Gig Harbor Little League All-Star breaks the norm

Lindberg prepares to switch from baseball to fastpitch

Ashley Coats

of the Gateway

Aubrey Lindberg never got to know her grandfather, but that didn’t stop the two from sharing the same passion: baseball.

Aubrey’s grandfather, Bill Hain, played for the Tacoma Rainiers baseball team from 1960-63, back when they were still referred to as the Giants. Now, Aubrey is “a force to be reckoned with” in the Gig Harbor Little League.

“(Her grandfather) shines down some light on her,” said Karen Lindberg, Aubrey’s mother.

Lindberg’s 55 mph fastball, her 80 strikeouts in 32 innings and her .500 batting average would be impressive for any seventh-grader, but it’s especially noticeable because she’s the only female on her team.

“(Aubrey) is just part of the team,” Karen said. “It’s kind of fun to hear people acknowledge her abilities. She’s just loves the game.”

Karen said she was nervous when Aubrey first entered Little League, but now she knows she made the right decision.

“The kids treat her like a baseball player, not a girl baseball player,” said Bill Glover, one of Lindberg’s coaches. “Especially this year, she’s blossomed into one of the best players in Gig Harbor Little League.”

Aubrey played for the Red Sox in GHLL’s American League, and the team won the city championship. Aubrey hit a home run in the title game.

The Red Sox did not have a great season last year, but with the return of four key players — Chad Glover, Hunter Werner, Owen Taylor and Lindberg — the Red Sox walked away with the championship.

“We kind of became the leaders,” Lindberg said. “We were the returning and leading players.”

Lindberg’s coaches, Glover and Tom Taylor, both said she’s a “quiet leader.”

“She’s a very good player, and she’s very respected by her teammates,” Taylor said. “Whatever we ask her to do, she’ll do her best to do.”

Lindberg is currently playing on one of the Gig Harbor Little League’s All-Star teams. She was nominated by one of her coaches, and then tried out.

This is her third year on the team.

On Sunday, Lindberg’s Gig Harbor American team beat Gig Harbor National, 12-9.

Lindberg’s parents have supported her decision to play in the male-dominated Little League from the start. But when she asked to play football, both her parents turned her down.

“She started to play when she was 7,” said Randy Lindberg, Aubrey’s father. “Garrett (her older brother) was in Little League, so she wanted to be in Little League.”

Randy taught Aubrey how to pitch, and he built a dirt mound at their home so she and Garrett could practice their pitching.

Karen and Randy are also cheerleaders when Aubrey plays.

“She doesn’t like it when we yell too loud, but we’ve gotten better,” Karen said.

Lindberg has made the decision to switch from Little League baseball to fastpitch softball next year. She said she made the decision because she wants a college scholarship, and she couldn’t get one for baseball.

“(The switch from baseball to softball) is not being forced because the competition’s outgrown her, that’s for sure,” Glover said. “She’s fantastic.”

Lindberg has tried the fastpitch’s “windmill” pitching style but said “the ball went flying.”

“I want to take some lessons. I want to be a pitcher,” she said. “I want a scholarship, and I know I can’t get it in baseball.”

Lindberg has been playing in the majors division of Gig Harbor Little League. Next year, she would have had to play in the juniors division.

“It’s just a big switch, and we felt it was just time,” Karen said.

Her father agreed.

“It’s going to be a change, but it’s the direction she needs to go in,” he said.

Reach intern Ashley Coats at 253-853-9224 or by e-mail at ashley.coats@gateline.com.