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STAMFORD, Conn. Every boy who plays Little League baseball dreams of helping his team reach the World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Some young girls have those same dreams.
Four girls from Stamford are playing on All-Star teams during the District 1 tournament. Olivia Wilder plays for the Stamford American 12-year-old All-Stars, and Bella Vaccaro plays for the Stamford American 9- and 10-year-old team. Maya Klein plays for the North Stamford 11-year-old All-Stars, and Jordan Benzaken plays for the 12-year-old North Stamford All-Stars.
It will be the last year of baseball for Wilder, a 12-year-old eighth-grader at Rippowam Middle School. This is her first time on an All-Star team. "I've had girls ask me to play softball, and I'll do it next year,'' she said. "Next year is Babe Ruth, so I'll switch to softball." She said she started with baseball because she is a Yankees fan. "My favorite is Nick Swisher,'' said Olivia, an outfielder for the Americans. "He's a good player, and he looks so much happier playing baseball than the rest of the them."
Ten-year-old Bella, a fifth-grader at Westover Magnet School, has been playing baseball for four years. "The softballs are easier to hit,'' she said. "I wanted something a little more challenging." She is a first-time All-Star. "My mom was crying when she found out I made it,'' Bella said. She plays third base and outfield for the Americans. "I get pressure from my friends, and a teacher asked me to go to softball,'' Bella said. "I'll play softball when I'm ready. Right now, I like baseball. The boys have been good to me."
Maya, 11, attends St. Luke's in New Canaan and has been playing baseball since instructional league. "I liked it a lot better than softball,'' said Maya, who played third base and pitched for the North Stamford house league champions North Stamford Exchange. "I'll keep playing baseball until they tell me I'm not allowed." She is a first time All-Star and said she was surprised when she made the team. "It was a goal of mine,'' she said. "There are a lot of good players in the majors. When I made it I told a lot of people because I was really excited."
Jordan, a 12-year-old student at Scofield Magnet School, caught all six innings for North Stamford in Tuesday's opening victory over Springdale. This is her first time as an All-Star. "I've always liked playing with the boys,'' Jordan said. "I like to prove the girls can be as good as the boys." Like her peers, Jordan said she preferred the challenge of baseball. "It's a little harder than softball,'' she said. She figures to be a major contributor for North Stamford, the defending District 1 champion. "I was definitely proud of myself,'' Jordan said. "It's an honor to make the team because there are so many good players."
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