- ABC News
- November 21, 2022
Olivia Pichardo, a freshman utility player and walk-on at Brown, became the first woman to make an active NCAA Division I baseball varsity roster this fall, the school announced on Monday. Pichardo was a pitcher and outfielder for the U.S. baseball women's national team this past summer. She previously played varsity baseball in Queens, New York, and played club baseball for the New York Crush and Next Level baseball. Brown baseball coach Grant Achilles said he was impressed by Pichardo's athleticism during her initial tryout and in subsequent practices. Achilles, who is entering his ninth season as coach, said Pichardo had "the most complete walk-on tryout I have seen from a player since becoming a head coach." A utility player who can play in the infield and outfield, Pichardo was one of 31 players to make the roster for the upcoming spring season. Pichardo learned that she made the roster during a team meeting on Oct. 4. "It was definitely a surreal moment for me because...