Thornwood's Amira Hondras stars in Double Duty Classic at Chicago White Sox's Rate Field. Is college baseball next?

Chicago Tribune

08-07-2025

As a girl who plays varsity baseball for Thornwood, Amira Hondras has become accustomed to breaking barriers.
Her latest first was quite an exciting one. On July 2, she became the first female to play in the Double Duty Classic at the Chicago White Sox's Rate Field.
The annual event, which started in 2007, is an all-star game for inner-city players across the country designed to promote baseball in inner cities and honor the history of Negro League baseball. The game is named after Negro League star Ted 'Double Duty' Radcliffe.
'Being able to be the first girl to play in this Double Duty Classic game is definitely an honor and a privilege,' Hondras said. 'I'm so grateful for the opportunity and everybody that's helped me get to this point.
'These are definitely the moments I've dreamed of ever since I was a little kid and started playing baseball.'
Hondras did more than just take the field at an MLB park. She came through with the biggest hit of the game, ripping a two-run single to left field with two outs in the fifth inning to help the East All-Stars earn a 7-2 win over the West All-Stars.
'It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders a little bit,' Hondras said. 'I felt like no matter what the outcome was, I'm super grateful to be out here, but it was definitely an amazing feeling.'
Hondras — who is heading into her senior year at Thornwood, where she pitches and plays both infield and outfield — also stole third base. She struck out in her second and final at-bat.
When she came through with the big hit, however, the crowd went wild. Hondras was cheered on enthusiastically throughout the night.
'That felt great,' Hondras said. 'Being able to have all this support means the world to me. Knowing I had people behind me, I'm super grateful for that.'
It wasn't lost on Hondras that many of the people making the loudest noise on her behalf were younger girls who came to watch her play.
'At the end of the day, that's what it's all about,' Hondras said. 'Inspiring the younger generation of girls who really want to play baseball. It's all about having them see it happen and being like, 'Oh, OK, I can do this.''
Hondras certainly left a strong impression on her teammates in the game.
Mario Medina, a catcher headed into his senior year at Mount Carmel, was also a part of the East's winning team and delivered an RBI single. He was thrilled Hondras had her big moment.
'That was really good,' Medina said. 'It was a big hit. It sealed the deal for us pretty much. It was great to see her succeed.'
In 2020, Hondras became the first girl to play for the White Sox ACE program, which helps put on the Double Duty Classic and had many of its players in this year's game.
Troy Williams, the director of ACE and Community Baseball Programs for the White Sox, has seen Hondras continue to thrive in a sport that most expected her to leave a long time ago.
'Amira is a special kid,' Williams said. 'She never allowed people to sway her away from playing the game. She could have easily went to the softball side and I'm sure she would have been great there, too. But she continues to grind and she's like, 'I'm going to do it until I can't do it anymore.'
'Having her play in this game, I'm proud of her, I'm happy for her, and I hope she's enjoying every moment.'
On the morning of the Double Duty Classic, an announcement was made regarding the launch of the new Women's Professional Baseball League, founded by Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach for an MLB team.
That was certainly exciting news for Hondras.
'Seeing stuff like the women's pro league and the women's national team, seeing all that happening at such a fast and all the girls playing baseball, it's really almost a dream come true,' she said.
Hondras has a big decision coming fairly soon. With college around the corner, she's considered to switching to softball, but she recently received her first offer from a college baseball team.
'For me, the dream would still be to play baseball in college,' she said. 'I've always wanted to keep playing until somebody stops me. But at the end of the day, I just want to go play somewhere that feels like home.
'I'm going to follow my heart.'