The Miami Lakes Optimist girls softball team made history.
The group became the first high-school and Optimist Club softball players to play at Marlins Park, as the group competed in the inaugural RBI All-Star Softball Fastpitch game.
The girls played a full seven innings game, while Miami Marlins players Giancarlo Stanton and A.J. Ramos served as assistant coaches.
Longtime Miami Lakes Optimist member, coach and softball commissioner Alex Castroman coached the blue team.
“Stanton was great with the kids, very down to earth,’ said Castroman. “This was a wonderful experience where they had the honor of being the first girls to ever play a fast pitch softball game at Marlins field, the same field where Stanton plays.”
The event was especially great for Ashley Alfonso and Alexis Castroman, the first two female pitchers to pitch the first softball game at Marlins Park.
After the game, Stanton and Ramos stayed with the girls, signing autographs, taking pictures and talking with the girls while answering their questions.
The Miami Lakes Optimist Club expressed gratitude to the Marlins organization for their graciousness and hospitality shown to youth, especially Juan Garciga, manager of Community Outreach and Player Relations for the Marlins, for his hard work and dedication to the youth of the community over the past years.