5/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2003
by Jeff Wick, San Angelo Standard Times
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Playing baseball for the San Angelo Colts of the independent Central League has become a family affair for Kendall and Jake Burnham.
The Burnhams became the first husband-and-wife duo to play in a regular-season pro baseball game on Wednesday when Kendall signed with Jake's team and struck out in her first at-bat.
Her debut was quite a whirlwind. She arrived in town Tuesday expecting to watch her new husband. Instead, she passed a quick tryout and was handed a uniform Wednesday afternoon.
"It's crazy," she said. "Everything just happened so fast."
With two out in the bottom of the ninth, she went down looking on three pitches as San Angelo lost to Amarillo 8-1.
Manager Steve Maddock said Kendall, a former fastpitch softball star, will continue to pinch-hit until working her way into the starting lineup. Her biggest challenge will be adjusting to a smaller ball and overhand pitching instead of underhand.
Maddock said she'll be a backup at second base and shortstop. With Jake the starter at third base, the Colts could have an all-Burnham left side of the infield.
"We're on the same team and we've got a common goal, to help this team win," Jake told the San Angelo Standard-Times. "And if there's anybody who knows how I play it's her after working out with me all winter. Maybe she can give me some advice."
Maddock said Kendall's background proves it's not merely a publicity stunt. But he also hopes it boosts attendance. The stadium has been less than half-full this season, the team's fourth.
"It's no different than signing an ex-major leaguer who has a big name," Maddock said. "Either way, you're trying to give someone an opportunity and trying to put someone in the seats. That's independent league baseball."
Before marrying Jake Burnham less than two months ago, Kendall Richards was an all-conference softball player both at Cal-Berkeley and Texas A&M. She made All-America her senior season with the Aggies, then joined the Women's Professional Softball League.
She was the starting third baseman on the 2000 team that won the league championship, then became an assistant softball coach at UNLV. She's worked there for three years.
Her season ended recently and on Tuesday she arrived in San Angelo. She signed Wednesday _ filling a vacant roster spot to become the third woman to play regular-season minor league games. The others were Kendra Hanes and Ila Borders.
Hanes went 0-for-10 in 10 games in the Frontier League in 1994. In her first at-bat, she struck out against Maddock.
"Kendall is 100 times the athlete that girl was," Maddock said. "She has a good swing. She hits the ball well, lines drives. She's better than what I thought."
