USA TODAY International Edition
1st in D- I baseball: Female on Ivy roster
Brown University has made history.
The program announced Monday that it will have the first woman in the history of NCAA Division I baseball to be on an active varsity roster. Olivia Pichardo, who had made the team after trying out as a walk- on, will serve as a utility player capable of playing infield and outfield.
The university announced the news Monday, but Brown baseball coach Grant Achilles informed the team of Pichardo’s addition during an Oct. 4 team meeting.
“I thought it was just a typical hitters and pitchers meeting,” Pichardo said in an article on the school website. “And all of a sudden, ( Achilles) made the transition to announcing to everyone that I made the spring roster. That definitely took me by surprise, and everyone was super happy about it. It was a surreal moment for me because it’s something I’ve wanted since eighth grade. It’s kind of crazy to know that I’m living out my dream right now and the ideal college experience that I’ve always wanted, so that’s really cool.”
Pichardo had reached out to Achilles after she was accepted to Brown about trying out for the team. She went through fall workouts, practicing with other walk- on candidates and the team’s players for two weeks, shuffling between middle infielder, outfielder and pitcher.
“Olivia put together the most complete walk- on tryout I have seen from a player since becoming a head coach,” Achilles said, according to the article.