By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The first female coach in Frontier League history doesn’t like being told “no.”

Justine Seigal was formally introduced Friday as the newest addition to the Normal CornBelters coaching staff. Seigal has played baseball most of her life and said she’s wanted to be a baseball coach since the age of 16.

“I told my coach and he laughed at me and said a man would never listen to a woman on a baseball field,” said Seigal. “So I decided I’d prove him wrong.”

Seigal grew up in Cleveland Heights, not far from Cleveland, Ohio. Playing softball would have been the easy thing to do, but playing it safe wasn’t Seigal’s style.

“I loved baseball. The more I was told I shouldn’t play, the more I was going to be there,” said Seigal. “It didn’t make any sense to me. Baseball is the greatest game on Earth. Why wouldn’t anyone want to play?”

CornBelters manager Brooks Carey said Seigal, who has a PHD in sports psychology, is more than qualified to be a baseball coach.

“Justine, obviously, is a pioneer. I think we all would look forward to the day when a female coach is hired in a predominately male sport, that we wouldn’t have to have a press conference,” said Carey. “That it becomes more of the norm.”

Seigal called the CornBelters a “good next step.”

“I was with the (Oakland) A’s during instructs and I’m now looking to be working full time in professional baseball as a coach,” she said.

As for her role with the team, Carey said he’s not sure yet. He expected to let the team get to know Seigal and let her position develop through the rest of the season.

Seigal’s first time in the dugout with the ‘Belters will be Friday night when the team faces the River City Rascals at the Corn Crib. The game can be heard on wjbc.com starting at 6:30 p.m.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].