All Photos: Rocker Davies Media/BaseballSoftballUK

Just ten years ago, opportunities for girls to play baseball in the UK were limited. However, since 2017, when BaseballSoftballUK helped launch the first women’s-only baseball game in the modern era, that landscape has begun to shift.

Building on this progress, BaseballSoftballUK assisted in the delivery of the Tapscott Learning Trust’s MLB First Pitch Women’s and Girls' First Pitch Festival on the 5th March, creating new opportunities for girls to step onto the field.

At Memorial Park in East London, more than 200 primary school girls took part, many picking up a baseball for the first time. The festival forms part of MLB’s wider strategy to introduce the sport to new audiences, with delivery in the UK led by BaseballSoftballUK through local and national partnerships.

The event coincided with Great Britain’s latest appearance in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), widely recognised as baseball’s World Cup. BaseballSoftballUK built on earlier WBC activation planning by working with The Tapscott Learning Trust to deliver the festival within a school setting. This included providing students with WBC-branded shirts and decorating the venue with competing nations' flags.

Student leaders from Eastlea School were trained in advance and led activity stations covering throwing, hitting, fielding, and base running. BaseballSoftballIUK staff supported delivery and brought in performance expertise. This included Laura Hirai, who is part of both the Great Britain Women’s Baseball and Women’s Fastpitch Softball Senior National Teams, and Will Lintern, Director of Smarter Performance Baseball and the Emerging Players Programme. Their involvement provided technical support while making performance pathways more visible.

The impact of this approach was evident throughout the day. Participants quickly progressed from drills into gameplay, with confidence and enjoyment growing across each session. Many continued playing after activities ended and asked teachers and volunteers about future opportunities. Each participant also received batting gloves provided through BaseballSoftballUK, with many eager to use their new equipment straight away.

As the day drew to a close, participants and volunteers delivered a message of support to the Great Britain Senior National Team competing in the WBC, linking their first experiences to the wider international game.

Interaction with players added further value, particularly through Laura Hirai. Through skill demonstrations and signing shirts, she created a direct and tangible connection with the students.

Having often been the only girl on the field earlier in her career, seeing hundreds of girls playing together reflected how much the game has evolved. It may therefore come as no surprise that she described the festival as “one of the best days of [her] life.”

Looking ahead, the longer-term impact of the festival will depend on sustained opportunities to continue playing. However, the level of engagement observed suggests a strong foundation for continued growth. From the first women’s baseball game in 2017 to events like this, BaseballSoftballUK’s work is helping to build a more accessible pathway for future players.

And whether those who took their first swings in East London pursue performance pathways like Hirai or continue to play for enjoyment, the future direction seems clear. As female participation grows, the days of being the only girl on the diamond are steadily becoming a thing of the past.