• Looking back at limited female representation in baseball during his youth & acknowledges the historical and recent progress, mentioning the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League , the Colorado Silver Bullets & the USA Women’s National Team.
• Veronica Alvarez shares that her love for baseball started at a very young age
• She recounts seeing the Colorado Silver Bullets play when she was 12, a significant moment since female athletes were rarely highlighted on TV
• The movie "A League of Their Own" was a staple in her household, reinforcing her love for baseball
• The importance of recognizing historical achievements in women’s baseball
• Ongoing achievements of women in baseball, using Rachel Balkovec & Kelsie Whitmore as examples
• Women in male-dominated fields have to work hard and are not token hires
• Mark praises the talent & achievements of the USA Women’s National Team & mentions the inspiration young girls get from seeing women excel in baseball.
• Trailblazer Series - young girls can play baseball together & instruction of women coaches who have significantly impacted the game
• Mentorship & leadership development among young female baseball players
• Veronica explains her role with the Oakland A’s, focusing on player development in the Dominican Republic & the importance of facilitating smooth transitions for young players
• The importance of the "freedom to fail" as part of their development
• Cultural challenges faced by international players & the passion required to succeed in baseball.
• Women in baseball needs for more competitive play &recognition
• Veronica believes the USA Women’s National Team has the talent & drive to be an Olympic team & stresses the need for people to recognize baseball & softball as separate sports.
• Alvarez advocates for the coexistence of men’s and women’s baseball and softball in the Olympics without needing additional facilities or resources
• Options for women in sports, emphasizing the need for women's baseball at the NCAA level & recounts historical challenges faced by women's collegiate teams.
• Alvarez notes how concerns about women being hit by a ball persist, but asserts women's resilience and toughness.
• Recent experience in Dominican Republic where a female umpire officiated for the first time, addressing concerns about her safety.
• Veronica outlines the timeline for the USA Women's National Team's tryouts & training in July, emphasizing the development of young players through MLB camps.
• Veronica is the MLB Ambassador for Girls Baseball, explaining the consistent messaging and training for young female athletes.
• Increased competition & improved quality of players for the Women's National Team, aiming for a challenging selection process.
• Mark & Veronica discuss the historical and ongoing efforts to elevate women's baseball, aiming for inclusion in the Olympics.
• Emphasis on hard work and dedication of the women preparing for the national team, often training independently to be ready for competition.

Discover more on the Women's Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay

Mark can be found on Twitter x.com @TheBaseballBiz & and at http://www.baseballbizondeck.com
Subscribe, follow and rate the show. Thank you.
BaseballBiz can be found on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, and Spotify
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"