Latest news with #RobButler
National Post
10-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Female fireballer Ayami Sato ready to make baseball history with IBL Leafs
At 2 p.m. Sunday — that's 3 a.m. Monday in Japan — Ayami Sato makes history on the mound at Christie Pits. Article content Article content Many people on both sides of the world are taking interest in the first start of a female pitcher for a pro baseball team in Canada. The 5-foot-5 right-hander debuts for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League, crossing the gender gap, not to mention 13 time zones. Article content 'My parents are my biggest fans,' Sato told the Toronto Sun through interpreter Yoko van Veen. 'They have always encouraged me to do extraordinary things and I hope to show them and everyone new talents here.' Article content She is scheduled to throw just a couple of innings, but the 35-year-old multi-world champion, with an 80-m.p.h. fastball and wicked curve, makes it clear she didn't sign here to be a one-day curiosity. Article content 'This challenge will make me grow as a player and a person this season. I do believe I have the energy and believe there's room to grow.' Article content Arriving in Toronto in late April, staying home as long as possible to take advantage of the earlier spring weather in Japan to train, she has been working out with the Leafs, getting to know teammates. Article content 'She'd looked fantastic out there,' said Leafs manager and former Blue Jay Rob Butler. 'She brings that Japanese work ethic, hours and hours of preparation, and she's really in game mode. Article content 'She's faced live hitting with us, thrown strikes, has movement on her two-seam fastball and curve. I know she's nervous, but in an excited way. She's been on a big stage before.' Article content Sato starred in the international baseball community, part of six World Cup titles for Japan between 2010-2024, a three-time tournament MVP. A year ago, she gave up four hits and held the U.S. from getting an earned run in a 4–3 loss. Article content A basketball player in middle school, her love of baseball convinced a boys' team coach to put her on the team and she excelled through high school and at Shobi University. Though she considered giving up on baseball because of lack of opportunity to play at home, the formation of a Japanese women's league in 2009 sustained her career. Article content Her journey to Canada began late last year when Leafs co-owner Keith Stein and his staff, looking to increase female fan engagement through a management or coaching hire, chose a unique on-field move instead. Stein, a co-founder of the new Women's Pro Baseball League that's holding summer player tryouts for franchises in the Northeastern U.S., was among those who watched Sato in the Amazon Prime documentary See Her, Be Her. It focused on female ball players battling gender inequality.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ayami Sato will make baseball history in Toronto — and blaze a trail for women in sports
When Ayami Sato takes to the mound at Toronto's Christie Pits park on Sunday, her first pitch will make history. Sato, 35, has come all the way from Japan to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of nine teams in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) of southern Ontario. She'll be the first woman to join a professional men's league in Canada. The IBL is more than 100 years old and some of its players spent time on Major League Baseball teams or in other elite leagues. Sato is already considered a legend in women's international baseball. As part of Japan's national team, she helped her country win world championships and took home three MVP awards along the way. WATCH | Ayami Sato will break gender barrier in Canadian baseball with Toronto Maple Leafs: She told CBC News in a recent interview at the ball diamond that she's honoured to be a Maple Leaf and to break the gender barrier in Canadian baseball. "I am so happy, very excited," Sato said in English, with much of the rest of the interview conducted via a translator. Maple Leafs manager and former Toronto Blue Jay Rob Butler says Sato is considered the best pitcher ever in women's baseball, and the team is happy to give her the chance to showcase her skills. "We're excited to see something new, something different, something fresh," he said. "We want to break some barriers down and give her a great opportunity." Butler says the Maple Leafs hope Sato, who's brought "an amazing interest to women's baseball" will also draw new fans to their games this summer, especially women. Ashley Stephenson, who played against Sato as a member of the Canadian national team, predicts she'll easily earn the respect of fans in Canada. "She's an outstanding pitcher, the best pitcher I ever faced in international competition," Stephenson said in a video call from Florida where she coaches with one of the Blue Jays' minor league teams. "She was in a league of her own." But Stephenson, who's a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, says she's also sad that there's no professional women's baseball league in Canada for players at Sato's level, especially considering the recent success of women's professional leagues in soccer, hockey and basketball. "Part of me wishes we had that for baseball, too," she said. Keith Stein, a Toronto businessman who is one of the Maple Leafs owners, is working on granting Stephenson's wish. He's currently building the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) with American baseball trailblazer Justine Siegal. Stein told CBC News that it's a "travesty" that there's no pro league for women. For a long time, he says, girls were pushed to play softball instead of hardball, something he hopes the WPBL will help to change. "We think the WPBL is going to be the catalyst for the creation of a whole new baseball ecosystem and culture for women, not only in the United States but throughout the world," he said. So far, more than 50 Canadian women have applied to try out for the league, which will start with six U.S. teams in 2026, though Stein hopes to eventually expand it north in future seasons. "There will be a franchise in Toronto," he declared. World-Series winning Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is an advisor to the league, and so is Sato. Stein hopes she'll be a player, too. For now, the Japanese pitcher, who knows little about Canada other than that it's cold and hockey is more popular than baseball, is gearing up for her first game with her teammates. "They've been really great and I'm looking forward to playing with them," Sato said. At a recent practice, the players were giving her encouraging words, high fives and fist bumps. It's not lost on Sato that she's making history. She hopes playing in a men's pro league demonstrates courage to young girls and that they'll follow her example of accepting new challenges. "I hope that will inspire a lot of little girls here," she said. Mission already accomplished, according to the young players taking part in a Canadian Girls Baseball League practice at a park not too far from where the Maple Leafs play. "I've heard that she's a legend," said Quinsey Jenkins, 12. "I'm excited that a girl is going to be pitching amongst boys — and hopefully she can beat them." Her message to Sato: "Go out and make all the other girls like me proud, and blaze a trail for us so we can follow." Danielle Waserman thinks it's unfair there's no pro league for Sato and other women in Canada. "It's very strong of her to play in a men's league and I really look up to her," said the 10-year-old player. Sophia Bonder, whose uniform t-shirt reads "I'm Changing the Game," is anxiously awaiting a women's league she can watch on TV. For now, the 13-year-old is happy Sato is playing in her city where she can go cheer on a superstar. "I'm glad she's getting a chance to show her talents to everyone else," said Bonder. "And I'm proud."
