High school baseball: Sarah Swalberg at home on Green River baseball team

Her parents and coach also have no reservations about her ability to play with the boys — at bat or in the field.

"I don't worry about it because she can hold her own," Laurie said.

Adds her father, "None of the other kids have ever taunted her. ... In fact, it's been the opposite. Umpires come out, take her aside and encourage her. She's gotten a lot of positive attention from other coaches and umpires."

Parsons said some of Swalberg's success has come because she works so hard.

"She's just a really good kid," he said. "She's very friendly, outgoing, and she's a hard worker. She's been a leader for the team this year. She's a girl I could tell my own girls, 'that's the kind of person you want to be.'"

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com