The next time a batter looks foolish as they strike out, they just might be looking back at Claire Eccles. Yes, Claire, who spent the last two seasons pitching for the University of British Columbia’s softball team, has just signed on to play for the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast Baseball League.
THIS IS HUGE NEWS!!!
BREAKING | Claire Eccles of @UBCSoftball will become first female to ever play baseball in the West Coast League
➡️ https://t.co/4ogNbFMBTe pic.twitter.com/xfdEcfnAtP
— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) May 16, 2017
Claire is becoming the first female to play baseball in the West Coast League, a league which has helped produce a number of big leaguers and other professional players. Perhaps some of the most notable have been; Jason Hammel, Jeff Francis, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Duffy, Chris Davis, and Matt Andriese. Not only that, she is helping to break a barrier between male and female sports.
“A hundred percent Claire is good enough to play on our team,” HarbourCats general manager Brad Norris-Jones told CBC before signing Eccles. “Is it going to be a challenge for Claire? Absolutely. We’re just going to get everyone involved and show that in 2017 this isn’t different, this isn’t weird. It’s normal.”
Eccles represented Team Canada in the Woman’s Baseball World Cup in South Korea last year, pitching in two games including a complete game shutout. Now she will fight for innings out of the bullpen over 54-games in the Pacific-Northwest.
“I’m extremely excited to be getting the opportunity to play at such a high level of ball, and being the first female in Canada to do so,” said Eccles. “The HarbourCats seem like an amazing organization and I can’t wait to play for them. As much as this is an accomplishment for myself, I can’t help but realize that this is a step in the right direction for any girl with a dream of playing baseball. There’s a bigger picture out there.”
Fast-forward five or so years from now and your favorite team’s manager just might be calling to the pen for a female pitcher. Then, she just might strike out that feared power hitter in the middle of your rival’s lineup.
Yeah, she does, and it’s finally not an insult.
The West Coast League is the premier summer collegiate baseball league west of the Mississippi. The 13-year-old, 11-team, professionally operated wood-bat league located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest features pro prospects from major conferences across the nation and an unparalleled history out west of great fan and player experiences in addition to the best summer weather in North America. In 2016, 88 players with WCL experience were selected in the MLB June draft, and more than 230 WCL alums appeared in affiliated professional baseball including 28 in the major leagues.
