she keeps bringing batters to tears with that killer knuckleball.

So remember the name Chelsea Baker. She could be a pioneer.

Check out this video of her story.

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Happy 4th of July Weekend

Have a great 4th of July Weekend from Pretty Tough!

Get in the swing: June is Women’s Golf Month

Throughout the month of June, women call the shots on the links. American Express Women’s Golf Month celebrates its sixth anniversary with a nationwide initiative that provides women the opportunity to learn or re-learn the game of golf in a fun and friendly environment.

During June, participating facilities will offer complimentary golf instruction to people 14 years of age and older as well as activities such as networking receptions, golf rules and etiquette seminars, club fitting and equipment demonstrations, golf apparel fashion shows, luncheons, playing experiences, and contests. Each activity is designed to provide a fun and inviting atmosphere for all involved.

LPGA/PGA Professional Suzy Whaley, LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member Nancy Lopez, and world-renowned fitness expert and philanthropist Donna Richardson Joyner are the American Express Women’s Golf Month Spokeswomen Team for 2010.

“Women’s Golf Month is an opportunity for all women to enjoy the game of golf,” Whaley said. “Join us for fun events that include lessons, clinics, on-course experiences, golf fitness, networking, sales and much more. It is a special event and I encourage all women to come out, improve your game, and participate in a sport of a lifetime!”

Without Golf for Women magazine, which Conde Nast shut down about a couple years ago, a lot of women who might have been interested won’t even know about the events so help spread the word.

Programs such as this have helped people discover that the game of golf is a great way to foster relationships and encourage personal health, while spending time with family, friends or colleagues.

More information about Women’s Golf Month, including a list of participating facilities, can be found at PlayGolfAmerica.com. Type in your zip code and see what courses in your area are taking part in Women’s Golf Month. You might get lucky and find a free clinic or special greens fee at your local course. If not, visit your local course and ask why they are not participating. June has 30 days – at least they can find a couple to do something special for the gals.

First Love: Surf Film

Seventeen year old Jess Laing has grown up surfing with and competing against her two friends Nikki van Dijk and India Payne on Phillip Island in Australia.

They’re all sponsored, surf the same breaks, live within 10 minutes of each other, and go to the same school (or used to). The girls are all different in their own ways, but one thing’s for sure, they all love the same thing. These focused teenagers are determined to find a way to do the one thing they love for the rest of their lives. The first step: conquer the world famous waves of Hawaii!

Join these three girls on their journey to become professional surfers in the documentary film First Love. Discover the trials and tribulations of training, competitions, injury and gain an insight to ASP Women’s World Tour and the lives of female pro surfers.

Iran’s girls’ soccer team back in Youth Olympics

With this summer’s inaugural Youth Olympics fast approaching, there was one group of young women who were facing exclusion. That is until this week when FIFA said they will allow the Iranian girls soccer team to compete at the Games as long as their players swap their traditional head scarves for a cap that covers their hair.

The compromise comes after soccer’s governing body last month barred the team because of its insistence on wearing head scarves. FIFA banned hijab scarves – which protect the modesty of Islamic girls and women – in 2007 for safety reasons and to prevent political or religious statements on the field.

“This decision was taken after both the Iran Football Federation as well as the Iran National Olympic Committee confirmed in writing that they will accept a solution whereby the players will not wear their Islamic Hijab during the matches of the competition,” FIFA said in a statement. “Instead, the players can wear a cap that covers their heads to the hairline, but does not extend below the ears to cover the neck.”

The Iran Football Federation was not immediately available for comment. The state-run Tehran Times reported that Iranian authorities had agreed to allow players to wear hats.

“We sent FIFA a sample of our new Islamic dress and fortunately they accepted it,” said Abbas Torabian, director of the International Relations Committee of Iran’s soccer federation. “They announced that there was no objection if the players covered their hair with hats.”

Iran will compete in the six-nation tournament in Singapore. About 3,600 athletes, ages 14-18, will compete Aug. 12-25 in 26 sports at the Youth Summer Games.

Podcast: Pretty Tough Peak Performance Episode 08

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:12 — 4.8MB)

Pretty Tough is proud to present the eighth in our series of weekly podcasts focusing on Peak Performance.

The PT Peak Performance series features leading experts from the fields of sports nutrition, diet, sports psychology and core and fitness training, as well as athletes, trainers and coaches. Each program is 6 – 8 minutes in length and provides cutting edge information and actionable advice to help athletes of all ages perform at their peak with a special focus on the female athlete.

Episode 008: Rebecca Scritchfield discusses the ins and outs of sports drinks.  Listen as Rebecca provides essential details about nutrition, hydration and maintaining optimum health.

