Now, it’s almost commonplace and not an oddity.

This year marks the sixth consecutive summer that a girl is playing on a team at the Little League World Series as Australia features Monica Arcuri, the team’s starting first baseman. She made her Series debut on Wednesday in Australia’s 7-2 loss to Panama. But while Australia lost, she did end the game with a single, becoming just the 11th girl in Little League World Series history to record a hit in South Williamsport.

“Monica has a lovely smile, a great attitude and she’s always on the bench there talking (to teammates),” Australia manager Keith Land said. “She got a triple down there (in Australia at nationals) and had a double.”

Arcuri is a talented first baseman for the Australians at the Series. She had a solid put out against Panama early in the game. Her talent is no surprise either, given where she has been to train: Japan.

Monica Arcuri of the Australian team celebrates a single against Panama on the first day of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“She went to Japan to train with the professional women’s team, probably the top female baseball team in Japan,” Land said of Arcuri. “They wanted her to join them. She has a great work ethic.”

Australia held its first-ever all-female Little League state tournament which featured six teams representing girls from throughout Australia.

“It’s a world-wide trend with women in sports in general and it’s going through the roof,” Land said. “We got a women’s professional league (in Australia) and I think Monica is not the first one, but I think back home in her club, there’s three or four girls teams.”

That shows the growth of girls playing baseball in Australia and likely throughout other parts of the globe as well.

“It started with four teams, this last year there were about 12 teams,” Land said. “It’s getting bigger and bigger, which is great for the game of baseball.”

Monica Arcuri of the Australian team and pitcher Braxton Black run off the field after the second inning against Panama on the first day of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

When asked about Arcuri’s talents, Land didn’t hesitate.

“You saw her play out there,” he said with a laugh. “She has a great move at first where she’ll field it and quickly tap (base) and get out of there. She’s very dainty,but I wouldn’t want to run into her either. She does a little catching because she has a great arm. Her arm has dropped a bit from Japan, I’m trying to correct it but once you get here it’s a bit late to correct that.

“If you keep dropping your arm, eventually that’ll go and you’re not using the shoulder. Even though she’s not in my club, I tell all of them if you want extra work, I’m more than willing to help them,” Land continued.

Arcuri won’t be the last girl to make her way to South Williamsport to play at the Series as she likely is inspiring some girls who are in attendance to give baseball a chance. And don’t be surprised to see a girls player back in South Williamsport at next year’s Series.

Or the following year’s. Or the year after that.

Monica Arcuri of the Australian team gets the force out of Arath Zeballos of Panama on the first day of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“She’s special,” Land said of Arcuri. “She’s not quite Mo’ne Davis yet, but she’s working on it.”

Monica Arcuri of the Australian team makes a play at first against Panama on the first day of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Monica Arcuri of the Australian team tags out Isaac Dufau of Panama at first base on the first day of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette