Ballplayers don`t cry: The Deerfield Does game last Monday was one to remember. Sure, the Does beat their opponents, the Wilmette Warriors, 9-5. But that was expected. The Does were undefeated in the North Suburban Fast Pitch League in the girls` 12-and-under division.
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But Monday was different. A pro was watching. Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Gloria ”Tippy” Schweigerdt had stopped by Shepard Junior High in Deerfield to throw the Does a few one-liners and to watch her daughter`s niece, Maggie Harrigan, play.
Schweigerdt had played professional ball from 1949 to 1951 in the league made famous by the recently released movie ”A League of Their Own.” And she was happy to pitch some hard-earned conclusions to Harrigan and teammates.
”There`s no crying in baseball. We played hard,” Schweigerdt told the Does. Also, ”It`s not win or lose. Winning is everything,” she said. And the Does won. But they had no cause to worry about style or skill. Schweigerdt was not there to criticize. ”I`m just glad to see these girls take this much interest,” she said.