EWBC History

The Eastern Women's Baseball Conference was initiated in 2000, but has its roots in the Washington Metropolitan Women's Baseball League (WMWBL). The WMWBL was founded in 1990 by Lydia Moon, a graphic artist from Rockville, MD. She had been inspired by the American Women's Baseball Association, which was established in the Chicago area in 1988. During the first year of the WMWBL, players showed up for informal pickup games. In 1991, three teams played in formal games. Moon moved out of the area, and Brooke DeLarco kept the league alive during the 1992 summer season with two teams.

In 1993, the movie "A League of their Own" prompted the press to increase its coverage of women's baseball, and a full-page article in the Weekend section of the Washington Post in July of that year became an eye-opener for many women who never new that women's baseball existed. As a result, the WMWBL expanded to four teams in the Autumn of 1993. In 1995, DeLarco left the area, and JoAnn Milliken began her tenure as WMWBL President.

In 1999, the first team from Baltimore - the Stars - entered the League, bringing the total to 5 teams. The following year, the WMWBL (5 teams), the Mid-Atlantic Women's Baseball League (Baltimore Blues), and New Jersey/New York Region Women's Baseball (New Jersey Nemesis) joined forces to form the Eastern Women's Baseball Conference. The EWBC vision was that each region would eventually expand to multiple teams in Northern, Southern, and Mid-Atlantic divisions. Travel logistics eventually thwarted that plan, and the Nemesis left the EWBC in 2001. In 2005, the Baltimore Blues folded, but a new team - the Lasers - was formed. In 2006, the Baltimore Blues returned. In 2007, the Lasers folded, and the Virginia Fury was formed.

Some teams went through various name changes throughout the years. The Virginia Flames were originally Olympus Gym, then Womyncrafters "Hammers." The Baltimore Stars changed management in 2003 and became the Cantina Banditas, and then the Hawks in 2005.

The League consists of women from all walks of life united by a common dream to play real baseball. Many are former slow- and fast-pitch softball players attracted by the challenges of playing hardball.


Conference Structure

The EWBC uses Major League Baseball rules with a few minor modifications to encourage additional participation. Games last 7 innings or 2-1/2 hours, and are played at regulation distances. All games are professionally umpired. League play begins in May and extends through September. The EWBC Tournament Team participates in National tournaments throughout the year.

EWBC Teams:

1. Maryland Boxers (Manager: Kristen Guidace)
2. Hawks (Manager: Marisa Albright)
3. Montgomery County BarnCats (Manager: Diane Sweeney; Coach: Richard Bender)
4. Virginia Flames (Manager: David Fyfe; Coach: Harry Simpson)
5. Virginia Fury (Manager: Jennifer O'Keefe)
6. Baltimore Blues (Manager: Jan Strevig)