'Girls can do anything': 8-year-old responds to critics who say she shouldn't play baseball

She's only eight years old, but Ashlynn Jolicoeur is already a superstar on the Canadian baseball circuit, and is taking a swingat critics who say girls should stick to softball.

In 2018, Ashlynnwon the most valuable playertrophy for her performance during rep league semifinals in Whitby, Ont.

But before she started playing inthe finals, her father Dan Theriensaid another parent on the team told him that girls shouldn't be playing baseball and that they should stick to softball.

It didn't stop there. Therien said the coach cut his daughterfrom the teamat tryouts.

But the eight-year-oldsaid there is no difference between girls and boys when it comes to baseball.

"Girls can do anything," she said in an interview withCBC Radio'sMetro MorningWednesday.

"I want to be on Team Canada," was her responsewhen asked about her dreams for the future.

Ashlynn shows off skills in Instagram video

Ashlynn whose favourite players are RobbieAlomar, Kevin Pillar and Freddy Galvis has not gone unnoticed.

In what could be described as aperfect response to the critics, Baseball for Allposted a video on Instagram that shows hermaking spectacular catches as she runsfly-ball drills. Thenonprofit organization is dedicated tolevelling the baseball playing fieldfor girls across North America.

Baseball For Allhas invited Ashlynnto its fifth annual BFA Nationals, the largest and longest-running all-girls baseball tournament in North America.

"She can play," said founder Justine Siegal, who was Major League Baseball's first female coach. "She works really hard and you can see the passion and love for the game."

Discrimination 'on a regular basis'

Siegal has been in Ashlynn's shoes. At 13 years old, her new baseball coach saidhe didn't want Siegalon the team she should play softball instead.

"That was the day I decided I would play forever," said Siegal.

It wasn't easy, playing with a coach who didn't want her. But Siegal stuck at it and went on to become Major League Baseball's first female coach. Her jersey hangs in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

ButSiegal still sees gender discrimination in baseball "on a regular basis."

"Ihave a long list of girls who have been told they shouldn't play baseball, or they're not allowed ... or they're just treated really poorly while they are playing," she said.

'All I want to do is play baseball'

When the other parent said Ashlynn shouldn't be playing, Therien said he told them thathe would not limithis daughter's dreams.

"It was upsetting. I was upset, but I did not let that bother me too much because I think some people sometimes are a little outdated in their thoughts," Therien said.

He said Ashlynntold him: "All I want to do is play baseball."

"She didn't let it impact her. She works hard.She's dedicated and it's all on her. She wantsto practice all the time and wants to play the game," he said.

More than 350 girls are participating in the Baseball for All Nationals next week in Rockford, Illinois, from age seven to 18. Ashlynnwill get to play with other girls who usually just play with the boys, said Siegal, including four teams from Toronto.

She saidshe's excited to be chosen to participate.

"It's cool."

A need for more girls baseball programs

Siegal said things are definitely getting betterand many coaches andleagues are supportive of female players.

But there needs to be morebaseball programs specifically for girls throughout North America, she said, as well as more welcoming co-ed programs.Just like what happened in soccer or hockey, she said, more girls will play when you provide them an avenue.

There'sa societal myth that "girls play softball and boys play baseball," Siegal said.

"We're at a tipping point where there's enough people saying, 'Hey, Iwant a to play and I'mnot going to takeno for an answer.'"

And on Wednesday, another one of Ashlynn'sdreams came true when she had a chance to get some one-on-one time with her favourite player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: