The Hillsboro Hops’ 9-2 loss on Thursday is not going to be remembered by the ultimate rating, however for a supervisor’s historic second.
When the primary pitch was thrown, Ronnie Gajownik turned the primary girl to handle in affiliated baseball on the Excessive-A degree. Final yr, Rachel Balkovec turned the primary feminine supervisor in affiliated ball for Single-A.
On Thursday, Gajownik carved out her personal place within the historical past books because the skipper of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Excessive-A affiliate.
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Ronnie Gajownik (34) of the Hillsboro Hops jokes with gamers earlier than a recreation at Gesa Stadium Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Paseco, Wash. (Jared Ravich/MLB Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)
Though her group misplaced towards Tri-Metropolis, Gajownik was properly conscious of what her debut meant.
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“A variety of feelings. I actually didn’t eat right this moment, so a bit of bit nervous,” Gajownik mentioned after the sport. “I care in regards to the workers and these guys and what’s finest for them. So, positively nerves, however good nerves. So, I can take a bit of bit extra of a breath after this. It’s simply nice to see and to be a part of that change that’s actually kicking the door down.”
Gajownik has had a formidable athletic profession. She earned a gold medal within the 2015 Pan-American Video games as a part of Workforce USA’s ladies’s baseball group.
She later joined Arizona in 2021 as a video assistant for Hillsboro. When one in every of Double-A Amarillo’s coaches broke a foot, Gajownik was named a primary base coach for the 2022 season.
She later served as a coach for Salt River within the Arizona Fall League.
Ronnie Gajownik of the Hillsboro Hops greets gamers throughout a pregame ceremony earlier than the Hillsboro Hops confronted the Tri-Metropolis Mud Devils at Gesa Stadium Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Paseco, Wash. (Jared Ravich/MLB Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)
“She did an awesome job working with the blokes in Amarillo,” Arizona farm director Josh Barfield advised MLB.com in January. “She’s simply bought such an ease about her, the way in which she connects with folks. I believe a few of the finest coaches — clearly they’ve good content material, and he or she has that. … She reveals management, she reveals initiative.”
Gajownik ultimately returned to Hillsboro because the supervisor. She mentioned the chance to be the supervisor was a results of years of onerous work.
Ronnie Gajownik of the Hillsboro Hops writes on the lineup card within the dugout throughout a recreation towards the Tri-Metropolis Mud Devils at Gesa Stadium Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Paseco, Wash. (Jared Ravich/MLB Pictures by way of Getty Pictures)
“It means quite a bit. … It reveals how a lot time, effort, blood, sweat and tears of all these years of grinding on the ball area after which getting myself right into a place that I wanted to get myself into to get myself right here,” she defined. “It’s been quite a bit currently, however I do know that in all probability tonight and the following couple of months once I calm down a bit of bit extra into that, I’ll be capable to actually replicate and actually take it in.”
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Gajownik added that she wasn’t in a position to totally take the second in in the course of the recreation as a result of she was centered on doing her job because the supervisor.
“I truthfully actually haven’t given it any thought but,” Gajownik mentioned.
“Simply because we’re so centered on the sport, who’s coming in when and getting all these things executed. I do know that tonight, once I lastly get again to my resort room, I’ll lastly be capable to take that breath and perceive how huge of a second it was for me, after which additionally too only for the way forward for ladies in skilled sports activities.”