By Mike Kinney
The Standard recently caught up with San Pablo Baseball Association (SPBA) President Andre L. Williams, Sr., to learn more about the city’s first-ever girls hardball team.
As we recently reported, the SPBA is seeking additional players for the new team called the Lady A’s that launched on June 28.
As of this writing, the team had 15 “awesome” players and more were being sought to play league ball against regional boys teams.
“These young ladies are simply amazing,” SPBA President Andre L. Williams Sr. said. “They grasp the concepts of the game and they are highly focused.”
The team played four games during the summer and won two of them, said Williams, who called the girls “very fearless and polished.”
The players also care about their education. One came to practice a half-hour early to give herself time to finish her homework. Her mother had told her she could play only as long as she completed her homework, Williams said.
“The support of the parents has just been incredible,” Williams said. “We are a very close- knit sporting organization and we always look out for the girls. Our parents always make sure they have rides to and from practice. And make sure they have snacks to eat as well. The parent support for our team is just wonderful.”
The Mike Norris Baseball Academy and the West Contra Costa Salesian Boys & Girls Club are among the team’s sponsors. The Oakland A’s sponsored the team uniforms.
The Lady A’s are currently playing on a Fall League schedule with Tara Hills, South San Francisco, Oakland and Pittsburgh according to Coach Williams, Sr. The team will play at Davis Park and Tara Hills throughout the Fall league – the City of San Pablo “has been kind enough to have the lights on at Davis Park,” Williams said.
For families interested in having their girls join the ‘Lady A’s’ contact Coach Andre L. Williams, Sr. at (510) 860-5286 or (510) 978-6876.
