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Watch knuckleballer Claire Eccles become the first female player in the collegiate West Coast League

(Clair, Michael)

When the Victoria HarbourCats signed female pitcher Claire Eccles in May, it was big news. After all, not only was she a knuckleballer -- the best kind of pitcher -- but she would become the first female player in the collegiate league's history when she first took the mound. 
That happened on Wednesday night. Coming on in relief against the Wenatchee Applesox (amazing name), Eccles joined a line of players like Chris Davis, James Paxton and Jacoby Ellsbury who once called the league home.

Though the HarbourCats lost, 9-0, Eccles performed well in front of a crowd that gave her a standing ovation. She pitched two innings, giving up one hit, two runs and one walk. Watch some of the southpaw's performance here, with a behind-the-plate camera that shows the knuckle jumping and diving: 

"I just wanted to play," Eccles told The Daily Hive after the appearance. "There was a lot of media beforehand. I just wanted to go out and show I could compete."
With that very important landmark reached, it's time to focus on other important matters. Like what her walkout song should be: 

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