Knuckleballing Japanese schoolgirl gets drafted

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is interesting...

="Associated Press"]Knuckleballing Japanese schoolgirl gets drafted 5-foot, 114-pound Yoshida wants to emulate Red Sox pitcher Wakefield TOKYO - A 16-year-old schoolgirl is making a pitch to become the first woman to play professional baseball in Japan. High school student Eri Yoshida was drafted by the Kobe 9 Cruise, a professional team in a new independent Japanese league that starts its first season in April. �I always dreamed of becoming a professional,� Yoshida said at a news conference Monday. �I have only just been picked by the team and haven�t achieved anything yet.� Yoshida threw a hitless inning against male batters during a tryout this month and was among 33 players picked in the draft.

[Frayed Knot]

Large hands is usually an advantage in throwing the flutterball and, even though the Japanese ball is slightly smaller than MLB's, I can't imagine a 5-footer has very big paws.