Girl On La Verne High School Baseball Team A Great Story

We see the opportunities of America, and an unusually heartwarming story, on Page 1 in the L.A. Times today, by sports columnist Bill Plaschke on Natasha Smith, who came from a Russian orphanage to be adopted by American parents and become an athletic standout.

It's quite a contrast with the suicide bombers and African amputees, and Pakistani rape victims who all too often fall prey to political violence and are encouraged to develop extreme views.

It shows that, more than almost any country in the world, women do stand a chance in this country. It's something we can all be proud of.

Why can't women play professional baseball? Natasha Smith might be the first one.

So, here was a beautiful story, and the L.A. Times editors had the good sense to put it on Page 1. In a sordid world, Natasha is a hero of prime proportions.