About Rebecca Scritchfield: Rebecca Scritchfield is a Washington, D.C. based registered dietitian in private practice. Members of Congress, corporate executives, and professional and recreational athletes seek Rebecca’s  expertise to help them reach their performance goals. She received a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and was recognized by American Dietetic Association in 2009 as “Young Dietitian of the Year”.

Podcast: Pretty Tough Peak Performance Episode 007 Pt. 2

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:10 — 4.7MB)

Pretty Tough is proud to present Part 2 of our seventh podcast in our weekly series focusing on Peak Performance.

The PT Peak Performance series features leading experts from the fields of sports nutrition, diet, sports psychology and core and fitness training, as well as athletes, trainers and coaches. Each program is 6 – 8 minutes in length and provides cutting edge information and actionable advice to help athletes of all ages perform at their peak with a special focus on the female athlete.

Episode 007 Part 2: Rebecca Scritchfield discusses the ins and outs of energy drinks in our second of a two part  podcast. Listen as Rebecca provides more essential details about energy drinks, nutrition and maintaining optimum health and fitness.

About Rebecca Scritchfield: Rebecca Scritchfield is a Washington, D.C. based registered dietitian in private practice. Members of Congress, corporate executives, and professional and recreational athletes seek Rebecca’s  expertise to help them reach their performance goals. She received a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and was recognized by American Dietetic Association in 2009 as “Young Dietitian of the Year”.

http://www.rebeccascritchfield.com

Podcast: Pretty Tough Peak Performance Episode 007 Pt.1

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:27 — 5.9MB)

Pretty Tough is proud to present the seventh episode in our series of weekly podcasts focusing on Peak Performance.

The PT Peak Performance series features leading experts from the fields of sports nutrition, diet, sports psychology and core and fitness training, as well as athletes, trainers and coaches. Each program is 6 – 8 minutes in length and provides cutting edge information and actionable advice to help athletes of all ages perform at their peak with a special focus on the female athlete.

Episode 007 Part 1: Rebecca Scritchfield discusses the ins and outs of energy drinks in our first of a two-part podcast. Listen as Rebecca provides essential details about energy drinks, nutrition, and maintaining optimum health and fitness.

About Rebecca Scritchfield: Rebecca Scritchfield is a Washington, D.C. based registered dietitian in private practice. Members of Congress, corporate executives, and professional and recreational athletes seek Rebecca’s expertise to help them reach their performance goals. She received a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and was recognized by American Dietetic Association in 2009 as “Young Dietitian of the Year”.

http://www.rebeccascritchfield.com

Podcast: Pretty Tough Peak Performance Episode 006

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 5:27 — 5.0MB)

Pretty Tough is proud to present the sixth in our series of weekly podcasts focusing on Peak Performance.

The PT Peak Performance series features leading experts from the fields of sports nutrition, diet, sports psychology and core and fitness training, as well as athletes, trainers and coaches. Each program is 6 – 8 minutes in length and provides cutting edge information and actionable advice to help athletes of all ages perform at their peak with a special focus on the female athlete.

Episode 006: Rebecca Scritchfield discusses how an athlete can eat well while on the go.  Listen as Rebecca provides essential details about nutrition, hydration and maintaining optimum health.

About Rebecca Scritchfield: Rebecca Scritchfield is a Washington, D.C. based registered dietitian in private practice. Members of Congress, corporate executives, and professional and recreational athletes seek Rebecca’s  expertise to help them reach their performance goals. She received a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and was recognized by American Dietetic Association in 2009 as “Young Dietitian of the Year”.

http://www.rebeccascritchfield.com

Podcast: Pretty Tough Peak Performance Episode 005

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:27 — 8.7MB)

Pretty Tough is proud to present the fifth in our series of weekly podcasts focusing on Peak Performance.

The PT Peak Performance series features leading experts from the fields of sports nutrition, diet, sports psychology and core and fitness training, as well as athletes, trainers and coaches. Each program is 6 – 8 minutes in length and provides cutting edge information and actionable advice to help athletes of all ages perform at their peak with a special focus on the female athlete.

Episode 005: Rebecca Scritchfield discusses the importance of fueling during exercise for athletes. Listen as Rebecca provides essential details about nutrition, hydration and maintaining optimum health.

About Rebecca Scritchfield: Rebecca Scritchfield is a Washington, D.C. based registered dietitian in private practice. Members of Congress, corporate executives, and professional and recreational athletes seek Rebecca’s expertise to help them reach their performance goals. She received a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and was recognized by American Dietetic Association in 2009 as “Young Dietitian of the Year”.

http://www.rebeccascritchfield.com

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