A young baseball player, Aria Finnerty, is making her parents, Gregg Finnerty and Jenn Crosby Finnerty, proud with her selection at the Maria Pepe Legacy Series.
In Hamburg, New York, 10-year-old Aria Finnerty is making waves in boys’ baseball.
Aria isn’t just playing baseball; she’s changing the game. Competing in a boys’ league, she has proven that talent and determination have no gender.
She has been playing baseball since she was little, and her father, Greg Finnerty, knew that she was special from the first time she threw a ball in the backyard.
Last year, Aria finished 8th in batting. This year, she worked harder than ever, learning, improving, and fighting for every opportunity.
Aria, who plays for the Hamburg Dawgs here in the village, says,
I feel like any person who wants to play any sport, that’s what they should do
And her effort paid off in a big way as she finished 1st in both batting average and OPS. However, the numbers are only part of her story.
This summer, Aria was one of 96 girls to be chosen to play in the Little League Maria Pepe Legacy Series in Williamsport, honoring Maria Pepe, the trailblazer who fought for girls to have the right to play Little League baseball.
Standing on those fields with some of the best young players, Aria knew she was part of something bigger than herself.
For Aria, the news of being selected was unforgettable. She recalled the moment, saying:
I hugged my dad and then danced in my kitchen.
Aria
Greg, who couldn’t be anything but prouder of her achievements, said:
It really put a lot of pride in me knowing that, you watch your little girl work so hard to do something, and she’s being recognized for.
Greg
Likewise, her coach, Katya Kroll-Haeick, praised her:
It was a no brainer. You have certain kids that you saw throughout a whole season that you say, ‘this kid better try out,’ and she was at the top of that list
Katya Kroll-Haeick
Aria doesn’t play in a boys’ league to make a statement, but she does it because she loves baseball and refuses to let anyone tell her where she belongs.
She’s stepped into a male-dominated world and made it her own.
Alongside her family, Aria’s teammates have been behind her every step of the way, pushing her to be better, celebrating her wins, and lifting her after challenging games.
This season, Aria didn’t just improve her hitting, but she found her pitching and built her confidence.
In Aria’s team, every game ends the same way, no matter the score, with a cheer of “Family.” Because for them, that’s what baseball is. And for Aria, it’s not just a sport. It’s home.
