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Japanese Girl Wants To Be Like Wakefield

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Nov 17, 2008 2:39 pm US/Eastern

Japanese Girl Wants To Be Like Wakefield

TOKYO (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: Eri Yoshida poses for photographers during a press conference in Osaka, western Japan, on November 16.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
Click to enlarge 2 of 2: Tim Wakefield (file image)
J. Meric/Getty Images

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A 16-year-old schoolgirl is making a pitch to become the first woman to play professional baseball in Japan.

High school student Eri Yoshida was drafted by the Kobe 9 Cruise, a professional team in a new independent Japanese league that starts its first season in April.

"I always dreamed of becoming a professional," Yoshida said at a news conference Monday. "I have only just been picked by the team and haven't achieved anything yet."

Yoshida, a right-hander who is 5 feet and 114 pounds, throws a sidearm knuckleball and wants to emulate Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.

Yoshida threw a hitless inning against male batters during a tryout this month and was among 33 players picked in the draft.