Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run
This story is part of a series celebrating 50 years of MLB Pitch, Hit & Run and the athletes and communities that have shaped the program.
More than 50 years ago, Maria Pepe fought for the chance to play baseball.
Earlier this month, nearly 100 girls gathered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for an event bearing her name. Held at the home of the Little League Baseball World Series, the 2026 Maria Pepe Little League Baseball® Legacy Series brought together girls from across the U.S. and around the world for a weekend of baseball, friendship, and unforgettable memories.
As part of the event, participants also competed in the first all-girls baseball MLB Pitch, Hit & Run competition. For a program celebrating its own 50th anniversary, there may not have been a more meaningful place to do it.
Continuing a Legacy
The Maria Pepe Legacy Series honors one of the most influential figures in youth baseball.
In the early 1970s, Maria Pepe’s fight for the opportunity to play Little League Baseball helped open doors for generations of girls who followed. More than five decades later, her legacy lives on through events like this one, giving the next generation of athletes the opportunity to take the field.
That same spirit is at the heart of Pitch, Hit & Run.
For 50 years, the program has given youth athletes a chance to showcase their skills, challenge themselves, and discover where the game can take them. At Williamsport, participants had the opportunity to put those skills to the test through pitching, hitting, and running competitions on one of the most iconic stages in youth baseball.
But as memorable as the competition was, the weekend was about much more than scores. It was about bringing together girls who share a love of baseball.
“Baseball Is Baseball”
Coach Bonnie Hoffman has attended the Maria Pepe Legacy Series three times and has seen firsthand what experiences like this can mean for youth athletes.
When asked what inspires her to coach girls in baseball, her answer was simple: “We just think of it as coaching baseball. It’s not female baseball. Baseball is baseball.”
For Hoffman, events like the Maria Pepe Legacy Series aren’t about proving girls belong in baseball—they do. They’re about creating more opportunities to play and grow in the game.
“I love baseball and I love what it gives to players,” Hoffman said. “It’s important for girls to see female coaches and know that coaching is an avenue for them as well.”
That opportunity was on display throughout the weekend, whether athletes were competing in games, testing their skills in Pitch, Hit & Run, or simply connecting with other girls who share the same passion for baseball.
One of Hoffman’s athletes earned an automatic qualification to a Pitch, Hit & Run Team Championship, held at an MLB ballpark later this year. Hoffman was proud of the accomplishment, but what stood out most to her was how athletes across the competition embraced the challenge.
“It’s asking a lot of kids to perform, and I was really impressed with how they handled it,” she said. “To see the kids control their emotions, step up, and do their best was incredible.”
Meeting Maria
Participants gathered to hear directly from Maria Pepe herself. For many of the girls, it was a chance to meet the woman whose determination helped create opportunities that previous generations never had.
For Hoffman, it’s an experience that remains just as powerful every year.
“Maria is a phenomenal human being,” she said. “The decision she and her family made opened the door for so many people. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Her impact could be felt throughout the event—in the girls taking the field, in the coaches guiding them, and in the opportunities available today because she refused to accept that girls shouldn’t have the chance to play.
As Hoffman put it: “Our hope is that girls continue being in spaces where they want to be, whether it’s baseball, science, or anything else. This is about having the opportunity to do things that make you happy.”
That’s what Maria Pepe fought for. It’s what the Maria Pepe Legacy Series celebrates. And it’s what Pitch, Hit & Run has been creating for youth athletes for the last 50 years.
Inspired by this story? Find an MLB Pitch, Hit & Run event near you and showcase your skills.
