Providence, Rhode Island /
Brown University freshman Olivia Pichardois making history like first woman to make a Division I roster college baseball NCAA.
Brown’s manager, Grant Achilles, announced Monday that Pichardo made the varsity roster for the upcoming season as a utility player, and said she had the most complete test she had witnessed as a coach.
Pichardo was pitcher and outfielder for the Women’s National Team USA Baseball and played baseball with a club in New York. He spent two weeks in Brown’s program this fall, training with current players and practiced her skills as an infielder, outfielder and pitcher.
“Olivia did the most comprehensive test I’ve seen of a player since I became head coach,” Achilles said in a press release.
native of Queens, New York, Pichardo played baseball at Garden School High School his final two years. As a member of Team USA this summer, he participated in the Friendship Series against Canada in Ontario, Canada. Pichardo also did an internship at the Amateur Scouting Department of the Mets from New York.
Pichardo18, said it was “a surreal moment” when she was told that made the team during a batters and pitchers meeting.
“I’m living my dream right now and the ideal college experience that I always wanted, so that’s great,” said Pichardo, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Mets on Women’s Day at Citi Field.
Brown noted that nearly 20 women have made college baseball rosters, at least eight of them currently scheduled for next season, but none at the Division I level of the NCAA.