CBC
10-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Ayami Sato will make baseball history in Toronto — and blaze a trail for women in sports
Social Sharing When Ayami Sato takes to the mound at Toronto's Christie Pits park on Sunday, her first pitch will make history. Sato, 35, has come all the way from Japan to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of nine teams in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) of southern Ontario. She'll be the first woman to join a professional men's league in Canada. The IBL is more than 100 years old and some of its players spent time on Major League Baseball teams or in other elite leagues. Sato is already considered a legend in women's international baseball. As part of Japan's national team, she helped her country win world championships and took home three MVP awards along the way. WATCH | Ayami Sato will break gender barrier in Canadian baseball with Toronto Maple Leafs: Japanese pitcher set to make history as first woman in Canadian pro baseball 2 days ago Duration 2:08 A woman is poised to make baseball history in Toronto on Sunday, pitching in a professional men's game for the first time in Canada. Japanese star Ayami Sato will take the mound with the Intercounty Baseball League's Toronto Maple Leafs. She told CBC News in a recent interview at the ball diamond that she's honoured to be a Maple Leaf and to break the gender barrier in Canadian baseball. "I am so happy, very excited," Sato said in English, with much of the rest of the interview conducted via a translator. Maple Leafs manager and former Toronto Blue Jay Rob Butler says Sato is considered the best pitcher ever in women's baseball, and the team is happy to give her the chance to showcase her skills. "We're excited to see something new, something different, something fresh," he said. "We want to break some barriers down and give her a great opportunity." Butler says the Maple Leafs hope Sato, who's brought "an amazing interest to women's baseball" will also draw new fans to their games this summer, especially women. Sato 'in a league of her own' Ashley Stephenson, who played against Sato as a member of the Canadian national team, predicts she'll easily earn the respect of fans in Canada. "She's an outstanding pitcher, the best pitcher I ever faced in international competition," Stephenson said in a video call from Florida where she coaches with one of the Blue Jays' minor league teams. "She was in a league of her own." But Stephenson, who's a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, says she's also sad that there's no professional women's baseball league in Canada for players at Sato's level, especially considering the recent success of women's professional leagues in soccer, hockey and basketball. "Part of me wishes we had that for baseball, too," she said. A new baseball ecosystem for women Keith Stein, a Toronto businessman who is one of the Maple Leafs owners, is working on granting Stephenson's wish. He's currently building the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL) with American baseball trailblazer Justine Siegal. Stein told CBC News that it's a "travesty" that there's no pro league for women. For a long time, he says, girls were pushed to play softball instead of hardball, something he hopes the WPBL will help to change. "We think the WPBL is going to be the catalyst for the creation of a whole new baseball ecosystem and culture for women, not only in the United States but throughout the world," he said. So far, more than 50 Canadian women have applied to try out for the league, which will start with six U.S. teams in 2026, though Stein hopes to eventually expand it north in future seasons. "There will be a franchise in Toronto," he declared. World-Series winning Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is an advisor to the league, and so is Sato. Stein hopes she'll be a player, too. For now, the Japanese pitcher, who knows little about Canada other than that it's cold and hockey is more popular than baseball, is gearing up for her first game with her teammates. "They've been really great and I'm looking forward to playing with them," Sato said. At a recent practice, the players were giving her encouraging words, high fives and fist bumps. 'Blaze a trail for us' It's not lost on Sato that she's making history. She hopes playing in a men's pro league demonstrates courage to young girls and that they'll follow her example of accepting new challenges. "I hope that will inspire a lot of little girls here," she said. Mission already accomplished, according to the young players taking part in a Canadian Girls Baseball League practice at a park not too far from where the Maple Leafs play. "I've heard that she's a legend," said Quinsey Jenkins, 12. "I'm excited that a girl is going to be pitching amongst boys — and hopefully she can beat them." Her message to Sato: "Go out and make all the other girls like me proud, and blaze a trail for us so we can follow." Danielle Waserman thinks it's unfair there's no pro league for Sato and other women in Canada. "It's very strong of her to play in a men's league and I really look up to her," said the 10-year-old player. Sophia Bonder, whose uniform t-shirt reads "I'm Changing the Game," is anxiously awaiting a women's league she can watch on TV. For now, the 13-year-old is happy Sato is playing in her city where she can go cheer on a superstar.
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 'Norwich must compete for play-offs next season'
"You've got to look at it from where we've come from, which is a team that really tried to establish themselves in the Premier League and failed miserably on several occasions."But we are the most yo-yo club out of all the teams in England, so two or three years [to win promotion] is a long wait for Norwich fans."You need to be looking at next year being competitive in those play-offs."BBC Radio Norwich's Rob Butler says the Canaries have to push for a top six finish next joined by Chris Reeve as they reflect on the Plymouth defeat, discuss what the future holds for Norwich and look ahead to the Sunderland game on Tuesday (19:45 BST).Listen to the latest episode of the The Scrimmage podcast on BBC Sounds.
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
🎧Scrimmage Daily: April Fools
Did you get caught out by a football-based April Fools' joke today?Chris Goreham and Rob Butler bring you some classic pranks, including the time a Milk Cup winner said the Wembley final would have to be to The Scrimmage podcast on BBC Sounds.
