All-American Women's Baseball Classic takes over Ed Smith Stadium this weekend
SARASOTA - Bucky Dent will throw out the first pitch.
After that, the women take over the field at Ed Smith Stadium.
The toss from the 12-year former major leaguer to Anna Kimbrell, a catcher on the United States Women’s National Baseball Team, will be followed by a game on Friday between the Rockford Peaches and Kenosha Comets, the kickoff to the second annual All-American Women’s Baseball Classic.
She pitches in: Canadian pitcher, firefighter Alli Schroder to return to Sarasota for this year's All-American Women's Baseball Classic
Running Friday through Sunday, the tournament will attract nearly 50 of the finest female baseball players in the United States and Canada. The Peaches and Comets will play on Friday at 3 p.m., to be followed at 6 p.m. by the South Bend Blue Sox against the Racine Belles. All four teams borrowed the names of participants in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which operated from 1943 to 1954.
On Saturday at 10 a.m., the Peaches play the Blue Sox. At 1 p.m., the Comets face the Belles. On Sunday, games will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tournament organizer and Englewood resident Sue Zipay, who played for the Peaches in 1953 and 1954 and who had an appearance in the movie A League of Their Own, said the pool of play is deeper in talent as more than half of the players are part of the 2023 United States national team.
“We have a stronger group of women,” Zipay said, “and last year was pretty darn strong in itself. There are more talented players this year.
“I can’t believe it won’t be huge this year compared to last year because of the people who are working on it and marketing it,” she said. "If we get 7,000 people I would be so happy. Everybody seems to be so excited.”
On Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Sarasota Bayfront, A League of Their Own will be shown. The 89-year-old Zipay will be on hand to sign autographs, talk about the movie, and this year’s All-American Women’s Baseball Classic.
Tickets can be purchased at the Ed Smith Stadium ticket window, or online at orioles.com/AGB and AmericanGirlsBaseball.org.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Some of USA's finest female baseball players to take field in Sarasota
