SHE'S A HIT

You hand it to her; better still throw the baseball where she can’t possibly catch it. Don’t bet on 8-year-old not snagging it, even if it means leaving her feet to do so.

Don’t take my word for it. Catch the video of Ashlynn Jolicoeur doing a variety of diving catches – shot by her mother – posted on Twitter. 4.5 million views. Maybe you’ve seen it. If so, it’s worth another look. Or two. Or three.

In one photo (Toronto Star, 26 July) you see her diving for the ball, her left arm outstretched, the baseball glove open. Then look for the ball. There it is. How the heck did she catch it? No doubt she did, only to hit the ground seconds later.

What caught my eye was her playing this season with The Whitby Chiefs senior rookie team. “She loves her coaches and her teammates,” an article in the Star reports. “The boys love playing with her.”

The boys love playing with her? Her teammates? It seems the video was used by the ‘Baseball For All’, a group dedicated to levelling playing field for girls across America. It promotes the BFA’s upcoming National Girls Baseball Tournament in Rockford, Ill.

Ashlynn will be there, taking part.

Author’s comment: It seems the video also appeared on several Twitter accounts by Major League baseball as well as on Facebook and Instagram. If you haven’t seen it, catch it for sure. It’ll bring a BIG smile on your face.