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Japan's "Knuckle Princess" Eri Yoshida Acquired by Maui Na Koa

August 3, 2011 - North American League (NAmL)
Strong Warriors of Maui News Release


(Maui, HI. August 2, 2011) The Maui Na Koa Ikaika of the North American League, the premier independent minor league in western North America, today announced that they have traded for Japanese pitching sensation Eri Yoshida from the Chico Outlaws. She has reported to Maui and is scheduled to start this weekend against the Edmonton Capitals on August 6th. She joins Manager Garry Templeton and a half dozen teammates from the 2011 Chico Outlaws Championship team who all play for Maui now.

Yoshida, 19, made headlines and impressed the baseball world last summer when she became the first female to play professionally in Japan and the U.S. Equipped with a sidearm knuckleball that is considered almost unhittable when she is on, she has played for the Kobe Cruise 9 of the Kansai League in Japan and then in the Arizona Winter League in the U.S. in 2010 and 2011 and also with the Chico Outlaws last year. She also became the first female pro player to have a hit and an RBI in a professional men's league and her jersey and bat from the 2010 Chico Outlaws were requested by, and are displayed in, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. She began playing baseball in the 2nd grade and credits Tim Wakefield as the inspiration for her 50 mph knuckleball delivered from her 5 foot 1 inch, 115 lb frame.

She made 8 starts for the Outlaws last year before ending her season early with a tired arm. Fully recovered, she pitched in the Arizona Winter League this February, but the tragic events in Japan in March sidetracked her ability to be ready to rejoin Chico in May when the season started. Turning down offers from Japanese minor league teams, she joined the amateur All Samurai Japan team to get fully prepared and also to be showcased to MLB scouts as the team traveled to southern California early this summer. She had a number of tryouts with MLB teams and was impressive, but did not receive a contract offer as she needed to demonstrate her effectiveness in a professional league against quality and experienced pro hitters. She signed last week with the Chico Outlaws and started on Friday night against Maui, she left with a 4-3 lead as her team went on to win the game 8 - 4. Besides pitching in that game she survived two brushback pitches to draw a walk and then came around to score to give Chico the go ahead run of the game.

"I am excited to have Eri back pitching for me again," said Maui Manager Garry Templeton. "She looked very good against us last week and has worked hard and improved a lot this past year. She deserves this chance to continue to develop her professional career and I'm glad we are able to offer her this opportunity."

Yoshida almost signed with Maui earlier this summer, but had commitments to her amateur team that she would not abandon and wanted to continue to sharpen her skills. After seeing her in action last week, Maui quickly worked out a deal with Chico to bring the Knuckle Princess to the islands.

"Although we wanted to keep her on the team, we also want to do what's best for the player," said Chico Manager and Team President Mike Marshall. "She pitched here in Chico all last year and giving her a chance for exposure to scouts in an additional market can really benefit her."

Yoshida will be in Maui on August 2nd and details of a press conference will be provided shortly.

"I will always be grateful to the Chico Outlaws for the opportunity they gave me last season and this summer too, but now I will try my best to beat them." said Yoshida. "I am excited to play in Maui for Mr. Templeton and with my old teammates and also because we have family ties to the island and I am very comfortable there."

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