The 12-year-old girl Chelsea Baker has thrown her second perfect game during a Florida little league game in twelve months. In a 1-0 win by Turkey Creek over J.R. Farms she retired 16 of the 18 batters with a strikeout. She is throwing a four-seam fastball, which reaches 70 MPH, a curveball and a knuckleball. According to the report of The Tampa Tribune she learned to throw a knuckleball from Joe Niekro, a former big leaguer who died in 2006. Baker already was perfect in a 21-0 shutout over North Lakeland last June.
TBO.com: Plant City girl, 12, pitches second perfect Little League game
How disappointing that the author of this article felt the need to note that the pitcher in question is a “12-year-old girl” as opposed to just a “12-year-old pitcher.” It’s that kind of attitude that reduces the successes of female baseball players to novelty status. Ms. Baker should be applauded for being a great pitcher, nothing else. Noting that she has different genitalia than little Joey demeans her accomplishment and does nothing to further the cause of women in baseball.
Why would you even think about letting your kid throw a curveball and a knuckleball at that age… Way to mess up your kids arm for the rest of her live..