Now let's see her break into the pros -- that would be awesome! (And the Mets' rotation could use the help.)

Yeah, but she's no Tatum O'Neil.

There are only 50-60 of these perfect games pitched per year? Jeez, why don't we give her the keys to the city.

whether they are a 12 year old girl or a man in his 20s.

Wow, Sonofloud, you must be a lot of fun at parties.

Congress helped make this possible, by requiring schools to fund girls & boys sports equally, a generation ago. YES I know Little League isnt a govt program, but despite initial howls of protest over Title IX of the law, there are SO many female athletes to be proud of, and girls in little league are now normal. With all the news-fights about what federal govt should do or not do, just thought I'd mention that social initiatives DO contribute to progress.

Can we NOT have another "is he/she a hero" debate? The one over in Ask the Pilot went on long enough (and I admit to being involved).

Everyone has the right to call whomever they friggin' want their hero.

Is this girl MY hero? No. But she might be to her parents, her little brother, her friends, the author, etc. And it is clear that she is not being invoked as a hero such as one who might save the world. Words have multiple meanings and nuances....

I wouldn't want to make some kind of grievous error because I have misplaced values.

Softballs are pretty large, in a female hand. Baseballs are perfect. Why do girls have to switch to softball? Oh yeah. There IS no baseball for women to play. Big mistake, in my opinion. And I'm not talking about the 1940s-type stuff, with the cutsie outfits. NO. Real baseball. We all know how great it is to watch college women's softball; imagine if it was baseball. WOW. Alas, we can but hope.

MLB or college scouts won't even look at a player who's under 6'2" and 215lbs. And a pitcher? You'd better have an 86mph fastball or a gig bag of sinkers and other stuff.