The Los Angeles Queens overcame a five-run second-inning deficit to defeat the New York Heights, 10-8, Saturday evening in the first game of the Women’s Pro Baseball League in Springfield, Illinois.
Pinch hitter Isabella Villareal doubled in two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to break an 8-8 tie. The Queens scored all four of their runs in the inning with two out.
Michelle Roche hit a run-scoring double in the sixth as the Queens cut the deficit to 8-6.
Maggie Foxx had the league’s first hit and RBIs with a two-run single in the top of the first that gave the Queens a 2-0 lead.
New York responded with five runs in its half of the first and added two more in the second.
The start of the game was delayed by 90 minutes because of rain which effected play throughout the game.
The ceremonial first pitches were thrown by Maybelle Blair, who pitched one game for the Peoria Redwings in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League 1948 season, and Baseball Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa.
The 99-year-old Blair, who was born in Inglewood, is the honorary chair of the WPBL Advisory Board.
The best-known member of the Queens is outfielder Mo’ne Davis, who in 2014 became the first girl to pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series and first Little Leaguer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Davis was hitless in four at-bats Saturday, but scored the first run.
The nickname of each team in the league is “inspired by a visionary woman who blazed her own trail and paved the way for those who followed,” according to the league.
The Queens’ nickname honors Lizzie Murphy, who in 1922 became the first woman to play against major league players in a charity exhibition at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. She billed herself as “The Queen of Baseball.”
The Heights’ nickname honors Dorothy Height, a civil rights and women’s rights activist.
The entire season will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame pitcher.
The Queens will resume play Wednesday against the Boston Hunters.