(Photo Credit: Jean Truth)
by Tucker Terranova
In recent years, there has been continued growth in the number of girls playing and working in sports. With Major League Baseball’s recent investment in Athletes Unlimited Softball and the rising popularity of the WNBA and PWHL, it’s clear that girls now have a place in sports that wasn’t as accessible in previous decades.
At the youth level, many girls begin playing baseball to learn the fundamentals before transitioning to softball in their teenage years. But for twins Camryn and Cassidy Bashian, that’s not an option — they’re baseball players.
Members of the 11U B1 Ghost and the Merrick-Bellmore Little League, the twins have been immersed in baseball since they could first pick up a ball. While they’ve given softball a try, their love remains on the diamond.
“I tried playing softball at a clinic and was bored, so I went back to playing baseball with my friends,” Cassidy said. “When I play softball at camp, I hit the ball really far — so I think I can play both.”
For Camryn, she understands that eyes are on her every time she steps on the field. She brings added motivation to every practice and game, driven by her ultimate goal of making “The Show”.
“I like playing baseball because no one thought I’d still be playing, and it motivates me,” she said. “I want to be the first girl to play in the MLB.”
The girls were selected to take part in the inaugural Maria Pepe Legacy Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, last week, where 96 players gathered for clinics, panels, and three exhibition games. They also had the chance to meet Maria Pepe, the tournament’s namesake and a trailblazer believed to be one of the first girls to play Little League after a ban was enacted in 1951. Her story gained national attention and played a key role in the ban’s reversal in 1974.
For the twins, the weekend was an unforgettable experience as they showcased their skills against some of the top girl baseball players in the country. Camryn led her team with six RBIs and a .500 batting average, while Cassidy topped hers in OPS.
“It was really special playing in Williamsport and having an opportunity to play on the fields of the Little League World Series,” Camryn said.
Cassidy added: “It meant a lot to be given an opportunity to show that girls can play baseball just like boys.”
The tournament gave them an opportunity to represent not just Merrick-Bellmore Little League, but all of Long Island on a national stage — something both girls take pride in.
“I was very happy playing for Merrick-Bellmore Little League in Williamsport because not many players from Long Island get this opportunity, and MBLL has always allowed us to play baseball,” Cassidy said.
It wasn’t the girls’ first time being surrounded by others who share their experiences. Every fall, the twins travel to Arizona to participate in LA49, an all-girls tournament, as members of the BallGirls.
BallGirls is an organization founded by Allie Lacey that brings girls from across the country together to compete in major tournaments, including Cooperstown. The twins’ dad met Lacey last summer while coaching their older brother, Spencer, and the two quickly bonded over their shared passion for growing girls’ baseball.
“Allie is such a good coach,” the girls said. “She supports our dream to play baseball for however long we want.”
The twins are eyeing a trip to Cooperstown with the squad next summer. In the meantime, they’ll join the team for a tournament at The Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, Maryland, in two weeks, where they’ll face off against teams of boys — a challenge they welcome.
“Many of the girls play baseball just like us with the boys at home,” Cassidy said. “It’s even more special because we have a chance to play with a team of girls.”
When they’re not suiting up for the BallGirls or Merrick-Bellmore Little League, the twins spend their summers like many 11-year-old ballplayers — on the travel baseball circuit.
They play for the B1000 Ghost 11U squad, an organization they credit as being instrumental in their development.
“Ghost gave me and my sister a chance to play travel baseball when other local teams wouldn’t,” said Cassidy, who plays catcher and first base.
Camryn — a pitcher, catcher and first baseman — added, “No one cares that we are girls playing baseball — they like it! Ghost feels like home.”
That sense of comfort stems largely from their coach, Stephen Richards. The girls said he’s been patient with them and has given them every opportunity to grow and succeed on the field.
Their passion for the game was sparked early, thanks in large part to their older brother, Spencer. A 13-year-old shortstop and pitcher for the 13U New York Longhorns, Spencer has been both a role model and a mentor — even helping edit their highlight videos and manage their social media.
“Our brother Spencer is our role model because he is such a good baseball player and teaches us how to play,” the girls said. “We learned so much just from always going to his games and practices. We look up to him and want to be just like him.”
The trio shares a love for the New York Mets. Whether they’re at Citi Field hunting for foul balls or watching Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor — their favorite players — the girls follow the team with the same enthusiasm as any 11-year-old would.
In recent years, a new precedent has been set for girls in baseball — especially in the New York area. Olivia Pichardo, a Queens native, made history in 2023 by becoming the first woman to make a Division I baseball roster after earning a spot at Brown University. Marika Lyszczyk, now a prominent social media figure with more than 130,000 TikTok followers, played collegiate baseball at Rivier University and Sonoma State, and spent two summers locally with the Sag Harbor Whalers in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League.
As more girls reach higher levels of the sport than ever before, the future is wide open for the Bashian twins. Their journey is just beginning — and there’s no telling how far their careers can go.
