Chico Outlaws 18 year old female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida definitely brings a crowd with her. Yoshida is the first Japanese women to pitch professionally in the United States, and she just graduated high school. So you can imagine that she brings a lot of media with her. Up in this small town we don't get much other types of press other than the local guys. I'm generally the only photographer, besides a parent or two. I don't have much competition. But when a media hype is creating this town gets exciting. I enjoy playing with the big boys, AP and Reuters, and also see it as a challenge. I have the advantage of being local to the community. I know the people and the places they don't think about getting to. As the game got underway, Yoshida pitched a scoreless first inning and even knocked in a RBI single. It drew the biggest applause from the crowd when she knocked a solid hit. Most were expecting a walk because with her height of 5'2", she doesn't have much room for the strike zone.
Chico Outlaws female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida pitches against the Tijuana Cimarrones in the top of the first inning during their GBL baseball game at Nettleton Stadium May 29, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
With the constant media coverage Chico Outlaws female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida warms up against the Tijuana Cimarrones before the top of the first inning during their GBL baseball game at Nettleton Stadium May 29, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico Outlaws female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida (left) bumps knuckles with first base coach Garry Templeton Jr. after knocking a RBI single against the Tijuana Cimarrones in the bottom of the first inning during their GBL baseball game at Nettleton Stadium May 29, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Chico Outlaws female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida knocks a RBI single against the Tijuana Cimarrones in the bottom of the first inning during their GBL baseball game at Nettleton Stadium May 29, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
Heavy media coverage is given to Chico Outlaws female knuckleballer Eri Yoshida who goes on deck against the Tijuana Cimarrones in the bottom of the first inning during their GBL baseball game at Nettleton Stadium May 29, 2010 in Chico, Calif.(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)
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