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Harlem RBI girls screen new FOX show ‘Pitch’
- Updated: September 22, 2016
NEW YORK — Darlene De La Cruz, 14, let out a scream Wednesday when her new idol, Ginny Baker, threw a courageous two-strike screwball past a Dodgers batter for a big strike three.
This is what the world might look like in real life whenever the first female player is called up to Major League Baseball.
You could feel the emotion. In this case, Baker, portrayed brilliantly by actress Kylie Bunbury, is a character on the new FOX TV show “Pitch” that premieres at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday.
And De La Cruz was at the MLB offices in midtown Manhattan, along with eight other young female athletes representing Harlem RBI, to see a special screening of the much-anticipated pilot and to engage in a discussion about the new series’ themes, especially gender equality.
“It was so emotional. I was so frustrated,” said De La Cruz, a softball pitcher and shortstop for her Harlem RBI team and the starting third baseman at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, where she is a freshman. “Ginny Baker is the first to make an impact in MLB history.
“When I saw this show and the title, I was like, ‘Ohmygod, I can relate so much.’ I understand her frustration and passion. When I saw about this on social media, I knew I just have to keep working hard. And if I want to be on the Olympic team, I have to keep pushing. Whether you’re a boy or girl shouldn’t stop anybody from accomplishing anything they want — as long as you put in the time for it.”
Hours after the screening at the Commissioner’s Office, another exclusive screening was scheduled over at San Diego’s Petco Park, the site of the pilot episode. The Padres were scheduled to host families with special field tickets to watch the pilot on the giant video board following that night’s game …
