Female umpire Pawol joins exclusive company

Jen Pawol joined a pretty exclusive club Friday when she umpired a rookie league contest between the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays and Tigers.

In doing so, she became just the seventh woman - and first since 2007 - to umpire in a professional affiliated league.

Pawol joined the likes of Bernice Gera, Christine Wren, Theresa Cox Fairlady, Ria Cortesio, Shanna Kook, and Pam Postema, who was the first woman to umpire in a big-league spring training game in 1977.

"It was a pretty easygoing game. Not much happened. They scored their runs on their own. It was kind of like we weren't there, which was good. That's the kind of game we like to have," Pawol, the home-plate umpire, said postgame, according to Paul Hagen from MLB.com.

When asked if she thought about the historical significance of her appearance Friday, Pawol admitted she did.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't," she said. "I had a job to do. I was excited. I honestly just wanted to get the first few pitches in. And then once the first few pitches started coming in and plays started happening, I felt a little bit more relaxed. I was like, 'All right, let's enjoy this now. Let's do it.'"

Pawol, who played softball at Hofstra University, competed for the USA Baseball Women's National Team, and played in the National Pro Fastpitch League, is excited about the opportunity to umpire professionally and will work the bases for the first time Saturday.

"I'm going to keep focused. I enjoy the work. To be allowed this opportunity to work in professional baseball is the ultimate privilege because it's not something I ever thought I'd be allowed to do. And so far it's worked out."

(Video courtesy: MiLB.com)